Writing for the Web › types of web copy › short copy note Use active verbs for sentences in the active voice. This sentence is in the active voice. Passive verbs can be used, but tend to make for less instructive copy. Passive voice is being used in this sentence.Figure 5.6 A Call to Action should be short and to the point.Any time there is an action you want a reader to take, a Call to Action shouldinstruct the visitor what to do. This means using active verbs when you write,and crafting hyperlinks to be clear instructions that resonate with your visitorat each step in the conversion process.A good Call to Action resonates with the action the visitor needs to take, asopposed to the technical function that is performed. For example, if a user hasentered an email address to sign up to your email newsletter, the action buttonshould say “sign up” and not “submit”.Consider as well what actions mean offline. Again with email newsletters, “signup” can have very different connotations to “subscribe”. Further, “subscribe” isvery different to “subscribe for free”. Whereas subscriptions have connotationsof costs, “sign up” does not carry the same burden. However, “subscribe forfree” could imply greater value – something that would normally carry a costis available to you for free.Titles and Subject linesTitles and subject lines often form part of a body of long copy. However, they areimportant enough to be discussed as stand-alone short copy. Titles and subjectlines are there for a very important reason: they inform a reader whether ornot they are likely to want to read further. They are the gateway to your content.Consider the following two titles: Guide to online copywriting Ten steps to online copywriting that sellsThe second title conveys more information to the reader, information thathelps the reader to make a decision to read further