By skyforbes 
I was struggling: site visitors spent only a few seconds on my site. A heat map of their activity showed they would scroll through the introduction, and abruptly stop, ending the site visit. It was time to learn how to write a blog post introduction that hooked readers and had them read the whole post.
We want to have people spend time on our website, checking out your content – right?
If you’re finding that the time spent on your site is low and your bounce rate is very high, it may be that your introduction isn’t capturing the interest of your readers.
I’ve used a copywriting method in this intro: tell a personal anecdote that agitates the problem the reader is having. They can now relate to how I was feeling (struggling).
Writing a great blog post that captivates starts with a strong introduction.
At the end of this post, you’ll learn several ways to introduce your blog post and entice readers to continue reading.
DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links, meaning if you click on a product or service, and decide to purchase it, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. All recommended products and services are based on my positive experience with them. For more information, please read my Disclaimer.
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Top Reasons You Need A Strong Introduction To A Blog Post
Before I share the various copywriting tricks for blog post introductions, let’s explore why writing a good one is important.
- More time spent on your site: a boring introduction won’t hook your reader. They may skim your content, but won’t spend time actually reading it thoroughly. This is also good for SEO.
- It’s your chance at a first impression: if you aren’t capturing their interest immediately, they may leave your site, raising your bounce rate.
- Missed opportunity to convert visitors into fans: if they don’t read further, how can they know if you’re an awesome person with much to share with them?
- Improved Search Engine Rankings: site visitor behaviour is a factor for ranking content. When you write a great introduction, site visitors are less likely to leave your page quickly.
Your blog post intro should be a strong introduction – it’s the first and often only chance to impress your reader. Keep them on your site longer to impress them some more.
How To Write A Blog Post Introduction: 10 Ways
While there are many ways to write a blog post introduction, some are easier and better than others.
For example, when you’re optimizing your blog post with keywords, with some blog post introduction styles, it’s not as easy to include them in a natural way.
Writing “how to…” is often the most difficult longtail keyword phrase to include in an introduction paragraph.
However, in most cases, you can entice your reader to continue reading and optimize your content effectively.
Here are the top ways to write a blog post introduction – I’m noting which ones I like to use:
1. Start With A Question
One of the best ways to write a blog post introduction is by asking a question.
Usually, your reader is seeking an answer to a question. When you start with one that aligns with theirs, they know you’ll answer it in the post.
Make them curious about the answer.
An example:
“Wondering how to find keywords on Google that will help your blog posts rank faster?”
2. Start Your Blog Post Introduction With A Bold Opinion
This approach to a strong blog post introduction includes your stance on a problem. Bloggers who are heavily focused on personal branding often use this approach.
It’s much like writing an essay where the introduction starts with your opinion on the essay topic.
Here’s an example:
“I truly believe that every blogger – and I mean EVERY blogger – can become successful with an online business. There’s no need for a 90% blog abandonment rate. In this post, I’ll share some of the top ways to overcome common challenges that make bloggers quit.”
This type of introduction is a good one because it’s easy to include a keyword.
3. Capture Your Reader’s Interest With An Anecdote Or Story
Capture your reader’s interest with a blog post introduction that tells a story and introduces the topic.
The best anecdotes or story hooks tap into emotions: fear, lust, encouragement, anger, greed, safety or forbidden emotions.
Here’s an example:
“I was sitting, eating lunch with my family at our local fried chicken place when I heard the notification ding on my phone – “You’ve made an affiliate sale” flashed on the screen. YESSS! I was making a passive income with affiliate marketing, loving the extra time I could spend with my family.”
PRO TIP: These types of blog post introductions can be difficult to optimize with keywords.
4. Start Your Post With A Quote
Another way to start your blog post is to include a relevant quote.
A quote indicates that the blogger has taken time to think about the subject and do some research (even if it’s just for the quote!).
Here’s an example of a great quote for this blog post:
“The act of writing a blog post is a chance to share something you’re passionate about. It’s an opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life.” — Unknown
5. Use A Statistic Or Fact
Some blog post topics do very well with a strong introduction containing statistics or facts. These set the context of the problem that the blog post tackles.
In general, blog posts that are backed up with facts or stats, do very well. They are often cited and generate extra backlinks.
Here’s an example:
“According to Internet Live Stats, over 3 billion blog posts are published every year, making competition for eyeballs fierce.”
PRO TIP: If you’re referencing stats that aren’t based on your own surveys, always credit where you found it and link to the source.
Bookmark this post for future reference.
6. Use Contrasts To Draw Your Readers In
I like this approach because you can use it to highlight the problem and offer a solution that hooks your readers into reading further.
This approach creates a juxtaposition – from a conflict or tension, followed by a potential solution.
Here’s an example,
“In an era of growing promotion for AI content, we’ll explore the unique power of human content creators and how they will continue to dominate for years to come.”
7. Use A Metaphor Or Analogy
Metaphors and analogies create vivid mental images, taking a topic and introducing it in an easy, relatable way.
It can be difficult to use keywords with metaphors and analogy introductions. However, this style does draw your reader in to read more.
Here’s an example:
“Rome wasn’t built in a day, so neither can a great blog. Just like it took Rome centuries to reach its pinnacle of success, it can take years for bloggers to reach their goals.”
8. Start In The Middle Of The Action/Topic
Build excitement by jumping right into the middle of a story and immediately grab your reader’s interest.
Add in a dash of emotion through power words, and you’ve got readers wanting to know more.
Here’s how you can do this:
“I pressed the Update button. Poof! My complete blog was deleted. I was getting an error page – I felt like I was about to cry.”
9. Use An Emotional Hook
This one is added just after the introduction style which jumps right in the middle of the action because they both play on emotions.
However, this style has a slightly different focus: it appeals to the reader’s emotions.
From jealousy and hopefulness, to concern (the previous style was playing on the concern part). There are many emotions you can tap into.
Here’s an example:
“Imagine if you could start making $150 a day as a blogger. Let’s see how we can help you start doing just that.”
10. Summarize The Post
I find this the least enticing way to write a blog post introduction.
In this version, you give the reader a summary of what the post will cover. You outline the key points and what they will get from reading the post.
Here’s an example:
“In this post, I’ll share five ways to stand out as a professional blogger. Prepare to scale up your blog!”
Your Introduction Is Your One Shot To Impress
Since many of your readers will be coming to your blog through a search engine result or Pinterest, they’re landing on a blog post.
That blog post needs to impress from the start.
Make sure these things are in place:
- A headline that resonates and promises an outcome (use CoSchedule’s Headline Studio to check for this).
- An attractive, relevant photo – either your own or a stock photo
- Content that doesn’t include spelling or grammar mistakes. Use Grammarly to help out with this.
Experiment With Different Blog Post Introduction Styles
See what kind of blog post intro works best for your blog and niche. Not all readers are the same.
Some love anecdotes and stories, while others are like “Give it to me succinctly and to the point.”
Need some more blog writing tips? Check out these related posts:
Also, learn how to repurpose your blog content for social media easily and quickly.
Finally, discover how to promote your blog posts on social media and how to use Pinterest to jumpstart your organic traffic.
There’s lots to read and brush up on, but when you start writing well, the “traffic magic” happens!
Get this free blog post outline template and write faster and better:
QUESTION: Now that you know how to write a blog post introduction, what’s your favourite method?
