Creating a Call to Action in Marketing Your Personal Training Services

Creating a Call to Action in Marketing Your Personal Training Services

  It’s not enough to have a business. You have to market your services and give consumers a reason to act fast. Do you have a call to action? How does your call to action efforts measure up?

What is a call to action (CTA)?

Otherwise known as a CTA in marketing, a call to action is an instructional message to viewers or your intended audience that persuades or encourages them to complete a specific task. A quick web search of business websites reveals a wide variety of CTA’s. Some examples include “call now”, “click here for more information”, “download our guide today”, “sign-up for free”, or “register here”. In some ways, CTA’s – if done right and approached formulaically, can act as a subliminal message to consumers which entices them to do something more, to take the extra step and sign up for a newsletter or service or register for an account.  

Why you need a CTA

CTA’s are important for consumer action. You want consumers to be called to do “something”- how you define “something” depends on your business niche and service specialty. You don’t just want consumers to visit your website or store front, you want them to return. Think of the CTA as the “hook” in your marketing efforts.  

The Simple 7 - Tips for Effective CTA’s

Creating CTA’s is an artform that requires finesse. You don’t want the call to action to be “off putting” or unattractive to the viewer. Here are a few quick tips for successful CTA design.  

1 - Use action-oriented verbiage

Words such as “try”, “click”, “download”, “view”, etc. The call to action should encourage immediate response.

2 - Be mindful of colors

Create a CTA that stands out from the rest of the colors. Think contrast, but not clash. You don’t want a CTA to blend in and be so subtle that it’s missed entirely by the viewer. Including some white space around the CTA will also make it stand out.

3 - Personalize it

Consumers like to feel as if you are speaking directly to them. Incorporating first-person language is key. “Get your free copy today” or “Create your account” are examples.

4 - Keep it simple and short

For best practice, keep CTA’s to a short phrase or two-word action. A lengthy CTA is an awkward CTA and subconsciously diverts the consumer.

5 - Play with design

Use a different button design or font size to make the CTA stand out on print and digital media materials.

6 - Keep it legible

Don’t get fancy using a cursive or difficult to read font. Consumers may miss it entirely. You are creating a message, not a wedding invitation.

7 - Get feedback

If you want to know if your CTA is effective, ask different consumers you trust to try it out and review material you have (print and digital) and provide fair and balanced feedback. In the end, it’s always about the user and his or her experience. Prioritize this.   Invest time in reevaluating and, if necessary, revise your current marketing materials and website and implement thoughtful and strategic CTA’s to persuade potential clients to contact you and embark on their fitness journey with you as their guide.