11 Great Ways To Hook Readers in 2023

Published

1 year ago

January 31, 2023

Max

Want to know how to write a blog intro with impact?

It’s important to understand human psychology.

But don’t worry, you don’t need a psychology degree to write a great introduction.

Far from it.

You just need a few simple psychological principles that get readers saying “YES” to the rest of the article.

When you use them, it’s a win-win for everyone involved.

Your readers are thrilled they found your website.

And you:

Gain a loyal following
Get more email subscribers
And make more sales or affiliate commissions

The best part?

A great intro can even improve organic rankings because more engagement sends “positive signals” to Google.

Keep reading for 11 tips to write highly compelling blog introductions.

1. Start with a Question (or Statistic)

When you ask a question in a blog post, the reader has to read the following line to get the answer.

And as an opening paragraph, it’s perfect, as it encourages this trend.

The trend of reading the next line.

Questions can also be used to build rapport by getting on the same page as your reader.

Or by making them laugh or by building curiosity.

Some question examples:

Want to know a secret?
Don’t you just hate it when your dog barks all night?
What if you could please everyone all of the time?

Another great opening sentence is with an industry statistic.

Why?

Because they add a perceived authority to the writer, as it aligns you with the expert or industry.

If you’re not an expert on the topic with raving credentials, a statistic is the next best thing.

Examples of sharing stats:

81% of marketers view content as a core business strategy
Content marketing generates three times as many leads as other digital marketing and costs 62% less

This might help you come across as an expert content marketer, even if you’re not one.

2. Know Your Readers’ Pain Points

In his book Thinking, Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahneman writes:

“Loss aversion refers to the relative strength of two motives: we are driven more strongly to avoid losses than to achieve gains.”

In simple terms, this means that humans are twice as motivated by pain than by pleasure, a common concept known in content marketing and modern psychology.

It’s also the reason why almost all sales copy and advertising leads with a pain point.

And you can do the same in a blog post introduction.

For example, which of the following motivates you more?

This one habit can get you into shape for the summer and feeling amazing!
Is this habit stopping you from getting into shape and destroying your confidence?

Life tends to escape most of us, and we become complacent. Then, avoiding the pain becomes less painful than leaving our comfort zone.

That’s why knowing your readers’ pain points are so effective.

Knowing the problems your audience is facing will clarify your message and influence your audience to take action.

3. Communicate Expertise

Many people shy away from promoting themselves because it feels like they’re bragging.

But, to write a good blog intro, expertise is essential.

However, you don’t need to hold a master’s degree or above to be an expert.

You only need to be perceived as an expert.

“How?” You ask…

Here are a few ways to establish authority and expertise in your writing.

Be Specific

Assertive people with authority are direct without being domineering.

They say it how it is.

That’s because they are confident about what they know and communicate with conviction.

To make this work in your intros, avoid being vague or passive and, instead, be specific.

Want a specific blog introduction example? Here are two:

The first one doesn’t require much authority, but the second is crucial.

Christmas Jumpers: After researching 100+ Christmas jumpers, these were the best quality we found, thanks to their 100% sustainable and eco-friendly fabrics.
The Ketogenic Diet: After 3 years on the keto diet, this is, in my expert opinion, the fastest and safest way to get started with keto.

Show, Don’t Tell

Instead of telling people how much of an expert you are, demonstrate your wealth of knowledge by making complex topics easy to grasp.

It’s better to let them define you as an expert than you trying to convince them you are one.

Social proof is an excellent way to establish expertise and authority.

Here’s how you could include it in your intros:

People often ask me; “What is the best way to market my business online?”

Or…

I get this question asked a lot by my email subscribers, so I thought I’d address it here…

This ties into the previous tip. You’re not directly stating that you’re an expert. You’re using social proof to do it for you.

4. Keep it Short and Sweet

Unless you’re a world-class storyteller, aim to keep your blog introductions short and sweet.

Clear and concise, and on point.

Try to set the pace of the article in your intros. A pace that moves them along quickly.

Successful introductions only require one thing.

Let the reader know they will get the answers they seek in your article.

Of course, longer intros can work, but they must be well thought out and match the tone of the main content.

5. Meet the Search Intent

how to write a blog intro - screenshot of google homepage

Meeting the search intent is essential.

And not just for SEO benefits, as it lets the reader know they’re in the right place.

To do this, include your primary keyword in the first paragraph if you can.

You can also emphasize search intent in bullet points.

(More on bullet points later.)

The reason why search intent is so important in SEO is this:

Relevance, context, and understanding.

When people do a Google search, they can often be vague.

That’s because they don’t know the details of what they’re searching for.

But what they do understand is how their search query relates to their problem.

When you can communicate their problem as it relates to the intent of the post, they won’t want to stop reading.

6. Obliterate Objections

Objections are simply doubts in a person’s mind that what they will read (or buy) will help them.

Everyone has objections.

But we can bundle almost all objections into four buckets:

People don’t want to waste time
They don’t want to waste money
There’s a lack of trust
They are unsure if there’s a need

Let’s briefly break each of these down from the context of writing better introductions.

First, people don’t want to waste time, so if they feel like they need to make an effort, they might put off reading a good blog post.

Combat this objection by stating how easy it is to learn, how quickly they can implement the teachings, or how beginner-friendly it is.

Second, they don’t want to waste money. If your article is reviewing an expensive product, highlight the benefits of owning it or the disadvantages of not owning it.

Third, if there’s a lack of trust, it could be in you, themselves, or the topic you’re writing about and will have doubts.

This one comes down to confidence. The best way to create trust is to communicate expertise and build rapport.

Lastly, people are unsure if they need to know more about your topic or buy what you’re selling or promoting.

To overcome this objection, the reader needs to become more aware of the pain points if they don’t learn more about them.

When you combat these objections in your intros, you’ll get people reading your content every time.

7. Build Anticipation

Building anticipation in your introductions is a great way to keep people reading.

This can be done in a couple of ways.

Similar to how horror movies keep you on the edge of your seat or the reverse; a motivational speaker on stage.

Here are a few ways you can incorporate these into your blog intros.

The first idea is to introduce a personal success story of how you overcame a challenging issue (or achieved an inspiring goal).

For example:

In this post, I’ll share how I overcame my fear of public speaking in less than 1 hour. Not only that, I got a standing ovation the very next day.

Another way is to express a negative emotion your reader may be facing that the article is going to help solve.

For example:

Want to know what the best meditation apps are?

Then you’re in luck. After spending the last 2 years completely stressed and burnt out, I tested 7 meditation apps over 30 days.

The best bit?

My stress has completely cleared up and I have more time to focus on my business.

Lastly, tell people what they can expect from the article. For example, this can be best done using bullet points.

This is my complete guide on how I increased organic traffic by 273% in just 3 months.

You’ll discover:

The three things I did differently to exceed my goal
How my traffic increase has impacted my income
And a step-by-step strategy so that you can replicate my results

8. Empathize

1675128757 337 11 Great Ways To Hook Readers in 2023

Injecting empathy turns a basic blog intro into a great blog intro.

And it’s an excellent way to engage readers as it helps build rapport.

But what does that even mean?

Rapport is how people connect through shared views, mutual understanding, and acceptance of each other’s differences.

Empathy is just one way to build rapport with your reader.

To bake this into your introduction, here are some helpful pointers.

Make a statement that the reader agrees with – People generally connect with others who agree with them, at least in the beginning.
Get on their level – Meet the reader where they’re at by aligning with their needs, hopes, and desires.
Show your vulnerable side – Paradoxically, vulnerability shows strength. And if your reader relates to your pain, they will begin to trust you more.

9. Use a Copywriting Framework

Copywriting is the art of sales using the written word. This is perfect for introverts who hate cold calls or sales meetings.

And it’s perfect for an effective introduction.

A copywriting framework is a structured way to format your writing.

For example, this is the PAS framework:

P: Problem – Highlight a pain point the reader is facing
A: Agitate – Emphasis the issues that may arise if the problem isn’t solved
S: Solution – Outline specific steps to solve the problem

Many copywriting frameworks exist, such as AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action) and BAB (Before, After, Bridge).

Using one of them in a blog intro will yield significant results.

Here’s how PAS might look in your introductions:

Problem: Are you struggling to get enough fruit and veg in your diet?

Agitate: I get it. It can be hard to build this habit. Not to mention wreak havoc on your health.

Solve: That’s why I’ve put together this list of healthy smoothie recipes that only take 10 minutes to make.

10. Use Bullet Points

how to write a blog intro - someone writing some bullet points in a notepad

Bullet points have been used to sell stuff for decades.

They break up the text, which draws the reader’s attention. And they can offer some highly engaging details.

Details that get people wanting to read further.

Here’s how you can use them in your intros.

After introducing the article, share some context to clarify what they’ll learn.

Another way to use bullet points is to state the benefits they’ll gain from reading your post. Or the benefits of a product if you’re writing a review.

Lastly, make them skimmable and easy to digest. This will help them flow through the intro and is key for your overall blog content strategy.

11. Provide a Call to Action

A call to action simply tells the reader what to do next.

Sometimes, it’s to get them to click a button or a link, buy a product, or sign up for a newsletter.

But it can also be used at the end of your introductions.

For example, some articles end like this:

Read on to discover the best keto recipes for complete beginners.

Or the call to action can be as simple as saying, “Keep reading” or “Let’s dive right in.”

Whatever you decide on, adding a call to action is an essential piece of a highly converting blog introduction.

Conclusion: How to Write a Blog Intro That Converts

That concludes this post on how to write an impactful blog intro.

Using these tactics will massively improve your connection with your audience and keep them on the page longer.

This is key if you want to build a loyal following and increase your bottom line.

Check out our article on how to create blog content that engages readers.

Related Topics:Great Hook Readers seo Ways

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How to Get Beat Out Your Competition by Making a Lasting Impression

Published

10 hours ago

May 13, 2024

Entireweb News Bot

How to Get Beat Out Your Competition by Making a Lasting Impression

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

I’m in the public relations space, and as of last count, there are more than 48,000 other PR firms in the United States. A large fraction of these compete with my agency in the five hub cities where I operate. Yet mine consistently ranks among the highest in those cities — Nashville, for example.

Is it because I know my industry better than my competitors? Because I land more placements for my clients? Because my team is more talented or my network of connections more expansive? As much as I’d like to think that I’m running with the front of the pack based solely on the quality of my services and the effectiveness of my methodologies, it’s far more likely that I earn rave reviews and generate referrals from my clients due to two words: personalized attention.

More specifically, my team and I go well above and beyond to create an exceptional customer experience at my firm because I’ve learned over the years of running my own business that it’s the client’s impression of you that matters most — that’s what informs all other aspects of customer relations, drives all other client decisions and determines if they’ll stay with you or not (even more so than short-term results).

Even in the digital age we all inhabit, with so many automated tasks and productivity tools that populate our workplaces, personalizing the professional is a surefire means to client retention and satisfaction. Here are five practices I regularly follow to make the most positive impression on my clients I possibly can.

1. Get a copy of your client’s org chart

When you understand the structure of your client’s business, you understand who does what, who reports to whom, and, in turn, you know who to go to for what. Not only is this an immense time-saver — as in not filling people’s inboxes unnecessarily with work that doesn’t pertain to them — but your clients will also appreciate that you did your homework on their staffing.

It’s so much more impressive to send a note that says, “Would your team like to see this before we send it up to Jeremy?” or “I believe Bettina has the final sign-off here” than “Are you the right person to contact about this?” And note the use of actual names here — learning the first names of everyone you’ll be working with moves you into first place faster than you’d think!

2. Use proper grammar and punctuation

Make sure that all your communications to your client — and, far more importantly, all the communications you prepare on their behalf — are written properly. Yes, it takes some extra work to eliminate errors. Still, it’s absolutely worth the effort when you consider how much just one typo can mar an entire project (ever seen “pubic” instead of “public”?) and how poorly faulty grammar can reflect on quality output, education level and attracting the intended audience.

Though it may be true that language standards are slipping in America, that doesn’t mean nobody’s noticing the shoddy quality of copy. Some people still notice and care. If your client is one of them, you’ll earn bonus points by knowing the difference between “compliment” and “complement” by not allowing both “San Antonio Riverwalk” and “San Antonio River Walk” in the same publication. Use your grammar checker. Always do a spell-check. Re-read everything you produce. And if you don’t have a language maven on staff to serve as your in-house proofreader, hire an affordable freelancer who can provide quick turnaround times.

3. Choose video over audio

Whenever possible, schedule video calls and videoconference meetings over phone calls and phone meetings. The day and age of in-person meetings is quickly becoming obsolete. Still, there will never be a replacement for face-to-face interaction, eye contact, observing facial expressions and showing your client with every head nod and eyebrow raise that you’re following what they’re saying and closely attending to your conversation.

During the pandemic, cultivating one-on-one relationships over Zoom and Teams became the new norm, and most people are entirely fine leaving it that way! Interacting over a screen instead of a conference table is just more convenient, time-effective and environmentally friendly. Nevertheless, we can’t afford to lose the “one-on-one interaction” part of business relationships. Remember the old Bell advertising slogan? Well, video is the modern-day equivalent of “the next best thing to being there,” so leverage your camera as often as possible to “see” your clients, not just talk to them.

4. Mark your calendar!

Notate birthdays, business anniversaries, baby due dates. Keep a record of your client’s big meetings and conference attendance. On those days, send a person-to-person text or email. And the more specific, the better, such as “Hope your coffee product presentation in Jersey went well and the traffic wasn’t too bad on the Parkway!” Or “Congrats on baby Elliot. That was my grandfather’s name, and I hope it serves your brand-new son as well as it did him.”

By incorporating the personal into the professional, which is a pillar of my own approach at my company, clients value your role more because you’ve actively endeavored to become part of their lives, not just an appendage of their business. In other words, when you add personal touches to your communications and conversations, your clients can’t help but think of you on a more human level rather than just a professional contact with whom they can easily cut ties.

5. Observe the line between personal and professional, but use both — often

On a related but separate note: As much as I’m saying to weave personal connections into your daily dealings with your clients, you never, ever want to go too far. You can use humor, but not off-color humor. You can show vulnerability, but you don’t want to appear weak or indecisive. You can ask questions and admit what you don’t know, but be strategic (not lazy) about trying to resolve issues yourself before coming to your clients with them. And be yourself, absolutely always be genuinely yourself, but don’t expose so much that you cross the line into overintimacy or inappropriate divulgence.

By speckling your client interactions with individual touches as you simultaneously maintain proper decorum, you will put a personal face on your business name. And that name will leave more of a mark on your customers precisely because of your adept balancing act between the personal and the professional.

Part of making a meaningful impression on your clients is consciously putting your best face forward every day, in every way. Don’t let them see a messy office behind you on Zoom, but let them vent about their kid’s tonsillitis for 10 minutes if needed. Don’t bad-mouth other clients or finger-point when things go wrong, but get to know them well enough that you’d love to grab a drink next time you’re in town.

Take every opportunity you can to show your clients — and then remind them often — that “business as usual” to you means being prepared (as in learning an org chart), producing quality output (that’s been proofed), scheduling face-to-face encounters, observing special occasions in their lives and sharing your authentic self, who happens to be a multifaceted, wonderful human being with flaws who’s also an utter professional and a real pro at what you do!

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Protect Your Business Computer From Hackers and Trackers with This $70 VPN Deal

Published

1 day ago

May 12, 2024

Entireweb News Bot

Protect Your Business Computer From Hackers and Trackers with This $70 VPN Deal

Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

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Get Microsoft Office Plus Windows 11 Pro for $70 This Week Only

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2 days ago

May 11, 2024

Entireweb News Bot

Get Microsoft Office Plus Windows 11 Pro for $70 This Week Only

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