A call to action (CTA) is that little add-on at the end of your post that basically says, “If you like my stuff, do this”. “Do this” can mean anything, from “Hit the follow button” to “Subscribe to my newsletter.”

CTAs are seriously underrated because we tend to assume it’s obvious that someone will follow us if they dig our content. In reality, it’s not. That tiny reminder at the end has a huge impact.

But it’s not as simple as just saying, “If you want more, subscribe to my newsletter.” There’s a whole science to it. Most people overlook that, unfortunately, and leave loads of potential subscribers behind.

Here are the 3 pillars for writing great CTAs that turn readers into followers and subscribers:

1. Specificity

Here’s what 99% of CTAs look like:

Fortunately, you found me, because I’d of course NEVER do this (just ignore the username in the pic above 👀). Sure, it’s better than nothing, but it still leaves a ton of potential on the table.

The biggest issue with this CTA? It’s too vague. “Follow for more.” More what — health tips? Oranges? Apples? Pistachio ice cream (that, I’d totally subscribe to)?

Let’s say you’re a healthcare pro who educates people on health topics. At the end, you’ve gotta tell readers exactly what they’ll get from following you — like this:

The basic framework is: Follow @yourhandle for [the kind of content you’re providing] to [how it helps the reader].

2. Paint a picture

Specificity is great, but if you can give a practical example that paints a picture in the reader’s head, it’ll land even harder. For instance, instead of saying, “I help you lose weight,” you could say, “I help you fit into those pants you love but can’t button anymore.” When you create a visual, people relate way more to what you’re saying.

Another great way to spark mental images is by using numbers and timeframes. So, instead of “I help you lose weight,” try “I help you lose X lbs in Y weeks/months.” That extra specificity makes the target crystal clear.

3. Authenticity

Make your CTA authentic. By that, I mean I want to see your personality shine through your words. Here’s the CTA I used for my old newsletter:

While it performed okay-ish, I didn’t really see myself in it. I’m big on humor and sarcasm, so I reworked it:

You see all these real-life examples? When you subscribe to this newsletter, it’s crystal clear what you’ll get — and all those goals are totally relatable.

You don’t have to make it funny. Just make it sound like you. In a world packed with AI, people seriously appreciate content that feels original and authentic.

That’s it for now. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out on Instagram @husseinnaji_ or email — my door (aka inbox) is always open. Just reply to this mail☺️

Much love,

Your kiwi-with-the-skin-on-eating friend

Hussein

PS: If you want to see more content, check out my other channels:

• Threads

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• Bluesky

• LinkedIn