Are your blogs so boring that even you find them dull? If so, then it’s high time to rethink your blog writing strategy.
A successful blog post starts with a compelling and informative introduction. While the first paragraph or two are the most critical, they’re also the most difficult to write. When you find yourself staring at a blank page unsure of how to begin your next blog, use these three tips to craft an introduction that’s engaging and informative to your readers.
Engage the reader
Readers are quick to judge whether content is worth reading or not. If your introduction doesn’t engage them, they’ll exit out and find something better. Draw readers into the post right away by making the first sentence compelling. There are many ways to do this. You could shock readers with an interesting fact or quote, use humor or anecdotes to connect with your audience, or ask a question to pique readers’ curiosity.
State the blog’s purpose
Every blog post that you write should have a purpose and that purpose should be clearly (albeit briefly) defined in the introduction. Readers shouldn’t have to read through an entire article to learn what your blog is about (and trust me – they won’t!). Before you start writing your blog, ask yourself, “Why am I writing this blog and what is the purpose of the content I’m providing?” Knowing the answer to this question will help you write a better introduction and an overall better blog.
Outline the article
You’ve engaged the reader with a captivating opening line and stated the purpose of your blog. Now it’s time to let readers know what they will take away from the article. Will you be providing tips or answering a question? Let your audience know what to expect and why your information is valuable to them. For example, in the last sentence of my introduction I wrote use these three tips to craft an introduction that’s engaging and informative to your readers. This sentence tells my audience that they’ll be reading tips, and that those tips will help them write not just introductions, but compelling ones at that.
Staring at a blank screen can be intimidating, but writing a successful introduction is easier than you think. Put yourself in your readers’ shoes and consider the information they want and need from your opening paragraphs. An introduction that is both compelling and informative will keep readers engaged and reading.
