Originally published as a guest mini-challenge during the 2013 Biannual Blogathon Bash. Substantially updated in September 2026 while preserving the original participant discussion below.
A call to action is the point where useful content asks a reader to take a next step. That might be subscribing, buying, downloading, registering, reading another article, contacting you or joining a community.
The best calls to action are not necessarily the brightest buttons. They are the ones that make the next step clear and worthwhile.
Start With One Primary Goal
Before designing a button, decide what you want the reader to do on that particular page.
An article might primarily lead to a related tutorial. A sales page should usually make purchasing unmistakable. A free resource may focus on downloading or subscribing.
When every button screams for equal attention, none of them feels important.
Write Button Text That Explains the Action
Labels such as "Submit" or "Click Here" provide little context. Specific wording is usually more helpful:
- Download the Planner
- Join the Newsletter
- Read the Beginner Guide
- See the Workshop Details
- Buy the Book
The reader should understand what will happen before clicking.
Make the Button Visually Distinct
A call-to-action button should be easy to find without making the entire page feel like an advertisement.
Use sufficient contrast between the button, its text and the surrounding page. Leave enough space around it that it does not disappear into nearby links or graphics.
There is no universal "best button color." The useful question is whether the button is noticeable within your own site's design.
Design for Touch as Well as a Mouse
Many readers use phones and tablets. Buttons and linked controls need enough size and spacing to be tapped comfortably without accidentally activating a neighboring element.
Test important pages on an actual phone rather than assuming a desktop preview tells the whole story.
Put the CTA Where the Decision Makes Sense
A button should appear near the information that gives the reader a reason to act.
On a longer sales or registration page, repeating the primary CTA can be helpful after important sections. On an informational article, one well-placed next step may be enough.
Do not make readers scroll back through an entire page simply because they became ready to act near the bottom.
Match the CTA to the Reader's Stage
Someone reading a beginner article may not be ready to buy an advanced course. They might be ready to read the next lesson or join an email list.
A call to action works better when it is a logical continuation of what the reader just consumed.
Do Not Use False Urgency
Countdown timers, scarcity messages and "only two left" language should reflect a real limitation. Manufactured urgency may produce a click, but it can damage the trust that supports a long-term audience.
Accessibility Matters
Buttons need readable labels and adequate visual contrast. Avoid relying on color alone to communicate meaning. Keyboard users should also be able to reach interactive elements in a sensible order.
Clear descriptive text helps everyone understand the destination.
Measure the Result
If an important page receives traffic but very few people take the next step, examine the whole experience rather than immediately changing the button color.
Is the offer relevant? Is the value clear? Does the page answer objections? Is the button visible? Does it work on mobile? Is the form too complicated? Is the page slow?
Testing is most useful when it is tied to a real problem.
Blogathon Mini-Challenge: Review One Important CTA
The original challenge asked participants to survey their call-to-action buttons, and that remains a worthwhile exercise.
Choose one important page on your site and ask:
- What is the primary next step?
- Can a reader find it quickly?
- Does the label explain what happens?
- Is it easy to use on a phone?
- Does the action naturally follow the content?
Improve one CTA rather than trying to redesign every button on the site at once.
The Original Community Challenge
The comments below are worth preserving because they capture Blogathon participants actively working on newsletter buttons, social links, stores and site redesigns together in 2013. Some of the specific services they mention have changed, but the collaborative spirit is exactly what the Biannual Blogathon Bash is meant to preserve.
Meghan says
I just got my blog redesigned, so am happy with the design and placement of the buttons. However, I do think I need to reach out and check out new platforms. I am really just doing twitter and facebook!
Alaia says
When my designer gets back to working on my women's event website, I'll add call to action buttons for joining the community and buying tickets. Its on the list now!
shaismith says
I need to work on my buttons for my newletter(s), BUT I do have Elegant Themes and some awesome plug-in they offer has buttons that come with it. They are very simple but nice looking buttons that you can customize with things like 'Click to Tweet'. I use the 'Click to Tweet' at the end of important bits on my shaismith.com blog, but not so much on thevagabondstudio.com. I guess I should use it on both, though!
Kathleen Garber says
That's a neat feature!
Alaia says
Click to Tweet is a great plugin. I keep forgetting to install it on my site. Thanks for the reminder.
dfgcdg says
I'm working on using the Drop Shadow Boxes plugin to see if that helps with the Call to Action.
Retha Groenewald says
I love using buttons - perhaps it is because my new blog theme does it so easily.
I used call to action buttons in this post to purchase a book. .
I have a Add to Goodreads Call to action button on my blog
Ashley Pomykala says
I changed my social media icons. I am much happier but I am not happy with my theme which is causing some hiccups.
ve3smu says
Well I only have one button so I guess I can design more. I need to know what calls to action I would need.
Kathleen Garber says
To sign up for your newsletter. To buy from your stores.
cydlee61 says
My first step was to actually create a new call to action in setting up a newsletter for my blog and putting a subscribe button on my blog.
Gillian Pearce says
I'm happy with the current subscribe button on my blog but I'm working on changing to Mailchimp from Feedburner. I'm having difficulty getting the Mailchimp button to look the same as the one I currently have but I'll working on it.
Meg says
I am adding a fb "like" button on my to do list. I need to research how to add that to every post.
Ashley Addison says
I created a "sign up for our newsletter" call to action button, but it's a little big. I have to work on sizing it later. Thanks so much for the help.
mysassitude says
I think my call to action buttons work. It's actually a header image mapped to be clickable.
However, I need to add YouTube at some point. I may have to add some buttons somewhere, too.
Michelle says
I've added a call to action button to bring more readers to my Facebook page - separate from my Facebook "like" button. Thanks for the idea!!!
Jackie says
I'm going to attempt to make a call to action button to get people to follow via email. I'm new at button creation - gonna do it with the mini-challenge, so I might end up having to get someone to do it for me. Can these be an element that shows up on each post like the tweet/fb/ etc that I have now? Like a button at the bottom of the post that saids 'subscribe" but in more inviting language? I want an easy click to sign up so this would be awesome. If they like a post they could click at the end of it so they dont miss out on more.
Create With Joy says
I have worked hard to coordinate all of my current call to action buttons on my blog and am currently pleased with their look. I have a few new ones I hope to add in the near future.
Create With Joy
aerynlynnegws says
I'm updating my newsletter button in my sidebar... I've got the right colour now I believe, but am still working on it's boxy look.
v12m says
I like the call to action on my blogs. I have Pinterest, FB, subscribe, Twitter and Bloglovin. I am about to open at Etsy store so I will need to design one when the time comes.