Creating Effective Calls to Action for Nonprofit Websites
As a nonprofit organization, driving donations and volunteer sign-ups is crucial for achieving your mission. But how do you get visitors to take action on your website? One key element is creating effective calls to action (CTAs). CTAs are the buttons or links on your website that prompt visitors to take a specific action, such as making a donation or signing up to volunteer. In this article, we'll provide tips and best practices for creating CTAs that convert, including how to make them stand out, use action-oriented language, position them prominently, make them mobile-friendly and more. By following these tips, you can create effective CTAs that help drive more donations and volunteer sign-ups for your nonprofit.
Make your CTA stand out
One way to make your CTA stand out is by using contrasting colors. For example, if your website has a primarily white background, you could use a bright red or blue button for your CTA. This will make it stand out and grab the attention of visitors.
Another way to make your CTA stand out is by using bold text. This can be done by increasing the font size, using a different font, or making it all caps. This will make the text more prominent and easy to read, increasing the chances of visitors clicking on it. Additionally, you can use design elements like icons, images, or illustrations to make your CTA more attractive and eye-catching. Make sure to choose a relevant image that aligns with the action you are promoting, for example, if you are promoting a donation page, you can use an image of a donation box or a hand holding a coin.
Finally, you should always ensure that your CTA is prominently placed on the page and easy to find. This means placing it above the fold, so visitors do not have to scroll down to find it. You can also use design elements like arrows or lines to guide the visitor's eye toward your CTA.
Overall, by making your CTA stand out with contrasting colors, bold text, and appropriate design elements, you will increase the chances of visitors clicking on it and taking the desired action.
Use action-oriented language
When creating a CTA, it's important to use action-oriented language that clearly communicates the desired action. Words like "donate," "volunteer," "register," or "join" are all clear and specific actions that let the visitors know exactly what they should expect after clicking on the CTA.
Using action-oriented language not only makes it clear what you want visitors to do, but it also creates a sense of urgency. For example, "Donate now to support our cause" is much more effective than "Learn more about our cause." This is because the first sentence uses action-oriented language and it creates a sense of urgency by using the word "now."
Additionally, using action-oriented language helps in increasing the click-through rate of your CTA. For example, if your CTA says "Sign up for our newsletter" instead of "Learn more about our updates" you are more likely to get people to sign up for your newsletter.
On the other hand, using vague language like "learn more" or "click here" is not as effective because it doesn't clearly communicate the desired action. Visitors may not know what to expect after clicking on the CTA and may be less likely to take action.
Using action-oriented language in your CTAs will help to increase the chances of visitors taking the desired action and is more effective in driving conversions compared to vague language.
Position your CTA prominently
The position of a CTA is crucial for its effectiveness. A call to action that is hidden or placed in a low-visibility area will not be seen by many visitors, and therefore, will not generate many conversions.
One way to position your CTA prominently is by placing it above the fold. This means that the CTA is visible on the screen without the need to scroll down. This is important because many visitors will just not scroll down the page, so if the CTA is placed below the fold, it may not be seen by many people.
Another area to position your CTA prominently is in the sidebar. This is effective because the sidebar is usually located on the right or left side of the screen and is visible on almost every page of the website. This way, visitors will be able to see the CTA no matter which page they are on.
Additionally, you can use design elements like arrows or lines to guide the visitor's eye towards your CTA. Overall increasing the chances of visitors seeing and clicking on it, which will lead to more conversions.
Use button shape
Using a button shape for your CTA is a great way to make it stand out and easy to find. A button shape can be easily distinguished from other elements on the page and it implies that the user should click on it.
When creating a button shape for your CTA, it's important to make it large enough so that it's easy to tap on mobile devices. Also, using a button shape that is different from the other buttons on the page will make it stand out more but make sure it is still in line with the overall design of the page.
Use contrasting colors and hover effects to make the button shape more attractive and eye-catching. For example, you can make the button change color when the user hovers over it with their cursor.
A button shape for your CTA also allows you to use smaller text, since the shape itself will communicate the action.
Make it mobile-friendly
Making your CTAs mobile-friendly is crucial for ensuring that visitors can easily find and interact with them when using a smartphone or tablet. One way to make your CTAs mobile-friendly is by using large, easy-to-tap buttons. This means that the buttons should be big enough for users to click on with their fingers, and they should have ample space around them to avoid accidental clicks.
Another important aspect to consider when making your CTAs mobile-friendly is the font size. Small text can be difficult to read on a small screen, so it's important to use larger text that is easy to read. You can also use a font that is specifically designed for small screens, such as Open Sans or Lato.
You should also make sure that the CTA is placed in a prominent location on the screen, so it is easy for users to find and tap. This is particularly important for mobile visitors, as they may not scroll down the page as much as desktop visitors.
Additionally, you should also consider the placement of the CTA when designing your mobile website. You can use design elements like a sticky button, which remains visible on the screen, even when the user scrolls down the page.
By following these tips, you can create effective CTAs that are designed to drive more donations and volunteer sign-ups for your nonprofit. The most important aspect to remember is to always test different versions of your CTA to see which one performs best for your audience. By doing this, you will be able to continuously optimize your CTAs and increase their effectiveness over time.
