The Power of Call to Action
A call to action or CTA can be summarized as a marketing message that includes a very finite and specific appeal to your target audience. In other words, your goal is to ensure that the audience takes the action following the receipt of the intended message. A call to action can be utilized in print, radio, outdoor, and television advertising. However, it is very commonly used in Internet marketing strategies that are tailored to specific audiences.
Why Create a Call to Action?
Advertising has two primary components. One is to get the marketing message in front of your audience, and the second is to get them to act upon it. Both of these elements can allow for a return on investment. We have outlined a few techniques to create your own ‘call to action’ that will have your telephones ringing, web conversations increasing, and finally your ability to innovate your profit margins with real time sales graphs.
Trial/Introductory Period:
Persuasive techniques indicate that allowing a user to try a service or product throughout an introductory time period can build loyalty quickly and help to establish credibility without the feeling of the classic buyer’s remorse.
No ‘Risk’ Purchase:
Various audiences seek out opportunities for the ‘no risk’ purchase in the event that he/she tries your product/service. Inform your audience about the simple cancellation policy within the first 15 or 30 days of initial purchase.
Price Increase:
Large enterprise organizations have been utilizing this technique to lure in more customers. Let’s face it, everyone is searching for a great deal on purchases. Let’s think ‘Black Friday’, as it is one of the retailer’s largest marketing ploy to lure mass consumers into their stores. This applies to both your brick and mortar and online stores. Consider this principle to bring in increased sales in a short period of time.
Upgrade Offers:
The automotive and consumer electronics industry are notorious for this simple call to action. Upgrades can boost sales performances with greater added-value. Upgrades can occur as a free incentive or can be furnished with paid options. After-all who doesn’t want a top of the line product/service?
Free Giveaway:
This technique is common and can be spotted in numerous marketing campaigns. Buy a computer and get the printer for ‘free.’ Buy this acne cream and we will throw in a second bottle for ‘free.’ These offers can drive high volume of sales in a short period of time.
These techniques can be combined with creative and meaningful copy that attracts your buyer. Provide a simple marketing message that will allow for your market to really hone in and listen.
Examples:
- Contact us today for a free white paper on Wealth Management
- Get a free market analysis on your home
- Sign-up now and learn how to protect yourself from identity theft
- Learn how to choose the perfect engagement ring and avoid costly mistakes
- Purchase a season pass to avoid long lines
- Read how to fall asleep if you suffer from insomnia
- Call today and find out what the IRS looks for in your tax returns
- See how we are helping small businesses manage cash flow and become profitable
A simple call to action can demonstrate a unique capability for the business and position itself for growth. Provide a solution and phrase your ‘call to action’ with the intent to attract your intended audience.
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Five Essential Components To Internet Marketing Success
Prior to implementing a marketing strategy, there are 5 factors that should encompass whether or not the proposed strategy will prove to be a success. These components are outlined to help you align not only a grassroots approach to your marketing, but also methods to help facilitate the process.
1. Builds Awareness
If you speak to any business owner who is passionate about his/her product or service, they will always firmly believe in their business. However, it is just as important for the market to know about your superior product/service. If the consumer market is not aware of your product and/or service offerings, then it is only natural that another business will capture your market share. Marketing strategies allow you to educate your market, which can come from various platforms such as: advertising, search marketing, social media, word-of-mouth, and of course, traditional advertising.
2. Communicate to your Target Market
Marketing efforts are geared towards educating and informing a select audience. Communication may occur based on your market position, as well as the following differentiators, which include: value, competitive value, price, product or service information, video, testimonials, or even as simple as where to find you. It shall be noted that the most important of these is the art of communication. It only takes a few seconds to capture your market’s attention, you must be able to educate and inform your consumer based off of the value proposition for your product/service.
3. Emotional Response
Marketing messages are not just about getting your audiences attention, it is about creating meaningful messages that resonate with them. Such messages build and sustain relationships, as well as allowing your market to find such loyalty in a brand. Successful emotional responses have a greater tendency of building ‘trust’ and it also enhances brand equity. With the recent push of the World Wide Web organizations must demonstrate their capability with a “show me” attitude. Such methods can be achieved through the following: a web blog, videos, voicing values, all while simultaneously building the number of fans, followers, and connections. Believe it or note, ‘numbers’ will influence a buyer significantly. Here is food for thought: “Gosh, if all these people (some being my friends) like this company maybe I should too.”
4. Quality Service
In the digital-age marketing requires servicing before selling. Customer service is a critical component in closing sales and influencing repeat purchases. Observe some of the largest web brands and their outstanding leadership towards customer support. Quality service will provide you with excellent word-of-mouth marketing campaign that costs you zero dollars per impression. It doesn’t get any better than that. For truly effective service such requirements include: contact forms, emails, phone number, and social media exposure.
5. Sales
It is a common misconception that sales and marketing are two different entities. Times have changed and it is vital that both departments work together as a unit to provide consumers with a consistent marketing message. Consider Internet marketing as a tool to provide your team with lead generation, customer service, and relationship building. These tasks may enable to you ‘close the deal.’
On a final note, we have given you the five most critical components for your business’ marketing plan. Do you have any ideas that you would like to share? Leave your comments below and let’s build upon it! 
