Ever read those really great posts that not only draw you in, but make you sign up for their offer, or run down to your nearest Starbucks to try the hot new coffee creation?

What makes them so persuasive?

Is it the flow if the content?

Is it because the writer uses literary elements?

Is there dramatic flair?

It’s so much simpler than that!

The key to writing persuasive copy is…

Your call to action!

You’re thinking “yeah right,” aren’t you?

The thing that so many people do, when they are writing their marketing copy, is have a weak call to action, or not one at all.

This isn’t true for just the creative entrepreneur, or no! Seasoned writers do it too.

We think of persuasive content as dirty, or slimy sales copy.

While there is that type of content out there, the “good stuff” makes you feel warm and fuzzy…and leads you through the steps to taking action.

And how does that work, you ask?

People read your content because they are interested in you, your products, and your special knowledge of your craft.

It’s nice to write pieced that informs or tells a story, but most of the time, people want more from you.

When you don’t ask them to do the next thing, they feel like you’re leaving them hanging…the story feels unfinished…they feel unloved because you didn’t invite them to play.

Your call to action doesn’t need to sound like a crazy Eddy ad (I’m dating myself) or Slimy Sam from Sam’s Ace used cars.

Your CTA (Call to Action) can be as simple as asking your reader to sign up for your weekly updates, or to download your healthy life style recipes.

Your CTA can also take them on a journey of your product and bring them to a sale.

Like your production process, you have a recipe, a batch record, a standard operating procedure. You spell out the steps to the process and tell then exactly what you want them to do.

Adding a CTA to your copy is similar! You want to take your audience through the process from start to finish. You tell them exactly what you want them to do.

I want you to get comfortable using a CTA in most of your content. If it feels uncomfortable, that’s ok. Keep it simple.

Track it and see what happens.

Did it help with your email sign-ups? Has it produced more sales?

Can you spot my cta in this post?