The Psychology Behind Button Labels: “Submit” vs “Get Started”

Have you ever wondered  while clicking a button on a website? Was the action solely your decision? Or did the website's flow guide your decisions?

The desire or interest you experience is not an accident. It's the strategic success of a UI/UX strategist, UI writer, and UI designer who created the ideal microcopy to prompt an action. 

Even the smallest text in UI/UX design has a significant impact on user engagement and company success. Labels for call-to-action buttons, in particular, serve as the doorway to leads, conversions, subscriptions, downloads, purchases, or any other business goal. 

Learn More, Get Started, Subscribe, Read More, Download, Submit, Sign Up, Login, Add To Cart, Buy Now, etc. These are the most widely utilized result-oriented CTAs.

The Psychology Behind Button Labels: “Submit” vs “Get Started”

The primary goal of selecting the appropriate CTA button label is to direct the user to precisely complete the action on the website. Though the Submit and Get Started button labels technically result in the identical next step, their psychological consequences on users differ. 

Let's look at the psychology, UX principles, emotional triggers, and commercial implications underlying button labels. Which button label is the best option for improving conversions? Is it "Submit" or "Get Started"?

Matching Button Label and Color Psychology

Another factor is that the button's color and label should be psychologically compatible. A "get started" label with red text or background is not recommended. Telling the user to start causes psychological confusion because the color red is associated with stop or danger indication. Copy should match the visual design. 

Why is the psychological aspect of the CTA design important? 

Understanding the user's intent is essential in the field of UI/UX design.

What do I stand to gain?

UI writers must comprehend user psychology by taking into account the following scenario in order to obtain that answer:

• How users feel 

• What drives them 

• What they are afraid of 

• The reason behind their visit to the page 

• What they anticipate receiving in exchange 

More importantly, an effective CTA should lower risk and provide the user with rewards, advancement, advantages, comfort, and confidence. 

However, the call-to-action (CTA) content alone has the power to make or break that conversion. 

For instance: 

Should "Submit" be the primary button's label? 

Or would more people click on "Get Started"? 

"Submit" button: Emotionally Neutral but Functional 

The most popular option is the submit button label, which is perfect when the user needs to give the system some information. When the user is prepared to give the system input after the data has been successfully entered.

After pressing the submit button label, the user may feel satisfied that the procedure is complete, depending on the data they entered or the task they completed. 

The verb "submit" is more in line with HTML's capability. It works best when data submission and database storage are required. 

Appropriate usage of the submit button label promotes conversion, sign-up, process acceleration, and assistance in reaching the business objective. However, it is suggested to utilize the other action-oriented words that are more in line with the planned and expected action from the target audience.

When “Submit” is the ideal choice

Using the submit label is appropriate when the user is performing the following action:

• Completing a form

• Entering data

• Logging in / signing up after entering fields

• Confirming a purchase

• Proceeding with an order

How Users Perceive It

• Feels like completion

• Indicates they have already done the work

• Final step of the process

However…

Users don’t want to “submit,” as it feels like giving up something rather than gaining something.

• It sounds technical.

• It lacks any emotional benefit.

• It provides no sense of reward or value.

For example, when a user wants to subscribe to a plan, then the Get Started label is appropriate to use to build the connection with the users.

HTML Code for Submit Button

<button type = “submit”> or <input type = “submit”>

“Get Started” Button – Engaging and Motivational

The core difference between the submit button label and the get started button label is that the get started button tells the user that the process has been initiated. After clicking the Get started button, they are taking the first step of the task, whereas the submit button indicates that the process is completed. 

A step to convert leads and motivate them to create an account to take further action. It's a straightforward approach to ask users to initiate the process or take the first step towards the journey. 

When the user clicks on the get started button, it builds the patience and mindset that to accomplish the task, the process is started and it can be long enough, and the task will end when the desired goal is achieved. 

The phrase “Get Started” connects with users emotionally. Instead of focusing on the effort, it focuses on the journey ahead.

When “Get Started” Works Best

• Beginning a sign-up or onboarding process

• Trying a free service or demo

• Starting a multi-step form (job application, subscription)

• Encouraging account creation

How Users Perceive It

• Encouraging and positive
• A first step rather than a commitment
• Builds curiosity and willingness to explore

Microcopy here influences expectations:
“I’m beginning something valuable… not giving my data away.”

At the back end of the system, the "get started" button invokes the function and input method in HTML. It is most suitable for initiating the next set of tasks. It sends the request to the server to invoke the next process.  

HTML Code for Get Started Button:

<button onclick="getStartedFunction()">Get Started</button>

Final Verdict: Which One Should You Use

When the submit button label is used, the user enters data, and now he is ready to share the details or data with the system. In that scenario using the Submit text for the button is an ideal choice. 

On the other hand, when a user is ready to start a lengthy process, such as filling out a job application, creating a new account, or starting a subscription to the application's services, then “Get started" is the best choice.