The Best Examples of Engaging Call-to-Action Email Examples That Actually Get Clicks

Real-world examples of engaging call-to-action email examples you can copy

Let’s start exactly where you care most: seeing what works in the wild. When people ask for examples of engaging call-to-action email examples, they usually want more than “Use strong verbs.” They want to see the whole setup: subject line, offer, and the CTA that ties it together.

Below are several real-style scenarios—modeled on what top brands send in 2024–2025—so you can see how the pieces fit together and then adapt them to your own business.

Example 1: The “Finish What You Started” abandoned cart email

Scenario: An e-commerce store selling athleisure wear.

Subject line: “Still thinking it over? Your cart is waiting 🛒”

Body angle: The email reminds the shopper what they left behind, adds a small incentive, and keeps the copy light and friendly.

CTA line in context:

“Your new go-to leggings are almost yours. Check out now and take 10% off before your size sells out.”
Button: “Complete my order”

Why this works as one of the better examples of engaging call-to-action email examples:

• The CTA uses first-person language (“my order”) which tends to increase clicks because it feels personal.
• The email sets a clear next step: finish checking out, not just “Learn more.”
• There’s a gentle urgency (size might sell out, discount expires soon) without sounding pushy.

You can adapt this structure for any incomplete action: unfinished form, half-finished course, or an unbooked consultation.

Example 2: The “Try it risk-free” SaaS free-trial email

Scenario: A B2B software company offering a 14-day trial.

Subject line: “See your team’s workload in one dashboard (14 days free)”

Body angle: The copy focuses on the outcome: less chaos, more visibility.

CTA line in context:

“You don’t have to switch tools today. Just connect your account and see your real data in our dashboard for 14 days, no credit card required.”
Button: “Start my 14-day test drive”

Why this belongs on a list of the best examples of engaging call-to-action email examples:

• The CTA reduces risk (“test drive,” no card required).
• It’s specific about what happens next: connect your account and see real data.
• It speaks to one clear benefit instead of a vague “Sign up.”

If you sell services instead of software, you can mirror this by offering a “strategy session,” “audit,” or “walkthrough” with a CTA like “Book my 20-minute audit”.

Example 3: The “One-click RSVP” event or webinar email

Scenario: A marketing agency promoting a live webinar.

Subject line: “Live workshop: Turn one blog post into 10 pieces of content”

Body angle: The email highlights what attendees will walk away with and how little time it takes.

CTA line in context:

“In 45 minutes, you’ll walk away with a step-by-step repurposing checklist and real examples you can swipe for your next campaign.”
Button: “Save my seat”

Why this is a strong example of engaging call-to-action email examples for events:

• “Save my seat” feels low-pressure but still time-sensitive.
• The body promises tangible outputs (a checklist and real examples).
• The CTA matches the event framing: it’s about reserving a spot, not buying something.

You can reuse this structure for conferences, workshops, or even internal company trainings.

Example 4: The “Welcome, here’s your next step” onboarding email

Scenario: A newsletter or community welcome sequence.

Subject line: “Welcome! Let’s get you set up in 2 minutes”

Body angle: The email thanks the subscriber, sets expectations, and gives them one simple action.

CTA line in context:

“To make sure you actually get the tips you just signed up for, add this email to your address book. It takes 30 seconds and keeps our messages out of spam.”
Button: “Show me how”

Why this belongs among the best examples of engaging call-to-action email examples for onboarding:

• The CTA is helpful, not salesy. It protects the subscriber’s own experience.
• The action is tiny and clear: add to address book.
• “Show me how” promises a guided, easy path.

You can pair this with a brief walkthrough page or a GIF, but the main point is to use your CTA to guide the new subscriber to a quick win.

Example 5: The “Personal recommendation” product email

Scenario: An online bookstore or streaming service sending personalized picks.

Subject line: “Books picked for you based on what you loved last month”

Body angle: The email highlights three personalized recommendations with short blurbs.

CTA line in context:

“We pulled these picks from what you’ve been reading lately. Start with the one that grabs you first and we’ll keep tailoring suggestions from there.”
Buttons under each book:
“Add to my reading list”
“Start reading now” (for e-book subscribers)

Why this is one of the more engaging examples of engaging call-to-action email examples for personalization:

• Multiple CTAs, but each is contextual to a specific book.
• CTAs are written in reader language (“my reading list,” “start reading”) instead of company language.
• The email frames clicking as part of an ongoing, personalized experience.

Any business with user data—fitness apps, language learning tools, even financial apps—can mirror this approach with personalized nudges.

Example 6: The “Last chance, but friendly” limited-time offer email

Scenario: A DTC brand running a 48-hour sale.

Subject line: “Ends tonight: 20% off everything (including bestsellers)”

Body angle: Short, direct, and focused on the deadline.

CTA line in context:

“This is your last shot to grab your favorites at 20% off before prices go back up at midnight.”
Button: “Shop the 20% off sale”

What makes this a standout example of engaging call-to-action email examples for urgency:

• The deadline is specific (midnight), not vague.
• The CTA tells you exactly what you’re clicking into: the sale, not just the homepage.
• The tone is firm but friendly—no guilt trips.

You can adapt this for non-retail offers too: early-bird pricing for a course, expiring bonuses, or application deadlines.

Example 7: The “Ask for feedback” customer survey email

Scenario: A service business asking recent customers for feedback.

Subject line: “Got 60 seconds to help us improve?”

Body angle: Emphasizes brevity and the impact of their response.

CTA line in context:

“Your feedback shapes what we build next. This 3-question survey takes about a minute, and your answers go straight to our product team.”
Button: “Start the 60-second survey”

Why this belongs on a list of real examples of engaging call-to-action email examples:

• The CTA names the time commitment (“60-second”), lowering friction.
• The email clearly states who will see the feedback and why it matters.
• The action feels collaborative, not extractive.

You can also offer a small incentive (discount, entry into a giveaway) if your audience tends to ignore surveys.

How to write your own engaging call-to-action email examples

Seeing examples of engaging call-to-action email examples is helpful, but you still need a repeatable way to create your own.

Think of your CTA email as a short story with three beats:

1. Context – Why are you in their inbox right now?
2. Value – What’s in it for them if they act?
3. Action – What exactly should they do next?

When one of those is missing, your click-through rate drops.

Start with one clear action

If your email has five different buttons all going to different places, your reader has to think too hard. Cognitive load goes up, clicks go down.

Instead of “Here are seven things you could do,” choose one primary CTA and, if you must, one secondary CTA that supports the same goal.

For example, if your goal is demo bookings, your primary CTA might be “Book my live demo” and a softer secondary link could be “Watch a 3-minute demo video”. Both move the reader toward the same outcome.

Use language your reader would actually say

Most of the best examples of engaging call-to-action email examples share one trait: the button copy sounds like something the reader might say out loud.

Compare:

• Corporate: “Submit request”
• Human: “Request my quote”

Or:

• Corporate: “Download resource”
• Human: “Send me the guide”

First-person language (“my,” “me”) often outperforms generic phrasing because it feels more like a personal commitment the reader is making to themselves.

Make the next step tiny and specific

The more vague your CTA, the more mental work your reader has to do to imagine what happens after they click.

Instead of:

• “Get started”

Try:

• “See my price options”
• “View the 3-step plan”
• “Schedule my 15-minute call”

Each of these tells the reader exactly what’s on the other side of the click.

Match urgency with honesty

Urgency works, but fake urgency destroys trust.

If there’s a real deadline, say so clearly: “Enrollment closes Friday at 5 p.m. ET.” If there isn’t, skip the fake countdowns and focus on immediate value instead: “Start today and have your first draft done by tonight.”

The Federal Trade Commission has guidance on truth in advertising and deceptive practices, which is worth reviewing if you’re using scarcity or urgency in your marketing: https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance

2024–2025 trends shaping engaging CTA emails

The core psychology of CTAs hasn’t changed, but how people interact with email has.

Mobile-first design

A large share of email opens now happen on mobile devices. That means your call-to-action buttons need to be thumb-friendly: big enough, with enough white space, and placed near the top so people don’t have to scroll forever.

The Nielsen Norman Group has long documented how users scan content in an F-shaped pattern and how short, scannable copy improves engagement: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/f-shaped-pattern-reading-web-content/

Translate that to email by:

• Keeping paragraphs short
• Using clear subheadings
• Making your primary CTA visually distinct

Privacy and trust matter more

With ongoing changes to privacy rules and tracking (think Apple Mail Privacy Protection), open rates are less reliable, and trust-building CTAs become even more important.

Instead of jumping straight to “Buy now,” many high-performing examples of engaging call-to-action email examples start with micro-commitments:

• “Tell us what you’re working on” (survey or quiz)
• “See your personalized plan”
• “Preview your savings”

These smaller actions feel safer and start a relationship before you ask for bigger commitments.

For broader context on digital privacy and consumer protection, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission maintains guidance here: https://www.ftc.gov/

Plain-text and “lo-fi” emails

Not every engaging CTA email is a glossy, image-heavy newsletter. Many brands are seeing strong results with plain-text-style emails that look like a personal note from a real person.

In those, the CTA might be as simple as a hyperlinked sentence:

“If you’d like the full checklist, just click here and I’ll send it over.”

This works especially well in B2B or high-ticket sales, where a conversational tone feels more appropriate than a flashy promo.

Turning these examples into your own high-performing CTAs

To turn these real examples of engaging call-to-action email examples into something that fits your brand, walk through this quick checklist each time you write:

• Goal: Can I state the single action I want in one sentence?
• Reader lens: Does the CTA answer “What do I get?” in their words, not mine?
• Friction: Have I reduced risk, time, and uncertainty as much as I honestly can?
• Specificity: Does the reader know exactly what happens after they click?
• Visibility: Is the CTA easy to find and tap on mobile?

If you can say yes to those, you’re already ahead of most.

FAQ: examples of engaging call-to-action email examples

Q1: What is a good example of a call-to-action in an email?
A good example of a call-to-action in an email is something like “Start my free 7-day trial” instead of just “Sign up.” It tells the reader what they’re getting (a free trial), how long it lasts (7 days), and uses first-person language that feels personal.

Q2: Can you share more examples of engaging call-to-action email examples for newsletters?
For newsletters, strong CTAs often focus on continuing the journey rather than selling. Examples include: “Read the full story,” “Get the step-by-step guide,” “See this week’s picks,” or “Try the worksheet.” Each one nudges the reader from a quick skim toward deeper engagement with your content.

Q3: How many CTAs should I use in one email?
Most of the best examples of engaging call-to-action email examples use one primary CTA and, at most, one or two supporting links. Too many competing CTAs create confusion. If you have multiple things to promote, consider a weekly roundup format where each section has its own mini-CTA, but still highlight one main action visually.

Q4: What’s an example of a soft CTA for people who aren’t ready to buy?
A soft CTA might be “Watch the 3-minute demo,” “Download the free checklist,” or “Take the 5-question quiz.” These actions let someone raise their hand without committing money or a long time investment, which is especially helpful early in the relationship.

Q5: Do I always need a button, or is a text link enough?
Buttons are easier to tap on mobile and usually stand out more, so many high-performing examples include at least one button. That said, text links can work well in plain-text-style or personal emails. The key is clarity: whether it’s a button or a link, the action should be obvious and easy to click.

If you treat these examples as starting points—not scripts—you’ll be able to craft call-to-action email examples that feel natural for your brand and actually move your readers to take the next step.