So you’ve attracted a visitor to your website or blog… Now what? We recommend you tell them exactly what you what them to do. As impolite or even demanding as that may sound, calls-to-action (or CTAs) are actually quite helpful to website navigators and marketers alike. These powerful little tools – whether in banner ad or button form – literally call on your visitors to take an action. For example, a CTA might direct web viewers to download or subscribe to something, retrieve a coupon, enter a contest, attend an event, etc. If you look around on this page, you’ll probably notice that you’re surrounded by CTAs right now!

In just a few words, CTAs become one of the most impactful parts of your marketing when strategically created (and then backed up with relevant, high-quality content). Because enticing your target audience to take action with your content you’ve developed just for them is pretty powerful stuff, right? We think so, so we’ve supplied you with a list of five tips to create your own inspiring calls-to-action!

1. Align Left to Right

When creating CTAs within banner ads on your digital properties, remember this: We read left to right, so left is right! Sure, there are exceptions to this rule, but placing a CTA on the left side of your banner ad gives it a better chance of being seen and thus clicked.

2. Place on High-Traffic Pages

CTA placement is important not just within banner ads, but also within your website as a whole. Strategically place CTAs where they’ll benefit from the most qualified eyes. Refer to web analytics to determine your high-traffic pages. Then pair CTAs with the most visited pages that are also the most relevant to the content you want your visitors to click through to.

3. Include CTAs in Advertising

You can extend your calls-to-action beyond the walls of your website. For instance, Facebook allows CTA buttons within ads created for their platform providing you the opportunity to entice your Facebook community, as well.

4. Provide an Incentive

Presenting an incentive within a CTA is a proven tactic that inspires action. Whether you’re positioning your offer as “FREE”, a “Chance to WIN” or quick (ex: Sign Up in 30 Seconds!), delivering desired benefits in your CTAs will get you a whole lot more “A”s.

5. Conduct A/B Tests to Determine What Works

There are countless ways to craft effective CTAs (whether in a blog post or banner ad), but the top tip we offer is this: Create CTAs that work best for and appeal most to YOUR audience. Conduct A/B testing to determine the types and styles that get the best results and then stick with the winners for future CTAs. The tool we use to A/B test also clearly reports how each of your CTAs are performing in real time so that you can nimbly adjust your tactics until they’re just right.

“Action” is what fresh produce marketers should aspire to achieve from their audiences. By incorporating these tips into your process, you’ll be well on your way to inspiring clicks, downloads, subscriptions and more so that you can learn more about your customers/consumers. Find out more about how CTAs can help to accelerate your company’s marketing strategy in 2015 in our Intro to Inbound Marketing eBook!