The call-to-action button: place it correctly rather than just placing many.
It's not the number of buttons that customers click, but the position of the button that aligns with the moment they have enough reason to act.
Place the main button once in the section visible to the customer upon entering the page, then repeat it at points where the customer has just read a convincing reason, and add it once more at the bottom of the page. A long page should have several buttons for the same single action, not multiple different actions. The text on the button should start with a verb and clearly state what the customer will receive when they click.
- Short landing, placed in the visible area and reminded at the end.
- Long pages, repeating buttons after each section give customers more reasons
- mobile-friendly, consider pinning the main button at the bottom of the screen
- only have one button at the bottom, customers are willing to click from the middle
- generic button text like send or here
A question Sinh Vũ hears quite often: "How many call-to-action buttons should a website have?" The answer does not lie in a number. It depends on whether the button's position aligns with the moment the customer is ready to act. In the right place, one button is enough. In the wrong place, ten buttons will not get clicked.
The position determines effectiveness.
There are three points that need buttons on most pages:
- Visible immediately upon entering the page (above the fold): the area of the screen displayed before the customer scrolls. This is where customers see the main promise of the page. Buttons here serve customers who already know about you and just need a click.
- After each persuasive point: Each time you present a strong reason, such as a clear benefit, a testimonial from a previous customer, or a direct comparison, place a button immediately afterward. Once the customer finishes reading, the reason is complete, and the button appears at the right moment.
- End of the page: the group of readers who read from start to finish is the most careful group, usually with real needs. Not having a button at the end misses this group.
For short pages or landing pages (dedicated to a campaign), one button at the top and one at the bottom is sufficient. For longer pages, repeat buttons more frequently, following the rhythm of the content.
One action, many appearances
The most common mistake Sinh Vũ sees is having a page with too many different actions: a sign-up button, a download button, a demo view button, a contact button, and a social media follow button, all close together. The result is that customers do not know which one to click, and end up clicking none.
Simpler principle: each page should have a primary action. If your service page wants customers to submit a consultation request, then every button on that page should lead to that action. Secondary actions, if truly necessary, should be placed in less prominent positions and should not directly compete with the main button.
Long page / full service page: a button in the visible area, a button after each persuasive block, and a button at the end. It still has one main action, just repeated more often.
Text on buttons: verb first, value after.
The button is just a touchpoint, but the text on the button determines whether the customer will engage. Based on practical experience and materials from Hotjar, the first word on the button should be a verb, and the rest should clearly state what the customer will receive.
- Replace "Here" with "Start free consultation."
- Replace "Send" with "Submit request, receive feedback within 24 hours."
- Replace "See more" with "View the completed identity system."
Text doesn’t need to be long. It needs to be specific. Customers must read the button and immediately know: what do I get after clicking, what is the next step.
The call-to-action button does not provide additional persuasion. It merely capitalizes on the persuasion that has already occurred earlier on the page.
Practical experience of Sinh Vũ
Common errors
- The only button is at the very bottom of the page: Customers read to the middle of the page, want to click, but do not see where, then lose interest or exit. This is the most common and easily fixable mistake.
- Generic call-to-action text: "Send", "Click here", "Learn more" does not inform customers. Vague text increases the perceived risk when clicking.
- Spread multiple actions together: customers get distracted among choices and often choose to do nothing. One page, one main action.
- Lack of a fixed button on mobile: On small screens, if the main button is hidden while customers scroll, opportunities are lost. A pinned button at the bottom of the screen neatly resolves this issue.
The viewpoint of Sinh Vũ
When creating a flow for a page, Sinh Vũ starts with the question: what does the customer need to know before they are ready to click? The answer determines how many points need buttons and where those buttons should be placed. There is no universal formula for every page because the decision-making journey of customers varies by industry.
What Sinh Vũ does not do is scatter buttons based on intuition or the idea that "more is better." Each button must have a reason: it is placed here because of what the customer just read, and what the next action is. The button text adheres to pure Vietnamese language, clearly conveys value, and every page leads to a primary action, usually sending a brief or scheduling a consultation.
In terms of color, size, and specific positioning: those details should be validated through A/B testing (split testing, comparing two versions against each other) on your actual page, rather than applying formulas from other pages. Different industries, different customers, and results often vary.
Decision checklist
Topic: Where should you place the call-to-action button and how many is enough. Sinh Vũ guide, sinhvu.com
Select each item you find appropriate, then print or save as PDF to take with you.
If you have marked most of the signs above, this is the time to discuss in more detail. Sinh Vũ can help you review and propose a direction.
References
Sender: Call to Action Statistics. Hotjar: CTA Best Practices. VWO: Call to Action Buttons Ultimate Guide. Practical experience from Sinh Vũ.
Frequently asked questions
How many call-to-action buttons does the homepage need?
There is no hard number. With homepages often lengthy and multi-faceted, Sinh Vũ recommends placing a primary button at the top, immediately visible, and then repeating that same action after each content block that has a compelling reason. The important thing is to maintain a primary action throughout, without adding competing secondary actions that distract attention.
Is a button at the bottom of the page necessary if there is already a button at the top?
Necessary. Some customers do not click right away because they lack sufficient reasons. They read through the page, and when they reach the bottom without seeing a button, they have to scroll back up, which is very easy to lose. The button at the bottom serves this group of customers and does not harm those who clicked from the start.
How should text on buttons be designed?
Start with action-oriented verbs, for example: Start consulting, Download materials, Send request. Avoid vague terms like Here, Send, or Click. The part following the verb should state the value or inform the customer of the next step so they are not confused when clicking.