Write your posts with a call to action – that’s the main theme for Day 23 of 31 Days to Build a Better Blog. I used to be absolutely horrible at this. But since the last time I read this ebook I’ve begun implementing this a little more often.
This is simply, tell people what you’d like them to do. Subscribe to the newsletter. Leave a comment. Be sure to pick up a copy of this book. Take this survey or poll. Etc.
Darren shares that only about 1% of his readers leave a comment or really, do anything. You can increase your odds of getting reader engagement by asking them to do something. Take a look at this post about how to get readers out of their passivity.
I think one of the keys with this is to be sure you aren’t breaking the readers’ trust. If you tell them they should buy a book – make sure it’s really a book worth reading. If you ask them to sign up for your posts via email, be sure you aren’t spamming them. If you want them toclick a link, make it a good one.
What techniques have you used in the past to call readers to action? What do you find useful and worth repeating?
Your challenge today is, of course, to include a call to action in a post on your post. Come back here and leave a link to the post so we can all check it out! (Oh snap! Did you notice that call to action?)
This is a great challenge- and one I need to work on a bit more. I am redesigning my site next month (because I don’t have enough to do-ha!) and plan to include a free e-book and some new tips pages that are front & center. My travel site isn’t one that many readers come back to as it is more “how to” based, but is found mostly through good SEO by searches. I hope to make it more of a place people come back to.