Do your blog articles struggle with a high bounce rate because your blog post introductions suck, making your reader want to vomit instead of encouraging them to want continue reading on?
Do you want to learn how to craft a captivating blog introduction that will keep your readers engaged and wanting to read more?
Asking questions, giving teasers of what’s to come, highlighting common problems, or providing shocking statistics are just a few of the techniques you can use when writing a blog introduction.
In this blog post, I’m going to give you 9 types of blog introductions that will hook your reader and make ’em wet their pants with excitement and want to read more.
And, just for you (don’t tell anyone – kidding, tell everyone!), I’m going to throw in some blog introduction examples that will help your brain start firing on all cylinders (like my automobile analogy)?
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
9 Blog Post Introductions That’ll Make ‘Em Stick Around!
Before we dive into the specifics of how to write a great blog post introduction, let’s talk about why it matters in the first place.
A great blog post introduction will sell your entire blog post before anyone even reads it.
This means if you don’t nail the opening paragraph or two, no one will even bother reading anything further, regardless of how helpful or interesting your content may be.
In crafting your blog post, think about the topic you are addressing, who will be reading it, and how they can benefit from its content.
Answering these questions ahead of time can help ensure that each word counts when crafting an effective blog introduction.
Crafting an engaging opening is a skill you need to learn NOW, whether you still have yet to write your first blog post, or you’re in the middle of building your blogging business – get on it!
1. Start With Something Controversial
Creating controversy can be a powerful tool to draw attention to your blog, increase its visibility online, and spark debate.
It’s essential to ensure that controversy isn’t just being stirred up for its own sake; rather, take advantage of this approach as a means to focus on matters or concepts which could gain from more conversation.
Controversy can be used as a tool to focus on topics or concepts that could benefit from more conversation.
By creating controversy around these topics, you’re engaging readers and encouraging them to think critically about the topic at hand.
This can help create interest in your blog post before anyone even reads it, increasing the chances of people reading through the entire post.
By sparking debate and conversations around contentious issues, you may also attract new readers who have not yet discovered your content.
Now let’s move on and discuss how highlighting common problems can help create a successful blog post.
2. Open With a Though-Provoking Question
A great way to start off your blog post is by opening with a thought-provoking question that encourages the reader to continue on.
This can be done in various ways, such as by posing an intriguing statement brining their problem to the surface, or asking a rhetorical question.
How to do this: Think about what your post is all about, the problem the person is facing, and what solution they’re looking for, that you’re providing.
Once you’ve done that, write your question, similar to above: “Do your blog posts struggle with a high bounce rate because your blog introductions suck, making your reader want to vomit instead of encouraging them to want continue reading on?”
Hopefully with your blatant, straight to the point, hook, you’ve asked the right question, the one they are needing answers to.
After you caught their attention, it’s time to let your reader know what to expect, example, “In this blog post, I’ll be showing you 9 blog introduction examples that will hook your reader and make ’em wet their pants with excitement and want to read more.”
You Can Also Ask a Rhetorical Question
Rhetorical questions are powerful tools for getting readers’ attention and inspiring them to think more deeply about the topic at hand.
For example, if you were writing a blog post about sustainable business practices, you could open with something like “How can businesses become more environmentally friendly without sacrificing profits?”
This type of question will draw readers in and make them want to find out what solutions you have for this problem.
3. Tell Your Reader What They Can Expect
A well-crafted blog post introduction should be engaging, informative, and concise.
It should also give readers an idea of what to expect in terms of topics covered and style of writing.
Start With An Attention Grabber
Your opening sentence should grab the reader’s attention and make them want to read more.
This could be something humorous or thought-provoking that will draw people in right away.
You could also use a question as mentioned above, or add an interesting statistic as an attention grabber.
Posing An Intriguing Statement
Another effective way of starting off your blog post is by posing an intriguing statement that captures the reader’s interest right away.
For instance, if you were writing about blogging tips for beginners, you could start off with something like, “Blogging doesn’t have to be hard – just follow these simple steps!”
This type of statement makes it clear that there’s valuable information coming up in the rest of your article and encourages people to keep reading, so they don’t miss out on any helpful advice.
Give Context & Background Information
After you have grabbed their attention with your opening line, provide some context about why this topic matters to your readership and how it relates to their lives or interests.
Explain why you are qualified to write on this subject matter if necessary; share any relevant experience or expertise that you may have related to the topic at hand so that readers know why they should trust what you say about it.
Outline The Content Of Your Post
Give readers a brief overview of what they can expect from reading your post – outline its structure by providing a summary of key points that will be discussed throughout the piece without giving too much away (no spoilers!).
This helps keep them engaged by providing a roadmap for where the article is going next, so they don’t get lost along the way!
Explain How They Will Benefit From Reading Your Post
Make sure you explain how reading your post will benefit them – whether it’s helping them solve a problem, gain knowledge on something new, save time, and money, etc.
Let them know upfront exactly what value they’ll receive when investing their time into reading through all of your hard work!
4. Play on Your Reader’s Emotions
To do this, play on your reader’s emotions by creating an emotional connection with them right away.
Don’t attack your reader and make them cry because you made them feel lower than dirt for feeling the way they do (why they came to your site).
You want to creatively use your words to make that emotional connection like many tv commercials do, causing the reader to feel like they right in the middle of the story.
On that note…
Start With a Story
Telling a story that resonates with your audience to draw them in can create an emotional bond between you and the reader, which can make all the difference in the world.
Telling stories is a great way of connecting with our audience on a deeper level while still providing helpful information they can use in their own lives or businesses.
This can be done through a personal story, or anecdote from other people’s experiences related to the topic of your post.
People love stories because they evoke emotion, which makes it easier for readers to relate to and remember what they read.
Use Visual Content
Visuals are powerful tools when trying to engage readers emotionally as well as mentally.
Use images that capture their attention while also conveying the message of your post quickly without having to read too much text at once; think about using infographics or videos if possible!
Images help break up large blocks of text, making it easier for people who skim-read content online, too – bonus points!
Ask Questions
Asking questions throughout your blog post intro helps get readers thinking about how they would answer those questions themselves.
This will help create an even stronger emotional connection between them and the post itself – almost like having a conversation with yourself!
Plus, asking questions encourages engagement from the comments section below, where other readers may have different answers than yours, which could lead to interesting discussions down there too!
Write Conversationally
When writing your blog post introduction, try not to use overly formal language but instead write conversationally as if you were talking directly with someone face-to-face.
Doing this will help create an informal tone that many people prefer reading over stiffer-sounding sentences full of jargon or technical terms (unless necessary).
You can also add some humor here and there – just don’t go overboard otherwise, it might come off cheesy or forced rather than funny.
No one likes being “talked down” to either, so avoid condescending language no matter how cleverly written it may seem at first glance!
5. Making Your Introduction Relevant to the Reader
Knowing who you’re writing for is key to crafting an effective blog post intro.
Identifying Your Target Audience
By understanding your target audience, you can tailor the content to their desires and preferences.
Start by researching what topics they’re interested in, what language they use, and how they prefer to consume content.
Once you have a better grasp of your intended audience, crafting a compelling introduction that resonates with them should be easier.
Understanding What Your Audience Wants To Read
It’s important to understand what type of information your readers want from your blog post so that you can provide value right away.
Put yourself in the reader’s shoes for just a minute to determine the blog post intro that will meet their needs.
You’ll want to attempt to determine what problem you’re solving and how it will benefit them.
To effectively reach its intended audience, the introduction should be composed of language that resonates with them on an emotional level.
Incorporate relevant keywords into the text while making sure not to overuse them – too many keywords can turn off potential readers.
Additionally, consider adding visuals such as images or videos which can help draw attention and keep people engaged throughout the rest of the post.
Grasping the desires of your readers and creating material that resonates with them can guarantee your introduction is pertinent to the reader.
6. Highlight a Common Problem
We all know the importance of a good blog post introduction because it’s what draws readers in and makes them want to continue reading your content.
But if you’re like many bloggers, you haven’t quite figured out how to write an effective one yet.
Let’s start by highlighting a common problem
When you bring a common problem to the surface, which could be a pain point that your reader may be facing, you’ll create an emotional response.
This will let them know that you comprehend what they are going through and that they’ve come to the right place for help.
During my research, I came across a brilliant blog introduction for link building from the website of the SEO tool I use, Ahrefs, which you’ll find here.
Here’s their intro…
“Link building isn’t easy. It’s freakin’ hard. Which is why most people struggle to build needle-moving links to their site, regardless of the tactic they use.
Sound like you? You’re in the right place.
This article DOESN’T list out a bazillion link-building strategies.
What I’ll show you instead is a handful of tactics that WORK. Tactics that are EASY to replicate for YOUR website. Tactics that bring needle-moving links, which, in turn, drive traffic to and increase revenue for your business.
Don’t believe me? Here are some of the links we’ve built to Ahrefs using these tactics:”
After you’ve identified your audience’s pain point, be sure that the remainder of your content offers a solution.
7. Give The Reader a Shocking Statistic
Giving your reader an unheard-of or shocking statistic, then answering the statement can make for a great blog post intro.
Example: “Did you know that 61% of the people that use content management systems (CMS) use WordPress as their blogging platform?”
I know, how crazy is that, right?
“That’s right, the numbers are huge compared to any other CMS on the market, but the question is, is WordPress the best platform for making money online?”
This should serve as a warning to those who are seeking to launch, expand, and construct a lucrative blog that will generate revenue in the long run.
After the above statement, your goal should be to provide a step-by-step guide or a resource that can help the reader take actionable steps toward achieving their goals.
After your statement, you’ll want to make a factual statement (as long as it’s true) similar to, “Yes, WordPress is the best blogging platform for making money. If you are not using WordPress, you’re leaving money on the table, and here’s why!”
Ok, so this may not be the best “shocking statistic” I could come up with… how about these?!?!
For the subject of weight loss – “Did you know that the average American eats nearly 13 pounds of ice cream per year? No wonder obesity is on the rise!”
OR…
Variation of different subjects – Example: teaching kids proper hygiene – “Did you know that the global rate for washing hands after using the toilet is under 20 percent? Don’t make me a sandwich!”
The shocking statistic you provide needs to be eye-opening and thought-provoking.
Now, let’s move on to the next heading of giving your reader a memorable story that will leave them wanting more.
8. Give Your Reader a Memorable Story
Telling tales is a potent technique used by content marketers and entrepreneurs to captivate their audience.
A compelling tale can help make a lasting mark on your audience and leave them craving more. It’s important to remember that stories don’t just entertain – they also educate and inspire.
When crafting a memorable story for your audience, start by creating an emotional connection with your reader through vivid imagery and strong language.
Paint a picture in their mind that resonates with them so they can relate to what you are saying.
Use metaphors or analogies to explain complex concepts in simple terms that everyone can understand.
Once you have established this connection, focus on providing valuable insights about how the story applies to real-life situations as well as any lessons learned from it.
This will give your readers something tangible they can take away from the experience, which will further cement its importance in their minds.
Finally, use powerful words like “astonishing” or “amazing” throughout your narrative so that it stands out even more than if you had used mundane language.
Make it a practice to use these types of words to evoke strong emotions which will stay with your reader long after they finish reading the piece.
Transitioning into the next compelling introduction, utilizing the AIDA method will help you craft content that resonates with your audience and encourages them to take action.
9. Put the AIDA Method to Use in Your Blog Intro
If you’re aiming to create a profitable blogging business, then the AIDA technique is an essential asset for achieving your objectives.
AIDA stands for Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action.
It’s a marketing technique used by many successful businesses today to capture their target audience’s attention and drive them toward taking action.
In most cases, the AIDA method is used for sales through emails and other forms of content marketing to sell products or services.
You can use the AIDA method for whatever your article’s subject is about.
For this blog post introduction example, we’ll use the subject, “Starting your own money-making blog.”
Attention
The first step in the AIDA process is getting your reader’s attention with something such as a shocking fact, controversial statement, or bold visuals.
For example: “Did you know that only a mere 7% of bloggers actually generate enough revenue to sustain their blog?”
“That’s right, 93% of bloggers have to rely on other sources of income or give up altogether.”
Interest
Once you have their attention, it’s time to pique their interest by giving them a quick statement of what to expect in the remainder of the article that will show them how they don’t need to be one of the 93% statistics.
You can do this through storytelling or data-driven facts and figures that demonstrate the value of whatever information you’re offering.
For example, “Did you know that blogs generate over 409 million monthly readers? This means if done right, there’s plenty of potential for earning a passive income from your blog. And we’re going to show you how.”
Desire
After creating interest in your subject (starting a money-making blog), it’s time to get them excited about it by emphasizing its benefits and showing how easy it is for them to accomplish this idea compared to other options available on the market.
Use phrases like: “You won’t believe how simple this process is…” or “With patience, commitment & guidance, in a short period of time, you too can earn enough money to quit your 9 to 5. And we’re going to tell you how!”
Action
The final step is “Action!“
In a nutshell, this is where you tell the reader what action needs to be taken in order for them to achieve whatever you’ve previously told them.
This could be something like, “Be sure to grab a notepad, take some notes, and start reading. Be sure not to skip a single word because numbers 1 -6 are great, but #7 and #8 are life-changing.”
Of course, you don’t want to make a promise you can’t keep, but you get the idea. Let them know what to expect and what they need to do to get it!
Conclusion
Blog post introductions are a vital part of developing a successful blog.
After all, if your headline doesn’t stop your reader in their tracks, and the introduction doesn’t reel them in, your blog post won’t get read, and you won’t make any money.
That’s not the only bad part, but the search engines will pick up on this, causing your bounce rate to skyrocket, which tells the search engine that your article isn’t worth sending searchers to.
NUTSHELL: Writing a good blog introduction can help you engage with your reader, reduce bounce rate and increase conversions.
And, something that can help is to use multiple blog post intro’s. Be creative, but don’t over do it!
To RECAP – When writing blog post introductions:
- Write something controversial to stir things up
- Consider asking questions to make the reader think
- Give them a teaser of what they should expect from the article
- Play on your reader’s emotions – makes the reader stick around for the ending
- Similar to hooking the reader with emotions – make your intro relevant to the reader
- Highlighting common problems faced by readers to create empathy
- Provide shocking statistics to capture their interest
- Give memorable stories to keep them hooked until the end of your article
- Finally, use the AIDA method to maximize the impact
Learn how to write an effective blog introduction today!
