Before we dive into setting up tracking for affiliate link clicks, it's crucial to ensure we create the most effective call to action (CTA) for each affiliate offer on every page.
By leveraging fundamental psychological principles and A/B testing data, we can craft the perfect CTA for your needs. In this guide, we'll explore how to select the ideal button color and craft compelling text that encourages clicks.
Choosing the Perfect Button Color
To make your CTA stand out, select a button color that contrasts with your website's background.
Utilize the color wheel to find the optimal color for your CTA, also known as the primary action color.
https://coolors.co/ is a great online tool you can use to create, save, and share color palettes quickly and easily.
Primary Action Color
For example, if your website's main color is blue (e.g., #0077FF), the primary action color would be a shade of orange (e.g., #FF9900). This combination ensures that your CTA buttons will contrast with the background and be easily noticeable to users.
This color should be both complementary and opposite from your website's color scheme, making it pop off the page.
Maintain Color Discipline
Remember to maintain a single color theme for your website and avoid using your primary action color elsewhere to maintain color discipline.
By consistently using the primary action color only for CTA buttons, you condition your users to associate this color with taking action on your website.
Using the blue and orange example mentioned earlier, you should only use the orange color (#FF9900) for your CTA buttons, such as "Sign Up Now" or "Buy Now." Keep all other design elements, such as headings, subheadings, and icons and internal links, in your website's main color (blue) or other complementary colors.
Crafting the Perfect CTA Text
Here are five tips for writing the words within your CTA:
- Keep it short and sweet.
- Use time-sensitive words like "now" and "today."
- Include the word "free" if applicable.
- Always include an actionable verb.
- Describe what the user will get once they click.
Here are some prebuilt CTA to reference:
- Sign Up Now
- Download Your Free Guide
- Join Our Webinar Today
- Start Your Free Trial
- Book a Free Consultation
- Shop Our Sale
- Request a Quote
- Buy Now
- Add To Cart
- Sign Up & Save
- Claim Sample
- Learn More
- Upgrade Now
- Get Access
- View Offer
- Schedule Demo
Top-Performing CTAs for Various Categories
We've gathered highly effective CTAs for different website categories, such as affiliate sites, e-commerce, local services, and lead magnets.
Some examples include "Click here for lowest price" for affiliate websites, "Check current price" for Amazon associate sites, and "Free personalized quote" for local service-based websites.
The Power of A/B Testing
To achieve the best results, you need to A/B test your CTAs. With A/B testing, you can compare different versions of your CTA and determine which one performs better.
Keep in mind that split testing is a continuous process, as there is always room for improvement.
We highly recommend using an affiliate link tracker to A/B test the call to action button with exact clicks and click through rate.
Best Practices for CTAs
Follow these crucial best practices when creating your CTAs to be effective:
- Don't place aggressive CTAs too early in the buyer awareness cycle.
- CTA MUST match the promise of why the visitors are there in the first place.
- Use comparison tables at the top of your post for affiliate marketing.
- Ensure your CTAs are mobile-responsive.
- Place a CTA at the bottom of your page for those who are ready to convert.
Mistakes To Avoid
Mistake #1: Low Perceived Value
If the incentive for someone to act is not strong enough, then it's not going to work. The more you can incentivize someone to act, the more likely they are to convert.
For example, a simple "Contact Us" button at the bottom of a page is not likely to be very effective. On the other hand, a "Request a Quote" or "Schedule a Demo" button is much more specific and it's likely to be successful because it takes the potential customer closer to their goal of purchasing a product.
Mistake #2: High Perceived Risk
Perceived risk can refer to both unknowns and potential security issues.
For example, a website selling eye exam tests that does not clearly state their location, opening times, or the cost of the service is likely to have a lower conversion rate because of the unknowns.
To reduce perceived risk, you need to explain what will happen before the lead has to even ask. This is basically about reframing doubts.
Mistake #3: Hard to find
A CTA placed at the bottom of a page is not likely to be seen by many people. CTA button with a bad color makes it even worse.
In order to increase the visibility and effectiveness of your CTA, it should be placed above the fold, or in a prominent position on the page.
You can also have multiple CTAs on a page, depending on the stage of the buyer journey that the potential customer is in.
Mistake #4: Disconnected from the Sales Process
Using the wrong Call to Action that doesn't match the intent of the lead. Every page needs to have specific call to action that is in align with what the page is all about.
For example, if the ad that took the visitor to the page to download something, then the CTA better present "Download Here".
If the CTA presents "Learn more", then that's a mis match.