5 Simple Ways to Open Your Blog Post With a Bang
What’s the second most important part of your
blog post after the title?
Master copywriter Eugene Schwartz often spent an
entire week on the first 50 words of a sales piece —
the headline and the opening paragraph.
Just imagine how disappointed you’d be after
crafting a killer headlinefor your post, only to lose readers
with an opening that failed to carry the momentum.
A great headline mixed with a lame opening is like inviting
someone into your house, only to slam the door in their
face as they approach.
1. Ask a Question
Opening your post with a question is a rhetorical device
(hence, the “rhetorical question”) that creates curiosity
and gets the reader thinking. Thinking equals active engagement
with your writing, and that’s a very good thing.
2. Share an Anecdote or Quote
Anecdotes are quick stories that can make people laugh or
immediately establish the main point of your post. A nice
quote from a recognizable authority or famous person can
also work wonders when holding attention in those crucial
opening seconds.
3. Invoke the Mind’s Eye
Producing a mental image in a reader’s mind is one of the most
powerful things you can ever do as a writer, so expressly engaging
the imagination is a powerful opening technique. Activate
the mind’s eye of the reader by using words like “imagine,”
“picture this,” “do you remember when,” etc.
So, here are 5 ways to open your post that will capture
the reader’s imagination and pull them deeper into
your content.
4. Use an Analogy, Metaphor or Simile
Analogies, metaphors and similes are some of the most
powerful devices available when it comes to telling a story
in a single sentence. This is a great way to capture a
reader’s attention and also acts to provoke mental imagery
that allows readers to tell a story to themselves.
5. Cite a Shocking Statistic
Starting off with an interesting factoid is also a great technique.
People love being provided with interesting data, but only
if it is unique, startling, or even shocking. The statistic
should also be directly relevant to the point of your post as well.
Bonus Tip: The third most important part of your blog post is
the closing. A great way to close is to tie back into your opening.
So, which of the 5 techniques did I NOT use in
the opening to thispost?
What’s the second most important part of your
blog post after the title?
Master copywriter Eugene Schwartz often spent an
entire week on the first 50 words of a sales piece —
the headline and the opening paragraph.
Just imagine how disappointed you’d be after
crafting a killer headlinefor your post, only to lose readers
with an opening that failed to carry the momentum.
A great headline mixed with a lame opening is like inviting
someone into your house, only to slam the door in their
face as they approach.
1. Ask a Question
Opening your post with a question is a rhetorical device
(hence, the “rhetorical question”) that creates curiosity
and gets the reader thinking. Thinking equals active engagement
with your writing, and that’s a very good thing.
2. Share an Anecdote or Quote
Anecdotes are quick stories that can make people laugh or
immediately establish the main point of your post. A nice
quote from a recognizable authority or famous person can
also work wonders when holding attention in those crucial
opening seconds.
3. Invoke the Mind’s Eye
Producing a mental image in a reader’s mind is one of the most
powerful things you can ever do as a writer, so expressly engaging
the imagination is a powerful opening technique. Activate
the mind’s eye of the reader by using words like “imagine,”
“picture this,” “do you remember when,” etc.
So, here are 5 ways to open your post that will capture
the reader’s imagination and pull them deeper into
your content.
4. Use an Analogy, Metaphor or Simile
Analogies, metaphors and similes are some of the most
powerful devices available when it comes to telling a story
in a single sentence. This is a great way to capture a
reader’s attention and also acts to provoke mental imagery
that allows readers to tell a story to themselves.
5. Cite a Shocking Statistic
Starting off with an interesting factoid is also a great technique.
People love being provided with interesting data, but only
if it is unique, startling, or even shocking. The statistic
should also be directly relevant to the point of your post as well.
Bonus Tip: The third most important part of your blog post is
the closing. A great way to close is to tie back into your opening.
So, which of the 5 techniques did I NOT use in
the opening to thispost?
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