7 Call-to-Action Tips for Event Flyers
Jan 26, 2025
Learn how to craft compelling calls-to-action for event flyers that boost engagement and drive attendee registrations effectively.
Creating event flyers that actually get people to act comes down to crafting effective calls-to-action (CTAs). Here’s how to do it:
Use Strong Action Verbs: Start with words like "Register", "Buy", or "Join" to clearly tell people what to do.
Create Urgency: Add urgency with phrases like "Limited Spots Left" or "Early Bird Ends Friday."
Highlight Benefits: Show what attendees gain, like "Learn from Top Experts" or "Network with 500+ Professionals."
Optimize Design & Placement: Position CTAs prominently (e.g., top right) and use bold colors and fonts.
Keep CTAs Short: Stick to 2-5 words for clarity, especially for mobile users.
Use Social Proof: Add credibility with stats like "Join 2,000+ Attendees" or "Rated 4.9/5."
Test & Refine: A/B test designs, wording, and placement to see what works best.
Build Effective Calls to Action - 7 Marketing Tips
1. Use Strong Action Verbs
When crafting your CTA, start with action-packed verbs that clearly tell your audience what to do. Direct, no-nonsense language is key to guiding them toward the next step.
Here are some go-to action verbs for event flyers:
For example, "Register Now" is far more direct than a vague phrase like "Learn More" because it clearly tells people what to do next [2]. Verbs like Subscribe, Donate, Download, Email, Call, Buy, and Compare are also highly effective for CTAs [2].
Pro tip: Test different verbs to see what resonates most with your audience. For instance, "Reserve Your Spot" might work better for an intimate workshop, while "Get Your Tickets" could drive more clicks for a concert or festival [2].
To make these verbs pop, use bold design elements like bright buttons or standout fonts [1][2]. Pairing these verbs with urgency-driven language can make your CTA even stronger - more on that in the next section.
2. Create Urgency
After selecting your action verbs, it's time to make them pack a punch by adding urgency. Here's how you can integrate urgency into your event flyer CTAs effectively:
Be Specific: Replace vague phrases like "Limited time offer" with clear deadlines such as "Registration closes January 31st at midnight." This approach motivates action while maintaining trust.
Design Tips: Use colors like red or orange to emphasize urgency near your CTA button. Pair this with bold typography to grab attention [2].
Pro tip: Always explain the urgency. Instead of just "Register now", say "Register by Friday to lock in early-bird pricing." This gives people a reason to act quickly.
When combined with strong action verbs, these urgency techniques can make your CTAs stand out. Up next, we'll explore how emphasizing event perks can further boost your CTA's effectiveness.
3. Emphasize Event Benefits
Pair urgency with clear, attendee-focused benefits to create a strong call to action. Highlighting what attendees gain makes your message more compelling and boosts conversions.
Lead with Value
Start with the main benefit and use action-driven language. For example, "Unlock Expert Insights - Save Your Spot" resonates more than a generic "Register Now." Combine benefits to make a stronger impact: "Network with CEOs + Get Industry Reports" works better than listing them separately.
Use Numbers to Boost Credibility
Quantify benefits whenever possible. Numbers make your offer feel more specific and appealing:
"Choose from 25+ Interactive Sessions"
"Earn 8 CPD Credits"
Design Matters
Visual hierarchy is key. Highlight the primary benefit in bold or larger text above the call-to-action (CTA) button, with secondary benefits in smaller text below. This approach ensures the most important details grab attention first.
Survey attendees or analyze registration trends to align benefits with what matters most to your audience. Once your benefit-focused message is ready, make sure it stands out with thoughtful placement and design.
4. Optimize CTA Position and Design
Once you've created compelling CTAs, placing them in the right spots can make all the difference. Your CTAs should grab attention while blending seamlessly with your flyer's overall design.
Placement and Visual Flow
Where you position your CTA can significantly impact its effectiveness. Here are some strategic spots:
To guide the viewer's eye toward your CTA, follow these design principles:
Size: Make your CTA button around 20-30% larger than surrounding elements. Big enough to stand out but not overpower everything else.
Contrast: Use colors that pop against the background to make the CTA noticeable.
Whitespace: Leave at least 20-30 pixels of blank space around the CTA to make it stand out without clutter.
Typography Tips
Fonts play a crucial role in making your CTAs readable and visually appealing. Go for bold sans-serif fonts sized between 14-18pt for the main CTA. Use smaller fonts (12-14pt) for any supporting text.
Using Colors That Convert
The right color combinations can increase visibility by up to 35%. Here are some effective pairings:
For digital flyers, subtle animations can help draw attention to your CTA. Just make sure the animation doesn't distract from the message - clarity should always come first.
Once your CTA design is locked in, shift your focus to crafting clear, action-oriented text that resonates with your audience.
5. Keep CTAs Short and Clear
Building on the design hierarchy principles from tip 4, effective CTAs should use 2-5 words that clearly communicate the desired action. This is especially important for mobile users, where brevity is key.
Power of Brevity
Long-winded phrases like "Click Here to Purchase Tickets for Our Upcoming Event" can confuse or overwhelm. Instead, opt for short, action-driven phrases like these:
These examples show how fewer words can still deliver a strong, clear message.
Mobile Optimization
More people now view event materials on their phones, so your CTAs must be mobile-friendly. Buttons should be at least 44x44 pixels for easy tapping, and the text should stand out against the background. A simple button like "Register" often performs better on small screens than longer, cluttered options.
Here’s a key stat: CTAs with fewer than 5 words convert 20% better than longer ones. For example, "Get Your Ticket" outshines "Please Register for Our Event" [2].
When testing your CTAs (as discussed in section 7), stick to concise options and use A/B testing to find the best-performing version.
6. Use Social Proof
Social proof can boost trust in your event's calls-to-action (CTAs) by offering credibility similar to personal recommendations [3]. This ties into Tip 3's focus on showcasing attendee benefits. Here are some ways to use social proof effectively:
Types of Social Proof That Work
Where to Place It
Position social proof next to your main CTA button or registration section. This placement can lead to a conversion boost of up to 20% [4]. Pairing it with benefit-driven messaging (as covered in Tip 3) makes it even more effective.
Be Specific and Transparent
While placement is key, the details of your social proof matter just as much. Avoid vague claims like "Join thousands." Instead, use precise, verifiable details such as "Join 2,500+ Marketing Professionals." This level of clarity builds trust and sets accurate expectations.
Use Real-Time Data
For online materials, adding live updates can create urgency and transparency. Examples include:
Current registration numbers
Remaining available spots
Recent sign-ups from well-known companies
These updates not only encourage action but also align with the visual hierarchy principles discussed in Tip 4. Make sure your social proof supports your main CTA without overpowering it.
7. Test and Refine
Once your CTAs are in place, it's time to see how well they perform. By testing different aspects of your CTAs, you can gather data to make them even more effective. Here's how to approach it:
Key Elements to Test
Remember to use the design tips from Tip 4 when creating and testing different versions.
Testing Methods
For digital flyers: Tools like Google Optimize or VWO make A/B testing easy. Focus on these metrics:
Click-through rates for registration links
Time spent looking at the flyer
Conversion rates from views to registrations
For printed flyers: A different approach works best:
Create two versions with distinct CTAs.
Distribute equal amounts in comparable locations.
Use unique tracking codes or QR codes for each version.
Measure the response by tracking registrations.
Metrics to Watch
Keep an eye on these numbers to gauge success:
Response Rate: How many people take action after seeing your flyer.
Conversion Rate: The percentage of people who follow through on the desired action.
Engagement Time: How long someone interacts with your flyer.
Keep Improving
Make testing a regular part of your process. Before launching any major campaign, aim to test at least one part of your CTA. This way, you're always learning and improving.
Conclusion
Creating effective event flyer CTAs is all about combining key elements that inspire action. Each of the seven components we discussed plays a role in crafting CTAs that truly convert.
Using strong action verbs alongside urgency cues sets the stage for CTAs that grab attention. When paired with clear event perks, they encourage potential attendees to act. The placement and design of your CTA can be the tipping point between someone scrolling past and someone engaging. And don’t forget the importance of testing - as highlighted in Tip 7 - to refine and improve over time.
A great CTA doesn’t need to be overly complicated. In fact, short and straightforward messaging often performs better. Adding social proof can also boost credibility, making your event more appealing to your audience.
Testing and tweaking your CTAs regularly ensures they stay effective. By applying these strategies and tracking results, you’ll create CTAs that not only attract attention but also drive real engagement for your events.
For added support, services like Shukr Design offer subscription-based design solutions to help you optimize your CTAs with professional design and smart placement, ensuring your event marketing materials deliver maximum results.
FAQs
What is an example of a good CTA?
A strong CTA for event flyers should be clear, action-driven, and to the point. Here are some examples that align with the strategies discussed:
These examples use urgency and highlight benefits, drawing from strategies like creating a sense of importance and keeping the message concise. For instance, the conference CTA, "Learn from Experts - Get Your Pass", combines a clear benefit with a direct call to action.