how to write an introduction for a blog

Do you feel that? That little tugging sensation on your heart? You’re not sure what, but something is pulling you to change. Not in a confess-your-sins-oh-ye-sinners way, but to shift directions, to embrace your calling, to finally do what you were put here to do: Write. You feel the ideas inside you. You sense them straining to escape. You know your job is to set them free, firing them like a cannon into a world in desperate need of them. But you’re afraid. You’re afraid of quitting your job and living without a safety net. You’re afraid of the concerned, disapproving looks your friends will give you when you tell them you’re giving it all up to write for a living. You’re afraid of not having enough money for food, of the power being cut off, of watching your family shivering and hungry, all because of your “selfishness”. And most of all? You’re afraid you’re wrong about yourself.

As writers, we all share the deep longing to embrace our calling and express our ideas, but we also share the fears that so often sabotage those longings — the fear that we don’t have what it takes, that we’ll crash and burn, and that our dreams are just that — dreams.

In his introduction, Jon addresses all those longings and fears and immediately makes you feel like he gets you so intimately, it’s almost creepy.

Creepy, but effective.

Introduction Rule #2. Get into Character

If you want to captivate readers, you must trigger their emotions.

So as you sit down to write, think of the feelings you want them to experience:

Fear, anger, sadness, hope, joy, disgust, shame, comfort, love, courage, and so on.

Then get into character and feel them yourself as you write, and your words will read with undeniable authenticity.

When Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the heartbreaking lyrics in Hamilton that have left tears on the faces of millions, it was his eyes that first shed tears as he put his pen to paper.

So play with your emotions. Map out the emotional journey you’re taking readers on, and infuse those feelings into your writing. Feel what you want your audience to feel and your words will exude those emotions.

This tip applies to your whole post, but in no place is triggering your audience’s emotions more important than your introduction.

You feel me? 🙂

I once wrote an emotional post about my two little girls which addressed how delicate their emotions are, as well as my own vulnerabilities and my longing to give them the patience, presence, and love they deserve.

Here’s a portion of it:

I told my three-year old daughter as we stood outside the car in her school parking lot, the rain pouring down on us as she sobbed breathlessly in my arms. She didn’t want to go in the car. She just wanted me to stand there, holding her. And I didn’t want to rush her, or tell her to stop crying. “I’ll hold you for as long as it takes.”

I felt that longing intensely and definitely shed some tears as I wrote the introduction. The feedback I got from readers was that they felt the same intensity, and even cried as well.

When we write, our feelings seep into our words.

Introduction Rule #3. Lure Readers Down the Page

Want readers to commit to your post?

Accelerate their experience. Lure them down the page.

The faster they get pulled down, the more committed they’ll feel.

Too many bumps in the road early on, and off track they go, never to return.

Here are three writing tips to use in your intros to lure readers down the page:

#1. Open With a Short Sentence or Question

Kind of like how I opened this section. 🙂

This is how all of Smart Blogger’s posts open, and for good reason. It’s a copywriting technique proven to pull readers in.

Start a post with a long clunky paragraph and they’ll feel exhausted just looking at it.

#2. Take a Knife to Your Words

Slash as many words as possible.

If the first draft of your introduction is 200 words, try cutting it down to 100. The more you practice this, the more efficient your blog writing process becomes.

And when you write efficiently, your words have power. That power will grab your readers.

#3. Set the Rhythm

All writing has a pace and rhythm.

You want your introduction’s pace and beat to be somewhat quick. You can slow things down later.

How do you achieve this?

The best writers, like the best music composers, take readers on a journey. Fast and slow, loud and soft, urgency and ease.

The more you pay attention to this, the more rhythm you’ll infuse into your words.

Shane Arthur sends readers’ eyes flying down the page by using crisp sentences and short paragraphs to create a fast rhythm:

You’re not stupid. You know what writing is truly about. It’s a never-ending battle for your readers’ attention. Every sentence is a link in a taut chain that connects your headline to your conclusion. And you are just one weak sentence away from losing your reader forever.

He then appropriately slows things down in the section that follows with longer sentences. A masterful composition!

Introduction Rule #4. Make Them Beg

Want readers begging for your solutions?

Add a little fear to your opening.

What are readers worried about? Do they know what will happen if they don’t solve the problem the post is addressing? What is the worst-case scenario?

Bring those fears to the surface. Expose them.

By doing so, not only will readers feel a camaraderie with you (because you understand their fears, so clearly you’ve tip-toed through the dark side yourself), but they’ll feel more eager than ever for the solution you present.

We all have fears. We think we need to hide them, but the more we give voice to them, the easier they are to set free.

Do that for your readers.

In his introduction, Glen Long brilliantly taps into the fear of failure all writers experience by addressing the dream of making a living as a writer and then quickly smothering that dream with the doubts that creep up at the mere thought of it:

So, who knows? Maybe the doubters are right. Maybe you are naive to think you could earn a living doing something you love, instead of something you just tolerate.

The fear of failure is painful, yes. But giving voice to it is validating and makes readers eager for the solutions that will set that fear free.

Introduction Rule #5. Hint at the Promised Land

Finally, as you wrap up your intro, hint at the promised land.

The place readers will get to when they master your methods. The destination your post promises to take them.

But whatever you do, do not give it all away. Just one sentence that says too much satisfies your readers enough to send them clicking away.

Why? Because readers bore easily. You must keep them on their toes. And the point of an introduction is not to give answers, it’s to set the stage for all the hearty advice your post will provide.

In the introduction to Meera Kothand’s post, she addressed a problem all new bloggers face: How do you get to know your audience when you don’t have one yet ?

She goes on to talk about the big mistake many of them make (making assumptions) and why that’s ineffective. Then, she uses the simplest phrase to hint at a solution:

That kind of guessing is like throwing darts blindfolded and hoping you hit the bull’s eye. Sometimes it works. Usually, it doesn’t. Fortunately, there’s another way…

How could anyone not want to keep reading?

How to Write an Introduction: Bonus Tip

When writing an introduction, try drafting two completely different versions approached from different angles and triggering different emotions.

Doing so will highlight the techniques and emotions that work best for both your audience and the content of your post.

A word of caution:

No matter how eloquent your words…

No matter how powerful your prose…

If your introduction doesn’t satisfy search intent, readers will click the “back” button and never return.

What’s search intent?

It’s the purpose behind the Google search.

If someone searches for “how to lose weight” in Google, they’re expecting search results that will help them lose weight.

If they click a headline that reads “7 Easy Tips For Losing Weight Fast”, and the post begins with an amusing Nicolas Cage anecdote, there’s a good chance they will leave — never getting to read the rest of the post, which is filled with weight loss wisdom.

And when they leave, what they’re essentially telling Google is this:

“At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.”

And Google will respond by ranking your post lower in its search results.

Search intent is a big part of SEO (search engine optimization). When we do keyword research here at Smart Blogger, figuring out the keyword phrase’s intent is one of the first things we do. It shapes our headline, meta description, introduction, word count, and more.

The ins and outs of mastering it would be an article all by itself, so we’ll simply say this:

Taking the time to analyze the results in Google so you have a solid handle on why people enter the particular query your blog post will be targeting is time well spent. Figure out the intent, and then make sure your intro matches it.

3. Deliver Advice That’s Easy to Consume and Impossible to Ignore

Okay, you’re doing great.

You got readers to click on your headline, you lured them down the page with your intro, and now it’s time to deliver on all that you’ve promised.

If you want readers to love you and look forward to every good blog post you write, you’ll over-deliver.

If you want them to take a quick look and vanish for good, you’ll under-deliver.

The choice is yours.

Use the guide below to deliver valuable and easy-to-consume advice:

Content Rule #1. Add Pitstops

Subheads — use them.

Why? Because readers are scanners.

They have no choice. There’s a behemoth amount of content at their fingertips, and not all of it is good.

And so they scan (as do you, I’m sure).

Subheadings are your chance to prove to readers that your content holds value. To keep luring them back into your post, when their instinct is to leave.

Blogging is a battle, remember?

Keep these four tips in mind when drafting your subheads:

#1. Add a Subhead Every Few Paragraphs

Sprinkle subheaders throughout your post.

Why? Because they gently guide readers along the route your post is heading, making their experience feel clear, easy and enjoyable.

And never forget, your blog posts are all about your readers’ experience.

If readers see too much text when they’re scanning without enough pit stops, they’ll feel overwhelmed. It’s like getting on a bus tour and being told there will be no bathroom breaks … oh, the anxiety!

Every single post on Smart Blogger.

That’s how important this is.

#2. Avoid the 3 Subhead Blunders That Make Readers Bounce

Subheads have the same function as headlines; they must make readers curious so they keep reading. So you should follow similar rules when drafting them and avoid the following common blunders :

Let’s say you’re writing a post about the impact sleep has on anxiety levels and you include the following subheads:

See how the first subhead is way too plain, the second gives too much away, and the third, well, it probably made no sense to you, right?

The subheads below would do a better job at grabbing readers:

#3. Compare Each Subhead to Your Main Headline

Each subhead should clearly deliver on the overall headline of your post.

Again, if you’re viewing subheads as pit stops, they must all lead to the ultimate destination — what was promised by your headline.

If the subheads get off track and move away from that destination, readers are left feeling lost and confused.

In that case, either the subheads need to change or the headline needs rethinking.

Say you’re writing a post called “How to Silence Your Nagging Inner Critic” and you include the following subheads:

The fourth subhead’s sudden twist in topic is jarring. It does not deliver on the overall headline, which had nothing to do with your day job.

Perhaps you intended all along for the post to be about not letting doubts stop you from following your dreams and quitting your day job, but readers scanning subheads will not understand that.

They will simply feel confused.

#4. Follow a Format

If you are listing various “ways,” “steps,” “methods,” “signs,” etc., to achieve what the headline of the post promises, keep the format consistent.

If you don’t, the post comes across as unpolished. Bloggers overlook this all the time, but it’s easy to fix once you’re aware of it.

If you separate your subheads from the post and list them back to back, you can see if any stray from the course.

Say your post is called “12 Ways to Cure Insomnia” and you have a subhead for each of the 12 ways. You’ll want those subheads to follow a consistent format.

Let’s say your first few subheads read as follows:

Something there feel a little off?

The first three subheads start with an action verb instructing readers what to do. They are also fairly consistent in length.

But then the fourth subhead suddenly changes the format and breaks the flow. It doesn’t start with a verb and it’s much longer than the others.

This inconsistency may seem fairly innocent, but it’s distracting to readers.

Content Rule #2. Unleash the Unexpected

Let’s face it, readers today are info-holics. We all are.

So tired old advice isn’t going to cut it. Your post must be unique, bold, and eye-opening.

My advice? List your main points and see if you can add a unique perspective, experience, or twist to them. Something readers aren’t expecting.

What belief systems have you learned to challenge? What do you know that most people don’t? How can you shed new light on an old problem? What methods do you use that others won’t know about?

You don’t want to go overboard just for the sake of adding shock value. Your advice must be authentic and truly helpful. But regurgitating old advice doesn’t challenge you as a writer, nor does it enlighten your audience.

So pour your readers a little espresso for their info-hangover by delivering the unexpected.

Countless articles have been written about blogging, but how many have called you out for being dumb or told you to replace your friends?!

Jon does just that by knocking you over the head with some hard truth bombs about what it takes to make it as a blogger .

Content Rule #3. Follow a Formula

Notice how this post follows a pretty consistent formula?

Each section is relatively similar in length. Every subhead follows a pattern. Each section ends with an example.

The more consistency you weave into your posts, the better the reader’s experience.

Let’s say you write a list post covering five steps to achieve something. If the first step is 500 words, the second and third steps are 100 words, the fourth step is 200 words and the fifth step is 400 words, it looks sloppy. As though you didn’t bother to proofread it before hitting publish.

Your readers deserve the best, and minor details like this matter as they affect the fluidity of their experience.

Want to go even more pro? Look at the beginning, middle, and end of each section you write, and create a guiding formula. Perhaps you start each section with a bold statement or personal experience. Then you flesh out your advice in the middle. And then you end each section with a one-sentence call to action.

The more formulas you add to your posts, the easier they are to write and the more they look like polished works of art.

In his post on getting traffic from Twitter , Brian Honigman uses hashtags for each subhead, each section is consistent in length, and each includes a graphic.

Readers know exactly what to expect from each section, making for a fluid reading experience.

Content Rule #4. Be Ridiculously Generous

Many bloggers worry about giving away too much in their posts. After all, they want readers to sign up for their paid coaching calls or products.

So they hold back, barely skimming the surface of their advice.

Truthfully, if you’re not generous with your readers in your posts, they won’t get a good impression of your paid products.

Don’t hold back on your readers. Fully work through the problem with them. Give them complete solutions and powerful advice. Wow them with your generosity and they will stick around as loyal readers and customers.

Want to learn everything there is to know about affiliate marketing ?

Holy smokes. At 10,000 words, that insanely generous post by Leanne Regalla is basically a textbook on the subject, and reader comments praise it as such. (Let’s all bookmark this one, yes?)

A post of this magnitude is quite an undertaking, but don’t let it scare you. You can also wow your audience with your generosity and thoughtfulness in a 1,000-word post.

Content Rule #5. Start and End Strong

Just as your introduction and conclusion should grab readers, you want the main body of your post to start and end strong as well.

Of course, every section should have great content , but if you’re offering five ways to achieve something, save your absolute best tips for the first and fifth ways. The first way will grab your readers’ attention, and the fifth way will leave them feeling fully satisfied.

On the other hand, if each tip successively decreases in value, readers will feel like your post is deflating. And their excitement will deflate with it.

Let’s leave readers feeling pumped when they finish your post.

Linda Formichelli gives ten crafty ways to write 1,000 words per hour .

While all ten ways are excellent, I’d argue that the first (about writing under the pressure of a full bladder) and last (about gambling with your reputation) are the most bold and attention-grabbing (bathroom break, anyone?).

Writing a Blog Post: Bonus Tip

Before writing the main sections of your post, flesh out an outline to nail your points down.

The clearer and more simplified your outline is, the more clarity and conviction your post will have.

4. Close with a Motivational Bang

We’re almost at the finish line! It’s time to close your post with a bang.

This is where you rally behind your readers. Show them that you believe in them.

Make them believe they can achieve the goal promised by your headline (because after reading your generous advice, they certainly can).

Follow these rules when crafting your motivational conclusion:

Conclusion Rule #1. Give Your Readers a Pep Talk

Motivate your readers.

Show them how far they’ve come, what they’re capable of, and what life will look like once they’ve implemented your advice.

Give them the pep talk you longed for when you were struggling with the topic your post presents.

Empower them by raising your expectations of them. They can’t just read your post and pretend it never happened — they must take action. Immediately.

Make them see that no matter what they’ve experienced or how hard they’ve struggled, their time is now.

In this post’s conclusion , Jon uses all he’s had to overcome in life to show readers that they have no excuses: no matter hard things get, they can accomplish anything they set their minds to.

He encourages readers by letting them know that he believes in them and then he raises his expectations of them by telling them they need to get started … “right freaking now.”

By the time you’re done reading the conclusion, you feel like you can conquer just about anything!

Conclusion Rule #2. Avoid New Information

A common mistake many bloggers make?

Suddenly inserting new information or tips in their conclusions.

It’s like reaching the last ten minutes of a spellbinding movie. You’re on pins and needles waiting to see how it ends, and suddenly a new character is introduced. What the … ?!

It’s jarring. Don’t do that to your readers.

In his conclusion, Robert van Tongeren motivates you to repurpose old blog posts by comparing them to epic musical classics; if they disappeared into obscurity simply because they’re old, we’d all be at a great loss.

Imagine if in the midst of such a conclusion, Robert quickly threw in one more way to repurpose content, or one small caveat to his post’s advice, or one more general tip to keep in mind?

It would throw the whole closing off and leave readers feeling ruffled instead of jamming to Bohemian Rhapsody.

How to Write a Conclusion: Bonus Tip

When writing your conclusion, put yourself back in the shoes of your readers.

What will their lives be like if they accomplish the advice in your post? How will they feel?

The more you can hone in on your readers’ point of view, the more you can motivate them to take action.

Too many bloggers put too little thought into their closings.

That’s a shame.

Let’s face it…

Most people don’t read 100% of our posts. Heck, most people don’t even read half .

So how do we reward the precious few who read and absorbed the words we poured our heart and soul into?

With a closing we whipped together in 20 seconds.

Someone who makes it to the end of your post is primed.

They trust you. They like you. They want you to tell them what to do next.

So tell them.

Don’t waste this opportunity.

5. Polish Your Post So It’s Smoother Than a Slip ‘n Slide

Phew! You’ve written your post . Next up?

Take a well-deserved break. Step away for a day or more so you can come back to it with fresh eyes.

Once you’re ready, it’s time to do some editing. I know, the mind reels that there’s more work to do!

But editing your post is essential. If your post doesn’t provide a smooth reading experience, your reader will lose attention and bail.

Use this checklist when you’re ready to edit your post:

How to Edit a Blog Post: Bonus Tip

A great way to self-edit your posts is to read them out loud.

Doing so will help you catch many of the issues listed above, particularly things like overly complicated wording, run-on sentences and choppy rhythm.

Win the Battle for Your Reader’s Attention

Blogging is a battle.

A war to get your ideas the attention they deserve.

Your enemy? The dizzying array of online distractions that devour your readers.

This battle is not for the faint of heart.

There are so many learning curves. Blogging platforms and plugins you’ll need to install. Social networks you’ll need to employ. Content marketing techniques you’ll need to try.

But none of that stuff matters if you’re drowning your ideas in amateur writing. You might as well lay your sword down in defeat. Readers don’t have time for amateurs.

So before you venture any further down the blogging rabbit hole, you better make sure you know how to write a blog post like a pro.

Skip that step, and nothing can save you. Your battle is lost.

The good news is, writing good blog posts is a skill you can learn. And it’s one you must learn.

You have powerful words and ideas that can transform readers’ lives. Those ideas are worth fighting for.

So when you’re ready to enter the arena, arm yourself with this ultimate guide and fight the good fight.

Your readers are counting on you.

Content Marketing

Liz Careathers

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Written by Liz Careathers

180 thoughts on “how to write a blog post in 2023: the ultimate guide”.

I must say, I am totally convinced to read the complete article. I have completed the step 1 but will complete the other soon. The main things most of the beginner bloggers think that topic is already covered by leaders, how i compete with them?

So this guide will help them to find the answer.

Good Read 🙂

Thanks Kuldeep, I’m glad you found this helpful!

Liz, I have benefitted from your blogging wisdom as your student. This is a wonderful summary of things you have taught me — things we need to be reminded of. Thanks to you and to Jon for this post.

Also, if you chose the photo of Ste. Chapelle as the background to your “over deliver” statement — it’s the perfect illustration — did you know that? The French King who built that chapel had those walls of light created to meet the greatest challenge of Gothic architecture — to construct the highest possible walls of stained glass that could be created without crumbling. It has no rivals on that score.

This is one of the best architectural illustrations of your point you could have chosen. Well written and well done!

Thank you so much, Kim! I learn so much from you as well!

The credit for that photo choice goes all to Heather on Jon’s team, she knows what she’s doing! 🙂

So glad to see your post on here. It turned out amazing. My favorite points are tied to the idea of stealing and being simple. The number one mistake I see writers make is trying to be original, witty, and intelligent. People who think they’re above having to learn first principles always fail.

Kudos on using lickety-split in your post too. haha.

Off to share!

Thank you so much, Ayo! You have me cracking up. Thank you for noticing I used lickety-split, I was quite proud of that word choice 🙂

Wow!! Amazing guide… Thank you for putting it together! I’ll be sure to follow all these steps every time start writing my articles!!

Off to share right away!

Thank you Nadeem, so glad you found it useful!

Fantastic post!

We have a website/blog and our way of motivating is by providing samples of Truth and Beauty. We do this through images, words, music, movies and wine! We blog every day so we try to keep it fairly succinct.

Although our structure is a little different, I find this post to be extremely helpful and look forward to future posts. Thank You!

–Shawn

Thanks, Shawn! So glad you found this useful

That was a great article. I will go back to it again. In fact, I’m going back to edit a post I thought was perfect…until I read yours. Glad I hadn’t published it quite yet. 🙂 Jan

Thanks, Jan! Glad you can refer to this when you write!

Some great stuff in here! I resonated a lot with Avoid New Information – I’m always doing that with my blog posts. Too many great statistics to pack in!

What made you decide to format this as a long-form document rather than separate posts? I would be concerned about people seeing the length of this bad boy and being put off!

Ha, yes, you might be right Jack! This bad boy was quite a writing project all on its own. But since it’s an “ultimate guide” I just couldn’t leave anything out 🙂

Thank you for this incredible guide! As a new blogger, I have learned so much in this generous post. And now I’m itching to write using the steps that you’ve outlined above! I have bookmarked this post and will be returning to this guide often.

Thanks so much, Kat! So glad this guide will be helpful to you as you write 🙂

You’re very welcome 🙂

Thank you Liz for this overwhelmingly important information. This is really called “ultimate” for a reason. 🙂

Thanks so much, Mikel 🙂

Hey Liz, wonderful to read your post again. This article is an awesome checklist and will save us the trouble of Checking out the Blog Launch Formula video where Glen gave a kick ass presentation on the same topic. This is also a great resource for training new writers. Bookmarking this.

Thanks Peter! I know you know most of these tricks already! I haven’t seen that video but everything I know I’ve learned from Glen 🙂

Hi, Liz. I´ve been reading Jon´s posts for a while now. Yep, he´s the master of empathy. Undoubtedly. And I found my courage from his articles to start blogging again.

But as a loyal follower I read all the Smartblogger´s blog posts and you know what I´ve noticed? Jon has an incredibly sharp eye to choose his co-writers. Cause´ they are as talented and skillful as he is.

In fact, your guide, Liz, has triggered me to write this comment. Which, by the way, is my first one not only here, but ever :).

I know well how much time and effort it took to put this guide together. It seems so smooth, playful and professional, but in reality there`s loads of work hidden under the playfulness.

So I simply say: thank you, Liz!

I now bo back to my blog posts and work harder to be worthy of this guide, some day 🙂

Cheers, Sigrid

Thank you so much for these kind words, Sigrid! I can see just from your comment that you are a talented writer 🙂 And you are right about the amount of work that underlies the playfulness! Your words are very much appreciated!

Ups, I left my photo behind, that´s fixed now 🙂

Hey Liz, what can I say except… Boom! You nailed it. Your post is an amazing and generous resource for bloggers. Every blogger should bookmark this goldmine of advice. I’ll stop there before Jon deletes it 😉

Thanks so much, Miranda! 🙂

Wow amazing post with tons of actionable advice that will help us become better writers. I definitely took away a lot of gold nuggets just from reading it.

I definitely need help crafting better headlines. This is something that I’ve been working on to get people to my blog. I’m going to check out the 52 Headline hacks to see what else I can learn.

Also, love the tip of closing with a motivational bang. Definitely, makes a lot of sense and will make your reader feel better.

Thanks again Liz for these useful tips. I’ve bookmarked this page so I can refer to it when I write my next blog post.

Have a great day!

– Susan

Thank you Susan! You will love Jon’s Headline Hacks!

Even as someone who has written 100’s of blog posts over the years I found the suggestion and tips here great. I know for sure my headlines leave room for improvement!

Keep up the good work.

Thanks Bradley! So glad this was helpful to you!

This is a very informative article. Great hints. Bookmarking it. Thanks for sharing this information.

You’re very welcome, John!

This much too long piece (especially in 2017) seems to be aimed at persons who have no writing experience. I have been a freelance and full-time journalist for more than 20 years. I have written/edited a wide variety of things, such as news stories, articles, newsletter copy, blog/web site copy, captions, subheads, and headlines. I have learned that conciseness, especially now, is very important since many persons now have very short attention spans. This piece needs a lot of editing. I probably could reduce the piece by at least 25%.

The people who are passionate about your topic (i.e. your ideal audience) will happily sit down and read an in-depth guide like this, as the other comments here demonstrate. This is not meant as a read-it-and-leave-it fluff piece. This is a resource for people to bookmark and use when they sit down to write their posts. The audience we’re targeting will appreciate it. But to each their own.

Hey Robert I agree with you. This is not just a short ordinary blog but an in-depth guide. Maybe Paris Wyome didn’t have her reading glasses on!

I think Liz has done an excellent job. All new and seasoned writers need constant reminders on best practices when it comes to blogging.

I’m a newbie to blogging so I’m lapping all the information up. You can never be complacent in life about anything. Learning news skills and picking up great information helps you move forward.

So many thanks to Liz for her time and expertise.

I have been a subscriber to Jon Morrow’s blog and there is no denying that he is treasure trove when it comes to blogging and I admire his writing style. He hs this flair to combine words into a sort of music. And he uses simple, easy to understand words.

But what confuses me is that, while you guys are always talking about the short attention spans of people, your articles practically guarantee that when a reader gets to the last sentence, I’ll be damned if he can remember the first.

They’re just way too long. Maybe you should not describe the flower too superfluously.

Great tips, whenever i need to find a topic i research it on buzzsumo to see which one has potential to go viral.

Thanks Tony. Yes, BuzzSumo is a great tool!

Just a few thoughts about post length.

Yep, it´s likely possible to cut down all the Smartblogger`s posts (including this one), let´s say, into bullet-pointed lists. Or shorten them in some other way. So that people can just quickly jump in, get an answer and jump out. Within seconds.

But I`ve got a question.

Have you noticed one single ordinary-length post here in Smartblogger? I certainly haven´t. Why? Cause´ these articles here are not meant for ordinary people. They are not meant for get-my-results-quick-and-easy kind of people.

They are meant for people who actually want to study, who are willing to put as much time and effort into reading these posts as the author put into creating. Moreover, they are meant for people who enjoy this particular writing style.

This article´s headline says Ultimate Guide. Headlines are supposed to deliver, right? And this one really does it by having a length of a mini course. Yet it´s not just the competition of who-can-write-longer-posts going on here, this is about actionable information. Yep, the competition is called who-can-write-most-actionable-and-thorough-posts.

That´s the reason I´m Smartblogger`s reader. Whatever question I might have about blogging, they provide me an answer. Thorough and actionable. With style 🙂

So I`ll take my time, make myself a nice cup of tea and start to read AND enjoy the posts.

Just like a good book.

So beautifully put, Sigrid! I cannot imagine a better description of Smart Blogger’s posts and audience. Thank you for sharing such an insightful and positive perspective!

Seriously..!! Unbelievable.. I never ever read this type of articles in my 3-year career. I m glad that I found this blog from online Junk. I started my profession as a writer but later I started online blogging. Now, I started my own blog as I recently quit my job. I purchased a Domain and WordPress hosting scottadlhochwriter.com and started making changes. I am really inspired by your blog @Liz and this blog is really helpful for me.

Thanks so much, Scott! And that’s very exciting, I wish you the absolute best with your new blog 🙂

I was wondering how to find and omit grammatical mistakes from articles. As a non-native English speaker, it’s hard to grab those bugs.

Grammarly and other proofreaders are ok but don’t give deep insights. So, the bugs remain.

Is there any alternative tool that does the job you know of? Or some guide you’ll like to suggest so I can brush up on my grammars?

I meant, the free version of those tools don’t give a deep insight. And I’m unable to get the paid version for some reason.

I personally only know of Grammarly and Hemingway App. But I did find this article which lists a couple of other options you could check out – thewritelife.com/automatic-editing-tools/. If you read the comments section, readers also mention additional options and insights.

I hope that helps!

Gotta say that this post delivers on what it says. “The Ultimate Guide to writing a blogpost”. Wow. I’ve only been blogging for ~4 months and the difference between the post I wrote after reading this and before is almost staggering. This is what I produced based off of this post. http://many-wounds.com/how-to-change-my-life/ and before this http://many-wounds.com/genetics-luck-propaganda-youve-systematically-brainwashed-helpless/ . Like I said, difference is staggering.

Wow, what a way to put things into action, Abhinav! And yes what a difference in the two posts! Excellent job.

Such a beauty! In a world where information is turning on us and has become toxic, it’s refreshing to read advice that offers clear, actionable steps.

Find out what your audience actually wants! Sounds obvious and yet so many of us just write about what we think is interesting.

Cheers Liz.

Thanks Drew! So glad you found the advice here to be clear and actionable.

So much so that I wrote an article yesterday and applied the points with a microscope. When it’s published I’ll share.

I think this is the best article i have come across for writing a blog post…you have really gave some useful tips to write some amazing blog post title…next time i am surely follow all these tips…thank you very very much Liz…this article has made my day..!!

So glad to hear that, Arvind!

The title is the most important phase of a post and should be powerful and clear enough to attract visitors and bring traffic.

Hi Liz, Thanks for the article. You are always informative to read. Always found something useful from your side since years.

I Appreciate you for this post. All These Five Steps in a Guide for writing a blog post helped me a lot to write an effective and unique content for posting. Keep Posting this type of informative blogs for learning.

Thanks David!

Nice article, you have almost covered all the points that have to be considered while blogging. Thanks for sharing.

Thank for this post Liz, what an amazing resource!

It’s funny you mention giving too much away with this post that gives so much away – but it is so valuable, it only sparks my curiosity to read more from the site 🙂

Loved the part about making your subheads uniform with the theme of the post. Especially the part about not introducing new ideas in the conclusion. I’ve definitely been guilty of that.

So happy you feel that way, Blake! This site is a treasure trove of blogging wisdom 🙂

Great blog my friend 🙂

Awesome tips Liz! I have been a blogger for several years but I always have new things to learn! Lots of learning here in your article! I was wondering, how often should we publish new content?

Thanks Emmerey! Everyone has different opinions on how often to publish, I would suggest picking a schedule (whether weekly, monthly, etc.) and just trying to be consistent with that schedule so your audience knows what to expect.

Hi Liz! Thank you for responding and for the tips! 🙂

Oh, how I wish I found this blog post when I first started writing, haha! I spent so many hours trying (and failing) to create good blog posts – I’m sure this will help so many new bloggers. I found that the subhead of my posts made the biggest difference so I can definitely vouch for you on that one.

Great post 🙂

Thank you Elise!

I loved your comprehensive post, which would have come in handy when I started blogging in 2008.

Headlines and subheads are important, but I can get stuck in my head and over analyze them (use the headline analyzer from Advanced Marketing Institute) for emotional value. Oh well. I guess that’s the accountant in me. 🙂

Thanks again for the post! I always refer people to the website because of the value the writers provide. The courses are great, too.

Thanks Amandah! Yes Jon’s site and courses are amazing 🙂

Fantastic article, I’ve been writing my own articles for about two months now. Before that, I had zero experience in blogging and writing. I read blogs how to guides online and tried my best.

I’ve improved quite a lot, I still need more experience and reading your article has given me more confidence in my writing. Thank you.

So glad to hear that, Giovanni!

Great article! I’m working on an putting together an ultimate guide post, and this sparked some ideas.

We know very well, every post start with a powerful headline, it is the mainthing which have potential to engage audience for maximum time on post. Here you have shown amazing way to craft a powerful headline for a superb post.

These are really great points and need to implement before crafting a headline for post. A perfect headline needs lot of research to make it outstanding to crawl on internet. Eventually, thanks for sharing your valuable tips with us.

With best wishes,

Thank you for this article, this is what i needed and was searching for. I would like to start writing next summer and need tips like this. 🙂 Hope I will build a content that I will be later proud of.

This article is very amazing since i am a new blog writer it helped me a lot. Your article was a real learning exercise to me and also its giving me lot of boosts to write more.

Excellent read, your dedication shows in your content indeed. Great job! Quite a lot to take in, but most certainly worth applying. Learning to write high quality blog posts have a flip side to the coin, as online writing jobs become quite a favorite.

That’s a great point, Deon!

Nice read, it was a worth to read full article. It really represents the completeness of information that you have presented for every newbie blogger. Thanks for sharing such a nice topic.

Thanks for reading, Anveksha!

Writing a blog post that gets a real audience attention is a challenge, finding a mouth-watering topic is a real plus in writing a blog post. So I ‘ll give a +1 to the point choosing a good topic.

Hi Liz, great stuff, my favorite part of this post is selecting a mouth-watering topic, proper topic selection helps you to engage more traffic.We should alway provide unique information to the reader of which they haven’t heard about it ever before.

Agreed Bhavesh! Thanks for reading.

Hey Liz, you wrote an incredibly detailed post on a familiar topic in a splendid manner. I like the fact that you have offered plenty of advice that’s either new to me or breaks the norm. I agree with you that headlines that have numbers in them perform better than non-numeric headlines. I read a recent post by Neil Patel in a similar vein and he has tons of research that proves the same.

Additionally, the approach of making the benefit clear right at the outset is beneficial for the CTR. However further reading and engagement would depend on whether the author actually delivers the promised goods.

Thanks so much, Amanda!

Thanks for the article Liz, it will really help me to write down an article, although my english is not good and i am learning it through online portals and hopefully soon i will be able to write some good articles.

Hi Liz, This is the longest posting i ever read. Full of useful points i need to apply on my blog and certainly need a lot of practice to master it. I usually run out of ideas after 700 words, always stops around that number. Great post.

Glad you enjoyed it, Yunar!

I have been trying but no traffic so which is the main issue , what do you suggest to get traffic for free and organic not long term

This article is an awesome checklist and will save us the trouble of Checking out the Blog Launch Formula video where Glen gave a kick ass presentation on the same topic. This is also a great resource for training new writers. Bookmarking this.

I will keep in mind next time while i will write a blog.

Wonderful post, you are going to be the next Neil Patel. Have you written on ” Site traffic”. I mean I have awful traffic on my blog. How can that be improved. Anyways, I am going to implement your tips on writing from next time.

Thank you for this beautiful post. Your post will be helpful for us in writing an effective blog post on our site.

Great post Liz! Thank you for sharing these tips on how to write a good blog post.

I have a lot to learn creating blog posts. Hopefully the tips on this page will help me to create something I’m proud to post online. I have many posts I’ve started but never feel they are ready. I best dust them off (update them) and get them posted. 🙂

I really appreciate your way of expressing all the points. It will really help me to write an awesome blog post. So thank you so much for providing this gem to us. Keep posting these type of articles. Thanks.

This was a great article. I will definitely apply these methods in my blog posts. Still, have a long way to go. Thanks a lot!

You mentioned each and everything a writer should follow. I have read hundreds of post related to content writing, and this is one of the best instruction posts for writers. I appreciate your hard work. 🙂

Thank you very much for this informative post. Really comprehensive. I am going to use these step which you have mentioned.

Liz Longacre, one of the best articles I have read on blogging. This has covered all the basic tips and tells you not to write mediocre blogs. Catchy headlines and emotional connection are two major factors in a post that you have to practice. I like how you have meticulously discussed about blogging here. Amazing article and thanks a ton.

I love adding inspirational bits in the end. I agree that blogposts should be written to change people’s lives.

Always go back to edit. No one writes perfectly in one go. Don’t be afraid to edit.

Really appreciated how you walked us through the process of writing a great blog post. Loved point #3 about “engaging the senses” I am using this point to make a previously dry review about small business startups more engaging to my readers

Really great blog post. I’ve been an SEO for nearly 6 years now and I’m very good at keyword focus, coming up with topics, and writing and executing. That being said, design is one area that I find escapes me the most.

I really enjoy the boxes you use to break up the text in the post, with the “examples” sections. How do you achieve this effect? It reminds me a lot of other nice blogs I see like Brian Dean’s and how he uses on-page elements to keep people on.

I have really enjoyed this piece and others and look forward to using your tips to improve my own site and grow! Thanks

Fantastic article! So much great data!

Thanks so much, Chris!

What a great and very in-depth article to improve our blogs! The examples of decent headlines and sub-headings versus exceptional headlines and subs are very helpful. We can clearly see the huge difference side by side and using your tips can now create better headlines ourselves. Obviously, it will take a little practice and some revisits to these tips, but I am looking forward to writing better blog posts and website pages. Thanks for all the help and advice.

So glad you found it helpful DJ Emir!

Hi, Thanks for your fresh post. Here I have a question for you. If I am starting with blogger is there any problem with this? I am here that after sometime google will disable account? So which platform is better for me? Thanks

I personally wouldn’t recommend starting with Blogger. Jon actually has a great article on this topic: https://smartblogger.com/how-to-start-a-blog/

Best of luck!

Nice post on how to write blog 2019, You really nailed it. Am impressed. Keep it up!

Thanks so much, Charles!

Hey Liz, Thanks for the wonderful post. Few questions: 1) How important is the questionable headline (nowadays every other articles headlines with how/what..?) 2) How important is the length of the content, 1500 or more as most of the top bloggers suggest? 3) If anyone decides to write an article of 1500 or more words. Is it good to break it down into sub-headers or paragraphs will do the same as sub-headers? Would be curious to know your thoughts! Thanks,

Hi Kuldeep, I might experiment with different types of headlines to see what works best for your audience but as mentioned in this post, ‘how to’ headlines are a great one to start with. In depth articles are good for SEO and perceived value but you can experiment with shorter articles as well if you like. For posts over 1,500 words, yes I would recommend breaking things up with subheads. My best advice is the more you write, the more you learn what works best for your audience so just keep writing 🙂

Hi Liz, Thanks for your feedback. So its more about diving deep into your own data to see what works & action accordingly.

Hi Liz, Thank you for sharing this informative article. I learned new things from you. It helped me a lot and I hope that it will also help others. I appreciate your efforts. Have a good day ahead.

Thanks Vicky, so glad this was helpful to you.

Hi Liz, Thank you for sharing this informative article. I learned new things from you

You’ve very welcome, Mirza!

Great, great article! I’m a total beginner, in fact i still have to write my first full post. And I have been very nervous lately because I had no idea how to develop it. This guide helped me so much to point me in the right direction and cleared my thoughts. Thanks!!

So glad to hear it, Alberto! Congrats on your first post!

Very useful tips on how to make money from blogging. What a great post, the information is well organized and very comprehensive. I can imagine the effort you put into this and especially appreciate you sharing it.

Thanks so much Adam.

Hi Liz, I am so grateful to have found your article. I’m an artist, and have finally gotten to a place where I am able to concentrate more on my art and to have an actual web page, (thanks to the help of my daughter) and to begin blogging.( I know that it is essential in today’s world for artists.) I’ve done a lot of research, as well as have a background in writing. You’re article is clear and informative, and I can’t wait to get started. Thank you!

So glad to hear it, Susan! Best of luck with your blogging & artistic endeavors!

Hi Liz, I have read it four times. Every time I got something new from the same source. The is an example of evergreen content.

Following your guideline, I have published a post today. I myself understand it become better than Else more posts in my blog.

“Without a headline, they have no roadmap to follow. And so their post goes in multiple directions, leaving readers feeling dizzy, confused and disoriented.”

This quote helps me a lot. Thanks for your efforts and generosity to us.

So glad this was helpful to you, Hasan!

Got briefly explained within you post “How to Write a Blog Post in 2019: The Ultimate Guide” love it. I’ll try in my blog techrecur. Appreciate your work, Thank you.

You’re most welcome!

I’ve noticed a lot of the examples of blogs used in the advice of Smartblogger articles always assumes the writer intends to write a “How To” blog, especially so in this article, particularly the section about motivation and advice the person can’t ignore.

What if someone actually wants write a blog to entertain and enlighten people, or change minds, or share thoughts, or do something other than cater to the endless deluge of problems people have and their need for self-help? For example, I might like to write articles analyzing the philosophical themes or real world accuracy in fiction, or give my thoughts on controversial social issues, or some other kind of article focused purely on engaging discussion and analysis.

This article’s focus seems too narrow and ill-equipped to give advice on such article topics.

Hi Jonathan, this post is meant to be a guide for beginner writers but by no means is it meant to cage you in. Please feel free to be as creative in your writing as you like!

I agree with your thoughts as you said that catchy title is a necessity of a perfect article. It should be like this if someone read this then he/she should click on the title to read the article. I have work experience on Uc news with 30+ million impressions on my article. In the start, I used to write the simple title with all details in title due to this CTR was so much low but when I start using curiosity in my title then my CTR increase like 5times to 7 times.

That’s great, Aaron! Thanks for reading!

Great Post. It’s by far the best guide for blogs I have read. I really liked how you said all the things in a not so boring way. In total Agreement with the thought of the catchy title. Keep writing such amazing blogs.

Thanks so much for your kind words, Oshin! So glad this was helpful.

Thanks for sharing this helpful & wonderful post. i really appreciate your hard work. this is very useful & informative for me.

thanks for sharing with us. thanks a lot.

Regards FutureTricks

You’re most welcome & thanks for reading!

Liz this is truly fantastic. As someone who with a team of 14 blog writers I loved this. You took a huge topic and made it manageable. What I really loved was this was all about SEO, keywords, meta tags, blah, blah. It was about creating damn good writing. Take good care of your girls.

Hugh, I so appreciate this. Thank you so much for these kind words.

Hi there, thanks so much! As far as the design here goes, I’m not quite sure, Jon’s team actually took care of that.

I agree with Step #5. Gone are the days that we write with a very formal and serious tone. The goal of a blog post is to entertain and that’s what I’m doing with my blog right now. I’d like to entertain as well as educate my readers. Thanks for this comprehensive blog post.

Regards, Valerie

Thanks for reading, Valerie!

very useful tips on how to make money from blogging. What a great post, the information is well organized and very comprehensive

This is probably the most comprehensive guide to writing a blog post I’ve seen yet and I’ve read a lot of them. I’m a freelance writer in my real life so I thought writing amazing blog posts in my blogging life would be super easy — but not so much. I’m really struggling to create killer headlines that grab attention. That’s a great tip on comparing subheads to your headline to make sure they match, and that they don’t give too little or too much away.

Thanks so much, Rebecca! I can imagine how different it must feel to jump from freelance writing to blogging!

A Very Very Comprehensive article for copywriters like me for building content especially for small business blogs.Thanks for the Share Liz..

Thanks Prasad!

This is a really comprehensive and well-explained article. Great work !!!

Thanks for sharing this inspiring article which can help many to decide on the choices they make for a better blog writing experience.

Thank you Liz for this wonderful writeup. I’m not a very good writer but your article has helped improve my skills. Thanks for your help

Hey Liz Thanks a lot for your helpful article. I always try to write about somethin. But i can not write. Because i had not any writing skill and i do not khow how to write a proper article. After reading this helpful article, i think that i have learnt something and which help me to increase my writing skill. Thanks Liz

I learned so much! It was a lot of information but your format helped so much. It made note-taking so much easier! Thanks for a great article!

Hi, Liz, nice article. These tips will definitely improve anyones blogging skills. Thanks for sharing.

Hello Liz, What a masterpiece and an insightful guide! I wish I discovered this guide before I started my blog. Noted that I have been doing things wrongly, but I am glad that someone has opened my eyes. Thanks, Liz for this

hey Liz, I am to this, thats why i was confused how to start blogging. But after ready you guide, i found my lost confidence. Thanks a lot for sharing.

I was actually looking for the format of a blog but this is very helpful and I will keep this in mind.

Liz, I used to think I was good at writing until I started blogging. Now I realize how bad at this I am. Your guide is a great roadmap. Thanks

I totally agree with you that creating clear, concise and curiosity-invoking headlines makes a blog post more interesting!

Agreed with you Liz. Amazing information you have shared with us. Everyone should read this.

Well, like you said, give credit where its due. I believe this is one of the few articles that read from top to bottom. I was researching tips on how to write articles and blog posts that will engage your audience and I found your blog post. I already sent this article to my content team and advise them on reading through your article from top to bottom, because there is value to this. Thank you LIZ.

Liz – I just bookmarked this article (and I NEVER bookmark blog articles). My favourite is “quality over quantity”

Hi Liz, thanks for the article I must say I learnt something new today

Attention grabbing headlines and data driven posts are a way to go. You also want to include influencers in your post so as to help later when you start promoting. Thanks for sharing 🙂

Hello Liz Most of post that i read in past one thing is common that is user intent. It is the base of any article and post the intent is most useful thing. When you write something the basic information as writer is intent.Thanks for great work & good to know some more information Cheers !

Your step by step guide will help me to write well optimized the blog posts for my site. Thanks for sharing this with us.

A very good guide. Content is King and every blogger knows that. Writing a Quality blog post is very important in blogging. You have crafted some amazing tips to write a good blog post. Keep Going.

very informative guide on Writing a Blog Post, i will use your tips for my blog, i want to increase my user engagement by writing google quality article, now i know how to do this, thanks for sharing this guide

Dear Liz, I don’t know which words used to tell you that this guide is the richest complete article I have ever found on the web. I read this article for at least 4 hours line by line to make sure I didn’t miss even one line.

I congratulate you deeply. I love all the sincere advice you share in the article, especially when you say you have to be generous and leave advice that is hard to forget. Share everything with the reader, it’s like attracting him to register or buy services. Without lying to you, the character you talk about in the conclusion is me. ahahah.

I am the one who always concludes the articles and I throw a new tips or advice in the conclusions. I learned a lot. Sincerely, thank you and I would not hesitate to recommend this guide to other friends even if they are more French-speaking.

Most alluring articles I have read in recent days. The hardest part is to articulate the strategies that would understand people with ease. You are a girl boss in articulating strategies. I am going to work out this strategy in my upcoming articles. Keep posting interesting ones.

I have recently started writing blogs for a company that I work for called Job Vacancy Result. I am also planning to start with my own blog page. This content was surely insightful. Helped me understand the nitty-gritty of Blog writing. Thank you!

This is something perfect. I was looking for this guide for so long. finally! I would like to implement it on my blog as well. Thank you.

Hello Liz, thank you for the extensive instructions! That saved me some beginner mistakes. I only recently started my own blog (on finance and saving money) and have been on your side ever since when I want to know something about WordPress and the like.

Best regards, Fadila

Hey Liz, Thanks a lot for bringing this entire information in one post. This is really helpful. I would definitely get back with the results after implementing them.

Fantastic! Your step by step guide will help me to write well optimized the blog posts for my site. Thanks for sharing this with us.

This a fantastic post. Your subheading is so accurate and intriguing, which made me read the complete content. The checklist is definitely handy.

Thanks, Abhisek

Your blog is a great resource for me as I am building my own. I think I’m going to learn a lot from you.

Excellent post. Wanna thank you so much for bringing this such an informative article to us. It really gonna helps many of us.

Thankyou again Best Regards 🙂

Very good article. Thanks for sharing such an informative blog. 🙂

I always wonder, why my blog post doesn’t outrank my competitors. Then I Google it to find how to write a great blog post, thankfully I reached here. I got the answer and am ready to craft a blog post that fulfills users’ intent along with search engines. Thank you, Liz.

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How to Write a Blog Intro: 6 Steps for Killer Blog Post Introductions and 6 Good Examples in Blogging

The ultimate content brief generator: templates, tools, and outlines for writing blog posts, how to write a blog proposal: contents, structure, and tips.

Table of Contents

Writing a blog intro is an important part of your content marketing strategy. An amazing blog intro can make or break the post, and it’s critical to get that first impression right. But how do you write one well?

No one wants to read an intro that’s too long and boring, but no one is captivated by a blog intro that is too short. To write the perfect opening paragraph, you need some direction and examples. This article provides 6 steps and 6 examples for writing killer blog post intros.

What is a blog intro?

A blog intro is your readers’ first introduction to your writing. It’s how they’ll get a feel for your style and your topic. The best blog intros often use an anecdote, a quote, or a statistic. You can also hook your readers by posing a question.

The type of intro you choose affects your audience’s expectations and whether they read further. A good intro not only organizes your blog post but also answers this crucial question from readers: What’s in it for me?

Why do you need a good introduction for a blog post?

A blog post introduction is important because it gives readers a snapshot of what the post is about and why they should care. A great introduction will motivate readers to make that all-important scroll down and read your content.

To write a killer blog introduction, keep the following in mind:

A general framework for writing an introduction when blogging

1. an intro starts with an opener.

Your introduction should start with a sentence that piques your readers’ interest. It’s often useful to challenge a conventional opinion or misconception. You can then explore why the conventional expectation is wrong, what result it produces, and how your article will address the challenge. Be sure to keep a bit of mystery about the result so that your reader is left wanting more. End with a few paragraphs about your topic.

2. The intro must state the problem

If you want to engage your readers and get them to trust you, start your introduction by stating a problem. Use statistics and data to validate your statements and show that you understand readers’ pain. This will establish common ground and make sure that you’re speaking their language.

Here’s an example from Outranking. It uses the Problem-Agitate-Solution method that we’ll discuss below:

3. The intro should highlight why your post provides a solution

Your blog post should highlight the solution your post provides. To do this, start with a story or testimonial. This will help to engage your reader and make them want to read more. Use real-life examples to illustrate your points.

Finally, make sure your solution is easy to understand. By providing a problem and solution, you provide Google with all the information they need to understand the page’s content. Writing in a clear and concise manner ensures that your readers will understand what you’re proposing.

4. The intro shows readers what to expect next

An effective introduction for a blog post must be attention-grabbing and compel the reader to continue on. It’s also important to be original, show that you understand your audience, and set the tone for the rest of the blog.

A strong headline is essential, but it’s not enough on its own. The intro must also lead readers to expect valuable content below.

Tips and steps for writing great blog introductions

Step 1: start with a bang.

Write a catchy headline that will grab readers’ attention. The first few sentences are the most important, so make sure your lede packs a punch.

This headline from Becky Mansfield promises huge benefits for readers: getting 1 million visitors. If you can get your readers excited from the get-go, they’ll be more likely to stick around and read the whole article. And if you can get them to share it with their friends, you might even get 1 million visitors!

Step 2: Make it short and sweet

It’s important to make sure your blog introduction is short and sweet . It should fall between 100 and 200 words. You usually open with a statement or question about the topic, followed by a statistic or story. The focus of the introduction should be on why the topic is important, with a promise of value for the reader. You can also encourage the reader to get started reading the content. Remember to use short sentences so that the introduction is easy to read and process.

As a writer, Jessica Merchant’s conversational writing style is immediately inviting and makes the reader feel at ease. This is why short introductions are better for blog posts; they focus on the reader and what they will gain from reading the post. For example, see her post 20 Recipes to Make for Valentine’s Day .

Step 3: Use humor

Humor can be a great way to inject some life into your blog posts and show personality. Humor can establish your blog’s brand and voice, and it can also be a powerful tool for engaging your audience and keeping them coming back for more.

Here’s an example of a blog intro with an infusion of humor as seen on yourdictionary.com :

Interestingly, headlines and blog intros that include an element of humor or curiosity are more likely to be shared on social media. This is because readers often want to share something that makes their friends laugh. So if you can make your readers smirk or pique their curiosity, you’re more likely to get them to read or share your blog post.

When used effectively, humor can make your blog more enjoyable and form a stronger connection with your readers. However, it’s important to use humor judiciously and avoid coming across as unprofessional.

With that in mind, here are some tips for using humor in your blog introductions:

Following these tips, you can use humor in your blog introductions in a way that will engage and entertain your readers without looking like you’re trying too hard.

Step 4: Be relatable

The best way to be relatable in a blog introduction is to think about your audience and what they want to hear. Your writing tone is important in setting the right mood for your readers. Be clear, concise, and genuine in your writing, and let your personality shine through.

For example, to be relatable as a beauty blogger, blog posts about beauty are often practical and experience-driven. This means that the blogger should write about products they’ve tried and what works for them, not just what looks good in pictures.

Blogger Emily Weiss demonstrates a genuine understanding of her audience by referencing real-world commonalities in her introduction Time to Talk Fall Beauty Looks . She’ll often start with phrases like “As a busy woman,” or “As a new mom.” This establishes an immediate connection with some of her readers and makes them more likely to stick around for the rest of the post.

Step 5: Tell a story

One of the most powerful tools you can use as a blogger is storytelling. A well-told story can captivate your readers and make them want to stick around for more. It can also make your message easier to understand, helping readers visualize what you’re saying. Use a narrative writing style to tell your story in a relatable manner.

Try to include a relevant takeaway that will be of interest to your readers. And finally, make sure the story is easy to follow and understand. If it’s meandering or confusing, chances are your readers won’t stick with it until the end.

In Why I’m A Failed Blogger But I’m Hopeful For Getting Success , Tirtha Ojha uses storytelling in the blog intro to capture the mind of his readers, keeping them hopeful for positive news to come.

Step 6: Address the pain or problem and lead to a solution

It’s important to remember the purpose of an introduction when writing one for a blog post. The goal is twofold: first, address the issue, then propose a solution. It’s important to be clear and concise when stating the problem so that readers can understand it easily. You’ll also want to use direct language to articulate the problem before offering a solution.

Here is an example from Outranking AI on the topic “how to write a blog intro”:

When you offer a solution, make sure it’s realistic and achievable. Also, address the specific needs of the reader. If you’re offering a solution that’s similar to what the reader has heard before, you’ll need to present yourself as an expert who can solve the problem once and for all.

Examples of bad introductions that kill reading momentum

These are some bad practices for introductions that could scare away your audience:

Here is an example of a bad blog post intro according to Learn Labs .

Different types of blog post introduction formulas with good examples

1. the 4 ps: problem-promise-proof-proposal introductions.

If you want to introduce your business to potential customers in a blog post, the 4 P’s framework can be a helpful tool. It focuses on identifying a problem your readers are facing, making a promise to help them, and providing proof of how your business will help.

For example :

2. AIDA: Attention-Interest-Desire-Action introductions

When writing a blog post, it’s important to grab readers’ attention from the start. One way to do this is to use an AIDA introduction . Attention, Interest, Desire, Action – these are the four steps you’ll take your reader through to get them interested in your message or product.

Here’s an example of a blog intro using the AIDA framework from Jasper AI according to Carminemastropierro.com :

3. PAS: Problem-Agitate-Solution introductions

There are a few different types of introductions that you can use, but PAS (Problem-Agitate-Solution) is one of the most popular. This introduction style helps to identify the problem your reader is facing and shows how it persists and affects people. Finally, it provides a solution to the problem.

For example, Outranking AI uses the PAS formula to introduce the topic of best fitness trackers.

Outranking can help you write these introductions quickly and rank higher in search engines, driving more traffic to your website.

4. Brilliant Introductions: Introductions that tell a story with a personal touch and a particular tone of voice

A personal story is a great way to introduce the reader to the journey they’re about to take. Stories are an excellent way to connect with readers and build a relationship. Use real-life events or anecdotes to your advantage. Make sure your story has a takeaway that is relevant to your blog post.

For example, if you’re writing a blog post about marketing during a pandemic, you could start with a story about how you dealt with this personally during recent events. This would show your readers that you have experience with the topic and that you are a credible source.

The Brilliant Introduction framework on Outranking can help you write touching blog post introductions that appeal to your audience.

For example:

5. FAB: Feature-Advantage-Benefits introductions

Feature, Advantage, Benefit (FAB)-style introductions are a great way to quickly show the features of a product, its advantages over others, and the benefits it provides consumers. FAB analysis is often used in market research to understand a product’s competitive edge.

You can use INK’s FAB framework to experiment with different angles for your introduction.

6. BAB: Before-After-Bridge introductions

If you’re looking to grab your readers’ attention and give them a clear overview of what your article is about, using a Before-After-Bridge (BAB)-style introduction is a great option. In a BAB intro, you first describe the existing world (before), then show how the world would be if a solution to the problem you’re discussing existed (after), and finally focus on telling your audience how to get to the “after” state (bridge).

To make sure your BAB intro is successful, use clear and concise language, active and concrete examples for motivation, strong verbs, and a catchy headline. With these elements in place, you’ll be well on your way to writing an effective blog post introduction!

How to generate blog introduction ideas using Outranking

Outranking is an AI SEO content tool that can help you come up with ideas for your blog post introductions. It provides data based on SERP results, including target keywords, topics, headlines, and questions. This information can make sure that you generate content that is both relevant and interesting to your audience.

Outranking AI automates SERP analysis so that you can identify opportunities and conduct market research in minutes. You can access the highest-frequency keywords, topic clusters, questions, backlink data, and all the other relevant ranking information you need in one easy-to-use tool with Outranking.

This information will get you started with creating killer blog post introductions that will engage your audience and get you the results you desire.

Here is a video tutorial on how to create blog introductions using Outranking AI:

Writing a good blog intro is essential to get your readers to continue reading. It introduces the topic of the post and sets the tone for what is to come. By following the tips and examples in this post, you will be able to write an intro that will hook your readers and keep them coming back for more. If you found this article helpful, check out how to end a blog post as well.

How do you start a blog post?

To begin a blog post, get readers’ attention and tell them what to expect next. Whatever you choose, make sure it reflects the value of the article to readers and helps them understand what your post is all about.

How do you write a catchy introduction?

An engaging and catchy introduction is important for drawing in readers and convincing them to continue reading your blog post. To write an introduction that does the job, use stories, jokes, or empathy to hook readers’ attention and explain the purpose of your post. Additionally, you can highlight how your post addresses a problem that readers may be experiencing.

How long should a blog intro be?

The length of the intro to your blog post is up to you. However, generally speaking, three to four sentences work well. This will give the reader a snapshot of what your blog post is about without being too wordy or boring. You can also use this opportunity to hook your readers.

How can I minimize time and work when creating a blog post intro?

There are a few things you can do to make writing your blog intro easier and faster. First, make sure you know what your main points are going to be. This will help you stay on track as you write and make it easier to get your point across. Second, use a tool like Outranking AI for SEO to quickly and easily generate a catchy headline and introduction. Finally, practice makes perfect! The more you write, the easier it will become.

How does a good intro affect blog post content strategy?

A good intro is essential for any blog post because it engages the reader and convinces them to keep reading. Additionally, a good intro assists SEO efforts by indexing the topic correctly and enticing readers to stay on the page longer. This can result in increased website traffic and higher rankings on search engine results pages. As a result, it is important to spend time crafting effective introductions for your blog posts.

Can I use Outranking AI to write a good intro for my video content topic?

Yes, Outranking AI can write a good intro for your video content topic. Outranking’s analytics help maximize the ROI on your content efforts by ensuring that your content qualifies for more related keywords – not just the primary target keyword. This helps ensure that your content is seen by more people and drives more traffic to your site.

How do you infuse emotions, knowledge, and hooks in your intro?

Your intro is the most important part of your article. It’s what will determine whether or not readers continue on to the rest of your content. To write a killer intro, you need to first understand what makes a good one. The hook is the most important – it needs to be strong and interesting enough to keep people reading. You can also include evidence, stats, and recent data that support your case to make it compelling.

Is it proper to include statistics in your blog post introduction writing?

The answer is a resounding yes! Statistics are an objective way to present proof of your statements. They can help you stand out from the crowd and even persuade potential clients to work with you. Furthermore, by establishing common ground early, you’ll make it easier for the reader to trust you and stay engaged throughout the post.

What are some blog post introduction examples for bloggers?

You can look at how your competitors are structuring their introductions for inspiration.

How can I generate blog introduction ideas?

Think about who your reader is. What are they interested in? What do they want to learn more about? Tailor your intro accordingly. You can also make your post specific and original by focusing on a unique perspective. Pick a few angles to start with and try them out. You may be surprised at how well they work!

Natalie Luneva

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Blogging Tips: 3 Fun Ways to Write a Blog Introduction

By Liz Murphy

Even though I’m a writer who can sometimes make 1,000+ word counts look as easy as riding a bike, don’t be fooled by my graceful exterior.

Not only do I not know how to ride a bike (gasp!) , I also find myself mentally pulling my hair out when I’m under a deadline to produce blog content for work .

And there’s nothing more frustrating about the blogging process than writing an introduction.

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There's so much riding on your introduction, you know? If you don’t nail it, all of the expertise-laden goodness nestled within the body of your article will go unseen and unloved.

Yet somehow, even though an introduction should be fairly short and an invitation to readers to hear more about what you really want to talk about, it’s one of the hardest things to write.

So, today, I’m speaking to those who struggle in the blog introduction department. The huddled blogging masses who are tired of blinking cursors that mock you with each blip, because those inspiring introductory words and phrases won’t just fall out of your head and onto your screen, as if by magic, like they’re supposed to.

Your days of sadness are coming to an end, my friends, for here are three easy blogging tips to kick-off your blog articles , when you’re feeling uninspired… or for when you need a little nudge in the right direction.

Strategy #1: Paint the Picture

Virtually all blog articles fall into one of two categories -- you're either answering a question or solving a problem.

And, in most cases, there is some level of urgency behind the intent of that reader, who is either asking the question or seeking out a solution to the challenge they're experiencing.

For example, let's say someone is struggling to have a tough conversation with a colleague, and they're looking for advice on the best way to have that conversation.

You could be really boring and start your article with:

Having tough conversations at work are hard and can be very emotional for both parties involved. This blog will teach you how to have tough conversations at work, so the results are productive and positive.

I guess that's... accurate?

But, holy cannoli, is that also boring and utterly lazy.

Whenever you're dealing with any sort of topic where you know your reader may feel a sense of negative urgency, one of the best ways to introduce your topic is by playing into their agitation by painting a detailed picture of how they feel.

You're all smiles over coffee with your team in the morning, but inside you're filled with dread. Even though you know avoidance only makes things worse, you've been putting off having that conversation with one of your coworkers for days -- or maybe even weeks. What if you don't frame the conversation the right way? What if you accidentally offend them? What if they freak out? What if they blame you instead? What if they don't think they did anything wrong? What if they don't get that it's not personal? What if it makes things awkward afterward? What if they talk about you behind your back later? What if, what if, what if? Don't panic. Whether you're delivering critical feedback about performance or confronting someone about their behavior or an incident, it's totally natural to feel nervous having these types of conversations with a coworker or a direct report. They're not supposed to feel fun or be something you look forward to. (I know from experience, as I've been on both ends of those conversations myself throughout my own career.) There are, however, time-tested strategies that will make it much more likely that your own conversation -- while still challenging and often delicate -- will have a productive outcome. So, take a deep breath. Here are a few of our favorite tips that will help you navigate through this tough conversation.

Beyond the fact that it's more interesting to read, this style of introduction is a winner for two key reasons:

If you don't want to be that direct, you can employ the same strategy but as a hypothetical:

Stop us if you've heard this one before. Molly shows up to work with a pit in her stomach. She has to confront Jack, a member of her team, about not pulling his weight on a work project for their leadership team. She's got loads of project management experience, but she's never worked with someone where this has been an issue, so she's not sure how to handle the conversation. She wants to be firm and clear with Jack, and she knows the outcome she wants is for him to start contributing as he should have been from the start. But she's also worried about being too harsh or worse, being too nice, and she doesn't know how to frame the issue in a way that is productive and doesn't result in Jack being angry or unwilling to resolve the issue. This scenario plays itself out over and over again in offices across the country, because tough conversations -- either with peers or direct reports -- come with the territory of being a working professional. But what are the best ways to manage these conversations? And what are the most common mistakes people make when confronting their colleagues? In this article, we're going to share with you our top strategies for ensuring these tough conversations result in productive outcomes.

Before you embrace this strategy, a word of caution. You need to be hyper-aware of the context of your article before you go all-in on the "paint the picture" style.

For example, your ideal customers might be annoyed by such an approach and prefer a more direct introduction, without a lot of fluff.

So, evaluate your audience and your topic before you go down this road.

Strategy #2: Tell a Personal Story

Now, if what inspired you to step up to the keyboard is your own personal experience, don't be afraid to tell your story.

I'll use the tough conversations topic we used above to show you what I mean:

"Ugh, this isn't what I signed up for," I remember thinking to myself. I was sitting at my desk with my head in my hands, as a first-time people manager at LivingSocial in Washington, D.C. I remembered being so excited when I had first been promoted a few months prior. I was ready to be a leader who empowered others to do their best work through positivity, and who was known for being there for her people. Now, I had to sit down and talk to a person on my team to give them a written warning and put them on a performance plan. I was not looking forward to it. It was the exact opposite of everything I had wanted out of my new role, and I spent the entire weekend leading up to it feeling sick to my stomach and dreading that conversation. Today, I'm a little older and (hopefully) a little wiser. At the very least, I've got a few gray hairs that will delude people into thinking I've matured somewhat throughout my career. But between that first test as a people manager and today, I've had to have a lot of those conversations. (And, if I'm being honest, I've been on the receiving end of a few, myself.) That performance conversation of yesteryear wasn't a big ol' party -- those types of discussions rarely are -- and there are a lot of things I probably could have done better. But through that experience, and many others that followed, I've learned a lot about what works and what doesn't in those situations. While there should never be a day where you get excited to lay into someone who works for you (or with you), the following tips and strategies will help you have tough conversations in a way that are as positive and productive as possible.

This style is great for topics where you're addressing a challenge or a problem where the readers may be a bit nervous to express vulnerability or admit that they don't know how to to do something.

By making it personal, you're validating how they feel and making them feel less alone. So, before you've even told them how to make the pain go away, you've already made them feel a bit better.

The key, however, is provide just enough detail to make the story real enough for your readers, without going overboard.

For instance, no one needs to know that it was sunny that day, what I was wearing, or that part of what I was wearing was some coffee I had spilled on myself earlier in the morning.

Share only the details and thoughts that move the story forward, so you can get to the point.

If you don't have a story, you can still get personal with a confession.

What does a confessional introduction look like?

Well, you don't have to look far to see that in practice, since that's exactly what I did for this blog post, when I admitted that I hate writing introductions just as much as the next guy or gal -- even though content is my freaking job .

It's not Homer's The Odyssey , but it's still a great way to dive into an article in a way that creates a human connection between you and the reader and demonstrates you understand what they're going through.

Strategy #3: Share a Real, Honest to God Opinion

If you're not a big fan of story-telling, but you have a lot of thoughts and feelings, you can set the stage for your article in a direct way by sharing a big, bold opinion through a response to something else.

For example, maybe you've read an article that you either entirely agree or disagree with. Or maybe there's a long-held belief or misconception out there you're been dying to correct.

If that's the case, don't tap dance around it.

Lean into the fact that you have an audacious opinion and shout it from the virtual rooftops. (No one ever stood out from their competitors by playing it safe or sounding like everyone else.)

Here's one example:

"The customer is always right." ...right? Wrong. Whenever someone says this to me or to their team as a way to motivate them -- even in jest -- I want to shake them. While I understand the good intentions behind it, that ubiquitous nugget of fortune cookie-esque wisdom is a destructive mentality for business leaders to embrace or share with their people. Here's why...

And here's another:

Recently, Liz Murphy published an article in which she said, "Don't get overwhelmed [with the idea of pillar content], it's worth it." She's one of the smartest people out there when it comes to inbound content strategies, but in this case, I have to respectfully, but also passionately disagree. She's wrong. You should be panicking about pillar content. Loudly. It's a big waste of time and effort, and here are the top five reasons why.

Remember What an Introduction Is All About

While there are a lot of other great ways to write an introduction, always keep in mind what an introduction is supposed to do:

And you need to do all of that in a way that's easy to read, doesn't bore people to death, or gets out of the way fast enough so your audience can get to the good stuff.

Whew. That's a tall order for a few paragraphs.

Don't worry, though. If at first you don't succeed, skip your introduction and come back to it later. Just because it's the first part of your article doesn't mean you have to write it first.

In fact, some of my best introductions only came together after I had time to work through my ideas in the body of the article.

Happy blogging!

Wondering where to begin?

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11 Principles for Writing the Perfect Blog Introduction

Thanks for stopping by, but it’s time to leave.

Seriously… I’m sure you have better things to do than read this blog, right?

The headline was enticing, so you came to the party – but now?

“That post is pretty long, maybe I’ll come back later and read it”

But you never do.

Don’t worry, I’m exactly the same.

If a blog introduction doesn’t grab me by the shirt, throw me down in my chair and compel me to keep reading, I’ll happily skip off the page.

Getting people to go beyond the headline is one of our biggest challenges.

Your elevator pitch…

Meeting new people makes me uncomfortable. (I’m introverted, but that’s no excuse)

Whenever it comes to the first introduction, it always feels like I muck it up.

I’m so obsessed with thinking of questions to ask, I completely forget to nail my elevator pitch.

‘So Will, what is it you do?’

A minute of stuttering and unfocused rambling goes by until the person I’m meeting stares blankly into the distance.

They couldn’t figure out what it was I was trying to say, and to be frank – neither could I.

This is how I feel when I’m reading some blog introductions.

There is no clear purpose, no clear mandate – and why the hell we should be bothering to read at all doesn’t come until it’s too late.

We’re already gone.

Your blog introduction is your elevator pitch.

It’s why anyone bothers to keep reading your content, share it on social media and sign up for your email list.

So instead of being the fumbling, unfocused content writer – let’s take a look at how to write a blog introduction so people have a reason to stick around and keep reading.

The Big Stuff

1. smack them in the face.

In your blog introduction, you need to create a big WHY for the reader.

It needs to be painstakingly obvious why someone should be reading your blog. When I read your intro I need to burn a little inside.

You know that feeling you get when you read something and it feels like the person who wrote it is inside your head?

It feels like that because they have nailed the why .

They have found a compelling reason to write a blog post, and they’ve delivered it in a way that immediately resonates with you.

You know what’s coming next, and that’s why you keep reading – because the writer has made a promise. A promise to help you overcome a challenge you face every day or a shortcut to your biggest goals.

By creating a big WHY you are tapping into the hopes, dreams, fears, and worries of your target audience by speaking to them in a language they understand. Then you are compelling them to sit down and listen up – because what you are about to say next is seriously important to them.

The team over at Smart Blogger are the benchmark when it comes to ‘smacking you in the face’ with a big why early in their content.

Here is an example from their managing editor Glen Long.

Glen Long from Boost Blog Traffic - blog introduction example

If you are a writer reading Glen’s post who feels like your content isn’t hitting the mark, or you are struggling to find that core audience who loves what you have to say – no doubt you will want to keep reading.

Hint, hint – Glen is about to offer a solution to your problem.

2. Talk about canoes

Metaphors and stories help us engage people in a way that facts and figures will never be able to.

They come to us naturally, our ancestors have been sharing history through stories for centuries.

When packed together, metaphors and stories allow us to find complementary meaning for ideas.

They allow us to access understanding we never thought possible and accelerate the time it takes to learn a new concept.

A good metaphor allows us to fight our way through complexity and come out the other side. On this side we get it. We understand it. We can explain it to others.

This is the side we have always wanted to be on, and you can enable others to get there by using a simple metaphor.

Bryan Harris from Videofruit is a master at finding bizarre metaphors to explain complex topics. Below is an example of his ‘canoe caddie’ metaphor that was picked to help people understand the concept of content upgrades.

Bryan Harris Videofruit Metaphor and Story example in blog introduction

The big kicker?

Metaphors actually help you understand what you are trying to say even more.

In short, metaphors and stories rock blog introductions.

3. Make it personal

If I was to lay out every single successful blog there is, they would have one thing in common…

They connect personally with their audience.

The reason most blogs and businesses get it wrong is that they make it transactional.

“How can we get more content up?”

Forget about the amount of content, and start focussing on the personal connection you make with your audience.

I don’t care how often you post, if your audience cares about you they will come back for more .

The blog introduction is the perfect place to spark this feeling within your audience.

They need to respect what you have to say, resonate with you as a person and believe they can take action on your advice.

A great mentor once told me;

“Get them to aspire to be like you, but not think it is impossible to get there.”

That is our job as content marketers.

Your readers have to want what you have, and it is up to you to deliver it in a way that connects with them.

James Dillon from Gorilla 360 has a unique way of connecting personally with his readers.

Catch a glimpse in the screenshot below:

James Dillon example of blog introduction

He has found a way to access the part of our brain that takes us back to childhood – we are happy, excited and most importantly connected with him for helping us feel that way.

4. Ruffle some feathers

In its essence, we are trying to initiate change in others when we write a blog post.

But change isn’t an easy thing to create in someone else.

Most people are looking for the tactic, strategy or shortcut – but there isn’t one .

Unfortunately, we all hold unhelpful assumptions and beliefs in our head that are holding us back.

They are embedded in the way we think about life, society and how things work. And the only way for us to change as individuals is to challenge those beliefs and find a more empowering way to look at the world.

Your blog introduction is where you need to be challenging these beliefs and assumptions your audience are making.

What do your prospects currently believe that is holding them back from doing things differently?

For example, you may hold the belief that creating a website is a long, arduous process that requires a massive time and financial commitment.

Until you experience otherwise, a belief such as this could hold you back from creating a digital presence for your business.

Neil Patel often challenges what we believe on his Quick Sprout blog .

See an example below in regards to link building and the future of SEO:

5. Give them a map

Often we find a way to be so mysterious, that all it does is confuse our audience.

How about instead, you give your readers exactly what they want to know.

Spell it out for them.

Because there is only really one question on their mind as they are reading your blog introduction:

“If I keep reading, what’s in it for me?”

What journey will you take them on?

What tip, tool or tactic will they be able to put into action after reading your blog post?

How will their life be different at the end of the blog post?

Start with the end in mind, and articulate exactly what your intention is up front.

Highlighted below is an example of how I used this tactic in a post:

Blogger Sidekick blog introduction example

6. Play your ‘Ace’

The ‘Ace’ of your blog post is the topic or statement you will anchor the rest of the blog too.

This concept comes from the public speaking sector – speaker’s use one over-arching point that guides the rest of their talk.

The idea being that if attendees are to leave with just one message, it is the ‘Ace’.

So what is your ‘Ace’?

It is your point of view, opinion or standpoint on whatever topic you are talking about.

It’s unique, catchy and memorable in its delivery.

It tells your readers what is important and gives you a reference point as you write other parts of your blog.

It provides an acid test – everything you talk about needs to reinforce your ‘Ace’. If it doesn’t, then don’t say it.

Below is an example of Ana Hoffman from Traffic Generation Cafe using this concept:

The topic of Ana’s post is influencer marketing, but her unique overarching point is ‘Nobody really makes it on their own’ .

The Little Stuff

7. keep them thinking.

Asking questions is a common tactic used in killer blog introductions.

By asking a question, or several, you keep the reader thinking.

Every time they see that question mark, they are subconsciously figuring out the answer through their own lens.

It does two very specific things:

The types of questions you should ask in an introduction are universal. Ones that tap into broad-based challenges and desires. They are open-ended.

The aim is to bring as many people along on the journey as possible, not polarize individuals.

Here’s an example from one of my favorite bloggers Danny brown .

Danny Brown using questions in his blog introduction

You will see that Danny has used multiple questions in this introduction, and they build on each other. This layered approach to questioning is a quick way to draw your reader in and have them chomping at the bit for more.

8. Pack some punch

Have you ever landed on a blog and felt overwhelmed?

The intro was so packed full of text, it felt like you were back at school – it strained your eyes.

Use short, punchy sentences instead of bulky paragraphs.

We all have pretty short attention spans, and short sentences help us consume content without freaking out.

They guide our eyes down the page and encourage us to scroll for more. Much like the use of questions, they keep the reader interested without overwhelming them with too many ideas.

Mary Jaksch from Write to Done has nailed this concept in the example below.

Imagine if she had written all of that in one lengthy paragraph?

It wouldn’t have had the same impact, and the chances of you scrolling would’ve dropped substantially.

Blogging is about user experience, not sounding smart. So make it easy for your readers to consume your content and tell the grammar police to take a chill pill.

9. Keep some slack in the rope

The last three tactics tie in nicely together…

They are all trying to encourage your readers to trace their eyes down the page and eventually scroll to the rest of your post.

This concept is known as delayed transitioning, and it is a growing trend.

Brian Dean from Backlinko is a key exponent of this tactic, see below.

You will see that Brian has used three dots after the initial point…

This means that he isn’t finished, there is more to come. Naturally, readers will want to read the next line to find out what they have missed.

I have used the metaphor of a rope because that is exactly what is happening. You are leaving some slack in the rope and slowly pulling your readers down the page, line after line.

10. Play trips instead of deuces

Three is always better than two when it comes to explaining something.

The idea is to triple up on adjectives when you are describing a concept or making a point.

It’s rhythmic, enticing and memorable…

See what I did there?

I found three reasons to play trips instead of deuces, and I packed them one after the other for a compounding effect.

For some reason, this style of writing is built into our makeup. It helps us digest ideas and makes us want to learn more.

11. Be bold

Literally…

Draw your readers in by formatting your blog introduction – tap into the visual senses.

Use italics, text bolding, dot points or colons.

By breaking up your text it helps people consume it quickly, reinforces key points, and draws their eyes to the most important information.

Here is an example from Robbie Richards (notice how he has used a bunch of the other tactics I’ve spoken about too);

Robbie Richards blog introduction example

Your intro is important.

It makes or breaks – will someone keep reading or will they bounce?

In this post, I’ve offered 11 principles that make for a compelling blog introduction. Sure I use some of these tactics, but I didn’t come up with them. I’ve learned from the best…

Veterans of writing and blogging figured all of this out long before I did.

You don’t have to use all 11 principles in every post – the key is to mix and match. You will begin to find a writing style that suits your strengths and captures an audience that resonates with that style.

Just don’t take these things for granted. Your blog introduction is your elevator pitch – don’t mess it up .

Author: Will Blunt

Will Blunt is the Founder of FlypChart.

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7 Tips to Write a Great Blog Post Introduction

Your introduction sells the read.

If your introduction doesn’t motivate readers to make that all-important scroll down, you lose them. You put in the hard work creating your content. Nailing the introduction makes sure your content gets the attention those efforts deserve.

These seven tips can help you craft compelling blog post introductions that get your readers to go beyond the headline.

1. Highlight a common problem

People read content for the value it offers. For business blogs, that usually means a solution to a problem. By highlighting a pain point in your introduction, you immediately grab the readers’ attention. It tells them they’re in the right place. You understand their problem.

Here’s an example from Ahrefs :

In the above example, the second paragraph reads: “Sound like you? You’re in the right place.”

Once you’ve agitated the pain point, you need to deliver a solution in the rest of your content.

2. Tell readers what to expect

When you agitate a pain point, you start a ticking clock. If you don’t tell your audience how you will help, they’ll quickly lose patience and bounce.

Your introduction needs to set out the expectations and answer the reader’s question: Is this worth my time?

By telling your audience what they can expect, you make that decision much easier.

Here’s an example from Shopify :

This introduction acts as the thesis of the content – what will be covered, in what order, and what the audience can expect to take away.

Few visitors read content from start to finish. Laying out your thesis helps people to find the information they need quickly. They can go to a specific section, consume the entire piece, or recognize the content isn’t going to deliver what they need.

3. Explain the benefits

Some people read a blog post because they want to learn something that will help them to improve their lives. Whether it’s instructions on how to make pancakes or a guide on how to increase customer retention, your readers want results.

Make your introduction more compelling by selling the benefits of your content. What will reading your blog post help them to do?

Here’s an example from Backlinko :

The introduction lays out the article’s benefits in unambiguous terms. Make it clear what your content is about and how your audience can benefit from reading it.

4. Ask a question

When you ask a question in your introduction, you invite the reader to ponder an answer. You actively think about the topic from the outset.

Here’s an example from Neil Patel :

When you use a question in your introduction, you must back it up with an answer or answers in the content.

5. Take a stand

Conflict is the essence of drama. Anyone who has studied storytelling knows the importance of confrontation in creating tension and engaging an audience.

When it comes to blog post introductions, you can create confrontation by challenging a long-held belief or strategically taking aim at a controversial topic in your niche.

Here’s an example from AllBusiness :

A confrontational introduction typically results in three reactions:

In all three cases, they keep reading to find out more. They are going to want to know how you reached that conclusion.

6. Use a quote

Quotes can be a great way to lend credibility and create a compelling lede. A quote can back up your thesis and provide a framework to structure the rest of your content.

A quote can summarize a conventional belief or best practice and construct a counterargument in your content.

Here’s an example from Forbes :

Avoid quotations overused in your niche (a la “content is king” in marketing). Use quotes from unexpected voices or source original quotes from thought leaders.

7. Write the introduction last

The introduction is the first thing your readers see, but it often should be the last thing you write for two reasons.

First, the introduction is more important than any other paragraph in the post. Every word counts. When you start a new piece of content, it’s easy to waste time trying to craft the perfect introduction. It’s more efficient to get started by writing your main points.

Second, you understand the topic better once you have written the meat of your content. You may find that introduction you spent hours crafting no longer fits your central thesis once you finish the rest of the piece.

If you have a moment of inspiration, write a brief introduction as a placeholder. You can return to it once you’re done with the rest of the post.

Open strong

Your introduction is super important. It convinces people to keep reading or sends them back to the search results page or to read something else. Using these tips, you can create a compelling introduction for your next blog post.

Try different tactics and keep an eye on your analytics to see what works for your niche and writing style.

Cover image by Joseph Kalinowski/Content Marketing Institute

Author: George Drennan

George Drennan is the founder of Eagle Content , a UK-based copywriting company that helps companies expand their online presence and connect with their customers. His experience in e-commerce and marketing has led him to work with startups and enterprises around the globe. A graduate of Falmouth University, he currently resides in Shropshire. Follow him on Twitter @GeorgeDrennan2 .

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How To Introduce Yourself As a Blogger (in Blog and Life)

Today, I want to write something different.

It’s late at night, I have my tea ready, and my mind is wondering about one thing:

How to introduce yourself as a blogger?

It sounds like it’s no big deal, but it really is.

Here’s why:

“What do you do for a living?”

When I contemplate how bloggers introduce themselves, I’m not just thinking about writing an “About Me” page .

In the past, I often felt awkward and weird when talking about my profession to friends and relatives.

Despite trying to describe blogging as accurately as I can, I almost never liked how people responded:

That’s why I disliked the question “ what do you do for a living? ”

For a lot of people, it’s just a simple question. But for bloggers who are yet to make money online, it can be discouraging – especially with how people respond.

How I introduce myself now

Eventually, I decided to brush the doubt aside.

I realized that to be a successful blogger, I should feel confident when talking about what I do.

Today, I’m more than happy with the way I introduce myself in public and on the internet.

Here’s my blogger introduction sample:

Here’s my first piece of advice:

Focus on what you do, not what you’re called

When I get asked about my job now, I don’t just say “I’m a blogger.”

I say, “I help people build a profitable online business through authority building strategies.”

The key difference between the two answers is the FOCUS.

While the first one focuses on a title, the other focuses on a goal.

Here – let me give you a template:

“I help [your target audience] achieve [their goals] not only with [old method] , but through [your unique method] . “

That will be your credo.

It is the one-liner that you’ll use to introduce yourself on social media and in person.

You still have a few things to do if you want to incorporate this into a proper blog introduction. But for now, let’s get your one-liner introduction ready.

All you have to do is answer four simple questions:

I’ll give you a few minutes to come up with answers.

When you’re done, plug them into the template I shared with you earlier.

For example, if you’re in the weight loss niche, you can go with something like:

“I help stay-at-home professionals achieve their ideal body not only with exercises, but through dynamic diet planning. ”

Once you have your one-liner ready, it’s time to fashion it into different types of introductions based on the situation:

1. How to introduce yourself in a blog

First things first, let’s incorporate your one-liner into your official “About Me” page.

You probably already know the basics, like:

The next step is to simply insert a version of your one-liner anywhere in your introduction.

Expound it if necessary, like what Nomadic Matt did by listing down questions his target audience asks.

How NOT to introduce yourself in a blog:

When writing an introduction in your blog, avoid being vague.

Your introduction shouldn’t leave your readers with more questions than they started.

For example:

“I help people (who?) make money blogging (how?) using easy-to-do strategies (what?) .”

2. How to introduce yourself to friends and family

Your one-liner also serves as an excellent starting point when introducing your profession to friends and relatives.

Remember, your one-liner already discusses what you do in a sharp and concise way.

The usual follow-up is, “How do you make money with that?”

That’s when you can briefly mention your monetization strategies , like:

I like how Julie Page highlighted her strategies in two short paragraphs:

How NOT to introduce yourself to family and friends:

When talking about monetization strategies, use words they will understand.

Avoid using technical terms like:

“I make money through affiliate commissions (what?) and sales of my authority blogging online course (double what?) .”

3. What about to total strangers?

Believe it or not, it’s actually less awkward to introduce yourself to strangers instead of people you know.

People tend to be more careful with how they respond in such conversations. In turn, they come up with better follow-up questions that are easy to answer.

The only rule here is to relax and be yourself.

Take a page out of Rob and Kennedy’s book when they talked about themselves on Email Marketing Heroes .

How NOT to introduce yourself to strangers:

Never oversell yourself. Keep it light and try not to say something that’ll put them off, like:

“I teach bloggers my own digital marketing formula. You can go to my website to check out my products, I also get thousands of monthly traffic there.”

4. Introducing yourself in an author bio box

If you ever tried guest blogging , you’ll understand how important it is to write a compelling author bio.

Not only should it capture attention – it should also motivate readers to click the link to your website.

You can model it after the one-liner you wrote earlier, but it doesn’t have to be an exact copy.

What’s important is that readers know exactly what you do, what you offer, and how readers will benefit.

Here’s a good example by Tom Southern in his guest post on OptinMonster.

How NOT to introduce yourself in a bio box:

Whatever you do, don’t be vague and shy away from the opportunity to promote something meaningful.

Don’t write something like this:

“I’m a freelance writer and part-time fashion blogger (where?) . I write about men’s shoes, corporate style, grooming (how exactly will readers benefit?) .”

5. Finally, introducing yourself in an interview

“Tell us a bit about yourself.”

That’s how a lot of interviews start with these days.

The key here is to remember one thing:

The audience and interviewers probably already have an idea of what you do.

That gives you an excuse to talk a little about your accomplishments and experience.

Remember, they’re not wondering about your job. Rather, they’re asking “Why should I listen to this person?”

I recall being thrown this question right off the bat in a BloggersPassion interview:

If you’re being interviewed for a broad audience, then it’s fair to mention a thing or two about your business.

That’s when you can go back to your one-liner and make a solid first impression on the audience.

How NOT to introduce yourself in an interview:

Doing anything but establish your authority and credibility is a mistake when introducing yourself in an interview.

“My name is Ankit Singla and I’m a full-time blogger. I blog about blogging (just a bad introduction across the board) .”

Additional tips when introducing yourself

Feeling more confident in yourself now?

Before you head out there, remember that no two social interactions are exactly the same.

In most cases, utilizing your one-liner is enough to turn any conversation into a comfortable and meaningful one. Other times, you need to try a bit harder.

So, before I end this post, here are a few more tips you should keep in your back pocket:

Well – I must say I enjoyed writing that.

Remember, blogging is a full-time career.

You need to talk the talk before you can walk the walk.

With the tips above, you should always feel like a million dollars when introducing yourself to others.

What about you? How would you write your one-liner introduction?

Paste it in the comments below and I’ll let you know what I think.

Additional resources you might be interested in:

Ankit Singla is a full-time blogger, YouTuber, author, and public speaker. He is the founder, writer, and content strategist behind Master Blogging . With over 12 years of blogging experience, he helped countless aspiring bloggers achieve their dream of building a profitable blog. Get to know him better on his about page or watch his video content on YouTube .

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How to Write Catchy Blog Post Intro [Quick Guide]

February 24, 2019

Do you know that 90% of the bloggers find difficulty in starting up the blog post with a catchy intro? If you are one of those 90%, read this blog post.

While writing any blog post, the main thing in which bloggers are stuck up is the introduction. However, once you learn how to write an effective, catchy blog post intro, you and your blog readers will get a head start. It will also help you to develop great ideas to write your blog post.

The readers, who visit your blog post without introduction, feel like attending a party where there are no acquaintances. Think of inviting guests to a party, then introducing them to others. How they feel like? Better than the first case? Definitely yes.

So writing a blog post introduction is like inviting the readers to your blog post , and introducing them to the topic, so that they won’t feel like a stranger.

You now understand the importance of blog post introduction. It’s important to make your boring intros, awesome.

Here are some of the quick tips that help you to write catchy intros for your blog posts:

Importance of effective blog post intros

The first impression is the best impression. If your intro is not effective, then the reader will not bother to read further. Next to the headline, the thing that attracts visitors to become readers is an effective introduction.

Google and other search engines take the first paragraph of the blog post (usually intro) as Meta description when no description is specified.

In this case, your blog post’s introduction is considered as Meta description and show up in SERPs. So considering this case, effective intros for a blog post help to increase click through rate in search engines.

If your blog post introduction makes your readers clear about the blog post you are writing, you definitely will not lose those visitors.

Tips for churning out irresistible intros for your blog posts:

Effective intro image

I heard a wise man said – “Image speaks louder than text”, I bet it’s true. Use an image that signifies the purpose of the entire blog post.

Do not always look for exact images. Use images that indirectly shows up what the blog post’s purpose is or for which type of readers this blog post is intended.

Akshay strongly recommends: How to Choose Perfect Images for Blog Posts

Make it clear

Always read your blog post in the perspective of the reader. Every reader, landing on your blog post, expects something and is searching for something. It is important to shout at them – “ This blog post contains what you are looking for.”

For example, look at this very post’s introduction, by reading this you will get a clear idea about what is this blog post dealing with and what not it is.

Share probable common views

You can easily determine the common views, between you and your regular readers. Share those common views in the introduction. This will create a bond between you and your readers and they tend to read and involve in the complete blog post.

In this case, readers after reading the introduction, think that this author has the same mentality as mine and has crafted the blog post accordingly.

Keep it conversational

Rather than merely writing an introduction, talk to readers. Make your static text come alive and poke your reader’s mind. Appear as if the author has casually had a conversation.

Blog posts that consist of static long-form text is an old practice, the modern trends in blogging are dictating that the blog posts should be conversational so that readers involve completely.

Start with an amazing fact Do you know that 90% of bloggers find themselves difficult in writing blog post intros? – This is the fact with which I started this blog post’s introduction .

As soon as you start reading this blog post’s introduction, your curiosity, of knowing whether you are the one in 90% of those bloggers, becomes the main driving force for you throughout the blog post.

People love facts rather than tellings.

Start with a quote

Starting a blog post with a quote. It’s a great idea.

A single quote can be equivalent to a paragraph of content. It delivers the message to your blog readers effectively in only one line. Readers believe great quotes from great people. Great quotes keep visitors intact with your blog.

Final words

The purpose of effective intros is to make a bond between you and the user that claims similarity between you and the visitor. In other words, the purpose of effective blog post introduction is to help visitors to verify the relevancy of the content , and help them to determine whether they are in the right place.

Whatever it is, introductions should be small, catchy, to the point.

I hope after reading this post, you came to know the importance of much-neglected part of the blog post, the blog post intro. Always keep in mind that blog post introductions are a great way to make visitors involved in your blog.

Hi, I’m Akshay Hallur. The founder of this blog BloggingX and many other online ventures.

I’m a professional full-time blogger, a digital marketer, and a trainer. I’m here to help bloggers like you to create an outstanding blog and earn money from it.

One request?

I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to the blogging community. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media networks. SHARING IS ♥️

Digital Marketer | Blogger | Trainer | Growth Hacker | Systems Thinker

Hi, I’m Akshay Hallur the founder of BloggingX. I dropped out in 2015 to pursue my passion in blogging, digital marketing and training. I help people like you to learn blogging and help you grow your online business leveraging the power of strategic content marketing.

We here at BloggingX believe in authority blogging. We help you to succeed even in the most saturated blogging fields with our proven and actionable strategies.

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How to Start a Blog Post: 10 Ways to Write An Irresistible Intro

by Mary Jaksch | Become a Top Blogger

Imagine you’ve been invited to a party where you don’t know anyone.

You’ve come through the door, grab a drink, and stand there feeling like a pony with five legs.

Nobody seems to pay any attention to you.

After a while, you start sidling to the door in order to escape. Or maybe you tough it out and start making conversation. This scenario isn’t much fun.

Here’s another scenario: You go to the same party, but this time, the host spots you hovering on the doorstep, guides you into the room, hands you a drink and shows you around, introducing you to the other guests.

That would feel a lot better, right?

The difference lies in the introduction.

In the first scenario, you didn’t feel welcome. Whereas in the second scenario, your host connected with you.

When you think of visiting a blog and reading a post, the experience is quite similar. If there is no introduction to the post you’re about to read, you may feel unwelcome and leave.

Because the headline promised a wonderful experience, but the start of the post didn’t match up.

How to Start a Blog Post: 10 Ways to Draw Readers In

1. invite the reader..

The reader will feel at home if he or she feels that their concerns will be met. And that your blog is a friendly place to visit. One way is to address the reader directly.

Example Intro #1:

Do you feel insecure, anxious, and doubtful about your writing?

Example Intro #2:

Does it ever seem like you have more adversity in your life than other people do? As if everyone around you is having an easier time of things than you are? You begin to feel sorry for yourself and think, “Why does this stuff always happen to ME ?” From: How to Overcome Adversity and Steal Its Power | RebootAuthentic

2. State a commonality .

When you state something that you have in common with your readers, you create an immediate bond.

Example 1

We all seem to be getting more self-obsessed by the day. Turn on your TV or open a web browser, and narcissism hits you smack in the face — everything screams ME! ME! ME! From: How To Teach Your Kids To Be Compassionate |MindBodyGreen

Everyone agrees that fitness is good. It boosts your health, brightens your soul, calms your mind, and allows you to do more with your life. From: Want to Be Fit – or Even Ultra-Fit? |Goodlife ZEN

3. Be personal.

Address your reader like a friend. A great way to do this is to tell a personal story.

“Just one big idea. One big idea, and we can change the world.” I made the mistake of uttering those words in the back seat of a car many years ago in the company of some older, wiser colleagues. 4 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me in My Twenties |Relevant Magazine

I’m a big subscriber to using whatever you can find to work out: pullups on trees, throw big boulders, flip logs or big tires, jump over things, sprint up hills. From: Minimalist Gym | Zen Habits

Blogging has been very good to me over the last twelve and a half years, but it’s come at a personal cost that I’m sure many can relate to. From: Hey Bloggers! Is it Time to Focus a little Less on Your Blog and A Little More on YOU? |Problogger

4. Be exciting.

Create a mystery in your introduction that then unfolds in the main part. When you use this strategy, you create a bridge from the headline (which should offer a promise) to the middle part – which delivers the promise.

The key is to intimate to your readers in the introduction what are you going to reveal to them in the rest of the article.

I’m a psychiatrist… in training at least. The stories I have heard within these walls could fill a book, but there is one particular case that has caused me to lose sleep. This story has plagued my mind for far too long. Typing this out is my feeble attempt to make sense of something my rational mind refuses to comprehend. From: My Creepy Psychiatric Patient Practiced Voodoo, Here’s What Happened To Me When I Investigated Her |ThoughtCatalog

Your headline is the first impression you make on a prospective reader. Without a compelling promise that turns a browser into a reader, the rest of your words may as well not even exist. So, from a copywriting and content marketing standpoint, writing great headlines is a critical skill. Here are some interesting statistics … From: How to Write Magnetic Headlines | CopyBlogger

5. Offer the “why” of your post.

Write about what triggered this topic in your mind, or in your life.

When I started the 8-Week Fitness Challenge, I had no idea what the response might be. I was amazed when about 100 people joined the Challenge! It seems that there is a quiet revolution in progress. From: Fitness: 5 Things that Make Exercise Enjoyable | Goodlife ZEN

6. Lead with a story.

A personal story can be a great way to draw your readers into a post. Of course the personal story needs to focus on the key issue of your post.

Naked emotions? Like I felt when I finally gave up screaming for help. When I sank to my knees and wept by the side of the stream, watching my horse about to drown–and unable to rescue her. From: How to Write Better: 3 Secrets of Transmitting Naked Emotions |WritetoDone

When a young Turkish boy named Celal Kapan first began to speak, almost the first thing he said was: “What am I doing here? I was at the port.” Later he told his parents that he had been a dockworker who had fallen asleep in the hold of a ship when a heavy oil drum fell on him and killed him instantly. Was he remembering a previous life? From: Is there Life After Death? | Goodlife ZEN

7. Ask questions.

A question that is unanswered feels incomplete. Questions intensify the reader’s curiosity. The key is to ask questions that the reader can’t answer without further information.

Why is your prospect on the fence? From: Deadly Conversion Busters: Turning ‘Yeah, But’ Into ‘Yes, Please’ | Copyblogger

Could it really be possible that almost everything you are doing to promote your website is a waste of time? From: 11 Traffic Techniques That Are a Waste of Time for Beginners |BoostBlogTraffic

8. State facts .

Details increase the value of your post and boost your credibility. Use exact numbers if you can. Readers tend to trust numbers.

In 1995, authors, experts and influencers sold $10 million worth of eBooks through Amazon. 18 years later that number has grown to $1.6 billion. Despite the growth, something is changing… From: New Facebook Tool: How To Use It To Convert Comments Into Sales |JeffBullas

Sex may be a common topic in the US, but there are some facts about sex that most of the American population is unaware of. For instance, cold feet is probably the reason for a lack of orgasm. A UK study found that 80% of couples wearing socks during intercourse were able to reach orgasm, but only 50% of those who were sockless were able to reach orgasm.

9. Use quotes.

Quotes are a great way to lead into your post. Everyone loves quotes. They are usually by well-known authors and through using their quotes, you are borrowing their authority.

If you use quotes supporting the main points of your post, this will increase the reader’s trust in you.

Example

What unites us as human beings is an urge for happiness which at heart is a yearning for union. ~ Sharon Salzberg From: Unraveled? Here’s How to Knit Yourself and the World Together | Zen Habits

10. Anecdotes.

If you can find good anecdotes, the introduction is a great place to place them. Anecdotes are short, punchy stories. Speech writers often lead in with an anecdote because it help the audience to pay attention.

Google just introduced customizable background images on their site. Here’s what happened: “I need to search for someth…. wait, huh? What is Google celebrating today, the guy who invented transparency? A background image, oh weird, it’s like a mountain view. Oh I get it… Mountain View! I wonder who that woman on the dock is? Not a huge fan of big, busy images… too distracting. What other pictures are there? Yuck. Yuck. Nice for a photo album, but too busy for this page. Meh, the colored background is ok, red… no, gray, yeah, gray. Actually, maybe I want—Wait, I was supposed to be searching, how do I turn this off? Wait, why does clicking remove background image just return the original picture of the woman on the dock, I just want nothing to be there. Argh!” From: A Google Background Image Anecdote | Plastic Mind

The introduction is a crucial part of a blog post. It’s a chance to connect with readers and encourage them to read your post. You may think that it’s common knowledge how to write a good introduction, but about 60% of all guest posts that land on my desk lack an introduction.

It’s not a difficult skill to learn; it just takes practice. A great way to learn how to write good intros is to try out all of the ten ways above in turn.

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How to write an SEO-friendly introduction for a blog post

Google loves amazing content! We all know that, right? And what is THE most important part of a post or article? That very first paragraph! So, you should give that first paragraph some extra SEO love! The introduction of an article is of key importance to tell your audience what your story is about. Moreover, for Google, the introduction of a post is really important as well. But why is the introduction so important for SEO? And how do you make sure to write an SEO-friendly introduction? In this blog post, I’ll talk about the importance of the introduction and give practical tips on how to write an awesome first paragraph!

Why you should write an SEO-friendly introduction?

The introduction of any article is always the first thing people read. People usually start reading at the beginning of an article. Google knows that too. Google is trying to mimic a human . If your introduction is not compelling, people will click away. That’ll lead to a decline in your rankings.

Because the first paragraph is the most important part of the article, it should be really well written and really well-optimized. The demands on that paragraph are just higher than the demands on the rest of your text . Your introductory paragraph should simply be top-notch.

What should a good introduction do?

An introductory paragraph has a few functions. It is the start of your blog post. It has a specific task. Let’s look at the three major functions of the introduction to a blog post!

1. Introduce the topic

The first paragraph of any article introduces the topic. Just by reading the introduction, it should be clear what the message of your article is. What is it that you want to tell people in this article?

In the introduction of the blog post you’re currently reading, the message is: ‘the introduction of your article is of key importance to your audience as well as to Google.’ That’s what this article is about. That’s what I want you to remember.

Introducing the topic also allows you to use your focus keyphrase in the introduction . You should use the words you want people to find you on in Google. You should use the exact search terms your audience is using in the introduction. That’ll make your audience confident that your article will answer the question they asked Google.

2. Get people excited to read more

The second thing a good introduction should do is to get people excited about your article. You’ll need a hook. Something that’s fun or triggering. Something that catches people’s attention. The introduction should be written in such a way that people want to read more. Your audience should feel curious about what’s next and excited to have found such an amazing article.

3. Set expectations

The third thing an SEO-friendly introduction should do is set expectations. Readers should know just by reading the first paragraph of your post, what they can expect from your article. In newspapers, journalists tend to hide their content and not say people upfront what people will learn. But on a website, chances are very high people will click away if they don’t know what to expect from an article.

Tips on how to write an SEO-friendly introduction

Think before you write .

Your introduction is your most important paragraph. In many cases, it is the first paragraph you’ll write. Take a little bit of time to think about what you’re going to write. In order to write a good introduction, you need to have a clear view of who your audience is . What kind of people are you trying to reach? What will they learn from your article? Which problems are you solving? If you have a clear view of your audience, the problems they’re facing, and the solution your article brings to the table, it will be much easier to write your introduction (and the rest of your article 😉).

An example: for this article that you’re currently reading, my desired audience consists of writers, bloggers, people that want to create content in order to rank high in the search engines. That’s their main problem: their content is not ranking as high as they would like it to (yet). This article serves them as part of the solution by giving them practical tips on how to improve their introductory paragraph.

Focus on the problem

In your introduction, you’ll always focus on the problem your audience is facing. People will recognize the problem and will want to read the rest of your article if that helps them to find a solution to their problem. In this article, I focused on the fact that a good introduction is important for your rankings in Google.

Make it relatable

Blog posts are generally not formal. Make your readers feel like you’ve written this post especially for them. Address them directly. Use ‘you’ and ‘your’ in order to get them to feel like it is about them personally. Asking questions is also a way to directly reach out to your audience. It’ll make them feel like you’re talking to them.

Make it fun

Use quotes, statistics, stories, and anecdotes in order to make your introduction fun to read. Quotes and statistics will help you to be more convincing, while stories and anecdotes will make your article more entertaining to read. An extra tip: if you use quotes, statistics, or stories in your introduction, I would always come back to those in your conclusion. It’ll make your article all ’rounded up’ and your readers will remember your story and your message more easily.

Use a different font

We’ve talked about how important that first introductory paragraph is. It should be well written, but it should also be well designed. Make it stand out a little and choose a different font. That’ll help your readers, they’ll immediately know which part of the text the introduction is. And, it will make it look important. And it should look important because it is really important!

Use that focus keyphrase!

If you really want to write an SEO-friendly introduction make sure to use your focus keyphrase in the first paragraph . You want your audience to recognize the thing they were searching for in the search engines immediately. Use that exact key phrase in your introduction. That’ll convince your audience that they’re reading the right thing.

Keep it readable

Readability is important for your entire article. But as the introduction is the most important part of your article, readability is especially important in the introduction. Don’t make that first paragraph hard to read. Use short sentences. Avoid passive voice at all times. An introduction should not be too long. One paragraph, containing 10 or 12 sentences at the most. You could divide an introduction into two shorter paragraphs as well. Don’t make paragraphs longer than 12 sentences.

Short recipe for an SEO-friendly introduction

So, let’s make this practical. How do you write an SEO-friendly introduction? Let me give you a short and easy recipe for an awesome SEO-friendly introduction!

Love your site and write an SEO-friendly introduction

If you write a text, you want it to be read. You want the message to get across to your audience. You want it to rank high in the search engines. Make sure that the most important part of your text, the introduction, gets that extra bit of attention. Treat the first paragraph to a little extra SEO love . That could really make all the difference. And it’s not hard work. It’s just a little love. And let’s spread that SEO love!

Marieke is the head of strategy at Yoast and founder of Yoast SEO academy. She loves coming up with new ideas and products to make SEO attainable for everyone, and ensure a healthy growth for Yoast!

SEO love series

Coming up next!

Learn inbound, 2023, yoast seo news webinar - march 28, 2023, 9 responses to how to write an seo-friendly introduction for a blog post.

Fantastic article!

It is well-written and clearly explains the importance of the first paragraph for SEO. All aspects that need to be considered when writing an SEO friendly content are addressed in this article. We completely agree that the fact that reader engagement is crucial in any article.

thank you so much!

Great Article. To Write a SEO Friendly Introduction you need to include your target keyword into it. Keep the Introduction precise and informative instead of making it lengthy and boring. The decision of reading your whole article is only decided by seing the Heading and First Paragraph of your article.

So Keep the Article exact and informative.

Cheers, Muskan

couldn’t agree more!

Great Article!

Very nicely explained the importance of the first paragraph in SEO. All the factors that need to be considered while creating SEO friendly article are covered here. Completely agree with you reader engagement is extremely important for any content.

thank you! Good luck with writing your intro’s!

Reading this made me be extra confident of myself, I was able to write content that attracts my audience reading my blog posts.

For me to rank on Google I was able to capture the age range of the visitors on my blog, my writings are now pointing towards the choices of my readers.

Kudos Yoast its extremely amazing hanging out around your blog.

thank you!always good to have a boost in your confidence!

It is useful article for beginners. Thanks a lot. Expecting this type of guidance.

YoastCon 2023!

Learn from some of the world’s best SEO experts how to grow your business, optimize your website and outrank your competitors .

How to Write a Good Introduction so Your Post Gets Seen: 8 Tips

We all believe in one idea or the other.

Some children think that Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are real, while others believe that unicorns exist.

However, for content writers, the most commonly deceitful idea is that your audience reads everything you post.

Out of the millions of blog posts published every day, only a tiny percentage gain traction and attract readers. Besides, with the attention span decreasing by 88% every year, things are only going to get tougher.

Thus, you’ll need something much more than the promise of “ a great article ” to keep your readers hooked.

And that is a strong, captivating introduction .

Creating a killer introduction will help convince your readers that you have something worthwhile to say and keep them interested enough to read the rest of the content.

But there’s a catch: not all content writers know how to write a good introduction. Fortunately, this article will help you with everything you need to know about writing catchy introductions that will drive visibility and more traffic.

Let’s get down to brass tacks, shall we?

Table of Contents

Does the Length of an Introduction Matter?

Here’s the thing: there’s no specific length for an introduction. However, according to experts , the introduction should be approximately 10% of the total word count . For instance, if you’re writing a 1500 word post, your introduction should be about 150 words.

It’s important to avoid writing overly long introductions. This is because the average reader spends only about 55 seconds reading an article . This means that you have less than one minute to pass your point across.

Let us tell you how to do it right.

8 Tips to Write a Good Introduction

Here are some of the effective ways to come up with different types of intros guaranteed to hook your readers:

1. Start With an Interesting Unrelated Fact

One of the best ways to kick off your content is by starting with an interesting fact that will hook your readers.

It’s even better to pick facts that have nothing to do with your topic. This is because unrelated facts will stop them in their tracks and have them wondering how you intend to link the fact with the topic at hand.

In this post, we particularly love how Nike starts by dishing out a fact about the popular lifestyle in Baltimore before venturing into the main content revolving around Brittany Young.

However, it should be noted that not all facts are interesting. Some of them are often overused or too common to have any effect on your readers.

2. Move on With an Anecdote

When in doubt, use an anecdote. It is a short, captivating story that helps to grab the reader’s attention and paves the way for the rest of your content.

But how do you craft the perfect anecdote that won’t have a cringe effect on your readers? Well, it’s simple. You can go for any of these techniques:

A personal story

Tell a story of some event that has happened to you instead of sharing a generic motivational story that your audience has probably heard a thousand times already.

By sharing a personal anecdote, you’ll establish yourself as an expert on the subject matter and create a more personal connection with your audience.

Using a quote as your opening line is an effective method of hooking your readers, as they’ll be naturally interested in knowing how the quote relates to the content.

They’ll also be eager to find out if the content is as interesting as the opening line. To harness the full potential of the quotation technique, you’ll need an interesting quote that hasn’t been flung around so much that it’s now as limp as a noodle.

Here’s an example from a blog post on Copyblogger:

Here, the post begins with a quote from David Mamet that hooks the reader before delving into a story about Steve Job’s theater company.

3. Make Use of Cliffhangers

You might want to consider using a cliffhanger in your opening paragraph. Cliffhangers serve a major purpose: to pique the reader’s interest and increase the suspense. So, with a cliffhanger introduction, you can keep your readers anticipating the next sentence .

Huggies truly nailed this hack in their post below. Viewers were left asking questions like: “ who’s coming ?” “ Why are they coming ?”

By the end of the opening line, your readers should be on the edge of their seats, waiting for the next paragraph. The rest of the post can then delve into the details of the subject at hand.

Interesting read: 6 Content Marketing KPIs To Track Your Online Brand Presence

4. Start off With a Question

Starting your post with a question is a great way to get your reader to relate to the problem you’re trying to solve . However, it’s important to note that not all questions belong in your introductory paragraph.

Avoid using insulting questions like: “ What are you going to do about that ugly mass of zits on your face ?”

Sure, you want your reader to relate to the situation, but you don’t have to be insulting to pass your message across. Instead, borrow the idea from HelpGuide’s article on sleep disorders and problems.

The article begins with a question: “ Do you have trouble sleeping, wake up feeling exhausted, or feel sleepy during the day?

In just one sentence, the author has created a situation that the reader can relate to and provided an opening for the rest of the content.

5. Use Gentle Confrontation Wisely

A gentle confrontation is a controversial approach that expert content writers often use. It involves taking a mild swipe at the reader’s beliefs, actions, or situation.

In most cases, this type of intro has two effects: it either intrigues the reader or riles them up enough to read till the end just to prove you wrong.

For instance, you can start your post with a sentence like Logrise did in this post:

The key to effectively using gentle confrontation is to ensure that you never cross the line between gentle chiding and an actual attack on your readers.

6. Keep Sentences Short

Your introduction is your first chance to impress your readers and lure them in. Unfortunately, most writers get so caught up in this phase that they end up drafting long, garbled sentences.

The result? Readers would have to strain to understand the main gist, and no one wants to do that – especially at the beginning.

Instead, use short sentences (about 15 words per sentence ) that are readable and digestible to keep your readers interested.

7. Personalize by Using “You” Pronouns

The “you” approach is a simple yet powerful content marketing approach. It establishes a strong connection with the reader and lets them know that you’re addressing them directly.

When readers see the word “you”, they realize that they’re no longer reading a random blog post that they stumbled upon. Rather, they’re reading a personal article addressed especially to them .

Most modern brands have realized the power of the “you” approach and are now harnessing its potential. For instance, take a look at one of Volusion’s Instagram captions:

8. Don’t Oversell it

Sure, your article has all the makings of a masterpiece. It will address your readers’ problems and provide a solution to all their challenges. However, try not to oversell your article in the introduction. Don’t let your intro write a check that the rest of the article can’t cash.

If you make any promise in the opening paragraph, ensure that the rest of the article fulfills it. For instance, if your introduction promises that the article will provide tips for creating great SEO content, ensure that it contains just that.

In this blog post from European business review, the introduction promises to show readers how to get more Instagram followers:

Subsequently, as readers scroll down, they get to see the information that the introduction promised:

Creating a killer introduction is the first step to online visibility. Fortunately, you’ve learned how to write a good introduction, and it’s now time to get down to work. Remember: your introduction should be concise, catchy, and coherent to have the desired effect on your readers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best type of introduction.

There’s no such thing as the best introduction. It is essentially the message you want to drive across to your target audience and what your goal is. What matters is that you keep your reader engaged through the very first sentence.

What if I don’t know how to write an introduction?

If you aren’t sure how to start your blog or social post, you can always save the introduction for last and write the main content first. This way, you’ll have a clearer idea of what to include in the introduction.

Is it a good idea to start my post with a joke or funny anecdote?

Humor is always a great option unless it’s an offensive and insulting joke that’s just out of place.

What should the introduction contain?

Any introduction should contain two main elements: a hook to grab the reader’s attention and a brief overview of the main content.

Do I need to add SEO keywords in my introduction?

Yes. Your introduction should contain at least one of your targeted keywords if you’re trying to boost optimization and online visibility through a blog post.

Author: Amanda

Amanda Dudley is a professional lecturer and writer at EssayUSA, a reputable essay writing service . With over ten years of experience in the educational sector, Amanda is fully committed to dishing out high-quality term papers, essays, and dissertations. View all posts by Amanda

Hook ‘Em: How to Write a Killer Blog Intro

by Julia McCoy | Mar 28, 2017 | Blogging

Eight seconds.

According to Time , that’s how long the average human’s attention span is these days.

For content marketers, that means grabbing someone’s attention is a lot of work and you have less time than ever to do it. This requires more than a little bit of strategic thinking.

How do you claim your readers’ attention? Is it even possible?

The truth is, you still have the chance to do it, but that chance is slimmer than ever.

It all comes down to your introduction and the first few sentences.

But no pressure! 😉

To help you craft that picture-perfect intro, here’s everything you need to know about crafting killer blog intros in the modern world.

Why Are Your Blog Intros So Important?

In a world of rapidly shrinking attention spans, the intro serves a critical purpose: it hooks the reader like bait hooks a hungry fish.

Today, people are accustomed to making split-second decisions about people, places, topics, and yes, online content. They swipe right or left, so to speak, without giving much thought to anything beyond how the thing in question makes them feel at first glance.

This can easily be bad news for your online content because it means that anything that doesn’t jump off the page as interesting, exciting, funny, or relevant is liable to get slashed. What’s more, your intros are some of the most high-visibility pieces of your content.

While most people will at least glance at your intro, not everyone will take the time to read your entire body copy, which means that the intro is the perfect and one of the few places to grab those readers you so desperately want.

Finally, the intro sets the tone for the rest of your content. If it’s boring, everything else is likely to follow suit. If it’s exciting and compelling, you can bet the rest of the content will be, too.

By using your intro to show your readers you understand them and want to provide material they love, you can boost their confidence in you while also branding yourself as an engaging and worthwhile writer. Even a strong headline isn’t enough to do this. Many a blog had a strong headline and a weak intro and lost readers as a result.

The Death of the Weak Word

Writing a compelling lede is a lot like writing an impactful haiku or a great tweet: it takes technique.

One of the most essential techniques you can learn to overhaul your introduction is how to kill weak words.

Source: Neil Patel

While this seems simple, it’s the foundation of great opening paragraphs.

Think about it: if your intros are filled with weak, flabby words, they won’t be impactful, and if they’re not impactful, your readers won’t stick around.

For your introductions to succeed, weak words need to be chopped out and replaced with more exciting and emotive alternatives.

Thanks in large part to the dismal nature of the human attention span and the fact that introductions can’t, by nature, ramble on forever, there isn’t a lot of room to include bulky, pointless, or weak words. This means that killing them is essential.

At the end of the day, learning how to trim the fat in your writing, and especially in your introduction, is the only way to create strong content that reflects well on your brand.

Include weak words, and you’ll sink, cut them, and you’ll float to the top of your readers’ minds.

Example of a Strong Vs. Weak Blog Intro

Let’s put a strong blog intro vs. weak side by side to truly impact you on why studying how to write a great blog intro is so very crucial.

Can you spot which one is “strong” as you review these two blog intros, pulled from the web?

First example:

Second example:

The first was from GoDotMedia, the second from SmartBlogger.com.

Can you see at a glance which one you personally like better?

It probably took you less than 8 seconds to make that decision. At a glance, there is one that sticks out far more powerfully.

Let’s explore how you can write powerful intros for your blogs, all the time, without fail. Ready?

How to Write Killer Blog Intros 101: 10 Fundamental Tips for Greatness

Writing great blog intros is a little bit like becoming a weightlifter – you have to work up to it and learn the right steps along the way. Here are ten foolproof tricks to get you there.

1. Embrace The Process Of Self-Editing

Quick: what’s your favorite novel? Okay, now how many drafts of that book do you think its author penned? When it comes to great writing, self-editing is essential.

Even the best writer needs to go back through his or her writing, again and again, to ensure it shines, and anyone who doesn’t embrace this process is likely to fall short.

Hemingway is famous for having said “I rewrote the first part of A Farewell to Arms at least fifty times…the first draft of anything is s&*t.”

With this in mind, don’t expect the first version of your introduction to also be the last version of your headline. To succeed in this business, you must master the process of self-editing, especially when it comes to your most critical piece of content – the first few paragraphs.

2. Practice, Practice, Practice

Great introductions are formulaic, which is both good and bad news. It’s good because formulas are, by definition, things that can be memorized and learned. It’s bad because it means you’ll have to put in the work required to master it.

Luckily, practicing your introduction writing skills and learning which tricks help churn out the best ones is something everyone can master.

3. Minimize Modifiers

“really,” “very,” and “literally” are “fluff”

These are words that don’t belong in your introductions, or anywhere in your content!

The more you can cut these out, the more impactful your headlines will be.

Instead of using these low-impact filler words, use a replacement verb that’s more powerful and compelling than the one that came before it.

Check out our free resource of 120 powerful words to boost your vocabulary skills!

4. Test Your Headlines

Did you know that there are a series of online tools that you can use to improve your headlines, which, in turn, improves your introduction?

Options like CoSchedule’s Headline Analyzer and AMI’s Headline Tool both allow you to input your headline and analyze it for its concentration of common, emotional, and uncommon words.

They also evaluate length, impact, and wordiness to help you craft your best headlines yet. Once you’ve nailed a great headline, you can use that momentum to carry you through a stellar opening paragraph, as well.

5. Conduct Multiple Rounds Of Edits

If you’re only editing your intro once, or not editing it at all, you’re falling into dangerous territory. For your intro to be impactful and compelling, you need to put in the elbow grease required to make it shine.

This means at least two rounds of edits, separated by at least six hours. Don’t ever publish a blog without this. The two rounds might seem overkill, but they serve an important purpose.

The second round of edits allows you to see things you missed the first time, and identify different areas for improvement in your intros.

6. Keep Your Opening Sentences One Line

Look back at the opening sentences of this blog.

See how the first sentences live on their own line?

That’s a great tactic because it’s visually impactful and simple enough to root its way into the reader’s brain.

Continue this all the way down to your first headline, where it makes sense to.

The shorter your first (and first few after that) sentence is, the punchier it will be, and the more likely your readers are to remember it.

7. Get Weird

Okay, you don’t have to be weird for the sake of being weird, but if you can say something unusual (while still being relevant and professional), do it!

Take a tip from Kafka’s Metamorphosis , here, which is widely considered to have one of the best opening lines of all time,

“ As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.”

This opening line has been studied in colleges down around the world, and the words that compile this one sentence are tremendously powerful. What’s more, variations abound, because the book wasn’t even originally in English – it’s been loved across multiple countries. ( Guardian )

Who, pray tell, is going to stop reading after that?

The more unique you can be in your opening lines, the better chance you have of hooking your reader and keeping them interested.

8. Don’t Repeat Yourself

At this point in your content, you’re still so close to the title that one of the worst things you can do is repeat it.

For example, if your title is “10 Ways to Make Money and Be Successful,” your opening line should not be “Everyone wants to make money and be successful.”

Not only is this repetitive, but it’s also insulting to the reader’s intelligence. According to HubSpot , it’s much wiser to assume the reader has already read the title, and move on with a statement that reinforces or adds to it.

9. Write In The Second Person

Second person is the most personal type of voice to use in your online blog writing.

To grab your reader right off the bat, and show them that you understand what it’s like to be in their shoes, use the word “you” as you write.

Source: Right Attitudes

This will showcase to your readers not only that you’re creating content with them in mind, but also that you care about them and have developed the content to be useful and relevant to them. When it comes to intros, that’s an attractive place to start from.

10. Follow A Structure

I mentioned earlier that great intros are formulaic, and they are.

As a general rule, you should dedicate two sentences to the topic of the article (“This article is about X”), two sentences to why it matters (“This affects you because Y”) and at least one sentence addressing a pain point, outcome, or lesson the content will cover.

While there’s some flexibility in how you structure these components, being sure to include them is essential for great intros.

BONUS: 4 Industry Secrets to Create Stellar Intros

Curious how you, too, can create great intros?

Here are four secrets used by the pros.

1. Talk Directly To Your Reader

I know, I know. You’ve heard this before.

But I’m proposing something different. I’m not proposing you just write to one person; I’m proposing you talk to your reader as if he or she was a real person standing directly in front of you.

This adds a whole new level of engagement to your piece and makes it much more impactful and exciting. Talk to your reader like a friend and show them, in your intro, how much you care about helping them find the answers they need.

2. Play On Emotion

To make your introductions more compelling, use them as a place to play on your readers’ emotions. Strong descriptors are an excellent way to do this, as are intros that show that you understand the reader’s experience. Here’s an example:

“We’ve all been there. You sit down at your computer to start a new day of work, but your screen stays black. You start to panic. What’s going to happen to your documents? While computer issues like this are frightening, they’re so common, and they’re more troubling now that we rely on our devices for everything from work to socialization.”

This paragraph elicits emotion from the reader, and will likely encourage them to keep reading, as a result.

3. Break It Up

The best intros don’t confront readers with a huge block of text. Instead, they use short, 2-4 sentence paragraphs to keep the reader engaged and pull them through the content.

We do this all the time on The Write Blog posts:

This intro uses short, sweet sentences to make the text seem more accessible and inviting to the reader.

4. Spend At Least As Much Time, If Not More, Editing The Intro As You Did The Whole Piece

The more efficiently you can edit your intro, the better. Spend a significant chunk of time going back through it to make it shine. Many professionals recommend that you give your intro at least three rounds of editing, since it’s such a critical piece of your content.

As you go back through it, look for weak words and phrases and anything that is fluffy, not emotive, or not as powerful as it should be. If you’re not sure, read it out loud and look for places where you stumble or hesitate, which probably need work. Bonus points for passing it along for a friend or family member to read, as well.

In Defense of a Great Blog Intro

A blog without a shockingly good introduction is just a sad shell of a thing.

By taking the time to create an introduction that will knock your readers’ socks off, you can improve your content, boost your engagement rates, and earn yourself more readers, both now and in the future.

Take that plunge!

Need experienced copywriters to help you craft killer content? See how our expert team of content writers can help you.

Download your Free copy of Hook ‘Em: How to Write a Killer Blog Intro

How to Write Great Blog Introductions (and why most are bad)

Here is a blog introduction example from a post on finding a sales CRM (#1):

The Best CRM for Small Businesses Cloud SaaS Process Street

(Click to expand)

and then, here’s another introduction from a blog post on the same topic (#2):

I’m going to ask you which you prefer, but just hang on a second. Because I don’t really care which intro you prefer, the two introductions above aren’t for you.

They’re for sales managers at B2B enterprise sales organizations.

So just put yourself in their shoes for a bit.

It’s a Wednesday evening, you’re browsing your emails and social feeds on the train ride home from work. Your team is doing okay, but they should be doing better. You’re stressed, but not any more so than any other day.

You want to exceed your targets this quarter. You just hit them last quarter which the bosses were cool with but not super thrilled like you want them to be. You want a raise, you want your bonus. But none of this is new.

You’re 41, you’ve been doing this for 20 years. You first got into sales when you were fresh out of college and love it, now you lead sales teams. You know a lot about sales. Like a hell of a lot. Like, two decades worth.

You also know stuff is changing all the time. 20 years ago when you started there weren’t 400 competitors to Salesforce, now there are, and you know choosing the right one, that your reps actually use, is important and could help your career.

Your challenge in sales at the moment is that your team’s reporting is completely messed up and you think adding a new CRM to the mix will help with this.

Now let’s revisit the situation.

You see an article about sales CRMs on your commute home from work. You don’t have much time, but the headline piques your interest because you’re tired of the CRM your team is using (they’re not using it enough, a common problem) and you’re thinking about switching.

It’s one of 400 other things you’re thinking of doing.

Which Blog Introduction is Better?

Now, read those intros again.

Which one makes you feel like the author gets you?

There’s a right answer and it’s #2.

The second blog introduction is better. I’m not going to mince words, it’s just better.

Here’s why.

The first gives this elaborate high school paper style intro that says the most obvious things that the intended reader already knows.

(Remember in high school when you had to write a paper on, say, dogs, and you’d start with a sentence like “For centuries, dogs have been a great companion animal to humans.” That’s what I’m talking about.)

If you’re a 41 year old sales manager that has been doing this for 20 years, you don’t need to be told things like:

“Most growing businesses will need a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system at some point in their lives.”

Taking care of your customers is one of the most important tasks for any business.

Saying that makes you (and your company) look stupid.

Imagine going up to Jony Ive and saying something like “Design is an important part of building products consumers love.” You don’t need to tell him that!

But worse, it makes you look like a total fool . He designed the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. He knows design is important.

And your intended reader, the sales manager (the person who will make the purchase decision on a new CRM), knows that “Taking care of your customers is one of the most important tasks for any business.”

Blog posts that start off with high school paper intros immediately give away that the author doesn’t know you. That implies to some extent that they don’t really care about you. They don’t get you.

So why should you trust them?

Why should you keep reading?

Why should you opt in to their list or request a demo or contact sales?

Does this company really understand your needs?

If so, why did they have to tell you (a 20 year sales veteran) that most businesses will need a CRM at some point?

Better Blog Introductions Use the Specificity Strategy

The second blog introduction above doesn’t suffer from this high school intro syndrome.

Because it follows the strategy we use for writing blog posts in general: The Specificity Strategy .

It gets to the heart of a real, specific problem that real sales managers face in real life: their reps aren’t using their CRM. That’s an actual problem sales managers have. Specific blog content is good blog content.

(You can discover these problems with extensive user research .)

The introduction nails it, and as a result will immediately hook the target customer who is nodding along as they’re reading more.

Take a long hard look at your blog introductions and ask yourself if they are written for your target audience or written for a high school teacher reading a student’s paper on this topic.

If you’re trying to add high school students to your email list then so be it, but if you’re trying to sell a B2B product to industry veterans, then you might want to be more careful.

Blog Introduction Example: Bad

Let’s discuss a few examples so you can sense patterns of good versus bad blog post introductions. Let’s start with bad, so you know what to avoid.

Rhetorical Questions That are Too Rhetorical: Content marketers giving advice on writing blog introductions love to tell you to start post with a question. Our problem with this is that really good, in depth pieces rarely start like this. What starts with questions? Scammy, cliche late night TV ads. And bad blog posts. The vast majority of the time the question is so basic it’s not one the target customer or reader would actually ask.

Here’s a B2C example: a blog post titled “How to Lose Weight” that starts with a question: “Do you have trouble losing weight?” The answer is “Yes of course! That’s why I’m reading this article!”

The question is unnecessary filler. It’s the sign of more cliches to come. How should the author start the post instead? He actually has a great option at the end of his first paragraph: Get ready for weight loss without hunger .

Now we’re talking!

It’s specific (as we mentioned above) and it’s unique. There are multiple options in his second and third paragraphs as well:

He could have started with a number of sentences in these and the post would immediately have sounded a lot more specific and original.

Blog Introduction Example: Good

In contrast, here’s an example of another article that ranks for “How to lose weight” that has a good introduction.

What’s nice about this opening is that immediately there is a contrarian view presented: most lack any scientific evidence . The second sentence promises that this post will solve this problem. This combination shows that the author has some know how on this topic. It gives you a great first impression of what’s in store in this post. It’s not going to be the same old regurgitated nonsense.

So if someone is Googling this term (or comes across it on social media) and opens on this post (in addition to others) the first thing they get is a sense of originality to this post: “Ok this is the one with the strategies backed by science.” This is how you grab a reader’s attention and convince them there is a great article to follow.

Note: We do more extensive writing tear downs like the one above with video commentary in our content marketing course . Learn more about it here.

How to Write a Blog Introduction

Here is a formula you can use to write good blog introductions basically every time.

Step 1: Describe to yourself who the reader is. Create a simple persona like any marketing exercise. Scroll up to the sales veteran example at the beginning for an example.

Step 2: Think of how they are encountering your post. Did they get there via search engine or social media?

Step 3: Think of what makes your post specific or original . This is the hard part. It will force you to answer some tough questions. Namely: is there anything specific and original about your post or is it the same old content everyone else writes? If it’s the latter you’ll have trouble writing a good introduction.

Step 4: Pick a few angles of specificity or originality to start with and try them out. Get to the heart of the matter. Don’t waste your time with questions and other background filler. Write the most direct statements about why your post is good (specific or original). If you’re writing for your own blog, consider starting with a personal story (original). If you’re writing for another blog, state the exact specific angle this post is taking.

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How to Write a Blog Post: A Step-by-Step Guide

This post was last updated on May 24, 2021.

When you create a blog , you have the opportunity to dive deep into your favorite topics, highlight your expertise, and build a community of readers interested in your work. Whether you want to start a blog from scratch or make blogging part of your business strategy, publishing content online is an effective way to share your knowledge and ideas with the world.

That said, composing a winning entry takes practice. In this A to Z guide, you’ll learn how to write the perfect blog post - from choosing the right blog topics and picking the proper format for your articles, to selecting strategic images that generate interest and engagement. By the time you’re done reading this, you’ll have a clear idea of how to create strong blog content that effectively communicates your ideas and stands out from other articles on the web.

Ready to get blogging? Get started with Wix today.

How to write a blog post

Brainstorm blog topics

Refine your topic with keyword research

Define your audience

Create an organized outline

Write engaging content

Craft an irresistible headline

Choose a blog template

Select a blog domain name

Pick relevant images

Implement calls-to-action

Optimize for SEO

Edit and publish your blog post

Promote the final article

01. Brainstorm blog topics

When writing a blog post, whether you're guest posting for someone else or writing for your own blog, you’ll want to cover topics that bring value to your readers and fall in line with their interests, as well as your own. Rather than trying to find the perfect topic right away, start by jotting down different ideas that come to mind.

There are several places you can look to spark new topic ideas:

Browse other blogs within your niche. If you’re starting a travel blog , for example, simply Google “travel blog” to see what your competitors are writing about.

Use Google Trends to find out which topics are trending.

Look for current events and recent news stories related to your field.

Find out what people enjoy learning about by browsing online courses on Udemy , Skillshare and LinkedIn Learning .

Once you find some interesting ideas online, think about the unique ways you can approach those topics. Consider the various ways you can play around with topic ideas to come up with something that isn’t only trendy and relevant, but that’s also original and fresh.

Let’s say, for instance, that you want to write about chocolate chip cookies. There are a few different angles you might consider taking here:

A how-to post that instructs readers how to do something with clearly ordered steps (e.g., “How to Bake Chocolate Chip Cookies from Scratch”)

A curated list that offers a set of recommendations for your readers (e.g., “The Top Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes”)

A tips and advice post that provides expert guidance and resources. (e.g., “Tips for Making Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies Extra Gooey”)

A definition-based blog post that helps explain the meaning of a term or topic (e.g., “What Are No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cookies”)

A top trends article that highlights what’s currently popular (e.g. “The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes From This Year”)

A personal or business update that lets you unveil something fresh or recently unknown (e.g., “My New Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Revealed”)

Get brainstorming with these best blog ideas , and check out our professional guide on how to start a blog for more helpful tips.

How to write a blog: define your web audience

02. Refine your topic with keyword research

Part of writing a blog post involves keyword research. This crucial SEO practice is used as a marker to see which terms you can potentially rank high for in certain online searches.

Once you’ve chosen a direction for your blog post, you’ll need to figure out the chances of its success on search engine result pages - which ultimately means getting more eyes on your content. In order to succeed, conduct keyword research to find the most relevant queries for your topic.

You can find keywords for your own articles by using various keyword research tools. If you’re new to blogging, you’ll probably want to start with free tools such as Answer the Public , Ubersuggest , and Google Keyword Planner . Afterwards, you may want to upgrade to more advanced tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs .

While conducting keyword research, keep in mind that the more specific the phrase, the more closely it will match your audience’s intent. On the other hand, broader keywords tend to have higher search volumes - meaning more people are searching for them each month.

Think about the benefits of opting for a broader phrase, like “chocolate chip cookies,” over a more precise phrase, like “how to make chocolate chip cookies.” Choosing the right keywords means striking a balance between high search volume and high intent.

Once you’ve selected your keywords, you can use them to shape the structure of your content. Google those phrases to find out which articles have successfully targeted those same keywords, and spend some time browsing their content. This will give you inspiration for your own article in terms of what to include and how to structure it.

03. Define your audience

Now that you know what you’ll be writing about , you need to find out who you’re writing for . Anticipating the kinds of people who will be reading your posts will help you create content that is interesting, engaging and shareable.

Of course, your audience largely depends on your type of blog . If you run a baking blog, you’ll probably be writing for an audience of people who love baking and are seeking recipe inspiration. Even more specifically, if you run a healthy baking blog, you’ll be writing for people who similarly love baking but who want to make their culinary creations healthier. It’s important to keep these nuances in mind when crafting your content, since your goal is to write articles that resonate strongly with readers.

So, how do you figure out your audience in the first place? Start by taking another look at the other blogs in your field. Consider who they seem to be writing for, and the kinds of assumptions they’re making about their readers’ interests and lifestyles. For example, you might find that most of the blogs address a particular gender or age group.

You can also use online forums to find the main questions asked by your audience, or visit Facebook groups to read what topics they like or talk about. This will help you create content that piques their interest, sparks their curiosity and answers their questions.

Whether you're starting a book blog , a fashion blog, travel blog or something else - defining your audience should come first.

04. Create an organized outline

The key to learning how to write a blog post is doing thorough research and planning before you create the article itself. After deciding on the topic and blog format , you’ll need to build the mold for your content. Creating an outline is critical, as it ensures your article will have a strong foundation that you can build on as you write your blog post.

Start by creating subheaders, which are the backbone of an organized outline. These small but mighty pieces of content help you break down your article into bite-sized sections - making it easier for you to write and more digestible for people to read.

If it’s a step-by-step guide or a list of tips, start building your outline by listing out all the main points clearly, as in the example below:

Outline: How to Bake Chocolate Chip Cookies from Scratch

1. Gather your ingredients

2. Mix and knead the dough

3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper

4. Scoop mounds of dough onto baking sheet

5. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit

Add bulleted notes within your introduction and under each of your subheaders. This will help you formulate your main points.

If you find yourself getting stuck, use one of these blog post templates to guide you through the outline process.

05. Write engaging content

Now that you’ve sketched out the blog post, you can begin typing away. Keep in mind that blog posts, like many other types of writing, typically include three main elements: an introduction, the body text, and a conclusion.

Let’s start with the introduction. In the first few sentences of your article, you should already grab your readers’ attention. Begin with a relevant quote or statistic, tell a short story, or share an interesting fact. Then, set the tone for the article by sharing a brief summary of what you’re going to talk about in the body text. This gives your readers a reason to keep going.

Next, fill in the body text. In your outline, these are the bullet points beneath each subheader. This is the meat of your blog post, so it should be clear and compelling. Avoid fluff and repetition, and instead offer deep value by sharing your knowledge, research, and insights.

A concluding section isn’t always necessary - in fact, our blog rarely uses one - but it can be useful in the case of storytelling or when wrapping up a very extensive article. You can tie your main points together using a short bulleted list, or by sharing some closing thoughts in a few sentences. No matter the case, you’ll want to end on an engaging note.

06. Craft an irresistible headline

When writing a blog post, you don’t only need strong content; you’ll also want a powerful headline . A great headline entices readers and enhances your blog design , ensuring that they actually click on your article in the first place.

Learning how to write a catchy blog title doesn’t have to be hard. All you need to do is keep the following points in mind: clarity, specificity and offering an answer or solution.

Writing a good headline also depends on how well you put yourself in the shoes of your audience. Use the title to promise readers that your blog post will provide valuable insight that will benefit them in some way, whether by satisfying their intellectual curiosity, teaching them something new, or helping them solve a problem. This will increase the chances that they’ll click on your article and read it.

Here are some examples of headlines that we are quite proud of, to give you a general idea for your own content:

Create a Powerful Free Landing Page in Under an Hour

20 Best Time Management Apps to Organize Your Life

How to Design an A+ School Website (With Examples)

Make a Change: Using Photography as a Tool to Raise Awareness

If you're looking for inspiration to get started, try out this free title generator .

07. Choose a blog template

Writing your blog post may be your first priority, but you’ll also want to package it in an appealing way. Having an article with strong visual appeal is crucial for striking the right chord with your readers. The best way to customize your blog's design is by starting with a free blog template .

Professional designers have created all these blog layouts, and they're fully customizable to reflect your blog's messaging and tone. For inspiration, check out these blog examples to see how others have transformed these templates into beautiful, content-rich powerhouses.

If you’re writing a blog about organic ingredients, for instance, using a natural color palette on your site will set the right tone for the type of topics you’ll be writing about. This same color palette should also be used for your blog logo , as well as on your social media platforms.

08. Select a blog domain name

You should host your well-crafted blog on your domain site address in order for readers to discover it. When it comes to naming your blog , you can gather ideas from a blog name generator and see if the domain name is available.

Spend time thinking about how your blog and domain name fit in with the blog post topics you will cover. Make sure that your name reflects your blog’s persona, topic and niche.

Once you have finalized your name, choose your domain name (also referred to as a URL, for example, www.wix.com). Typically, your domain name will be the same as, or at least similar to the name of your blog.

09. Pick relevant images

Likewise, you should also enhance your blog post with a few great images that illustrate your main points. It’s important that your pictures add value to the subject, rather than serving as placeholders. Pay extra attention to your featured image - this will be the main visual below your blog’s title, and it’s what readers will see when they browse your articles from your blog’s homepage.

With Wix, you can add a professional photo gallery to individual posts and embed your own pictures within your articles. You can also choose from an array of media content from Wix, Shutterstock, and Unsplash directly within your site’s editor.

10. Implement calls-to-action

In the same way a blog is meant to inform people about specific topics, it can also be used as an important tool that motivates readers to take a certain action. This includes everything from subscribing to your blog to making a purchase.

This element is referred to as CTA, or call-to-action, and is presented as an embedded link or button that states your objective in an alluring manner. Some of the most common call-to-action examples for blogs include “Subscribe,” “Download our e-book” or “Sign up.”

Using CTAs can help you transform your website traffic into engagement and, eventually, profit. While your immediate goal is to get more readers, you may eventually want to monetize your blog further down the road.

11. Optimize for SEO

When it comes to SEO for bloggers , a strong SEO plan involves optimizing your content both before and after writing the blog post. Not only does this include doing keyword research prior to the outline phase (mentioned in step 3), but it also includes using those keywords to polish your final piece.

This begins with sprinkling relevant keywords throughout your article. Let’s say you’ve chosen to target the keyword “business strategies.” Use this exact phrase in your headline, throughout the body text, and 1-2 subheaders if it’s a natural fit.

Next, include this keyword in your metadata. This is the preview text you’ll see for every article on Google, and it includes a title (known as the meta title) and short description (the meta description). You’ll also want to add the keywords to the URL of your article, as well as in the alt text of your blog post’s images. Use these SEO features to give your blog an overall performance boost. Lastly, and make sure you know exactly how long a blog post should be to best rank your post.

12. Edit and publish your blog post

With so many common blogging mistakes out there, you’ll need to thoroughly check your article for grammatical errors, repetition and any other unprofessional content. Furthermore, make sure your ideas flow coherently throughout each section, signaling a clear and purposeful message to readers. You can read about other essential aspects of blogging in this comprehensive blog post checklist .

We recommend asking a friend or colleague to give your blog article a once over before it goes live. Direct them to look for any discrepancies or ambiguity. It’s also important to emphasize quality over quantity in order to keep your readers interested. Then, once you’re happy with your written work, it’s time to hit publish.

13. Promote the final article

Once you’ve written and published the blog post, take the necessary steps to make sure it gets read. Two of the most effective ways to promote your blog post and get readers are email marketing and social media marketing.

Email remains one of the most reliable platforms for marketing, as it allows for a direct communication channel between you and your audience. This highly effective digital marketing strategy involves sending out customized emails to prospective users with the aim of converting them into loyal fans. If you’re interested in getting started, this powerful email marketing service can help you send custom newsletters for your blog.

Beyond emails, sharing your article on social media can also go a long way. For example, if you want to accrue a wide audience, promote your blog on Facebook or Instagram, which have one of the largest and most diverse user bases.

Whichever channels you choose, make sure to actively engage with followers on a day-to-day basis. This will ensure that you not only write a great blog post, but that you get people reading your article, too.

Looking to really get your blog off the ground? Take a look at our Build Your Own Blog online course to get you started.

By Rebecca Strehlow

Marketing Expert & Blogger

By Cecilia Lazzaro Blasbalg Small Business Expert & Writer

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This Blog was created with Wix Blog

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How to write an introduction to a term paper 2023

How to properly write the introduction to the term paper. Read more in this article. Download a sample and an example of a template for the introduction of the term paper can be found here.

How to write an introduction to a term paper

A sample structure of the introduction to the term paper, relevance of the term paper, the object of the term paper, the subject of the term paper, problematics of the course work, purpose of course work, objectives of the course work, research methods used, introduction to the term paper: a template, examples of course paper introduction.

Download sample introductions for term papers

Frequently asked questions.

Earlier in our blog an article about term paper design according to State Standard 2023 , which describes the general requirements for all its sections. Let's dwell on how to write the introduction to the term paper . Because this is an important part, which always draws attention to the supervisor and the certification committee.

The introduction to the course project is usually small (up to 5 pages). For example, Moscow State University in its recommendations for term papers refers to GOST R 7.0.11-2011 , according to which the size of the introduction should be up to 5% of the total work. but includes an explanation of why this topic was chosen, how it is important for science and society as a whole, how the study will be conducted. In the statement of the key points of research and is the essence of the introduction to the term paper .

So, if the institution does not impose special requirements, the structure of the introduction of course work looks like this :

Below is the introduction to the term paper: a case study in clinical psychology on "Deformations of the semantic sphere of military personnel :

Coursework introduction sample - download

In addition, you can use a neural network for term papers to get the work done in a couple of days .

The relevance of a scientific work means its relevance, its usefulness for science. It is necessary to prove that the topic requires attention and should be studied. It is especially appreciated when a student expresses a personal opinion in this section. Try to formulate why you were affected by this topic, what has already been done before you to study it, what problems there are now and how they can be overcome.

The object is a fact, a phenomenon, a process, a subject put forward for study. The object of the study answers the question, "What (whom) are we studying?

The subject of the study can be a problem related to the object or some property of the object, its feature, characteristic, something that affects and changes the object. The object has many different subjects, but only one subject is taken for study in the course work. It is around it that the study unfolds. The subject of the study can be contained in the theme of the work or fully coincide with it.

The research problem, like the subject, is closely related to the topic. The problem can refer to some controversial idea or situation. The problem is described in the introduction. At the end of the study, you should find ways to solve it. You need to study the literature about the problem and find out how they have tried to solve it before, what options have been suggested, what you can suggest.

The goal is closely related to the object, subject, problem, and hypothesis. We already have a subject and a problem related to it. The goal is responsible for what we are going to do with it, what we want to achieve, why we raised this topic in the first place. The goal usually sounds almost like the topic of a term paper. Important: There can only be one goal per term paper.

But the objectives, in contrast to the goal, should be several. Both theoretical and practical. Tasks represent stages on the way to achieving the goal.

If there are theoretical and practical tasks, the methods must match. Theoretical methods - the use of already available information in the literature, the construction of logical relationships and inferences based on it. And practical - testing the hypothesis in practice, on real examples.

The introduction should be formatted according to the same requirements that apply to the main body. If your institution does not provide otherwise, the introduction must be as follows:

When creating the introduction you need to be guided by the requirements of the supervisor, university standards and general rules for writing research papers. Above discussed the content of the introduction coursework . Let's structure the information in a ready template on the example of pedagogical discipline, which can be filled with your information.

Первый Абзац Какое Значение Имеет Решение Заявленной Проблемы (объект Исследования) Для Современного Общества Или Для Отдельной Отрасли Какое Значение В Данном Процессе Имеет Выбранное Средство (метод, Способ – Т.е.

Coursework introduction example

When using the introduction template, don't forget about originality. To increase the level of uniqueness, it is best to use a neural network for writing term papers . And also read the article, which has as many as 16 ways to bypass the anti-plagiarism and increase originality .

Now you know how to write the introduction in term paper 2023, what the introduction should have a structure. You have a sample term paper introduction that you can download and use. And to write a term paper in a couple of days, use Retext.AI neural network .

Content Writing How to Write a Strong Conclusion – Tips & Examples

A conclusion paragraph is the last couple of sentences at the end of a blog, essay or any other writing piece. Learning how to write a strong conclusion is a challenge itself. In this blog, we will discuss the best tips on how to write a good conclusion for a blog or essay with examples.

What Makes a Strong Conclusion?

A strong blog conclusion should tie together all the main points discussed in the body of the blog and provide a satisfying sense of closure for the reader. When writing a strong conclusion, it is important to avoid introducing any new information or ideas in the conclusion and instead focus on summarizing the key takeaways and leaving the reader with a clear understanding of what they’ve just read. Add strong conclusion starters sentences followed with thesis statements and positive notes.

How to Write a Strong Conclusion Paragraph – Expert Tips

When concluding an essay or a blog post, restate your thesis statement and end the conclusion with a positive statement. Here are some expert tips on how to write a strong conclusion:

Summarize your Main Points:

One way to effectively summarize your main points is to create a bulleted or numbered list. This makes it easy for readers to quickly review the main ideas presented in your blog. Another approach is to restate each of your key arguments or ideas in a sentence or two, focusing on the most important details.

For Example:

“In this post, we discussed the importance of creating high-quality content , including how to write compelling headlines , the benefits of using images and other visual elements, and the role of storytelling in engaging readers. By following these tips, you can create content that not only captures your reader’s attention but also drives traffic and conversions.”

Emphasize your Call-To-Action:

When including a call-to-action in your conclusion, make sure to be clear and specific about what action you want your readers to take. Use action-oriented language and provide a clear benefit or value proposition to incentivize readers to act.

“Thanks for reading! If you found this post helpful, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for more tips and insights on content creation. Don’t miss out on our latest updates and exclusive offers – join our community today!”

Add a Memorable Final Thought

A memorable final thought can leave a lasting impression on your reader and reinforce the key message of your blog. Consider using a relevant quote, statistic, or anecdote that ties into your topic and provides a strong sense of closure.

“As Maya Angelou once said, ‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ By creating content that engages, educates, and inspires, you can make a lasting impact on your audience and build a loyal following for your brand.”

Tie Back to Your Introduction:

Connecting your conclusion back to your introduction can help create a sense of cohesion and bring your post full circle. By restating your thesis or opening hook, you can remind readers of the main point of your blog and leave them with a clear understanding of what they’ve learned.

“In conclusion, creating high-quality content is essential for any business or individual looking to establish their brand online. By following the tips and strategies outlined in this post, you can craft content that not only captures your reader’s attention but also drives traffic, engagement, and conversions. Remember, your content is your voice online – make it count!”

Things to Avoid When Writing Concluding Paragraphs

An effective conclusion is free from fluff and unnecessary information. Whether you are writing an essay conclusion or a blog conclusion , here are some things you must avoid:

Avoid Adding New Information

Your conclusion should serve to summarize and reinforce the key points you’ve already made in your post. Introducing new information can confuse readers and undermine the impact of your message.

Don’t be Too Repetitive:

While it’s important to reiterate your main points, repeating the same information over and over again can be boring and unnecessary. Instead, try to find new ways to phrase your ideas or expand on them in more detail.

Don’t End Abruptly:

Your conclusion should provide a sense of closure and resolution for readers. Ending abruptly can leave readers feeling unsatisfied or confused about the main takeaway of your post.

Don’t Neglect Your Tone:

Your conclusion should match the tone of the rest of your post. If you’ve been writing in a conversational or upbeat style, for example, your conclusion shouldn’t suddenly become overly formal or serious.

Pro Tip: Use an AI Conclusion Generator for On-Point Conclusion Writing!

How Do You Write a Strong Conclusion Paragraph? Follow this Reusable Conclusion Writing Template

What are 5 steps to write a strong conclusion? Follow this reusable template for writing an effective conclusion:

i. Summarize the main points:

Briefly recap the key points you’ve made in your post.

Restate the thesis:

ii. Reiterate the main argument or message of your post.

iii. Offer a final thought:

Share a final piece of advice or insight that ties together your main points.

iv. Provide a call-to-action:

Encourage readers to take action based on the information in your post, such as signing up for a newsletter or following you on social media.

v. End on a Positive Note:

Leave readers with a thought-provoking quote, statistic, or anecdote that reinforces your message.

Key Takeaways

In other words, conclusion paragraph writing is all about keeping your conclusion relevant, valuable and free from fluff. When writing concluding paragraphs, revisit your argumentative essay or blog post’s main points and cover them in the conclusion paragraph. Remember that most people read conclusion paragraphs to get a gist of your overall argument. So, keep it valuable, memorable and positive.

Get in Touch

Our 8-Step Guide for How to Write a Pro Blog Post

If you’ve spent any time on the internet, you’re undoubtedly familiar with blog posts. After all, you’re reading one right now. Blog posts are the individual entries that comprise a blog, like episodes of a TV show or entries in a journal.

Blogging can serve multiple purposes. For one, it’s a great way to establish yourself as an authority on your area of expertise. It can also be an effective way to drive traffic to your website and educate people about the topics you’re passionate about. Additionally, a blog is the perfect place to showcase your writing .

Write with confidence Grammarly helps your blog posts shine Write with Grammarly

What is a blog post?

A blog post is a single piece of content published on a blog, a shortened form of the now-archaic term weblog , which is an online platform for publishing written content . A blog can be a section of a website or a standalone website of its own. The blog you’re currently reading is an example of the former, while The Pioneer Woman is an example of the latter. Both are composed of blog posts, pieces of content that each cover a single topic and may (but don’t have to!) include images and videos alongside the written content.

Written content is a key component of a blog post. A YouTube channel isn’t a blog because it’s purely video—it can be considered a vlog , short for video log . Similarly, a feed of purely still images, like an Instagram account, isn’t a blog.

In the earlier days of social media, when platforms like MySpace and Live Journal dominated the scene, blogging and social media were much more entwined than they are today. Now, they’re largely separate, though many bloggers promote and cross-post their work on their social media accounts to drive traffic to their blogs and promote their personal brand.

Types of blog posts

Blog posts can be standalone pieces or parts of a longer series. They also come in a variety of formats:

In a how-to blog post, the blogger explains the steps the reader needs to take to complete a task. Recipe blog posts are a popular example of a how-to blog post.

Also known as a “listicle,” a portmanteau of list and article, a list-based blog post is one that’s organized as a list of related entries. This could be a list of products, historical events, quotes, images, or unusual and intriguing facts, the kind of listicle Cracked.com made famous. You’ll find list-based posts on lots of blogs, like BuzzFeed , Bored Panda , and right here on the Grammarly blog.

News article

A news article blog post links to a trending news article and provides the blogger’s thoughts on that news article. It isn’t just a repost of the news article; it includes insights that build upon, speculate about, agree, or disagree with the information covered in the news article.

In this kind of post, the blogger introduces a person they’ve interviewed and provides some background information about the interviewee and their work. Following this is a transcript of the interview, sometimes interspersed with additional information written by the blogger. You can find interviews on many different blogs, such as Rotten Tomatoes’ blog .

In a review post, the blogger reviews a movie, video game, TV show, book, product . . . anything, really. What’s Good at Trader Joes? is a well-known example of a blog that focuses on product review posts. A review post can focus on one product or piece of media or it can be structured like a list-based post. You can find examples of the latter on 99designs , where they often review design software and website platforms.

A personal blog post, like a personal essay , is where the author discusses their personal experiences, thoughts, and/or opinions. Usually, you’ll find these kinds of posts on personal blogs rather than corporate or professional blogs. However, a blogger who usually publishes other kinds of blog posts might publish personal blog posts from time to time to build a more personal connection with readers.

An explainer blog post is similar to a how-to blog post in that it provides a thorough, objective explanation of its topic. The difference is that this kind of blog post isn’t necessarily presented in a linear, step-by-step format and doesn’t necessarily explain how to complete a task.

This type of blog post might explain the social and economic trends that led to a specific historical event or the basics of a given topic. Coinbase’s blog contains lots of explainer posts, such as a piece on how to keep your cryptocurrency secure.

Sometimes, blogs publish lengthy explainer posts that aim to provide comprehensive overviews of their topics. These blog posts are often labeled “ultimate guide” or something similar.

Image-based

As the name implies, an image-based blog post is a post that focuses on images. The post could be an infographic or it could be a post consisting of multiple images. No matter which it is, it contains at least some copy to give the reader some context for the images—that’s what makes it a blog post and not an image gallery.

How to write a blog post

Ready to start blogging ? Follow these steps to write a great post and effectively reach your target audience.

Set up your blog

Before you can write a blog post, you need to actually have a blog. If you already have a website, find out if you can create a blog on the platform you’re using. Many of the templates available on widely used website platforms like Squarespace and Joomla make it easy for you to start blogging right on your website.

If you aren’t able to create a blog through your web hosting/design platform—or if you don’t have a website—you’ll need to build your blog from scratch. There are lots of ways to do this, some involving more technical skills than others. You can opt for an out-of-the-box platform like Wix or Squarespace, or you can go with a more DIY option like WordPress.

Setting up your blog means determining a budget for your blog. You’ll need to pay for the following:

Running a blog can be free, but keep in mind this generally means you can’t use a custom domain name and you’ll probably have ads on your site. For a low-budget personalized blog, expect to spend about a hundred dollars to set everything up and cover a year’s worth of hosting. In some cases, blogs cost thousands of dollars to build and operate—these are usually high-traffic blogs with custom-designed templates requiring a large amount of bandwidth.

As your blog grows, you can offset costs by selling ad space on your blog. Another strategy some bloggers use to reduce costs is affiliate marketing, which is where you link to an affiliate partner’s online product listings in your content; you receive a cut of the revenue they make through your placement of their link(s).

Blogging without your own website

Instead of setting up their own blogs, some bloggers opt to publish on large, public platforms instead. One of these platforms is Medium. Another is Tumblr, which hearkens to the early days of social media by combining social and blogging features in one platform.

If you stick with blogging and make a name for yourself, you can also explore guest blogging on larger, established blogs. Many of these blogs publish mostly, or even only, posts by guest bloggers. And you can get paid for doing it!

Choose your topic

Once you’ve got your blog up and running, it’s time to choose the topic for your first post.

What can you easily and passionately write about? If your blog is affiliated with your business, brainstorm ideas for blog posts that provide value to your target audience while promoting your brand. For example, let’s say you run a dog-walking business. Think about the kinds of things your clients would want to read about—the titles they’d click on, read, and ideally share with others. You might come up with a few different topics:

Ask your clients about the kinds of topics they’d like to read about on your blog. You might be surprised by what they suggest! Another great way to come up with topics to cover on your blog is to take a look at the kind of content others in your industry are publishing. That doesn’t mean you should steal ideas or plagiarize their work; find ways to take inspiration from competitors’ blog posts and cover similar topics from a different angle and in your own unique voice.

Write an outline

With any writing project, following the writing process enables you to craft a thoughtful, well-developed piece. Blog posts are no exception. After you’ve determined a topic for your first blog post, create an outline . List your working title and the key points you want to hit in your post. These key points will likely become separate sections, each with its own header and subheaders.

An easy way to write an outline for your blog post is to follow a similar structure to an essay . Your blog post starts with an introduction , which is then followed by body sections and then finally, the conclusion . But unlike an essay, a blog post’s conclusion includes a call to action. (We’ll talk more about that in a bit.)

Once your outline is complete, it’s time to start writing! There are lots of great, free apps you can use to write a blog post , like Google Docs and WriteRoom.

Hook your reader and keep them scrolling to the end

In any kind of writing, the hook is one of the most important parts. This sentence or paragraph is the part that grabs the reader’s attention and promises that their curiosity will be satisfied if they keep reading.

There are lots of ways to hook your readers’ attention , and the ideal way for each blog post depends on the audience and the subject the post is covering. One popular type of hook is to present a startling fact. To go back to our example titles for the dog walker, an effective hook for the post on pet-safe ice melts might be about how toxic many standard ice melts are to pets’ paws. Another effective way to hook readers is to directly address one or more of their pain points . For the example title about acclimating a dog to a new harness, this kind of hook might acknowledge a few things: how frustrating it is to get a dog to let you put a new harness on them; how this wastes precious walking time; and how you could waste money on harnesses your dog refuses to wear.

Give your readers a solid call to action

A call to action is a short phrase that asks the reader to do something. In a blog post, this might be to leave a comment, make a purchase, subscribe to your newsletter, or simply to read a related post next. Calls to action generally make use of direct-response copywriting principles, like making very specific requests and creating a sense of urgency. Here are a few examples of calls to action:

Don’t forget to edit and proofread!

Read through the draft carefully and take note of any spots where your writing feels awkward, choppy, or even excessively wordy. Editing resources like Grammarly, various writing books, and even your own network of fellow writers can help you become a stronger editor by making you more attuned to issues in your work.

Enhance your blog post with engaging, relevant images

Why do kids like picture books? Because the illustrations bring the story to life.

The same thing happens when you include images in your blog posts. Images break up the text and give your readers short breaks as they work through your content. In explainer and how-to blog posts, they can also help readers visualize the points you’re making in your text—and even help them avoid making mistakes by demonstrating what their project should look like as they complete it step by step.

Use SEO strategies to reach a wider audience

SEO, also known as search engine optimization, is a category of strategies bloggers and other website operators use to increase their websites’ visibility. The better your SEO strategy, the higher your website ranks, or shows up, in search engine results. The goal is to have your blog be the first listing that comes up when people search for specific keywords.

Keywords are just one component of SEO. Here are other ways to improve your blog’s SEO:

Your website platform might include analytics tools you can use to see how well your blog and individual posts are performing. By “performing,” we mean how many people visit your website and how long they spend on the website, both indicators of your content being effective.

Tips for writing a great blog post

Keep it conversational.

A blog post is a relatively informal, often fun piece of writing. Although there are plenty of technical blogs on the web, you’ll notice that even these tend to maintain a fairly conversational tone when explaining niche and complex topics.

Notice how most blog posts use the second person and speak directly to the reader. You would never do that in a piece of academic or professional writing. Also notice how plenty of blog posts, on topics ranging from how to finish highly technical projects to completely subjective movie character hairstyle rankings, give you a sense of the author’s personality by including short asides, personal opinions, and sometimes even broken grammar rules to mimic speech patterns.

Keep in mind that breaking grammar rules to achieve specific effects and working your personal voice into your blog post is not the same thing as writing and publishing an unedited post that simply ignores grammar rules. If you’re going to break the rules, you need to do it carefully and with a clear stylistic reason for doing so. For example, you might opt for sentence fragments, rather than whole paragraphs, in certain sections of your blog post because this magnifies your words’ impact. Take a look at this to see what we mean:

I’d applied to 10 colleges in total. Five of them, I knew I was a shoo-in. Four of them, I thought I had somewhere between an OK and a pretty good shot at getting in. And the last one, my holy grail of higher ed, I was all-but-certain they’d never accept me.

Then the envelopes started coming in. Thick ones, thin ones, glossy colorful ones, and nondescript white ones that could easily be mistaken for junk mail.

And then it arrived.

The letter I’d been waiting for since seventh grade.

My acceptance letter from my dream university.

See how this blog post emphasizes key sentences by making them stand-alone paragraphs? That’s one way bloggers make their posts sound and feel like in-person conversations. Also notice how this excerpt includes informal language like “shoo-in” and literary devices like a synecdoche (referring to acceptance and rejection letters as “envelopes.”)

Research trending keywords

As we mentioned above, using SEO strategies in your blog post will help it reach a wider audience. If you don’t care about reaching a wide audience and just want to write your blog for yourself or to share with close friends and loved ones, don’t worry about this tip.

But if you do want to reach a wider audience by having your blog post rank higher on search engines, take the time to research relevant keywords for your post. Soovle , keywordtool.io , Google Search Console , and Google Keyword Planner are all useful tools you can use not only to test out how well a specific keyword ranks, but also to find related keywords you can include in your blog post. With these tools, you can also find inspiration for future blog posts through other keywords related to your initial search.

Cut down walls of text

Nobody wants to read a wall of text, but sometimes they’re necessary in academic pieces like research papers.

They’re never necessary in blog posts.

A wall of text is generally defined as a paragraph that takes up several lines. They’re intimidating to readers and when they see them, a lot of people scroll past or even stop reading the blog post completely.

When you find a wall of text in your writing, break it down into two or more paragraphs . By doing this, you’re improving your blog post’s readability score, which doesn’t just make it more appealing to readers; it increases your SEO ranking.

Basically, a good blog post is scannable. As you read your first draft, take note of any spots where you feel slowed down or otherwise like you can’t easily scan the information. Those are the spots to break into smaller sections.

Whatever you write, do it with confidence

Correct grammar and a consistent tone are the keys to not only maintaining reader attention, but also to effectively communicating the points you make in your blog post. After you’ve edited and proofread your post, have Grammarly give it one last look to catch any mistakes or inconsistency in tone so that your blog post reads exactly how you want it to sound.

This article was originally written by Karen Hertzberg in 2017. It’s been updated to include new information.

Schools & departments

How to write an engaging blog

Find some specific resources to help you in the writing of your blog.

General best practice on writing a blog

(1) The importance of a title - Writing a catchy title can help people get interested in your post. In an academic context especially, it might be good to show your audience that your content can be just as entertaining as a good book or social media. Make sure you reveal the theme of your content in those first words. Be wary: being catchy does not mean turning to clickbait. It is favourable if your reader knows exactly what they will be reading about in this context.

(2) Spoilers can be good! - This counts for more than your title. Don't tease your audience and wait to tell them exactly what they'll be reading about: state your theory, argument or theme from the very beginning. You might want to use headlines and summaries to give readers a little snapshot of what your writing will consist of.

(3) ' You talkin to me?' - Decide on a tone for your blog. It is true that writing for an academic blog is not like writing a dissertation. However, this does not mean it is the same as writing a caption for an Instagram picture of your holidays. It is crucial that you reflect on who your audience is going to be and adapt your tone to match that. Make sure your blog posts are honest and relatable – if people are reading a blog about your theme and not an article, it is to get a sense of the author as well: don't forget to be you.

(4) Make your content scannable - How are you going to organise your thoughts? There are different ways to blog. Some might prefer to directly address the audience and mimic direct speech whilst others might want to narrate in a reflective manner. This is a decision you can make based on the type of blog you will decide to use. A key point to structuring and formatting your blog is to make it scannable : people will get a visual idea of your blog before they even get to reading it.

(5) 'Oh I just skimmed through...' - Keep your paragraphs and sentences short: most people only read 20% of a page. Having fun with language can be fantastic but simpler writing will help people relate to what you are telling them whether they know about the subject at hand or not. Use headings to break your page up so it is easier to scan. Find out more about how people read on the web .

(6) What is that about? - Asking your readers questions can be a great way of involving them. When writing, ask yourself 'why should they care?'. You don't only want to be recounting your thoughts, you want to be sharing it with other people. Making the reading experience more interactive will make people feel involved and interested.

(7) Make it visual! - Adding media to your blog can be another great way of making readers relate and feel part of your experience. Visual tools can help your reader see what you are describing, but they can also give them the opportunity to relax from the reading effort. This is especially the case if your writing is a quite dense academic text. Images add an interesting opportunity for formatting, structure and narration.

(8) Proof-read, get critical and edit! - This is perhaps most people's least favourite part. Sadly for you it is essential: proof reading and editing your text will help you cut out pieces that aren't useful. Getting a friend/colleague to read it for you will give you another perspective on your work and enable you to assess whether you have written for the right audience. Do not be afraid to ask for feedback. Getting feedback should be a very constructive and helpful process.

(9) Archiving appropriately - There is nothing more confusing for readers who are looking through your content than having a monthly site archive and no search bar. Make sure people can find what they are looking for without having to click a million times. Categorising and tagging posts is not time consuming and can be really helpful for your audience.

(10) Don't let readers forget about you! - Posting regularly and promoting your work is especially important if you want people to visit your blog regularly. Creating a schedule might help you keep on track – because posting regularly means you have write regularly. Thankfully, there are many ways for you to promote your work other than relying on loyal readers. Social media links and enabling search engines to index your blog can help so make sure that you explore your settings to maximise your crowd.

Want to learn how to create a blog post step by step? Try this Lynda course about writing a compelling blog post .

Guidance for specific types of blogging

Do you need more personalised guidelines? We have put together some writing tips based on professional, research, community and learning & teaching type blogs.

Blogging for professional development

Blogging for teaching, learning and assessment

Make sure you consult our [exemplar Learning and Teaching Blogs] for an idea of how these work.

Blogging for research

Blogging about community or student experience

Oh no! We couldn't find anything like that.

Try another search, and we'll give it our best shot.

10 Simple Ways to Write Stronger Introductions

Updated: September 20, 2022

Published: July 30, 2019

There's a lot of material out there about writing great headlines . Hey, g etting someone to click on your article is a critical part of your blogging strategy. But what about writing introductions?

simple-ways-to-write-stronger-introductions

C ompelling readers to actually read the article is an art form in and of itself -- and if you don't do it well, then you're denying yourself potential promoters, subscribers, leads, and even paying customers.

→ Download Now: 6 Free Blog Post Templates

Take a look at the following graph from Schwartz to see what I mean. It shows where people stopped scrolling in an experiment covering many articles across the web.

Every time someone landed on an article, Chartbeat analyzed that visitor's behavior on a second-by-second basis, including which portion of the page the person was currently viewing. E ach bar represents the share of readers who got to a particular depth in the article.

Image Credit: Slate

Of everyone who landed on an article, 10% never scroll down.

So how do you get more people to scroll? One way is by writing a powerful, compelling introduction.

So, let’s see about making it better now, shall we? In this post, I'll share with you how to write powerful introductions that turn casual browsers into readers. Article introductions matter, and here’s how to make them count.

How to Write a Good Introduction

1. Keep your first sentence short.

I’m a big fan of short sentences. I love them because people can understand them easily. There's an insane amount of value in short sentences that are readable, digestible, and punchy.

But often, writers get so caught up in the stress of their introduction that they come out with long, garbled sentences. The problem with long, garbled sentences is that it makes readers work hard. Readers don't want to work hard to understand your article -- especially at the beginning. Lead off your introduction with a bite-sized sentence or two.

2. Say something unusual.

You've probably heard advice like "create a hook" and "grab the reader's attention." But what kind of stuff actually grabs someone's attention? I can think of a lot of things, actually, but they probably wouldn’t be appropriate for an introduction.

What these oft-repeated phrases boil down to is this: say something unusual. Something unexpected, even. If your very first sentence is odd enough to make people want to read the next one, then you've done a good job. If you start off with something boring or expected, you might lose potential readers.

3. Don’t repeat the title.

Assume that the reader already read the title. You don’t need to write it over again. Instead, take advantage of your chance to reinforce that title and to set the stage for the remainder of the article.

4. Keep the introduction brief.

There is no definitive answer for how long an introduction should be. But, like the Slate study told us, readers have short attention spans. They're impatient to get to the meat of the article. Your readers are looking for information, so don't bury it deep in your article. Cut to the chase.

5. Use the word “you” at least once.

The word “you” is a powerful word. It tells the reader that you, the author, are writing the article with them in mind. You empathize with them, you care about them, and you want your piece to resonate with them. It's a simple trick that establishes a crucial connection with your reader.

Here's a great example from CloudPeeps' Shannon Byrne:

6. Dedicate 1-2 sentences to articulating what the article covers.

Your English teacher would call this the "thesis." This is where you tell the reader what the article is about. What will you be discussing, in order? What will the reader learn? Lay it out to help set the reader's expectations and help her decide whether she wants to read the article in full, scroll to different parts, or not read it at all.

Don't be afraid of writing, literally, "This article is about X " or "In this article, I'll talk about Y ." Here are some variations on this theme to get you started:

7. Dedicate 1-2 sentences to explaining why the article is important.

It may be obvious to you why the content of your article is important to your readers, but it may not be obvious to them. Let them know loud and clear why it's important for them to know the information you cover in your article. You might compel readers who would otherwise have bounced to keep on reading.

In the introduction to this particular article, you'll recall the following sentence:

I f you don't [write introductions] well, then you're denying yourself potential promoters, subscribers, leads, and even paying customers.

My goal here was to connect the topic of blog post introductions to the broader issues of readers, customers, and revenue.

8. Refer to a concern or problem your readers might have.

If you can pull a pain point into the introduction, even better. Everyone in every field has their set of problems. You should have some listed already from when you created your buyer personas . Communicate your awareness of those problems in your introduction and you're more likely to gain a sympathetic reader.

Here's a great example from Buffer's Alex Turnbull, whose intro here is a story format with a problem twist:

People want to solve their problems, and articles that explain how to do this will help you earn readership.

9. But ... be careful telling stories.

A lot of people will tell you that you need to write a story in the introduction. Stories can work , as in the example above, but there are good and bad ways to tell stories in your intro.

Do use storytelling to spark the reader's curiosity and empathize with her. But don't get carried away and write a long-winded story that loses readers along the way. Remember the tip about keeping introductions short? That still applies when you're telling a story.

Here's an example from one of my own QuickSprout blog posts:

Notice that I highlighted the "empathy" section -- the first sentence. Here, I helped form a connection with my readers. Then, I told a short story about my own experience. After that, I finished the introduction with "what's next."

If you do begin your article with a story, here's a tip: Don't reveal the conclusion until the reader is deeper into the article, or even until the very end.

10. Use a stat or a fact to convey importance.

When journalists begin a news story, they often give readers an eye catching stat or fact about what's going on. As a blogger or any other type of writer, a really interesting stat or fact will draw your reader in and show them why your topic is really important.

For example, say you're a plumber writing a blog post on pipe replacement. You might pull in more readers if you start a post by explaining how frequently old pipes burst in the winter. If readers see that this is a common annoyance that others face, they might keep reading to learn how they can avoid it.

Introduction Takeaways

The next time you write an article introduction, think about what kind of introduction would make you want to read the article.

Would a long, wordy first sentence make you want to read more? No. You might find yourself thinking, Yikes, is this what the rest of the article's going to be like? and bounce from the page. What about a story or question that doesn't really apply to you? No, probably not.

To compel you to read past the introduction of an article, you want to read something unique, fresh, and engaging. You want to hear about yourself and your problems. You want to be put in a position where the remainder of the article is a must-read experience that will help you solve those problems and change your life.

Introductions are hard, and writing effective ones take time and practice. Sometimes, you might find yourself having to re-write them several times before you're satisfied. Remember, it's all worth it if it means keeping the attention of a few more of your readers.

Don't forget to share this post!

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How Long Should Blog Posts Be in 2021? [New Data]

10 Simple Ways to Write Stronger Introductions

How to Improve Your Writing Skills and Escape Content Mediocrity (Infographic)

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Save time creating blog posts with these free templates.

How To Write 1st Class Essays Using ChatGPT (The Best AI Essay Technique)

The future of learning is here, and it's called ChatGPT. It's already turned the education system upside down with some institutions allowing students to reference AI sources and others trying to ban it completely.

Alexander Young

Today I want to walk through how to write an academic essay using freely available AI tools like ChatGPT and discuss the pros and cons when it comes to writing an academic essay.

How To Structure An Essay

When I had to write scientific essays in my undergraduate medical training and then dissertations in my postgraduate surgical career, I had a system that got me a first every single time.

It involved breaking down the essay into its different sections and following a key format. And we can integrate this with ChatGPT.

How To Write An Essay Introduction

To start off, any essay, you need a strong introduction. The introduction is basically your gateway argument, and it's an opportunity to hook the reader and set the scene for your main body and then your conclusion.

Now, for most academic essays, you are given a title and probably some instructions on what the essay should cover. And your introduction is really going to be a paragraph of a couple of sentences, which speak back to that title and sets the scene.

So, for example, if our essay is entitled, "Discuss the Role and Risks of AI and Academic Essay Writing." I'm going to start looking for the keywords in that title that I can talk about in the introduction. So, in that title, the keywords are going to be "The role and risks of AI" and "academic essay writing". So I know that in the introduction I really want to touch on and define those keywords and explain what I'm going talk about and how I'm going to talk about those keywords in the main body of my essay.

In our first couple of sentences of the introduction, we're going define these points, and if we use ChatGPT here, our prompt might be something like "write a short three sentence introduction for an essay entitled x".

Now, this is a good prompt, but it's probably not specific enough and it's going give you quite a generic response. A more advanced prompt is to add in a persona and give it some structure and tone. So you might say something like: "ChatGPT, you are an academic, and I want you to write an essay in a tone that is both professional and intriguing to grab the reader's attention".

You can even paste in some text from a similar academic article or from a style that you like and ask ChatGPT to mirror that writing style when it writes your essay. This will then produce a very specific and focused introduction in the style that you like.

How To Write The Main Body Of An Essay

Now for your main body, this is the part where most people get really stuck or get writer's block when they come to write any type of essay.

The key here is to break up that main body and reflect back to the essay title with your headings, and make talking points around those key points and keywords that you identified from the title and any instructions you've been given. So for, for our essay title, we want to break down the main body into three or four headings, and then each of those headings is gonna have a subheading and each of those subheadings is gonna have a few talking points.

And again, we can do this manually, but we can also use ChatGPT to help automate and structure some of this. So, we might ask ChatGPT to write the headings of our main body for our essay. And this really is a brainstorming exercise for ChatGPT. You can say something like, "I want you to write four headings for the main body of my essay. These should be short and focused and reflect back to the title of my essay."

Now, if you have any further information provided by your academic institution rather than just your essay title, you can also use this to map out some of your chapters.

So once you've got your main chapter headings, you can then start breaking those down into subheadings and key talking points, and we can use ChatGPT here, so we can take each of the headings in our main body and plug it back into ChatGPT and ask ChatGPT to give us some subheadings for that specific chapter topic.

So sticking again with our example, we might have our main chapter headings as something like "the role of AI", then "the risks of AI", then our own opinion, and then a quick summary before heading into the conclusion. Now, in the role of AI section, we might then wan to to have a couple of different subheadings.

ChatGPT can generate these. Now, once we've got those subheadings, we've really broken down our essay into tiny component parts, and this means if you're given a word count, like say a thousand words or 10,000 words for a dissertation, you can actually assign a word count yourself to those specific sections, and that turns this huge piece of work into a much more manageable and focused effort.

This means that you can focus on key areas or sections during your day and be much more productive with your time management.

One thing I really wanna make clear is that if ChatGPT generates all of your essay content, it does mean it's not going be original and there may be errors. Remember, ChatGPT is a language model. It's not a research tool. It can't scour the internet and pull in different sources or use the latest research from PubMed or attribute any key information to those sources, and this is a huge problem.

There's also a huge problem if your essay is really all about your opinion on a topic and expressing your own views on something. While you could ask ChatGPT to adopt the persona of a student and write from the first person it isn't necessarily going be accurate and it's not going be reflective of your view.

Often I found that when writing essays myself, the sections where I was asked for my own opinion, were the easiest to write because it was literally coming from my own brain and I could dive into real detail here. The bits that took time were often the parts where I needed to define topics or map out things that were just very, very boring.

So for example, if we plug our talking points and subheadings back into ChatGPT, and actually ask it to write a couple of lines of prose or a few paragraphs to bulk out those sections it can absolutely do that. But if we look through the results that we're getting, it's just not that high quality. There's no references and it's pretty obvious that it's quite generic.

What I would typically do is when you've got those subheadings and your talking points, you want to start writing and make your point. Back that up with some research backed evidence and then provide your own opinion on that evidence, as well as something like a worked example.

You can also pull things in like a diagram or a table to visually explain what you're talking about, which AI just can't do.

How To Write The Conclusion Of An Essay

Now, once we've got through the bulk of our main body, we're then heading into the closing or conclusion section. And this is where we want to summarize back the key points that we've made in our main body to the reader, and wrap things up.

And we'd maybe include a call to action or a specific finding from the essay that we've just been writing. Now, typically, if we were writing this ourselves, we could probably remember the key points and we could reflect back to the introduction quite quickly. And when I was actually writing essays myself back in medical school or in my postgraduate surgical training, I'd often write the intro and then the conclusion together, and these kind of sandwiched the main body in between. These were often the easiest bits to write because I already knew what my conclusion was going to be and I knew what my introduction was going to be, and so I got these out the way quickly. However, if we do want to use ChatGPT, we'll need to give it as much information as possible in order to summarize and write a conclusion for us.

So what this will likely involve for your prompt is copying a lot of your main body, and then putting that into ChatGPT, and then concluding your essay. So here's the ChatGPT result. And as you can see, it kind of does that, but it's perhaps not the best conclusion that you've ever read.

How To Review An Essay: Spelling & Grammar

Now after we've been through and written our essay, just like you would if you were writing the essay completely by yourself, we want to go back through and read over and really check what we've written.

And this is one area where you might already be familiar with lots and lots of AI writing tools. Tools like Grammarly or Quill Bot already use AI to go over and check grammar and punctuation and spelling.

In addition to grammar, one of the big areas that many people struggle with is actual readability of what they've written. Many people in the scientific field often overcomplicate things, and if you remember back to the Feynman technique , Which says we want to be able to explain difficult concepts in language that a six-year-old can understand. We wanna make sure that the language we're using in our ass essay is understandable to the reader and as wider audience as possible.

And this is where you can actually take portions of your essay, plug it into ChatGPT, and ask it to improve the readability or change the wording into a way that a six year old could understand it. Popular tools like Quill Bott can also rephrase and paraphrase some of the texts you've written.

AI Plagiarism Detection

Okay, so with ChatGPT bursting onto the scene and completely turning over and setting the education world on fire, lots of institutions have either completely banned it or they've adopted it with some Professors at large institutions suggesting their students should try out all AI tools so that they familiarize themselves with them because they're going to be used more and more in the future of work.

However, lots of other organizations are very, very scared, as you might expect, and they're putting in lots of plagiarism detection software OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT have also put out their own AI detection tools online , which you can try it yourself by heading over to their website and their AI text classifier, which can tell you the likelihood that the taxed into their taxed window is generated by an ai.

There are also some other companies that have popped up on the back of ChatGPT's popularity. For example, GPTZero is one such company set up by a Princeton student, which focuses on analyzing text and really checking for plagiarism against common AI language models. And don't forget, most academic institutions use popular plagiarism detection software like TurnItIn.

These plagiarism detection software companies have been building their own AI detectors that you can run essays. And then it will tell you whether the essay has been completely generated by an AI or not.

AI Essay Writing Vs Human Essay Writing

Now, in my humble opinion, writing essays and dissertations isn't the best way to help people learn or to assess their competence in any particular subject.

But I always got a first, every single time I wrote an essay as I had a system and a format for doing so. And if you break things down, the actual writing really isn't that tricky, especially when you consider essays that ask for your own opinion and this isn't just true for academic essays, it's also true of any blog articles or anything you're posting online.

If what you're writing isn't original or from your own personal experiences, it's gonna be pretty obvious and it's gonna be generic, and it's just not gonna be valuable to the end reader. And this is something that you really need to consider if you are thinking about using ChatGPT or generative AI.

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Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

Writing FAQ

How to convey breeding through character dialogue.

May 24, 2022

Asked by: Emory Baysinger

How do you show characters in dialogue.

Using dialogue to develop the character through the story means having them converse or engage with the people and things around them one way at the beginning and showing the change in them throughout the story by having them interact with the world and characters in different ways.

How do you start a dialogue conversation?

How to start a conversation

How do you write a conversation between characters?

9 Tips for Writing Dialogue Between More Than Two Characters

How do writers use dialogue and details to develop characters and their experiences?

Most novels can benefit from well-written dialogue. Dialogue is a useful tool for developing your characters and moving your plot forward. Dialogue can help you establish the backstory, and it can reveal important plot details that the reader may not know about yet .

How do you reveal a character through action?

Let’s reveal a character’s thoughts through action, using We the Animals by Justin Torres as a model:

What are the 5 methods of characterization?

An acronym, PAIRS, can help you recall the five methods of characterization: physical description, action, inner thoughts, reactions, and speech . Physical description – the character’s physical appearance is described.

How do you write when a character is thinking?

Here are six writing tips and suggestions for how to write a character’s thoughts:

What are some examples of dialogue?

Here are some examples of writing questions in dialogue:

How do you write dialogue example?

How to Format Dialogue in a Story

How can a character’s dialogue and gestures reveal characterization?

The Power of Revealing Dialogue

Powerful dialogue can reveal: A character’s thoughts and feelings through his or her tone of voice and the way the words are spoken . How a character interacts with others based on his or her responses and how much or how often he or she speaks.

How can dialogue help a reader understand a character?

Dialogue provides information that the reader senses (often unconsciously) about the relationship between the characters, their personalities, and their moods, etc . Apart from that, it gives specific data about the plot, so all of the information provided in a dialogue must be justified.

How does dialog help bring characters to life?

A capable writer uses dialogue to drive a story’s plot forward, to bring the reader closer to its climax and, ultimately its conclusion. Dialogue can also help charge scenes with emotion, heightening tension between characters or building suspense ahead of a key event or turning point in the plot .

What are the 5 purposes of dialogue?

The 5 functions of a dialogue

What are the characteristics of a good dialogue?

Good dialogue…

How do you analyze a character?

Being mindful of subtle hints, like mood changes and reactions that might provide insight into your character’s personality, can help you write a character analysis.

How do you write an introduction paragraph for a character analysis?

How do you write a character description?

How to create brilliant character descriptions:

What two things should you look for when analyzing a character?

Character Analysis and Character Traits

Character analysis is when you evaluate a character’s traits, their role in the story, and the conflicts they experience. When analyzing, you will want to think critically, ask questions, and draw conclusions about the character by looking at those three areas.

What are the 7 character traits?

Seven Critical Character Traits

How do you conclude a character analysis?

Conclusion: The conclusion is the part which summarizes your essay. This is where you will have one final opportunity to not only restate your thesis but also highlight the most important traits or findings from your analysis of the character in question .

How do you write a psychological character profile?

The factors that can make up a character’s psychological profile include: family, emotions, historical events, interactions with a specific environment, physical traits, social influences, religion , etc. Decide on the 3 most influential factors for each of the characters and for yourself.

How can I make my characters likable?

12 Tips on How to Write a Likable Character

What makes a good character analysis?

To write a character analysis, you need to write an essay outlining the following: the character’s name, personal information, hobbies/interests, personality, role in the book, relationships with other characters, major conflicts, and overall change throughout the course of the story .

How do you write a psychologically complex character?

How to Create Contradictions in Your Characters

How do you make your character feel real?

How can you develop complex personalities for your characters?

8 Tips for Character Development

How to Write a Data Analyst Cover Letter

Are you a recently qualified data analyst? If so, you’ve made a good choice. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, data analytics roles will grow by 23% between 2021 and 2031. For context, this is much faster than the national average for all occupations, which is just 5%.

However, to get your foot in the door for any data analytics role means making a good impression. And that’s where a strong data analyst cover letter comes in.

A well-crafted data analyst cover letter will showcase your skills and get your resume noticed. In this article, we provide tips on how to write a data analyst cover letter, along with examples and a template to get you started. Whether you’re an entry-level analyst or a seasoned professional, you’ll soon be ready to produce a cover letter that pops!

Read on, or use the clickable menu to jump to the topic of your choice:

Ready? Then let’s get started!

1. Why do you need a data analyst cover letter?

Before getting into the nitty-gritty of writing your cover letter, it’s helpful to understand why you need one in the first place.

Besides being a front piece for any job application, the main benefit of a well-written cover letter is that it showcases your qualifications, skills, and experience in a way your resume cannot. You can introduce yourself and your skillset to an employer in a pithy paragraph or two.

Here’s a list of the benefits of sending a well-honed cover letter with your data analytics resume and portfolio:

Now that you know why a data analyst cover letter is an essential part of your job search, let’s explore how to write one.

2. How to write a data analyst cover letter (step-by-step)

A data analyst cover letter shouldn’t typically include anything you haven’t mentioned elsewhere in your resume or portfolio. However, it’s an opportunity to zero in on the most salient aspects of your application, placing them front and center.

In this section, we offer a step-by-step guide to writing your data analyst cover letter, exploring the basics of professional letter writing and the nuances of a letter for this specific role.

Let’s take a look.

Step 1: Layout your letter correctly

First up, structure! Don’t make your data analyst cover letter too wild or creative—save that for your portfolio. Instead, stick to the following standard professional letter format:

[Your contact details]

[A link to your portfolio/professional website]

Top Left (below the date)

[Name of recipient]

[Their job title]

[Their contact address]

[Reference, e.g. ‘Re: Application for role X’]

Next, begin your letter with a professional greeting, using the hiring manager’s name if you know it. If you don’t know their name, simply write ‘Dear Hiring Manager’.

Step 2: Open with a strong introduction

The opening sentence or two of your data analyst cover letter should, in effect, be a punchy summary of what the letter will then cover. This means ticking a few standard boxes while also making a good impression:

Beyond that, what exactly makes an introduction ‘strong’? The strongest intros typically use confident, evocative, yet concise language and include specific details about the role to demonstrate that you’ve researched the company.

You might also want to include a ‘hook’ that captures the reader’s attention, such as an intriguing element of your data analysis expertise that others might not have. For example, maybe you have skills using specific data tools or have experience in a relevant industry.

Step 3: Explain why you’re interested in the role

In the second section/paragraph of your data analyst cover letter, hone in on why you’re the ideal candidate for the role. To show that you’re genuinely interested in the company, aim to mention any specific aspects of the position mentioned in the job description that you find attractive or intriguing.

For example, perhaps you’re particularly excited at the prospect of using your data analysis skills to work on the organization’s flagship project. Or maybe you’re passionate about the company’s mission or potential for career growth. This can be a sentence or two—you don’t need to go wild.

Step 4: Showcase your skills, experience, and qualification

The third section of your data analyst cover letter is typically the longest. It’s your chance to show that you have the skills and abilities to excel and is the place to highlight why you’re uniquely qualified for the job.

While you should avoid listing every skill or qualification, don’t be afraid to get specific—list relevant data analysis techniques that you’re proficient in, for example, or qualifications and experience with certain types of software. Perhaps you’ve worked on a project that closely mirrors the work described in the job description. If so, mention it.

This is also the place to namedrop any professional achievements or awards you’ve achieved. Always keep them relevant to the role, though. Nobody needs to know that you won the pie-eating award at the local town fair. Employee of the month, however, is a different matter.

Step 4: End with a strong closing statement and sign off

In the final sentence or two of your data analyst cover letter, wrap up your application and thank the reader for their time. Include a call to action, such as asking for a meeting or a phone call, if appropriate. If in doubt, just say that you look forward to having an opportunity to discuss the position in person (this sounds confident without being too self-assured).

Finally, include a professional sign-off. Traditionally, if a letter’s recipient is unnamed (e.g. ‘Hiring Manager’) you’ll use ‘Faithfully yours’ as a sign-off. Meanwhile, if you know the person’s name, ‘Sincerely yours’ is better. However, if you find these terms old-fashioned, that’s OK. Just stick with something like ‘Kind regards’ or ‘Warm wishes’, and you won’t go too far wrong. The main thing is to avoid being too casual.

Step 5: Proofread, proofread, proofread!

Once you’ve finished your data analyst cover letter, it’s vital to proofread it for errors before sending it off. As a bare minimum, sleep on it and review it in the morning.

Ideally, you should ask a friend or family member—or better yet, someone working in the industry—to read through it, to ensure you’re not missing anything or have made any spelling or grammar mistakes.

Some general tips for writing your data analytics cover letter

In addition to the steps outlined, here are some additional tips for writing your data analytics cover letter:

Now that we’ve covered the basics of your data analyst cover letter, let’s take a look at some examples to highlight the best approach.

3. Data analyst cover letter examples

In this section, we’ll get more specific, looking at how you might want to write each section of your data analyst cover letter. We’ve included a good example and a bad example for each of the points covered in section 2, before explaining why one is better than the other.

Example 1: Opening

Good example:

Dear Ellen,

I am writing to apply for the Business Intelligence Analyst role at Weyland-Yutani Corporation, as advertised on the Big Space Data Jobs Board. With 2 years of experience analyzing customer and business data, I have the necessary skills and qualifications to thrive in this role. I believe I would be a valuable asset to your insights team.

Bad example:

To Sir/Madam,

I am applying for the Data Analyst role at your company. I’m sure I’d be a great fit for this job, as I have a lot of experience in the field.

The first example is strong. It shows that the candidate has done their research (mentioning the job title, organization, and even the board where they found the role) and is confident in their skills and qualifications. It also shows respect to the recipient by addressing them by name.

Meanwhile, the second example is too generic. It doesn’t demonstrate any research or knowledge of the role. And while it’s not always possible to know the manager’s name, don’t open with ‘Dear sir/madam’ which presumes the recipient’s gender. It’s not worth offending the person that you want to give you a job!

Example 2: Explaining why you’re interested

I am especially excited about the prospect of using my data analysis skills to assist with Weyland-Yutani’s flagship project, which I know explores the potential product applications of new biological discoveries. As a lifelong advocate of xenobiology, I am particularly interested in how this area of study can potentially intersect with the customer experience.

I have a great deal of experience in data analysis and I’m sure that I would be a great asset to your team. In addition, I’m interested in this role because it pays a lot of money.

The good example here offers more than just generic platitudes; it provides a real insight into the candidate’s motivations for applying for the role while demonstrating their knowledge and enthusiasm for the company’s work. Obviously, we’ve used an imaginary example here, but it highlights the point.

Once again, the bad example is too generic. It shows no real knowledge or understanding of the company and it lacks enthusiasm. And while there’s nothing wrong with being money-driven, think about what the reader will want to see. It’s much more appealing to the hiring manager to hear about your ambition (which benefits them!) rather than your desire to get paid well (which benefits you!)

Example 3: Showcasing your skills, experience, and qualifications

My experience and qualifications make me an ideal candidate for this role. As a Business Intelligence Analyst at Hyperdyne Systems, I developed expertise in predictive analytics and machine learning, which I used to draw insights from large datasets about current product trends. I also lead a project to improve the accuracy of customer segmentation models, resulting in a 5% increase in marketing ROI.

As a data analyst, I have experience in data analysis, machine learning, predictive analytics, and working with large datasets. I am confident that I have the skills and experience necessary for this role.

The good example provides specific examples of the candidate’s accomplishments, demonstrating their expertise and passion for data analytics. This is much more effective than listing generic skills.

The bad example, on the other hand, gives no information about the candidate’s accomplishments or achievements. And while it is OK to list skills in your resume, it’s a waste of your data analytics cover letter not to dig deeper to showcase how you used these skills.

Example 4: Closing

I look forward to discussing my experience and qualifications further and learning more about the opportunity on offer. I would welcome an invitation to discuss the position further.

I hope to hear from you soon.

The good example provides a strong closing statement. It’s polite and respectful, yet confident. It also shows that the candidate has done their research and is genuinely interested in the role.

The bad example is bland, lacks any genuine passion, and does nothing to demonstrate any knowledge of the role or company. Which one would you invite to an interview?

4. Data analyst cover letter template

Now that you’ve seen some examples of how to write a data analyst cover letter, here’s a template you can use to get started with your cover letter. This is, of course, a very generic template, and you should do more than simply fill in the gaps and send it off!

Instead, use the template as a guideline, using the prompts provided to expand on the topics. Tailor the letter to each role you are applying for.

[Link to your portfolio]

[Contact address]

Dear [Name of recipient],

I am writing to apply for the [name of the job] role at [name of company], as advertised on [name of job board]. With [number of months/years] experience analyzing [type of data], I feel confident that I have the necessary skills and qualifications to become a valuable asset to your [team/department].

I am especially excited at the prospect of using my data analysis skills to [outline a specific task or project that the role involves]. As a [describe a personal/professional trait], I believe that this project has the potential to [outline a specific benefit that you think the project will bring].

My experience and qualifications make me an ideal candidate for this role. During my time as a [previous role] at [company], I developed expertise in [list relevant skills], which I used to [outline a project/task you’ve been involved in]. I was also able to [outline an accomplishment], resulting in a [describe the outcome].

I look forward to discussing my experience and qualifications further and hearing more about the opportunity that you’re offering.

Yours sincerely,

[Your name]

So there you have it, everything you need to know when writing a job-winning data analyst cover letter. Now that we’ve discussed how to write one, here’s a quick recap:

Following this simple advice, you’ll soon have a data analyst cover letter that stands out. Before you know it, you’ll be preparing for that all-important interview!

To learn more about what a career in data analytics might involve, sign up for this free, 5-day data analytics short course . Prefer to read some more? Then check out the following beginner’s guides:

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How to Write an Essay Introduction | 4 Steps & Examples

Published on February 4, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on September 14, 2022.

A good introduction paragraph is an essential part of any academic essay . It sets up your argument and tells the reader what to expect.

The main goals of an introduction are to:

This introduction example is taken from our interactive essay example on the history of Braille.

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.

Step 1: hook your reader, step 2: give background information, step 3: present your thesis statement, step 4: map your essay’s structure, step 5: check and revise, more examples of essay introductions, frequently asked questions about the essay introduction.

Your first sentence sets the tone for the whole essay, so spend some time on writing an effective hook.

Avoid long, dense sentences—start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.

The hook should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of the topic you’re writing about and why it’s interesting. Avoid overly broad claims or plain statements of fact.

Examples: Writing a good hook

Take a look at these examples of weak hooks and learn how to improve them.

The first sentence is a dry fact; the second sentence is more interesting, making a bold claim about exactly why the topic is important.

Avoid using a dictionary definition as your hook, especially if it’s an obvious term that everyone knows. The improved example here is still broad, but it gives us a much clearer sense of what the essay will be about.

Instead of just stating a fact that the reader already knows, the improved hook here tells us about the mainstream interpretation of the book, implying that this essay will offer a different interpretation.

Next, give your reader the context they need to understand your topic and argument. Depending on the subject of your essay, this might include:

The information here should be broad but clearly focused and relevant to your argument. Don’t give too much detail—you can mention points that you will return to later, but save your evidence and interpretation for the main body of the essay.

How much space you need for background depends on your topic and the scope of your essay. In our Braille example, we take a few sentences to introduce the topic and sketch the social context that the essay will address:

What can proofreading do for your paper?

Scribbr editors not only correct grammar and spelling mistakes, but also strengthen your writing by making sure your paper is free of vague language, redundant words, and awkward phrasing.

See editing example

Now it’s time to narrow your focus and show exactly what you want to say about the topic. This is your thesis statement —a sentence or two that sums up your overall argument.

This is the most important part of your introduction. A good thesis isn’t just a statement of fact, but a claim that requires evidence and explanation.

The goal is to clearly convey your own position in a debate or your central point about a topic.

Particularly in longer essays, it’s helpful to end the introduction by signposting what will be covered in each part. Keep it concise and give your reader a clear sense of the direction your argument will take.

As you research and write, your argument might change focus or direction as you learn more.

For this reason, it’s often a good idea to wait until later in the writing process before you write the introduction paragraph—it can even be the very last thing you write.

When you’ve finished writing the essay body and conclusion , you should return to the introduction and check that it matches the content of the essay.

It’s especially important to make sure your thesis statement accurately represents what you do in the essay. If your argument has gone in a different direction than planned, tweak your thesis statement to match what you actually say.

You can use the checklist below to make sure your introduction does everything it’s supposed to.

Checklist: Essay introduction

My first sentence is engaging and relevant.

I have introduced the topic with necessary background information.

I have defined any important terms.

My thesis statement clearly presents my main point or argument.

Everything in the introduction is relevant to the main body of the essay.

You have a strong introduction - now make sure the rest of your essay is just as good.

This introduction to an argumentative essay sets up the debate about the internet and education, and then clearly states the position the essay will argue for.

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.

This introduction to a short expository essay leads into the topic (the invention of the printing press) and states the main point the essay will explain (the effect of this invention on European society).

In many ways, the invention of the printing press marked the end of the Middle Ages. The medieval period in Europe is often remembered as a time of intellectual and political stagnation. Prior to the Renaissance, the average person had very limited access to books and was unlikely to be literate. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century allowed for much less restricted circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.

This introduction to a literary analysis essay , about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein , starts by describing a simplistic popular view of the story, and then states how the author will give a more complex analysis of the text’s literary devices.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale. Arguably the first science fiction novel, its plot can be read as a warning about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, and in popular culture representations of the character as a “mad scientist”, Victor Frankenstein represents the callous, arrogant ambition of modern science. However, far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to gradually transform our impression of Frankenstein, portraying him in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as.

Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

The “hook” is the first sentence of your essay introduction . It should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of why it’s interesting.

To write a good hook, avoid overly broad statements or long, dense sentences. Try to start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

Cite this Scribbr article

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McCombes, S. (2022, September 14). How to Write an Essay Introduction | 4 Steps & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/introduction/

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How to Write a Technical Essay?

Unlike an explanatory or personal essay, a technical essay is to inform the readers about different, but technical topics. Therefore, you should follow a particular format for writing it. Of course, it needs to include an introduction, body, and conclusion, but these also contain elements to prove detailed documentation and research.

In fact, the abstract and references are also important parts of a technical essay. Therefore, writing a technical essay requires the same credibility and organization sense you expect from a professional essay writing gig .

Do you need to start writing a technical essay today? Then there is the guideline that you must follow.

So, here we go

Understand the purpose of technical writing

Technical essays are to explore a product or a specific scientific or technical subject . So, it must explain how to carry out a certain technical task or present a specific method to do something.

Your technical essay’s goal should be to explore the subject’s technical aspects and analyze the method to accomplish something.

Find out more about formatting

Writing technical essays in a certain format, just like a research paper, is important. When writing a technical essay for a degree program or a journal, understand its formatting guidelines.

You should follow any of the three popular citation formats for academic writing. These formats include MLA, CMS, and APA. While writing for academic purposes, failure to include essential formatting elements can result in low grades.

On the other hand, when writing for a journal, always follow their formatting guidelines. Otherwise, your technical essay will appear sloppy and affect your impression.

Understand and follow the technical essay format to write an impressive piece.

Focus on the structure of your essay

Generally, a technical essay presents a question to begin the discussion. Then you need to write the method you used to find the answer to that question and conclude your findings. Just like any academic research, your technical essay structure will look similar to this:

Creating a structure before writing your essay can make things easier for you includes:

You can also continue making a few notes to organize your thoughts and fill in the details logically.

Fill the sections

In the beginning, describe what makes you write a technical essay on the chosen topic in the introduction. Try to connect to your prospected audience appealingly since the introduction. Then give a brief about what you would find in the following paragraphs. This practice will help the readers to understand what to expect from the essay.

Always describe the details about the used methodology in the body section.

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The essay conclusion should always base on your topic and body’s review. Here you should summarize the result or outcome of your research by following a particular process.

Including a reference, the section is also important at the end.

Important Tip

Always remember that don’t overexplain your essay in the introduction section. It should be just a summary of your technical essay.

Ensure to have enough information about your chosen topic

Before writing a technical essay, gather enough information about your topic. Conducting proper research on the topic is critical before you begin writing your essay.

Having enough knowledge about the topic will consequently boost your confidence. Instead of spending time on style and vocabulary, you should invest in collecting information through research.

Final Thoughts

Whenever writing your technical essay, ensure to label your document correctly. Most people think technical essays are similar to persuasive essays because of their structure. There are various distinctions you should understand. Consequently, writing a technical essay will become easier for you.

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How to write a good blog introduction
A 4-part formula to make writing introductions easier Every time you sit down to write a new blog introduction, you have to create something unique and compelling. There's no "hacking" effective writing, but there are guidelines that can help you along. I've broken down the intro-writing process into four components.
Blog Introduction Examples: 5 Good, 5 Bad (& How to Be Awesome)
You need to have a strong title and meta description to capture the click, but once they're on your post, you have one job: Keep them there. That's where the blog introduction comes into play. The Purpose of the Blog Post Introduction Now that someone has clicked through to your blog post, your job is not done. It's just beginning.
The Ultimate Guide to Writing Blog Post Introductions
There are 3 important elements of a good blog post introduction. Let's briefly look at them: 1. Hook: This is what pulls the reader into your blog entry. Make it specific, brief, and interesting. It can be a single sentence, a phrase, or even a word. Your hook could be a question (open-ended or closed).
How to Write a Blog Post in 2023: The Ultimate Guide
Write an Introduction That Grabs and Seduces Deliver Advice That's Easy to Consume and Impossible to Ignore Close with a Motivational Bang Polish Your Post So It's Smoother Than a Slip 'n Slide Let's dive in. Back to Top 1. Craft a Great Headline That Readers Can't Resist Want to know one of the biggest mistakes bloggers make?
How to Write a Blog Intro: 6 Steps for Killer Blog Post Introductions
Tips and steps for writing great blog introductions Step 1: Start with a bang Step 2: Make it short and sweet Step 3: Use humor Step 4: Be relatable Step 5: Tell a story Step 6: Address the pain or problem and lead to a solution Examples of bad introductions that kill reading momentum
Blogging Tips: 3 Fun Ways to Write a Blog Introduction
While there are a lot of other great ways to write an introduction, always keep in mind what an introduction is supposed to do: Identify clearly the target audience for your article; Demonstrate an understanding of what the problem is, why it matters, and (if applicable) what caused it; and
11 Principles for Writing the Perfect Blog Introduction
The blog introduction is the perfect place to spark this feeling within your audience. They need to respect what you have to say, resonate with you as a person and believe they can take action on your advice. A great mentor once told me; "Get them to aspire to be like you, but not think it is impossible to get there."
7 Tips to Write a Great Blog Post Introduction
These seven tips can help you craft compelling blog post introductions that get your readers to go beyond the headline. HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT: 4 Real-Life Ledes: Why They Work (and What Could Be Better) 1. Highlight a common problem People read content for the value it offers. For business blogs, that usually means a solution to a problem.
How To Introduce Yourself As a Blogger (in Blog and Life)
How to introduce yourself in a blog First things first, let's incorporate your one-liner into your official "About Me" page. You probably already know the basics, like: Writing a killer headline Following-up with a compelling first paragraph Using a crystal-clear photo Sharing a little backstory Finishing up with social proof and a CTA
How to Write Catchy Blog Post Intro [Quick Guide]
Starting a blog post with a quote. It's a great idea. A single quote can be equivalent to a paragraph of content. It delivers the message to your blog readers effectively in only one line. Readers believe great quotes from great people. Great quotes keep visitors intact with your blog. Final words
How to Start a Blog Post: 10 Ways to Write an Stellar Intro
How to Start a Blog Post: 10 Ways to Draw Readers In 1. Invite the reader. The reader will feel at home if he or she feels that their concerns will be met. And that your blog is a friendly place to visit. One way is to address the reader directly. Example Intro #1: Do you feel insecure, anxious, and doubtful about your writing? Example Intro #2:
How to write an SEO-friendly introduction for a blog post
2. Get people excited to read more. The second thing a good introduction should do is to get people excited about your article. You'll need a hook. Something that's fun or triggering. Something that catches people's attention. The introduction should be written in such a way that people want to read more.
How to Write an Introduction, With Examples
An introduction should include three things: a hook to interest the reader, some background on the topic so the reader can understand it, and a thesis statement that clearly and quickly summarizes your main point. Your writing, at its best. Get Grammarly It's free Works on all your favorite websites
How to Write an Introduction: A Simplified Guide
To write an introduction, be mindful of what it's supposed to achieve. The main goals here are to draw in your reader — a relative stranger, most of the time — and concisely let her know what the article is about. Generally, that consists of three key components: Step 1) Grab the reader's attention.
How to Write a Good Introduction so Your Post Gets Seen: 8 Tips
Here's the thing: there's no specific length for an introduction. However, according to experts, the introduction should be approximately 10% of the total word count. For instance, if you're writing a 1500 word post, your introduction should be about 150 words. It's important to avoid writing overly long introductions.
11 Tips & Best Practices for Writing a Blog Post Introduction
3. Know Your Reader's Psychology. Word on the street is that empathy is the new data in digital marketing. If you can successfully generate emotions from the start, then your blog post will be memorable. Empathy, FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), excitement, and even frustration are powerful elements to use here.
Hook 'Em: How to Write a Killer Blog Intro
For your intro to be impactful and compelling, you need to put in the elbow grease required to make it shine. This means at least two rounds of edits, separated by at least six hours. Don't ever publish a blog without this. The two rounds might seem overkill, but they serve an important purpose.
How To Write an Introduction in 4 Easy Steps: A Complete Guide
As you write your introduction, make sure you're clear with your words and communicating in a way that your readers will be able to comprehend. Related: 8 Examples of Business Writing. 3. Explain how your post will be helpful. Readers want to know that what they're reading is valuable.
How to Write Great Blog Introductions (and why most are bad)
Here is a formula you can use to write good blog introductions basically every time. Step 1: Describe to yourself who the reader is. Create a simple persona like any marketing exercise. Scroll up to the sales veteran example at the beginning for an example. Step 2: Think of how they are encountering your post.
How to Write a Blog Post: A Step-by-Step Guide
Edit and publish your blog post. Promote the final article. 01. Brainstorm blog topics. When writing a blog post, whether you're guest posting for someone else or writing for your own blog, you'll want to cover topics that bring value to your readers and fall in line with their interests, as well as your own.
How to write an introduction to a term paper 2023
How to properly write the introduction to the term paper. Read more in this article. Download a sample and an example of a template for the introduction of the term paper can be found here. ... Earlier in our blog an article about term paper design according to State Standard 2023, which describes the general requirements for all its sections.
How to Write a Strong Conclusion
A strong blog conclusion should tie together all the main points discussed in the body of the blog and provide a satisfying sense of closure for the reader. When writing a strong conclusion, it is important to avoid introducing any new information or ideas in the conclusion and instead focus on summarizing the key takeaways and leaving the ...
Our 8-Step Guide for How to Write a Pro Blog Post
Write an outline. With any writing project, following the writing process enables you to craft a thoughtful, well-developed piece. Blog posts are no exception. After you've determined a topic for your first blog post, create an outline. List your working title and the key points you want to hit in your post.
How to write an engaging blog
A key point to structuring and formatting your blog is to make it scannable: people will get a visual idea of your blog before they even get to reading it. (5) 'Oh I just skimmed through...' - Keep your paragraphs and sentences short: most people only read 20% of a page.
10 Simple Ways to Write Stronger Introductions
Cut to the chase. 5. Use the word "you" at least once. The word "you" is a powerful word. It tells the reader that you, the author, are writing the article with them in mind. You empathize with them, you care about them, and you want your piece to resonate with them.
How To Write 1st Class Essays Using ChatGPT (The Best AI Essay Technique)
So, we might ask ChatGPT to write the headings of our main body for our essay. And this really is a brainstorming exercise for ChatGPT. You can say something like, "I want you to write four headings for the main body of my essay. These should be short and focused and reflect back to the title of my essay."
How to convey breeding through character dialogue?
Here are six writing tips and suggestions for how to write a character's thoughts: Use dialogue tags without quotation marks. …. Use dialogue tags and use quotation marks. …. Use Italics. …. Start a new line. …. Use deep POV. …. Use descriptive writing for secondary characters.
How to Write a Data Analyst Cover Letter
Step 2: Open with a strong introduction. The opening sentence or two of your data analyst cover letter should, in effect, be a punchy summary of what the letter will then cover. This means ticking a few standard boxes while also making a good impression: Include the title of the job you're applying for.
How to Write an Essay Introduction
Frequently asked questions about the essay introduction Step 1: Hook your reader Your first sentence sets the tone for the whole essay, so spend some time on writing an effective hook. Avoid long, dense sentences—start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader's curiosity.
How to Write a Technical Essay?
Describe the method you used to answer the specific question. Then start with the Abstract and give quick information about your question, inquiry process, and conclusion. Keep all the paragraphs brief. Creating a structure before writing your essay can make things easier for you includes: Introduction. Methodology.