The first thing my wife said to me was…
“Hi Michael, nice to meet you”
…it’s both fun and memorable My name is Darren, not Michael!
Ever wonder why some posts fascinate you and others don’t?
It’s all in the opener. The first words you speak or write can set the tone for any relationship or conversation…
Just like in real life, the opening line of a blog post can make or break reader engagement.
In my last post’How to Write a Blog Post Series I’m sure The title/title of your blog is the most important word you write in your blog post The purpose of my title is to get people to read your opening statement.
The second most important word in a blog post It’s what follows the title—your opening statement. Their purpose is to get people to read the next line—to draw people deeper into your post. Here’s how to craft a compelling opening that hooks readers from the start.
11 Effective Strategies for Blog Post Openings
So, how do you design an opening for a post that effectively engages readers and piques enough interest to get them to read your blog post? Here are some tips I’ve found helpful.
1. Determine needs
Start your article by identifying your reader’s problem or need.
Sound familiar? Should – I address readers’ needs and questions in my posts Choose a topic and Create your post title.
If you haven’t figured it out by now, you should start to see that I place a lot of emphasis on identifying a reader’s need and addressing it as the key to writing a successful blog post. You don’t have to address the need or problem in your opening, but an effective way to get readers to dig deeper into a post where you solve a problem is to tell them you will address it in your opening.
2.Ask a multiple choice question
Engage your readers immediately by asking a question that prompts them to say “yes.” This is a technique copywriters have used for a long time, and it works. I do this in the first line of this post: “Ever wonder why some posts fascinate you and others don’t?”.
Asking this type of question serves several purposes. First, you want to communicate what the post is about and that it will meet a need in your readers; but secondly (and more importantly) you want to create a response in your readers and make them understand that your post will directly address their needs. Anyone who reads and answers “yes” to my question above is coming into this article simply saying they want to know how to write a compelling opening—and that “buy-in” helps with the rest of the communication process.
Asking “yes” questions can actually be used multiple times in a post. By asking a series of questions scattered throughout your posts, you can actually take your readers on a journey that leads them to take action.
3. Ask an interesting question
Stimulate curiosity by asking a question that brings out interesting revelations and leaves the reader hungry for answers.
Questions like:
- “What do Bill Gates and Martha Stewart have in common?”
- “How did I increase my subscriber count from 0 to 51,346?”
- “Is the Nikon D700 the best digital SLR camera ever made?”
All of these questions will have different appeal to different audiences – but all of them will make the reader want to know what the answer is and give them a reason to keep reading the post.
4. Provide surprises
Use unexpected facts or personal anecdotes to grab attention. Sharing something unusual or personal, like I did with my wife’s greeting mix-up, can make your posts more relevant and engaging.
The opening story I included in this post was an attempt to do something a little “different” or “surprising,” to grab the reader’s attention by sharing something personal and, at first glance, “off-topic.” I don’t often talk about my family on ProBlogger, so this opening sentence is intended to break that pattern and encourage readers to give it a second look. I find that when I do this, it seems to “draw” readers away from your usual visit to your blog and pay attention for an extra minute or two (which is enough to entice them to read your post).
Of course, your unexpected opener should relate to the topic of your post in some way.
5. Tell a story or share an analogy
Stories or analogies can transform mundane topics into interesting narratives. Whether it’s a brief anecdote or a detailed narrative, stories often make your content more relevant and engaging.
I’ve found that telling a “story” to open a post can be a way to get people out of the “buzzed”, “glazed over” state that many of us feel when surfing the web. This is especially true for blogs that are more serious or formal in nature – sharing a story means you switch genres for a minute or two, which is enough to grab the reader’s attention for at least a minute or two. The story can be short (like I did above) or longer (although you probably don’t want to make it too long). They can be your own personal stories or the stories of others. They can be real or even fictional.
I often post on ProBlogger with “digressions” – analogies or stories from my life that are a little off topic – but they help illustrate a principle. I find that these types of openings tend to attract new types of readers and allow readers to interact more with others. Maybe it’s just a refreshing change from the usual post types, or maybe it shows a more personal side that appeals to some people.
For example (title and opening line):
6. Make bold claims
Start with a strong claim or commitment to solving a big problem. This approach sets high expectations, forcing readers to delve deeper into your post to learn more.
- “Today I will teach you how to quit smoking”
- “In this article you will discover the secret to taking perfect portraits”
These types of openings simply tell the reader what they will get if they continue reading. They are short, sharp, to the point and effective.
Alternatively, you can claim your accomplishment. I still remember the impact this post Established ProBlogger as an authoritative website. The opening statement is:
“Like a truck, it dawned on me that I had just become a six-figure blogger”
The only thing I would say is that you better be able to back up the claims or promises made in the post itself, otherwise you might get some angry readers.
7. Cause controversy
Nothing grabs people’s attention like the hint of controversy and makes them stop and pay attention to what’s going on.
Express your opinion strongly about a company, product, or even another person, and you’ll find that people will want to read on to see why you say what you say and let you know if they agree.
8. Paint a vivid picture
Readers are encouraged to imagine a scene through their senses. This approach is particularly effective at making abstract concepts concrete.
I’ve used this technique many times in public speaking, and it translates into writing effective blog posts. Its basic principle is to allow readers to use their imagination to picture a certain scene.
This can be used in a positive or negative way:
- positive – Ask them to imagine a time when they achieved some success or overcame some problem.
- negative – or ask them to imagine unresolved problems or consequences of failure that they might fear.
Stimulating a reader’s imagination is a powerful thing, evoking emotion and helping them get in touch with their fears and feel their needs, while also giving them real motivation to make change.
9. Highlight surprising statistics
Use powerful statistics to effectively communicate needs and capture attention.
example – 10 Tips to Get More Comments on Your Blog – Opening Statement – “Only 1 out of every 100 readers comments on your blog”
10. Start with a strong introduction
A well-chosen quote can add authority to your post and resonate with readers, setting a thoughtful tone from the start.
Example of opening line:
11. Lead with an influential image
Sometimes, striking images speak louder than words. Leading with a relevant and powerful image can draw readers into the text, especially in visual media like blogs.
I use a combination of images and text in almost every article I write photography scene I’ve noticed early on for a while that when I open an image, it tends to draw more readers into the post and potentially lead to more comments. I’ve even had readers tell me that the only reason they read the post was because they saw the image in an RSS reader.
The key is to find an image that is to the point, catches the eye, and is compelling or interesting to the reader.
Would you like to share your best opening line with us?
The above 11 tips for opening blog posts are just the tip of the iceberg of ways to grab attention and entice readers to read your blog posts. You’re unlikely to use more than two or three of these in any given post, and you most likely don’t want to use the same one in every post you write (loyal readers will become numb if you do ).
What other techniques do you use to start blog posts?
Read the full series
This article is part of a series How to create a blog post. It’s even more powerful if you think about it in the context of an entire series that looks at 10 points in the publishing process to pause and put in the extra effort. Start reading this series here.
