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50 Call-to-Action Examples You Can’t Help But Click

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50 Call-to-Action Examples You Can't Help But Click

Think about all the times you’ve signed up for things in your life. Did you once download Evernote? Dropbox? Spotify? Maybe you’ve even taken a class on General Assembly.

Each one of these signups is likely a result of an effective call-to-action (CTA).

Think about it: If you hadn’t been drawn in by the copy or design of the CTA, or been guided so eloquently through your sign-up process, you would probably use a lot fewer apps and websites than you do now.

It’s really important to guide your visitors through the buying journey using strategic CTAs.

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What is a CTA in Marketing?

As a marketer, CTAs are relevant because they encourage your audience to take action on a marketing campaign.

Ultimately, the goal of any marketing campaign is to guide your audience in the buyer’s journey so they eventually make a purchase.

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However, each marketing campaign might have a different action for the audience to carry out because there are several tactics you can use to guide your audience in their journey.

Below are a few examples of the types of CTA button copy you might use in marketing:

Chart displaying types of common CTAsThe above types of CTAs all serve a designated purpose, but keep in mind the language they use can vary. And today, marketers everywhere have put some creative spins on their calls to action to generate the leads their businesses depend on.

To help you identify what’s effective and what’s not, we’ve listed out examples of CTAs that totally rock. These call-to-action examples are broken out into three categories:

  • Simple and effective CTAs
  • CTAs with great call-to-action phrases
  • CTAs that balance multiple buttons on one page

Best Call to Action Examples of 2022

1. HubSpot

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One of the perks of using HubSpot is the wealth of free resources they offer. This slide-in CTA found in an article discussing marketing intelligence, demonstrates how a well-placed CTA can improve user experience.

It’s unobtrusive and comes in midway through the article, not only prompting readers to “download now” but offering a useful and free resource. The marketing kit offers an out-of-the-box solution for those who may not know where to start.

Why this CTA Works

This slide-in CTA offers a free resource that is directly related to the topic of the article it appears on. Readers can finish the article and then download the guide with templates to get started making a marketing kit of their own. (Click here to learn how to add slide-in CTAs to your blog posts.)

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2. The Budgetnista

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Run by personal financial educator and author Tiffany Aliche, The Budgetnista is a one stop shop for personal finance. In addition to providing content that delights her audience, she’s also a pro at creating inviting CTAs.

Instead of simply putting a sign up CTA to promote her newsletter, she uses language that entices the reader to click. “Sign Up For Weekly Goodies” sounds a whole lot more interesting than “sign up for my newsletter.” Who doesn’t want weekly goodies?

Why this CTA Works

The friendly and creative use of language encourages visitors to take the desired action. It also mirrors Aliche’s personality, which is a nice touch and helps personalize the interaction.

3. Glossier

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Beauty brand Glossier has its marketing image down, showcasing realistic images of women with a variety of skin types. Who can forget their boy brow campaign? Their website is clean with lots of white space that make the photos of the models and makeup pop.

Their CTA is an overlay that appears when you start scrolling down their site. While many would quickly click out of the pop up, the language Glossier chooses makes you want to stick around. “Let’s take this to your inbox” is a clever way to ask folks to sign up for your newsletter. If you’re down to join simply click “i’m in” and you’re done.

Why this CTA Works

Like The Budgetnista, Glossier uses clever phrasing that makes the brand more relatable and entices people to take action. The image of a model with great Glossier makeup and the illustrations included also aid in making this CTA appealing.

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4. 310 Creative

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Growth agency and HubSpot partner 310 Creative aims to help B2B companies scale and refine the buyer’s journey to increase sales. Knowing that visitors to the site may not quite know what specific services they need, 310 Creative makes use of a CTA that removes confusion.

The slide-in CTA solicits visitors to book a free assessment to get some clarity on where their business may be falling short and discover why these outcomes are happening.

Why this CTA Works

Not only does it remove barriers by explicitly stating the service is free, this CTA also demonstrates empathy for the visitor. By describing an issue followed by “If this sounds familiar, let’s talk” it demonstrates that 310 Creative is here to help and understands the user’s frustration.

5. Heyday

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Heyday is a bit of a rebel in the facial industry. Its minimalist, no-frills approach has made it a favorite among those who just want to see an aesthetician without the fuss and upselling.

That minimalist, but friendly approach shows up in their CTA too. Making great use of some models with glowing skin, this CTA entices viewers to sign up for their newsletter with a discount. The “sign up and save” button is persuasive, along with the humorous “No thanks, I prefer full-price skincare” hyperlink to opt out.

Why this CTA Works

Heyday employed beautiful aesthetics, a discount, and humor to encourage visitors to take the desired action.

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6. VRBO

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If you love browsing beautiful vacation homes in your spare time, VRBO is a great place to do it. The brand makes great use of aspirational aesthetics and gorgeous locales.

The dark blue CTA pops against VRBO’s white background, drawing the reader in. Then the “discover your escape” button adds a touch of adventure for those who may be interested in renting a vacation home.

Why this CTA Works

VRBO makes great use of color and phrasing. It’s not a vacation, but rather an adventure where they can serve as your trusted guide.

7. Hulu

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Streaming giant Hulu went for a dramatic approach with this CTA. The dimmed background shows off all its television and movie offerings, while the green and white text of the CTA draws your attention to the promotion.

It’s a sign-up and upsell in one, informing users that they can get a discount add-on with Disney+ and ESPN+.

Why this CTA Works

This CTA entices visitors with the impression they’re getting a deal with the bundle. Instead of just having a sign up button, it’s “get the disney bundle.” It puts the emphasis on providing value to get visitors to take action.

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8. Hija De Tu Madre

best call to action examples 2022: Hija de tu Madre

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Apparel company Hija De Tu Madre, keeps it fresh with a clean, pink and white color scheme that exudes youthfulness and freshness. Most of what makes their CTAs so appealing is the clever play on words, mixing both spanish and english, an ode to their target audience.

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Because they’re so dialed into their audience, Hija De Tu Madre can extract more information from their visiors. Instead of just having a CTA that requests an email (first image), they’ve introduced a mobile phone request in a second CTA. How do they persuade folks to hand over their digits? By offering them a chance to win merch — specifically their popular denim jackets.

Why this CTA Works

Offering something visitors consider valuable in return for their personal information — in this instance a coveted denim jacket, will make people more likely to share more information. The key is to know your audience and tap into their interests.

9. Wool and the Gang

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This CTA from Wool and the Gang will make you feel all fuzzy on the inside. The collage background of customers donning their Wool and the Gang garments plus a cute pup really draws the reader in and fits with the brand’s audience.

The CTA button states “share your knits #woolandthegang” which encourages customers to share what they’ve made using Wool and the Gang products, working as both brand promotion and customer engagement.

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Why this CTA Works

This CTA not only grabs the visitor’s attention, it creates a sense of community and entices visitors to join. This particular CTA also doubles as brand promotion as more customers share their kits across social media.

10. Tweak It Studio

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Home decor and design company Tweak It Studio showcases the importance of having fun, but clear CTAs.

They get the visitor’s attention with “Just Dropped” in big bold letters to inform readers on new products on offer, then combine it with a CTA button that states exactly what the item is — in this case “personalized wood names.” It’s much more effective than just having a button that simply states “buy now.”

Why this CTA Works

This CTA uses urgency with “just dropped” to get visitors to check out new items in the store and also communicates clearly in the button where the visitor is headed next after clicking.

Want more CTA design inspiration? Check out some of our favorite call-to-action examples below.

1. HubSpot CTAs [Free Templates]

HubSpot call to action templates

Looking for inspiration to help build better CTAs? Use our professionally designed CTA templates to generate more clicks, submissions, and leads from your content.

2. Evernote

CTA: Sign Up

CTA example: Evernote

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“Remember Everything.” Visitors can immediately understand that message the moment they land on this page. The design on Evernote’s website makes it super simple for users to see quick benefits of using the app and how to actually sign up to use it. Plus, the green color of the main and secondary CTA buttons is the same green as the headline and the Evernote logo, all of which jump off the page.

How to Replicate this CTA

Consider using a bright color that contrasts well with the elements on your web page to make your CTA stand out.

3. Dropbox

CTA: Sign up for free

CTA example: Dropbox

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Dropbox has always embraced simple design with a lot of negative space. Even the graphics on their homepage are subtle and simple.

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Thanks to that simple design and negative space, the blue “Sign up for free” call-to-action button stands out from everything else on the page. Since the CTA and the Dropbox logo are the same color, it’s easy for the visitor to interpret this CTA as “Sign up for Dropbox.” That’s one effective call-to-action.

How to Replicate this CTA

Negative space can work in your favor if used correctly. Use it to your advantage by allowing your CTA to stand out using your bold, brand colors

4. OfficeVibe

CTA: Subscribe

CTA example: OfficeVibe

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Here’s a slide-in call-to-action that caught my attention from OfficeVibe. While scrolling through a post on their blog, a banner slid in from the bottom of the page with a call-to-action to subscribe to their blog. The best part? The copy on the slide-in told me I’d be getting tips about how to become a better manager — and the post it appeared on was a post about how to become a better manager. In other words, the offer was something I was already interested in.

Plus, I like how unobtrusive slide-in CTAs are — as opposed to what my colleague Rachel Sprung calls the “stop-everything-and-click-here-pop-up-CTA.” I find these CTAs offer a more lovable experience because they provide more information while still allowing me to continue reading the blog post.

How to Replicate this CTA

You can create your own slide-in CTA using HubSpot’s marketing tools. After designing your CTA using our templates, and create a HubSpot account. Go to Marketing > Lead Capture > CTAs in your HubSpot account and follow the CTA instructions here.

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5. Netflix

CTA: Join Free for a Month

CTA example: Netflix

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One big fear users have before committing to sign up for something? That it’ll be a pain to cancel their subscription if they end up not liking it. Netflix nips that fear in the bud with the “Cancel anytime” copy right above the “Join Free for a Month” CTA. I’d venture a guess that reassurance alone has boosted signups. Also, you’ll notice again that the red color of the primary and secondary CTAs here match Netflix’s logo color.

How to Replicate this CTA

Not only can you get a visitor’s attention with a stark contrast in color, but you can use language in your CTA that entices them to click. Consider using “Try for Free,” or something similar in your CTA that removes the risk for potential customers.

6. Square

CTA: Get Started

CTA Example: Square

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To achieve effective CTA design, you need to consider more than just the button itself. It’s also super important to consider elements like background color, surrounding images, and surrounding text.

Mindful of these additional design components, the folks at Square used a single image to showcase the simplicity of using their product, where the hovering “Get Started” CTA awaits your click. If you look closely, the color of the credit card in the image and the color of the CTA button match, which helps the viewer connect the dots of what to expect if/when they click.

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How to Replicate this CTA

You can use color to help visitors connect the dots whether it’s coordinating similar tones like in this image, or by using brand colors like the Dropbox example.

7. Prezi

CTA: Give Prezi a try

CTA example: Prezi

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The folks at Prezi are also into the minimalist design look on their website. Other than the green dinosaur and the dark brown coffee, the only other color accompanying the predominantly black-and-white design is a bright blue — the same blue from their main logo. That bright blue is strategically placed on the homepage: the main “Give Prezi a try” CTA, and the secondary “Get Started” CTA, both of which take users to the same pricing page.

How to Replicate this CTA

This page took a minimalist color scheme, but incorporated two CTAs with the same color button that direct visitors to the same landing page. If your page has a clean, minimalist design consider trying two CTAs with different text to draw visitors in.

8. Full Bundle

CTA: Our Work

CTA Example: Full Bundle

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Full Bundle is another company that uses negative space to make their primary CTA pop. The white “Our Work” call-to-action stands out against the dark greys of the background. Their choice of CTA is strategic, too. Given that they primarily exist to build out clients’ online presences, it’s important for them to showcase their work — and that’s what most folks are going to their website for.

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How to Replicate this CTA

Make creative use of negative space like Full Bundle’s gray tones. As you can see, the different shades of gray make triangles, adding a subtle design element that makes their white CTA pop out at the bottom.

9. Panthera

CTA: Join

CTA example: Panthera

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The folks at Panthera are looking for users who really care about wild cats around the world and want to join a group of people who feel the same way. To target those people in particular, we love how they use language that would speak to big cat-lovers: “Join the pride today.” The page itself is super simple: an on-page form with two, simple fields, and a button asking folks to (again) “Join.”

How to Replicate this CTA

Establish a connection with your target audience by using vernacular related to your brand that would appeal to them in your CTA.

10. EPIC

CTA: Let’s start a new project together

CTA example: EPIC

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The folks at the agency EPIC use their homepage primarily to showcase their work. When you arrive on the page, you’re greeted with animated videos showing some of the work they’ve done for clients, which rotate on a carousel. While there are plenty of other places users might click on their site — including their clients’ websites — the main call-to-action stands out and always contrasts with the video that’s playing in the background.

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I love that it features friendly, inclusive language —”Let’s start a new project together” — which gives a hint to users looking for a creative partner that they’re an especially great team to work for.

How to Replicate this CTA

Use inviting language. It’s easy to make a button that just says “join us,” but that’s not very convincing. Consider something friendlier like “let’s work together” or something specific to the service you offer.

11. Aquaspresso

CTA: Send Me Specials Now!

CTA Example:  Aquaspresso

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The whole point of a call-to-action is to direct your site visitors to a desired course of action — and the best CTAs do so in a way that’s helpful to their visitors. The folks at coffee company Aquaspresso really nailed that balance here with the pop-up CTA on their main blog page.

Here, the desired course of action is for their blog readers to check out what they’re actually selling (and hopefully buy from them). There are many ways they could have done this, including putting out a CTA that urges people to “Check out our most popular products!” or something very direct. But we love what they’ve done instead: Their CTA offers blog readers something much more helpful and subtle — an offer for “today’s specials” in exchange for the reader’s email address.

Adding that the specials are for today only is a great example of a psychological tactic called scarcity, which causes us to assign more value to things we think are scarce. The fear that today’s specials are better than tomorrow’s might make people want to fill it out and claim their offer while they can.

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How to Replicate this CTA

The call-to-action above was created using HubSpot’s templates. Consider introducing a sense of urgency for website visitors by using scarcity in your CTA. You can use phrases like “limited time offer” or “get today’s deals” to motivate visitors to take the desired action.

12. QuickSprout

CTA: Are you doing your SEO wrong? Enter your URL to find out

CTA Example: QuickSprout

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No one wants to be wrong. That’s why a call-to-action button like QuickSprout’s slide-in CTA on their blog is so clickworthy. It asks the reader, “Are you doing your SEO wrong?” Well, am I? All I have to do is enter my URL to find out — seems easy enough. It’s language like that that can really entice visitors to click through.

Plus, having the CTA slide in mid-blog post is a great tactic for catching readers before they bounce off the page. Traditionally, many blogs have CTAs at the very bottom of each blog post, but research shows most readers only get 60% of the way through an article.

How to Replicate this CTA

Use language in your CTA that grabs the visitor’s attention or speaks to a pain point they may be having. The case above uses SEO, but you could use something like “Having trouble converting leads?” and then position your service as the remedy. (Click here to learn how to add slide-in CTAs to your blog posts.)

13. Grey Goose

CTA: Discover a cocktail tailored to your taste

CTA example: Grey Goose

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Here’s a fun, unique call-to-action that can get people clicking. Whereas site visitors might have expected to be directed to product pages or press releases from the homepage, a CTA to “Discover a Cocktail Tailored to Your Taste” is a pleasantly surprising ask. People love personalization, and this CTA kind of feels like an enticing game. The play button icon next to the copy gives a hint that visitors will be taken to a video so they have a better idea of what to expect when they click.

How to Replicate this CTA

Personalization works wonders for establishing a connection with visitors. Consider implementing a CTA that suggests a personalized experience for visitors based on the product or service you offer. For example, you could say “Explore plans that fit your budget,” or “choose a design tailored to your brand.”

14. Treehouse

CTA: Claim Your Free Trial

CTA Example: Treehouse

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A lot of company websites out there offer users the opportunity to start a free trial. But the CTA on Treehouse’s website doesn’t just say “Start a Free Trial”; it says “Claim Your Free Trial.”

The difference in wording may seem subtle, but think about how much more personal “Claim Your Free Trial” is. Plus, the word “claim” suggests it may not be available for long, giving users a sense of urgency to get that free trial while they can.

How to Replicate this CTA

If you offer a free trial for your service, instead of just using a button that says “free trial,” personalize the experience by using “start your free trial.”

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15. OKCupid

CTA: Continue

CTA example: OKCupid

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OKCupid’s CTA doesn’t seem that impressive at first glance, but its brilliance is in the small details.

The call-to-action button, which is bright green and stands out well on a dark blue background, says, “Continue.” The simplicity of this term gives hope that the signup process is short and casual. To me, this CTA feels more like I’m playing a fun game than filling out a boring form or committing to something that might make me nervous. And it’s all due to the copy.

How to Replicate this CTA

People enjoy games so if it works for your produt or service, try to gamify your CTA to spark interest.

16. Blogging.org

CTA: Countdown Clock

CTA example: Blogging.org

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Nothing like a ticking timer to make someone want to take action. After spending a short amount of time on blogging.org’s homepage, new visitors are greeted with a pop-up CTA with a “limited time offer,” accompanied by a timer that counts down from two minutes.

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As with Aquaspresso’s example in #10, this is a classic use of the psychological tactic called scarcity, which causes us to assign more value to things we think are scarce. Limiting the time someone has to fill out a form makes people want to fill it out and claim their offer while they can.

Curious, what happens when time runs out? So was I. Hilariously, nothing happens. The pop-up CTA remains on the page when the timer gets to zero.

How to Replicate this CTA

Similar to Aquaespresso, consider using scarcity to give visitors to your site a sense of urgency to take action.

17. IMPACT Branding & Design

CTA: What We Do

CTA example: Impact

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CTAs can feel really pushy and salesy (yes, that’s a word…) if the wrong language is used. I like IMPACT‘s educational approach, where they challenge visitors to learn what the company does before pushing them to take any further action. This call-to-action is especially intriguing to me because they don’t even use an action verb, yet they still manage to entice people to click.

How to Replicate this CTA

Entice visitors to learn more about your business by using language in your CTA that persuades them to see what you do. Use something like “see our past projects,” “what we do,” or “view our work.”

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18. Huemor

CTA: Launch (Do Not Press)

CTA Example: Huemor

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If you went to a website and saw a “Launch” CTA accompanied by the copy “Do Not Press” … what would you do? Let’s be honest: You’d be dying to press it. The use of harmless reverse psychology here is playful, which is very much in keeping with Huemor’s brand voice.

How to Replicate this CTA

If your brand is more playful or in the creative industry, you can use that to your advantange in a CTA using gamification or reverse psychology like Huemor’s example.

19. Brooks Running

CTA: Find out when we have more

CTA example: Brooks Running shoe product availability

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How many times have you hotly pursued a product you love, only to discover it’s sold out? Well, as you might know, it’s no picnic for the seller either. But just because you’ve run out of an item doesn’t mean you should stop promoting it.

Brooks Running uses a clever call to action to ensure their customers don’t bounce from their website just because their favorite shoe is out of stock. In the screenshot above, you can see Brooks touting an awesome-looking shoe with the CTA, “Find out when we have more.” I love how this button turns bad news into an opportunity to retain customers. Without it, Brooks’ customers would likely forget about the shoe and look elsewhere.

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When you click on the blue CTA button depicted below, Brooks directs you to a page with a simple code you can text the company. This code prompts Brooks to automatically alert the visitor when the shoe they want is available again.

How to Replicate this CTA

For ecommerce businesses, sending customers to a page that states the item is out of stock can be a turn off for customers and cause them to bounce. Consider adding a CTA that says “notify me when restocked,” or “find out when we have more” to keep them engaged and gain their email information.

20. Humboldt County

CTA: Follow the Magic

CTA example: Humboldt County

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Humboldt County’s website is gorgeous on its own: It greets you with a full-screen video of shockingly beautiful footage. But what I really love is the unconventional call-to-action button placed in the bottom center, which features a bunny icon and the words “Follow the Magic.”

It enhances the sort of fantastical feel of the footage, making you feel like you’re about to step into a fairytale.

What’s more, once you click into that CTA, the website turns into a sort of choose-your-own-adventure game, which is a fun call-to-action path for users and encourages them to spend more time on the site.

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CTA example: Humboldt County adventure

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How to Replicate this CTA

Great for travel companies and creative firms, CTAs like Humbolt’s lure reader in. If your brand has some creative leeway, use it. You could try a phrase like “find your next adventure,” or “plan your trip.”

21. Uber

CTA: Sign up to drive | Start riding with Uber

CTA examples: Uber

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Uber’s looking for two, very distinct types of people to sign up on their website: riders and drivers. Both personas are looking for totally different things, and yet, the website ties them together really well with the large video playing in the background showing Uber riders and drivers having a good time in locations all over the world.

I love the copy of the driver CTA at the top, too: It doesn’t get much more straightforward than, “Make money driving your car.” Now that’s speaking people’s language.

How to Replicate this CTA

Targeting two types of customers? You can create CTAs for each of their personas similarly to Uber.

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22. Spotify

CTA: Go Premium | Play Free

CTA example: Spotify

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As soon as you reach Spotify’s homepage, it’s pretty clear that their main goal is to attract customers who are willing to pay for a premium account, while the CTA for users to sign up for free is very much secondary.

It’s not just the headline that gives this away; it’s also the coloring of their CTA buttons. The “Go Premium” CTA is lime green, making it pop off the page, while the “Play Free” CTA is plain white and blends in with the rest of the copy on the page. This contrast ensures that visitors are drawn to the premium CTA.

How to Replicate this CTA

If you offer both a paid and free version of a service, consider using two separate CTAs, choosing a color that pops for the paid option versus something more understated for the free version.

23. Ugmonk

CTA: Send me the coupons | I’m not interested

CTA example: Ugmonk

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Exit CTAs, also known as exit intent pop-ups, are different than normal pop-ups. They detect your users’ behavior and only appear when it seems as though they’re about to leave your site. By intervening in a timely way, these pop-ups serve as a fantastic way of getting your reader’s attention while offering them a reason to stay.

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Ugmonk has a great exit CTA, offering two options for users as a final plea before they leave the site. First, they offer a 15% discount on their products, followed by two options: “Yes Please: Send me the coupon” and “No Thanks: I’m not interested.” It’s super helpful that each CTA clarifies what “Yes” and “No” actually mean, and I also like that they didn’t use guilt-tripping language like “No Thanks: I hate nature” like I’ve seen on other websites. Finally, notice that the “Yes Please” button is much brighter and inviting in color than the other option.

How to Replicate this CTA

Exit intent CTAs are extremely useful for ecommerce. You can offer a discount on services or something else of value to entice visitors to convert.

24. Pinterest

CTA: Continue with Facebook | Sign Up

CTA example: Pinterest signup call to action button

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Want to sign up for Pinterest? You have a couple of options: sign up via Facebook or via email. If you have a Facebook account, Pinterest wants you to do that first. How do I know? Aesthetically, I know because the blue Facebook CTA comes first and is much more prominent, colorful, and recognizable due to the branded logo and color. Logically, I know because if you log in through Facebook, Pinterest can pull in Facebook’s API data and get more information about you than if you log in through your email address.

Although this homepage is optimized to bring in new members, you’ll notice a very subtle CTA for folks with Pinterest accounts to log in on the top right.

How to Replicate this CTA

Allow users to sign up with Facebook or Google in your CTA. This saves visitors time signing up and you’ll be able to gain more information about them.

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25. Madewell

CTA: Take me there | What’s next?

CTA example: Madewell

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Madewell (owned by J.Crew) has always had standout website design, taking what could be a typical ecommerce website to the next level. Their use of CTAs on their homepage is no exception.

When you first arrive on the page, you’re greeted with the headline “I’m Looking For …” followed by a category, like “Clothes That’ll Travel Anywhere.” Below this copy are two options: “Yes, Take Me There” or “Hmm… What’s Next?” The user can choose between the two CTAs to either browse clothes that are good for travel, or be taken to the next type of clothing, where they can play again.

This gamification is a great way to make your site more interesting for users who come across it without having a specific idea of where they want to look.

How to Replicate this CTA

Use gamification in your CTA to persuade visitors to explore your site further. They may not know specifically what they are looking for or how your company can help. Creating fun prompts can help visitors find what they are looking for.

26. Instagram

CTA: Download on the App Store | Get it on Google Play

CTA example: Instagram

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Since Instagram is a mainly mobile app, you’ll see two black CTAs of equal size: one to download Instagram in Apple’s App Store, and another to download it on Google Play. The reason these CTAs are of equal caliber is because it doesn’t matter if someone downloads the app in the App Store or on Google Play … a download is a download, which is exactly what Instagram is optimizing for. If you already have Instagram, you can also click the CTA to “Log In” if you’d prefer that option, too.

How to Replicate this CTA

If you have an app, consider adding a CTA for each platform visitors can download it from. This remove friction and makes it easier for visitors to download your app without having to search.

27. Barkbox

CTA: Get Started | Give a Gift

CTA example: Barkbox

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The two CTAs on Barkbox’s homepage show that the team there knows their customers: While many people visiting their site are signing up for themselves, there are a lot of people out there who want to give Barkbox as a gift. To give those people an easy path to purchase, there are two, equally sized CTAs on the page: “Get Started” and “Give a Gift.”

As an added bonus, there’s an adorable, pop-up call-to-action on the right-hand side of the screen prompting users to leave a message if they’d like. Click into it, and a small dialogue box pops up that reads, “Woof! I’m afraid our pack is not online. Please leave us a message and we’ll bark at you as soon as pawsible.” Talk about delightful copy.

How to Replicate this CTA

Similar to Uber, you can use multiple CTAs to serve different audiences. Play with language and come up with phrases that work best for your brand voice.

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28. t.c. pharma

CTA: Find out more | View products

CTA example: t.c. pharma

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Turns out Red Bull isn’t its own parent company: It’s owned by Thailand-based t.c. pharma, a company that makes popular energy drinks, electrolyte beverages, and functional drinks and snacks.

Its homepage features two call-to-action buttons of equal size: “Find out more” and “View products” — but it’s clear by the bright yellow color of the first button that they’d rather direct folks to “Find out more.”

How to Replicate this CTA

Use color to persuade visitors to take a desired action. If you have a preferred button that you’d like people to click, make it the more prominent of the two.

29. General Assembly

CTA: View Full-Time Courses | Subscribe

CTA example: General Assembly

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As you scroll through the General Assembly website, you’ll see CTAs for various courses you may or may not want to sign up for. I’d like to point your attention to the CTA that slides in from the bottom of the page as you’re scrolling, though, which suggests that you subscribe to email updates.

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Although this feels like a secondary CTA due to its location and manner, I actually think they try to sneak this in to become more of a primary CTA because it’s so much more colorful and noticeable than the CTAs for individual classes.

How to Replicate this CTA

When you create your own CTAs, try using bolder colors — even ones that clash with your regular stylings — to see if it’s effective at getting people’s attention. (Click here for a tutorial on how to add slide-in CTAs to your webpages.)

30. charity: water

CTA: Give by Credit Card | Give by PayPal

CTA examples: Charity Water

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Charity: water’s main goal is to get people to donate money for clean water — but they can’t assume that everyone wants to pay the same way.

The CTAs featured on their homepage take a really unique approach to offering up different payment methods by pre-filling $60 into a single line form and including two equally important CTAs to pay via credit card or PayPal. Notice how both CTAs are the same size and design — this is because charity: water likely doesn’t care how you donate, as long as you’re donating.

How to Replicate this CTA

For payment CTAs, consider giving visitors options for how to pay. What matters most is that they make the purchase.

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31. Hipmunk

CTA: Flights | Hotels | Cars | Packages

CTA example: Hipmunk

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When you land on the Hipmunk site, your main option is to search flights. But notice there are four tabs you can flip through: flights, hotels, cars, and packages.

When you click into one of these options, the form changes so you can fill out more information. To be 100% sure you know what you’re searching for, Hipmunk placed a bright orange CTA at the far right-hand side of the form. On this CTA, you’ll see a recognizable icon of a plane next to the word “Search,” so you know for sure that you’re searching for flights, not hotels. When you’re on the hotels tab, that icon changes to a hotel icon. Same goes with cars and packages.

How to Replicate this CTA

Use icons to provide further explanation of your CTA to users.

32. MakeMyPersona

CTA: Grab the template! | No thanks

CTA example: MakeMyPersona

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Here’s another example of a great pop-up with multiple calls-to-action — except in this case, you’ll notice the size, color, and design of the users’ two options are very different from one another. In this case, the folks at MakeMyPersona are making the “Grab the template!” CTA much more attractive and clickable than the “No, I’m OK for now, thanks” CTA — which doesn’t even look like a clickable button.

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I also like how the “no” option uses polite language. I find brands that don’t guilt-trip users who don’t want to take action to be much, much more lovable.

How to Replicate this CTA

Being friendly shouldn’t just be for getting visitors to take the desired action. Using friendly language is just as important in CTAs for those who would like to opt out. Consider using a phrase like “no thanks” or something similar to what MakeMyPersona used to keep it cordial even if customers aren’t ready to make a purchase yet.

33. TeuxDeux

CTA: Get Started for Free | Try for Free

CTA example: TeuxDeux

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Another example of simplistic design, TeuxDeux’s main website features one phrase and two CTA buttons.

That’s it.

Using the company’s colors, the background is just a splash of red and some black.

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The CTA buttons stand out against the color and emphasize that you can try the product for free.

I like these CTAs because they show that the company understands its audience. Whenever I’m researching to-do list apps, I always want to try it before I buy it. It’s something that people are very particular about and want to test-drive. TeuxDeux’s CTAs shows that they understand this about their audience.

How to Replicate this CTA

Know your audience and allow them to test drive your service. Tap into their needs and interests and include them in a CTA to help them navigate to what they need faster, risk-free. It could be something like “get started for free,” “download templates for free,” or “try for free.”

34. Betabrand

CTA: Get involved

CTA example: Betabrand

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Betabrand is a clothing company that sells yoga/dress pants for women. Usually, clothing brands tend to use similar CTAs such as “Shop Now.”

However, Betabrand’s homepage CTA is unique in that it involves the audience. Here, users can vote and impact the design of new products.

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This is a fun way to get the audience involved and do something different.

How to Replicate this CTA

Encourage visitor participation by using a voting or survey type CTA when appropriate. It helps customers develop a personal relationship to the brand because they are contributing to the decision making process.

35. Fabletics

CTA: Limited Edition

CTA example: Fabletics

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This Fabletics CTA uses several marketing tactics: scarcity and a holiday.

On the homepage, the brand announces a limited edition collection that’s tied to a holiday (Mother’s Day).

Additionally, the CTA uses a bright color so the CTA stands out on the simple homepage.

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How to Replicate this CTA

Combine CTA types when it makes sense. For example you could use scarcity with a limited time only promotion for a grand opening, holiday, or to celebrate a new product launch.

36. Ashley Stewart

CTA: Shop the Lookbook

CTA example: Ashley Stewart

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Ashley Stewart is a clothing brand catered to plus-sized women. In this CTA, the company uses a fun design to entice website visitors. The entire collage of images looks like a behind-the-scenes camera roll, which is interesting to look at.

Additionally, the CTA copy is straight to the point, which is helpful for visitors who are looking to browse.

How to Replicate this CTA

Sometimes short and sweet is the best approach. Use your CTAs to get to the point and get visitors what they want. You could use something like “shop this look,” or “download the guide now.”

37. Amazon Music

CTA: 3 months free

CTA example: Amazon Music

Image Source

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This is a great example of several of the elements we’ve talked about in one CTA.

Amazon uses two strategically placed CTAs, colorful, yet simple design, and offers the product for free.

With this CTA, Amazon is promoting one of its own products and services on its homepage instead of other products listed for sale on the site.

The only message they want to get across? That you can try their product, Amazon Music, for free for three whole months. This CTA accomplishes that goal with a simple design.

How to Replicate this CTA

Offering a free trial? Make it known by using a prominent CTA that pops and eliminating unnecessary features that clutter the landing page.

38. Barnes and Noble

CTA: Shop Now

CTA example: barnes and noble

Image Source

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Barnes and Noble uses a simple CTA to entice visitors to shop a limited collection during the Mother’s Day holiday.

I like this CTA because the landing page design is so cohesive with the branding of the overall company.

Additionally, the graphics and the fonts are all interesting and match the brand’s messaging.

How to Replicate this CTA

Create a cohesive look that appeals to your audience and aligns with your brand voice. Play with fonts and colors that compliment each other and are pleasing to the eye. Keep the CTA simple with a “shop now,” or “download now” button.

39. Slack

CTA: Learn More | Contact Us

slack-example

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Slack uses beautiful, simple design on its homepage to entice visitors to click on one of the two CTA buttons.

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I like this example because Slack has two CTA buttons for two different audiences. If you’re just getting started in your research, you can click “Learn More.” However, if you’re a repeat visitor and know that you want to talk to a sales person, you can click “Contact Us.”

This is a great example of serving two audiences with your CTAs on your homepage.

How to Replicate this CTA

Serve two audiences with separate CTAs on the same landing page. You can make them distinct using color to contrast the two buttons or draw more attention to the desired choice.

40. Nintendo

CTA: Compare Features

CTA Example: Nintendo

Image Source

On Nintendo’s website, the company is focused on answering any questions a visitor might have.

In fact, one of the main CTAs is “Compare Features.” With this CTA, Nintendo answers one of their most popular questions because they understand that many visitors are still doing their research before purchasing a product.

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How to Replicate this CTA

Have multiple pricing or feature options? Consider using a CTA that helps users compare their choices so they can make a more informed decision.

Create Your Own CTAs

There you have it. Now you can see just how important a few small CTA tweaks can be. Take inspiration from the examples above and create CTAs that convert.

Full Disclosure: We don’t have data to know if these are all scientifically successful, but these examples all follow our best practices. If you decide to recreate these CTAs on your site, please remember to test to see if they work for your audience.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in June 2014 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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The Current State of Google’s Search Generative Experience [What It Means for SEO in 2024]

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Search


By Tinuiti Team

SEO enthusiasts, known for naming algorithm updates after animals and embracing melodrama, find themselves in a landscape where the “adapt or die” mantra prevails. So when Google announced the launch of its Search Generative Experience (SGE) in May of 2023 at Google/IO, you can imagine the reaction was immense.

Although SGE has the potential to be a truly transformative force in the landscape, we’re still waiting for SGE to move out of the Google Labs Sandbox and integrate into standard search results. 

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Curious about our current take on SGE and its potential impact on SEO in the future? Read on for more.

Decoding Google’s Defensive Move

In response to potential threats from competitors like ChatGPT, Bing, TikTok, Reddit, and Amazon, Google introduced SGE as a defensive maneuver. However, its initial beta release raised questions about its readiness and global deployment.

ChatGPT provided an existential threat that had the potential to eat into Google’s market share. When Bing started incorporating it into its search results, it was one of the most significant wins for Bing in a decade. In combination with threats from TikTok, Reddit, and Amazon, we see a more fractured search landscape less dominated by Google. Upon its launch, the expectation was that Google would push its SGE solution globally, impact most queries, and massively shake up organic search results and strategies to improve organic visibility.

Now, industry leaders are starting to question if Google is better off leaving SGE in the testing ground in Google labs. According to Google’s recent update, it appears that SGE will remain an opt-in experience in Google Labs (for at least the short term). If SGE was released, there could be a fundamental reset in understanding SEO. Everything from organic traffic to optimization tactics to tracking tools would need adjustments for the new experience. Therefore, the prospect of SGE staying in Google Labs is comforting if not entirely reliable. 

The ever-present option is that Google can change its mind at any point and push SGE out broadly as part of its standard search experience. For this reason, we see value in learning from our observations with SGE and continuing to stay on top of the experience.

SGE User Experience and Operational Challenges

If you’ve signed up for search labs and have been experimenting with SGE for a while, you know firsthand there are various issues that Google should address before rolling it out broadly to the public.

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At a high level, these issues fall into two broad categories including user experience issues and operational issues.

Below are some significant issues we’ve come across, with Google making notable progress in addressing certain ones, while others still require improvement:

  • Load time – Too many AI-generated answers take longer to load than a user is willing to wait. Google recommends less than a 3-second load time to meet expectations. They’ll need to figure out how to consistently return results quickly if they want to see a higher adoption rate.
  • Layout – The SGE layout is massive. We believe any major rollout will be more streamlined to make it a less intrusive experience for users and allow more visibility for ads, and if we’re lucky, organic results. Unfortunately, there is still a decent chance that organic results will move below the fold, especially on mobile devices. Recently, Google has incorporated more results where users are prompted to generate the AI result if they’d like to see it. The hope is Google makes this the default in the event of a broad rollout where users can generate an AI result if they want one instead of assuming that’s what a user would like to see. 
  • Redundancy – The AI result duplicates features from the map pack and quick answer results. 
  • Attribution – Due to user feedback, Google includes sources on several of their AI-powered overviews where you can see relevant web pages if there is an arrow next to the result. Currently, the best way to appear as one of these relevant pages is to be one of the top-ranked results, which is convenient from an optimization standpoint. Changes to how attribution and sourcing are handled could heavily impact organic strategies. 

On the operational side, Google also faces significant hurdles to making SGE a viable product for its traditional search product. The biggest obstacle appears to be making the cost associated with the technology worth the business outcomes it provides. If this was a necessary investment to maintain market share, Google might be willing to eat the cost, but if their current position is relatively stable, Google doesn’t have much of an incentive to take on the additional cost burden of heavily leveraging generative AI while also presumably taking a hit to their ad revenue. Especially since slow user adoption doesn’t indicate this is something users are demanding at the moment.

While the current experience of SGE is including ads above the generative results now, the earliest iterations didn’t heavily feature sponsored ads. While they are now included, the current SGE layout would still significantly disrupt the ad experience we’re used to. During the Google I/O announcement, they made a statement to reassure advertisers they would be mindful of maintaining a distinct ad experience in search.  

“In this new generative experience, Search ads will continue to appear in dedicated ad slots throughout the page. And we’ll continue to uphold our commitment to ads transparency and making sure ads are distinguishable from organic search results” – Elizabeth Reid, VP, Search at Google

Google is trying to thread a delicate needle here of staying on the cutting edge with their search features, while trying not to upset their advertisers and needlessly hinder their own revenue stream. Roger Montti details more of the operational issues in a recent article digging into the surprising reasons SGE is stuck in Google Labs.

He lists three big problems that need to be solved before SGE will be integrated into the foreground of search:

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  1. Large Language Models being inadequate as an information retrieval system
  2. The inefficiency and cost of transformer architecture
  3. Hallucinating (providing inaccurate answers)

Until SGE provides more user value and checks more boxes on the business sense side, the traditional search experience is here to stay. Unfortunately, we don’t know when or if Google will ever feel confident they’ve addressed all of these concerns, so we’ll need to stay prepared for change.

Experts Chime in on Search Generative Experience

Our team has been actively engaging with SGE, here’s a closer look at their thoughts and opinions on the experience so far:

“With SGE still in its early stages, I’ve noticed consistent changes in how the generative results are produced and weaved naturally into the SERPs. Because of this, I feel it is imperative to stay on top of these on-going changes to ensure we can continue to educate our clients on what to expect when SGE is officially incorporated into our everyday lives. Although an official launch date is currently unknown, I believe proactively testing various prompt types and recording our learnings is important to prepare our clients for this next evolution of Google search.”

– Jon Pagano, SEO Sr. Specialist at Tinuiti

“It’s been exciting to watch SGE grow through different variations over the last year, but like other AI solutions its potential still outweighs its functionality and usefulness. What’s interesting to see is that SGE doesn’t just cite its sources of information, but also provides an enhanced preview of each webpage referenced. This presents a unique organic opportunity where previously untouchable top 10 rankings are far more accessible to the average website. Time will tell what the top ranking factors for SGE are, but verifiable content with strong E-E-A-T signals will be imperative.”

–Kate Fischer, SEO Specialist at Tinuiti

“Traditionally, AI tools were very good at analytical tasks. With the rise of ChatGPT, users can have long-form, multi-question conversations not yet available in search results. When, not if, released, Google’s Generative Experience will transform how we view AI and search. Because there are so many unknowns, some of the most impactful ways we prepare our clients are to discover and develop SEO strategies that AI tools can’t directly disrupt, like mid to low funnel content.”

– Brandon Miller, SEO Specialist at Tinuiti

“SGE is going to make a huge impact on the ecommerce industry by changing the way users interact with the search results. Improved shopping experience will allow users to compare products, price match, and read reviews in order to make it quicker and easier for a user to find the best deals and purchase. Although this leads to more competitive results, it also improves organic visibility and expands our product reach. It is more important than ever to ensure all elements of a page are uniquely and specifically optimized for search. With the SGE updates expected to continue to impact search results, the best way to stay ahead is by focusing on strong user focused content and detailed product page optimizations.” 

– Kellie Daley, SEO Sr. Specialist at Tinuiti

Navigating the Clash of Trends

One of the most interesting aspects of the generative AI trend in search is that it appears to be in direct opposition to other recent trends.

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One of the ways Google has historically evaluated the efficacy of its search ranking systems is through the manual review of quality raters. In their quality rater guidelines, raters were instructed to review for things like expertise, authority, and trustworthiness (EAT) in results to determine if Google results are providing users the information they deserve. 

In 2022, Google updated their search guidelines to include another ‘e’ in the form of experience (EEAT). In their words, Google wanted to better assess if the content a user was consuming was created by someone with, “a degree of experience, such as with actual use of a product, having actually visited a place or communicating what a person has experienced. There are some situations where really what you value most is content produced by someone who has firsthand, life experience on the topic at hand.” 

Generative AI results, while cutting-edge technology and wildly impressive in some cases, stand in direct opposition to the principles of E-E-A-T. That’s not to say that there’s no room for both in search, but Google will have to determine what it thinks users value more between these competing trends. The slow adoption of SGE could be an indication that a preference for human experience, expertise, authority, and trust is winning round one in this fight. 

Along these lines, Google is also diversifying its search results to cater to the format in which users get their information. This takes the form of their Perspectives Filter. Also announced at Google I/O 2023, the perspectives filter incorporates more video, image, and discussion board posts from places like TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, and Quora. Once again, this trend shows the emphasis and value searchers place on experience and perspective. Users value individual experience over the impersonal conveyance of information. AI will never have these two things, even if it can provide a convincing imitation.

The current iteration of SGE seems to go too far in dismissing these trends in favor of generative AI. It’s an interesting challenge Google faces. If they don’t determine the prevailing trend correctly, veering too far in one direction can push more market share to ChatGPT or platforms like YouTube and TikTok.

Final Thoughts

The range of outcomes remains broad and fascinating for SGE. We can see this developing in different ways, and prognostication offers little value, but it’s invaluable to know the potential outcomes and prepare for as many of them as possible.

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It’s critical that you or your search agency be interacting and experimenting with SGE because:

  • The format and results will most likely continue to see significant changes
  • This space moves quickly and it’s easy to fall behind
  • Google may fix all of the issues with SGE and decide to push it live, changing the landscape of search overnight
  • SGE experiments could inform other AI elements incorporated into the search experience

Ultimately, optimizing for the specific SGE experience we see now is less important because we know it will inevitably continue changing. We see more value in recognizing the trends and problems Google is trying to solve with this technology. With how quickly this space moves, any specifics mentioned in this article could be outdated in a week. That’s why focusing on intention and process is important at this stage of the game.

By understanding the future needs and wants SGE is attempting to address, we can help you future-proof your search strategies as much as possible. To some extent we’re always at the whims of the algorithm, but by maintaining a user-centric approach, you can make your customers happy, regardless of how they find you.

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How to create editorial guidelines that are useful + template

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How to create editorial guidelines that are useful + template

Before diving in to all things editorial guidelines, a quick introduction. I head up the content team here at Optimizely. I’m responsible for developing our content strategy and ensuring this aligns to our key business goals.

Here I’ll take you through the process we used to create new editorial guidelines; things that worked well and tackle some of the challenges that come with any good multi – stakeholder project, share some examples and leave you with a template you can use to set your own content standards.

What are editorial guidelines?

Editorial guidelines are a set of standards for any/all content contributors, etc. etc. This most often includes guidance on brand, tone of voice, grammar and style, your core content principles and the types of content you want to produce.

Editorial guidelines are a core component of any good content strategy and can help marketers achieve the following in their content creation process:

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  • Consistency: All content produced, regardless of who is creating it, maintains a consistent tone of voice and style, helping strengthen brand image and making it easier for your audience to recognize your company’s content  
  • Quality Control: Serves as a ‘North Star’ for content quality, drawing a line in the sand to communicate the standard of content we want to produce 
  • Boosts SEO efforts: Ensures content creation aligns with SEO efforts, improving company visibility and increasing traffic 
  • Efficiency: With clear guidelines in place, content creators – external and internal – can work more efficiently as they have a clear understanding of what is expected of them 

Examples of editorial guidelines

There are some great examples of editorial guidelines out there to help you get started.

Here are a few I used: 

1. Editorial Values and Standards, the BBC

 

Ah, the Beeb. This really helped me channel my inner journalist and learn from the folks that built the foundation for free quality journalism. 

How to create editorial guidelines, Pepperland Marketing

pepperlandmarketingblogpostoneditorialguidelines

After taking a more big picture view I recognized needed more focused guidance on the step by step of creating editorial guidelines.

I really liked the content the good folks at Pepperland Marketing have created, including a free template – thanks guys! – and in part what inspired me to create our own free template as a way of sharing learnings and helping others quickstart the process of creating their own guidelines.

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3. Writing guidelines for the role of AI in your newsroom?… Nieman Lab

NiemanLabsguidanceonroleofaiinyournewsroom

As well as provide guidance on content quality and the content creation process, I wanted to tackle the thorny topic of AI in our editorial guidelines. Specifically, to give content creators a steer on ‘fair’ use of AI when creating content, to ensure creators get to benefit from the amazing power of these tools, but also that content is not created 100% by AI and help them understand why we feel that contravenes our core content principles of content quality. 

So, to learn more I devoured this fascinating article, sourcing guidance from major media outlets around the world. I know things change very quickly when it comes to AI, but I highly encourage reading this and taking inspiration from how these media outlets are tackling this topic. 

Learn more: The Marketer’s Guide to AI-generated content

Why did we decide to create editorial guidelines?

1. Aligning content creators to a clear vision and process

Optimizely as a business has undergone a huge transformation over the last 3 years, going through rapid acquisition and all the joys and frustrations that can bring. As a content team, we quickly recognized the need to create a set of clear and engaging guidelines that helps content creators understand how and where they can contribute, and gave a clear process to follow when submitting a content idea for consideration. 

2. Reinvigorated approach to brand and content 

As a brand Optimizely is also going through a brand evolution – moving from a more formal, considered tone of voice to one that’s much more approachable, down to earth and not afraid to use humor, different in content and execution. 

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See, our latest CMS campaign creative:

Mock ups of Optimizely CMS campaign creative

It’s pretty out there in terms of creative and messaging. It’s an ad campaign that’s designed to capture attention yes, but also – to demonstrate our abilities as a marketing team to create this type of campaign that is normally reserved for other more quote unquote creative industries. 

We wanted to give guidance to fellow content creators outside the team on how they can also create content that embraces this evolved tone of voice, while at the same time ensuring content adheres to our brand guidelines.

3. Streamline content creation process

Like many global enterprises we have many different content creators, working across different time zones and locations. Documenting a set of guidelines and making them easily available helps content creators quickly understand our content goals, the types of content we want to create and why. It would free up content team time spent with individual contributors reviewing and editing submissions, and would ensure creation and optimization aligns to broader content & business goals.

It was also clear that we needed to document a process for submitting content ideas, so we made sure to include this in the guidelines themselves to make it easy and accessible for all contributors. 

4. 2023 retrospective priority 

As a content team we regularly review our content strategy and processes to ensure we’re operating as efficiently as possible.

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In our last retrospective. I asked my team ‘what was the one thing I could do as a manager to help them be more impactful in their role?’

Editorial guidelines was the number 1 item on their list. 

So off we went… 

What we did

  • Defined a discrete scope of work for the first version of the editorial guidelines, focusing on the Blog and Resources section of the website. This is where the content team spends most of its time and so has most involvement in the content creation process. Also where the most challenging bottlenecks have been in the past
  • Research. Reviewed what was out there, got my hands on a few free templates and assembled a framework to create a first version for inputs and feedback 
  • Asked content community – I put a few questions out to my network on LinkedIn on the topic of content guidelines and content strategy, seeking to get input and guidance from smart marketers.  

linkedinpostoneditorialguidelines

Combining two of my great passions in life – content strategy and Arrested Development – in one LinkedIn post (Feb 2024)

  • Invited feedback: Over the course of a few weekswe invited collaborators to comment in a shared doc as a way of taking iterative feedback, getting ideas for the next scope of work, and also – bringing people on the journey of creating the guidelines. Look at all those reviewers! Doing this within our Content Marketing Platform (CMP) ensured that all that feedback was captured in one place, and that we could manage the process clearly, step by step:

Optimizelycmpscreenshotofeditorialguidelines

Look at all those collaborators! Thanks guys! And all of those beautiful ticks, so satisfying. So glad I could crop out the total outstanding tasks for this screen grab too (Source – Optimizely CMP) 

  • Updated content workflow: Now we have clear, documented guidance in place, we’ve included this as a step – the first step – in the workflow used for blog post creation: 

Optimizely CMP screenshot of editorial guideline review

Source: Optimizely CMP

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Results

It’s early days but we’re already seeing more engagement with the content creation process, especially amongst the teams involved in building the guidelines (which was part of the rationale in the first place :))

Screenshot of teams message editorial guidelines

Source: My Teams chat 

It’s inspired teams to think differently about the types of content we want to produce going forwards – for the blog and beyond.

I’d also say it’s boosted team morale and collaboration, helping different teams work together on shared goals to produce better quality work.

What’s next?

We’re busy planning wider communication of the editorial guidelines beyond marketing. We’ve kept the original draft and regularly share this with existing and potential collaborators for ongoing commentary, ideas and feedback.

Creating guidelines has also sparked discussion about the types of briefs and templates we want and need to create in CMP to support creating different assets. Finding the right balance between creative approach and using templates to scale content production is key. 

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We’ll review these guidelines on a quarterly basis and evolve as needed, adding new formats and channels as we go.

Key takeaways

  • Editorial guidelines are a useful way to guide content creators as part of your overall content strategy
  • Taking the time to do research upfront can help accelerate seemingly complex projects. Don’t be afraid to ask your community for inputs and advice as you create
  • Keep the scope small at first rather than trying to align everything all at once. Test and learn as you go
  • Work with stakeholders to build guidelines from the ground up to ensure you create a framework that is useful, relevant and used

And lastly, here’s that free template we created to help you build or evolve your own editorial guidelines!

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Effective Communication in Business as a Crisis Management Strategy

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Effective Communication in Business as a Crisis Management Strategy

Everyday business life is full of challenges. These include data breaches, product recalls, market downturns and public relations conflicts that can erupt at any moment. Such situations pose a significant threat to a company’s financial health, brand image, or even its further existence. However, only 49% of businesses in the US have a crisis communications plan. It is a big mistake, as such a strategy can build trust, minimize damage, and even strengthen the company after it survives the crisis. Let’s discover how communication can transform your crisis and weather the chaos.

The ruining impact of the crisis on business

A crisis can ruin a company. Naturally, it brings losses. But the actual consequences are far worse than lost profits. It is about people behind the business – they feel the weight of uncertainty and fear. Employees start worrying about their jobs, customers might lose faith in the brand they once trusted, and investors could start looking elsewhere. It can affect the brand image and everything you build from the branding, business logo, social media can be ruined. Even after the crisis recovery, the company’s reputation can suffer, and costly efforts might be needed to rebuild trust and regain momentum. So, any sign of a coming crisis should be immediately addressed. Communication is one of the crisis management strategies that can exacerbate the situation.  

The power of effective communication

Even a short-term crisis may have irreversible consequences – a damaged reputation, high employee turnover, and loss of investors. Communication becomes a tool that can efficiently navigate many crisis-caused challenges:

  • Improved trust. Crisis is a synonym for uncertainty. Leaders may communicate trust within the company when the situation gets out of control. Employees feel valued when they get clear responses. The same applies to the customers – they also appreciate transparency and are more likely to continue cooperation when they understand what’s happening. In these times, documenting these moments through event photographers can visually reinforce the company’s messages and enhance trust by showing real, transparent actions.
  • Reputation protection. Crises immediately spiral into gossip and PR nightmares. However, effective communication allows you to proactively address concerns and disseminate true information through the right channels. It minimizes speculation and negative media coverage.
  • Saved business relationships. A crisis can cause unbelievable damage to relationships with employees, customers, and investors. Transparent communication shows the company’s efforts to find solutions and keeps stakeholders informed and engaged, preventing misunderstandings and painful outcomes.
  • Faster recovery. With the help of communication, the company is more likely to receive support and cooperation. This collaborative approach allows you to focus on solutions and resume normal operations as quickly as possible.

It is impossible to predict when a crisis will come. So, a crisis management strategy mitigates potential problems long before they arise.

Tips on crafting an effective crisis communication plan.

To effectively deal with unforeseen critical situations in business, you must have a clear-cut communication action plan. This involves things like messages, FAQs, media posts, and awareness of everyone in the company. This approach saves precious time when the crisis actually hits. It allows you to focus on solving the problem instead of intensifying uncertainty and panic. Here is a step-by-step guide.  

Identify your crisis scenarios.

Being caught off guard is the worst thing. So, do not let it happen. Conduct a risk assessment to pinpoint potential crises specific to your business niche. Consider both internal and external factors that could disrupt normal operations or damage the online reputation of your company. Study industry-specific issues, past incidents, and current trends. How will you communicate in each situation? Knowing your risks helps you prepare targeted communication strategies in advance. Of course, it is impossible to create a perfectly polished strategy, but at least you will build a strong foundation for it.

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Form a crisis response team.

The next step is assembling a core team. It will manage communication during a crisis and should include top executives like the CEO, CFO, and CMO, and representatives from key departments like public relations and marketing. Select a confident spokesperson who will be the face of your company during the crisis. Define roles and responsibilities for each team member and establish communication channels they will work with, such as email, telephone, and live chat. Remember, everyone in your crisis response team must be media-savvy and know how to deliver difficult messages to the stakeholders.

Prepare communication templates.

When a crisis hits, things happen fast. That means communication needs to be quick, too. That’s why it is wise to have ready-to-go messages prepared for different types of crises your company may face. These messages can be adjusted to a particular situation when needed and shared on the company’s social media, website, and other platforms right away. These templates should include frequently asked questions and outline the company’s general responses. Make sure to approve these messages with your legal team for accuracy and compliance.

Establish communication protocols.

A crisis is always chaotic, so clear communication protocols are a must-have. Define trigger points – specific events that would launch the crisis communication plan. Establish a clear hierarchy for messages to avoid conflicting information. Determine the most suitable forms and channels, like press releases or social media, to reach different audiences. Here is an example of how you can structure a communication protocol:

  • Immediate alert. A company crisis response team is notified about a problem.  
  • Internal briefing.  The crisis team discusses the situation and decides on the next steps.  
  • External communication. A spokesperson reaches the media, customers, and suppliers.
  • Social media updates. A trained social media team outlines the situation to the company audience and monitors these channels for misinformation or negative comments.
  • Stakeholder notification. The crisis team reaches out to customers and partners to inform them of the incident and its risks. They also provide details on the company’s response efforts and measures.
  • Ongoing updates. Regular updates guarantee transparency and trust and let stakeholders see the crisis development and its recovery.

Practice and improve.

Do not wait for the real crisis to test your plan. Conduct regular crisis communication drills to allow your team to use theoretical protocols in practice. Simulate different crisis scenarios and see how your people respond to these. It will immediately demonstrate the strong and weak points of your strategy. Remember, your crisis communication plan is not a static document. New technologies and evolving media platforms necessitate regular adjustments. So, you must continuously review and update it to reflect changes in your business and industry.

Wrapping up

The ability to handle communication well during tough times gives companies a chance to really connect with the people who matter most—stakeholders. And that connection is a foundation for long-term success. Trust is key, and it grows when companies speak honestly, openly, and clearly. When customers and investors trust the company, they are more likely to stay with it and even support it. So, when a crisis hits, smart communication not only helps overcome it but also allows you to do it with minimal losses to your reputation and profits.

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