The 5 Most Used Call-to-Action Designs on the Internet [INFOGRAPHIC]

When was the last time you bought a product online? I signed up for a 3-month Spotify plan just now.

You might have just downloaded a new app for your productivity, or probably not too long ago, you filled out a contact form to hire an explainer video agency for your business.

I’m sure you’ve signed up, downloaded, or tried out apps and services online – probably more than you care to count.

You’ve got newsletters coming to your inbox every week and notifications on your phone from many apps you’ve installed.

Do you realize how it all happened? The answer is Call to Action or CTA for short.

Well, it’s not really an accurate answer. Let me explain.

The production process that those companies have gone through in convincing you to use their products is meticulous.

There is much content, emails, pictures, and videos involved in building a marketing funnel.

But I assure you, CTA plays a major role in getting you on board.

As a marketer or business owner, you need to understand the elements of different types of CTAs and how each works.

I have scoured the Internet to find hundreds of CTAs from every company I can think of—and, to my surprise, all of them fall into a handful of categories that adhere to best practices for writing blog posts and weaving in highly contextual, effective CTAs.

In order to better explain how these CTAs work, Breadnbeyond teamed up with Milkwhale to visualize my research in an infographic.

Check out the 5 Most Used Types of Call to Action on The Internet:

(P.S.: there’s an embed code on this call to action infographic, at the bottom of the page)

Those are the five most used CTA designs you can find on the internet.

Here’s one last piece of advice: if you want to make sure a CTA design works well, you need to test it.

You can compare two versions of CTA designs to market your product and determine which performs better.

You can also make some adjustments in terms of their placement, size, color, or microcopy to attract your audience’s attention even more.

The effectiveness of the CTA itself can be measured by a few metrics, from clicks to the number of subscriptions or leads.

Why Is a CTA Important in Content?

A CTA is crucial because it gives your content direction and purpose. Without it, even the most engaging piece may fail to turn attention into action.

I’ve seen how a clear, well-placed CTA guides the audience toward the next step, whether that’s exploring a service, watching another video, or signing up for a free demo.

I treat every CTA as the bridge between interest and intention.

It connects the emotional appeal of storytelling with a practical outcome that benefits both the viewer and the brand.

In many of our projects at Breadnbeyond, a strong CTA has often been the deciding factor that transforms casual viewers into paying customers.

On top of that, CTAs also provide valuable data.

Every click, submission, or download tells you how effectively a piece of content communicates its value.

When analyzing projects, this performance insight can help you adjust messaging and design to achieve better conversion results.

Is CTA Design Different for Web Pages and Videos?

Yes, CTA design works differently on web pages and in videos because each medium engages your audience in a distinct way. Over the years, I’ve noticed that how people interact with a web page is completely different from how they experience a video, and that difference shapes how I design each CTA.

CTA Designs On a Web Page

On a web page, users are in control. They scroll, click, and decide what to explore next.

That’s why I make sure the CTA stands out visually and feels effortless to find, without disrupting the flow of reading.

Buttons, banners, or inline links should align with your brand style but still grab attention through contrast, color, or placement.

In my experience, CTAs work best when they appear at key decision moments, after you’ve demonstrated value or earned enough trust through clear information.

CTA Designs in a Video

For videos, whether explainer videos or live-action, the approach is more guided.

You hold the viewer’s attention from start to finish, so the CTA needs to feel like a natural extension of the story.

I often use a mix of verbal and visual CTAs, spoken prompts, and on-screen text or an end card.

When we produce video content, I recommend placing a clear CTA near the end, once the message has emotionally landed and the viewer is ready to act.

Both types of CTAs aim to get your audience to take the next step.

But the way you present them should match how people experience each platform.

When you design CTAs with that in mind, you’re both capturing attention and guiding it with purpose.

What Are Common Mistakes to Avoid When Creating a CTA?

From what I’ve seen across different content projects, many CTAs fail not because of poor design, but because of unclear messaging or misplaced intent. A CTA should be specific, purposeful, and aligned with what your audience needs at that moment. When it’s not, even the best content can lose its impact.

1. Using Generic or Vague Language

One of the most common mistakes is using CTAs that sound too general.

Phrases like “Click here” or “Learn more are a few examples.”

I’ve found that these don’t communicate value or urgency.

Your audience should know why they’re clicking, not just what to click.

For example, instead of saying “Learn more,” a stronger version would be “See how it works” or “Get your free guide.”

Specific, benefit-driven CTAs perform better because they help your audience understand the reward behind their action.

2. Placing the CTA at the Wrong Time

Another mistake I often see is poor timing.

If you place your CTA too early, your audience might not yet understand the value of your offer.

But if you place it too late, you risk losing their attention.

I usually recommend placing CTAs at natural decision points, such as after explaining a problem, presenting your solution, or showing proof of results.

When we test different placements in projects, it’s often these contextual spots that drive the most engagement.

3. Overloading Your Content with Too Many CTAs

A third mistake is trying to do too much at once.

When a page or video pushes several CTAs, like “Subscribe,” “Download,” and “Book a call,” it can overwhelm your audience and dilute the main message.

It’s better to focus on one primary action per piece of content.

You can repeat that same CTA throughout, but it should always lead to the same goal.

Once your audience has taken that main action, secondary CTAs can appear later in their journey.

When you use the right words at the right time and guide your audience with intention, your content doesn’t just attract attention; it’s more likely to drive better results.

FAQs On Call To Actions (CTAs)

1. Why is a CTA important?

A CTA is the bridge between your content and your goal. It turns passive readers or viewers into active participants. From a marketing perspective, a CTA provides direction and purpose. It helps measure engagement and conversion rates, making it easier to evaluate how well your campaign performs.

2. What makes a good CTA?

A good CTA blends clarity, psychology, and design. It should communicate what the user needs to do and why it benefits them. The best CTAs use action-oriented words like “Start,” “Get,” “Discover,” or “Try” to spark immediate response. The CTA must visually stand out but still feel natural within the overall layout.

3. Where should I place my CTA?

CTA placement depends on how users consume your content. For most web pages or videos, the best strategy is to place CTAs in multiple strategic positions, such as above the fold, after key information, and at the end of the content. If placed in a video, it’s best to put CTA at the end of the content.

4. How many CTAs should I include per content?

The golden rule is: focus on one main action per piece of content. You can repeat that CTA in different places, but the goal should remain the same. If your objective is to get users to sign up for a demo, every CTA on that page should lead to that one action. Having too many CTAs with different goals can overwhelm users and reduce conversions.

5. How can I test if my CTA works?

The most reliable way to test a CTA’s performance is through A/B testing (or split testing). This involves creating two or more versions of a page or post, each with a different CTA variation (text, color, placement, or tone), and comparing which one drives more clicks or conversions.

Breadnbeyond can help you create explainer videos with CTA designs aligned to your goals and your audience.

Explore our pricing and packages, or use our video cost calculator to get an instant estimate for your project.