Authors take note: Facebook has rolled out a new Call-to-Action button on pages which basically lets you add a useful external link to the top of the page, right next to the Like button.

You can choose from a few different text/icon combinations.

For authors, the Sign Up and Shop Now buttons are probably the most useful. I’ve set mine up as a Sign Up button to encourage visitors to subscribe to my newsletter, with a link to my MailChimp form.

You could also set up a Shop Now button that links to your Amazon page or a Buy-the-Books page on your website. The CTA Clicks number on the right will tell you at a glance how many people are actually clicking on your Call-to-Action button.

It will be interesting to see the results, but if nothing else it allows authors a better chance of converting casual visitors into reachable fans.