How to use calls to action in your YouTube videos
In today's digital age, YouTube has become a go-to platform for video content creators to showcase their talent and reach out to their audiences. With over 2 billion monthly active users, YouTube has become a powerful marketing tool for businesses and brands to promote their products and services to their target audience. However, to make the most out of YouTube, it's important to incorporate calls to action (CTAs) in your videos. In this article, we will discuss how to use CTAs in your YouTube videos and why they are important for your business.
What are Calls to Action (CTAs)?
CTAs are the prompts that encourage your viewers to take specific actions after watching your video. These actions can include subscribing to your channel, liking your video, commenting, sharing, or visiting your website. The ultimate goal of CTAs is to encourage engagement from your viewers, increase your video views, and ultimately grow your channel.
Why are CTAs important?
CTAs are essential because they help you achieve your video marketing goals. Without CTAs, your viewers may not know what action to take after watching your video. By providing clear and specific CTAs, you are guiding your viewers towards taking a specific action that benefits your business.
According to a study by Wistia, videos with CTAs have a 380% higher click-through rate than those without CTAs. Furthermore, videos with CTAs have a 150% higher conversion rate than those without CTAs. This shows the importance of incorporating CTAs in your videos to increase engagement and conversions.
How to use CTAs in your YouTube videos?
Here are some tips on how to use CTAs in your YouTube videos effectively:
1. Start with a clear goal in mind
Before you start creating your video, it's important to have a clear goal in mind. What action do you want your viewers to take after watching your video? Do you want them to visit your website, subscribe to your channel, or share your video? Once you have a clear goal in mind, you can create a CTA that aligns with your goal.
2. Use clear and concise language
When creating your CTA, it's important to use clear and concise language that your viewers can understand easily. Avoid using technical jargon or complex terms that may confuse your viewers. Keep your CTA simple and straightforward so that your viewers can take action without any confusion.
3. Make your CTA stand out
Your CTA should be visually appealing and stand out from the rest of your video content. You can use bold colors, larger font sizes, or animation to make your CTA more noticeable. By making your CTA stand out, you are increasing the chances of your viewers taking action.
4. Include your CTA throughout your video
Don't wait until the end of your video to include your CTA. Instead, include your CTA throughout your video at strategic points. This will help to reinforce your CTA and increase the chances of your viewers taking action. For example, you can include your CTA in the opening of your video, during the middle, and at the end.
5. Test different CTAs
Not all CTAs are created equal. Some CTAs may work better than others depending on your target audience and the type of video you are creating. It's important to test different CTAs to see which ones work best for your business. You can try different CTAs for each video and track the results to see which ones are most effective.
Expert opinions on CTAs
To get some expert opinions on CTAs, we reached out to some marketing professionals in the industry. Here's what they had to say:
1. Michael Alexis, CEO of TeamBuilding
"CTAs are the lifeblood of video marketing. Without them, you are wasting an opportunity to direct your viewers towards a specific action. In my experience, the most effective CTAs are those that offer a clear and compelling reason for the viewer to take action. For example, offering a free guide or ebook in exchange for subscribing to your channel can be a powerful CTA that drives engagement and conversions."
2. Krista Neher, CEO of Boot Camp Digital
"CTAs are essential for YouTube videos because they help to guide the viewer towards the next step. Without a CTA, the viewer may not know what action to take, which can result in a missed opportunity. It's important to keep your CTA clear, concise, and relevant to the content of your video. Additionally, using a sense of urgency or scarcity in your CTA can help to motivate viewers to take action."
3. Mike Gingerich, President of Digital Hill
"CTAs are important because they help to create a clear path for the viewer to take action. It's important to make your CTA visually appealing and stand out from the rest of your video content. Additionally, including multiple CTAs throughout your video can help to reinforce the message and increase the chances of your viewers taking action."
Industry statistics on CTAs
Here are some industry statistics on the importance of CTAs in video marketing:
* According to a study by Vidyard, videos with a CTA have a 43% higher view-to-submission rate than those without a CTA.
* A study by Invodo found that videos with a CTA had a 380% higher click-through rate than those without a CTA.
* According to a study by Wistia, videos with CTAs have a 150% higher conversion rate than those without CTAs.
* A survey by Wyzowl found that 74% of people who watch explainer videos take some form of action, such as visiting the brand's website or making a purchase.
* A study by Brightcove found that adding a CTA to a video can increase email click-through rates by 200-300%.
Conclusion
In conclusion, CTAs are an essential part of YouTube videos because they help to guide your viewers towards taking a specific action. By incorporating clear and concise CTAs throughout your video, you can increase engagement, conversions, and ultimately grow your channel. Remember to start with a clear goal in mind, use clear and concise language, make your CTA stand out, include your CTA throughout your video, and test different CTAs to see what works best for your business. With these tips and expert advice, you can create effective CTAs that drive results for your video marketing campaigns.