---
slug: "use-try-instead-of-start-as-the-verb-in-trial-cta-buttons"
name: "Use 'Try' instead of 'Start' as the verb in trial CTA buttons"
category: "cta"
grade: "tested"
page_types: ["homepage","pricing","product","signup"]
sites_observed: 3
evidence_count: 1
example_ids: []
version: 3
updated_at: "2026-10-15T14:40:35.552Z"
url: "https://liftwire.io/tactics/use-try-instead-of-start-as-the-verb-in-trial-cta-buttons"
---

# Use 'Try' instead of 'Start' as the verb in trial CTA buttons

**Evidence grade: Tested.** Outside evidence supports it: a published experiment, or customer sites where verify_change found the change live long enough ago to count as kept.

Observed on 3 corpus sites. Page types: homepage, pricing, product, signup.

## Why it works

The verb 'Try' feels like it asks less of a visitor than 'Start', following the Safe Step Principle. It softens the perceived commitment and makes the action feel lower-risk. The original asks the visitor to do something, whereas the variation gives them something.

## Evidence

- [Win Report: How rewriting one button increased sign-ups by 39% | Conversion Rate Experts](https://conversion-rate-experts.com/exclaimer-free-trial-cta-copy-win-report) (experiment, supports)

## Examples

No published examples yet.

## Implement it

The full implementation spec (where on the page, structure, copy patterns, acceptance criteria) is returned by `get_tactic` through the Liftwire MCP server. Setup: https://liftwire.io/mcp