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Use this Strategy to Craft Captivating Blog Post Introductions

Published March 24, 2018 | Last Updated May 21, 2020 By Nicole Bianchi 31 Comments

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Photo by Christin Hume

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When I was a little kid, I fell in love with a book and read it so many times that I nearly memorized the first page. Here’s the book’s opening line:

Where’s Papa going with that ax?” said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast.

Do you know what book it’s from? It’s the first sentence of the children’s classic Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White.

Now go back and read that opening line again. It really grabs your attention, doesn’t it?

It certainly grabbed mine when I was a kid. Just like Fern, I wondered why in the world her dad was heading out with an ax. Was he going to chop down a tree or, heaven forbid, kill someone?

Shockingly, it was the latter. Fern’s mother matter-of-factly tells her daughter that Papa has to “do away” with the runt of a litter of pigs.

Well, that children’s book began on a dark note.

Of course, Fern ends up rescuing the little piglet, Wilbur, so thankfully the story didn’t traumatize me as a kid.

While it’s been many years since I last read Charlotte’s Web, I still remember that marvelous opening line and how E. B. White got me quickly turning the pages in order to find out what happened next.

What makes White’s introduction so powerful? It all comes down to one essential ingredient: curiosity. White uses curiosity like a magnet to pull us further into the story.

And that’s exactly how you want your readers to feel when they read the opening line of your blog post.

After all, you’ve spent hours pouring your heart and soul into that post. You’ve edited each paragraph until your eyes ached from staring at the computer screen. You’ve scoured the Internet for “headline formulas” and crafted one that you’re sure will grab readers’ attention.

But even the best headline won’t guarantee that when someone clicks on your article, they’ll stay on the page and keep reading. Your introduction has to further tighten the hold on their curiosity. Click To Tweet

As William Zinsser observed in his book On Writing Well,

Your lead must capture the reader immediately and force him to keep reading. It must cajole him with freshness, or novelty, or paradox, or humor, or surprise, or with an unusual idea, or an interesting fact, or a question. Anything will do, as long as it nudges his curiosity and tugs at his sleeve.

In today’s post, I’m sharing an effective strategy you can use to write a captivating blog post introduction that nudges your reader’s curiosity.

How to Use the Element of Curiosity in Your Introductions

Before we jump into the strategy, let’s review the structure of an introduction.

No matter whether you’re writing a blog post or a college term paper, the strongest introductions have these three components:

  1. A hook
  2. A transition sentence
  3. A thesis statement

The hook is the place where you grab your reader’s attention. Then, you transition into how your hook relates back to the topic of your blog post. Finally, you end the introduction with a thesis statement.

When I write a blog post, my thesis statement is usually a one-sentence summary of the post and how it will benefit the reader. For example, at the end of the introduction to this post, I wrote, “In today’s post, I’m sharing an effective strategy you can use to write a captivating blog post introduction that nudges your reader’s curiosity.”

So, what’s that effective strategy I promised?

I call it a ‘narrative introduction’.

Essentially, you pique your reader’s curiosity with a story.

In this blog post I wrote a few weeks ago, I explained how stories stimulate a person’s brain far more powerfully than data and abstract language can.

When you start telling a story, your reader’s brain snaps to attention and becomes engaged in your writing. The more detailed and descriptive the language you use, the better. Again, you can read more about the science behind that here.

The most compelling stories are the ones that present some kind of conflict or problem. They make readers want to keep reading to find out how the conflict will be resolved. You can discover more about how to craft strong stories in my post here.

A story doesn’t have to be very long. It could just be a quick, entertaining anecdote. Notice in the introduction to this post that my hook is just a few sentences talking about one of my favorite books as a kid. But those sentences capture your interest and get you wondering what that book is.

Then, I bring that little story back to the topic of the blog post by discussing E. B. White’s opening line and why it made for a powerful introduction.

Now, there are three different ways you can use narrative introductions in your blog posts.

The Three Types of Narrative Introductions

First, you can tell a story about yourself.

Telling a story about yourself is a wonderful way to weave your personality into your posts and give your readers a chance to get to know you better. It also rouses the reader’s curiosity because we’re naturally inquisitive about the lives of others (that’s why reality television is so popular).

Additionally, it makes your post unique and memorable because nobody has had the exact same experiences as you. However, your readers may have been in a similar situation and will find themselves connecting with you on an emotional level.

If you’re not used to sharing personal stories, you might have difficulty coming up with ones to use in your introductions. I recommend keeping a writing notebook where you can start collecting potential stories. With a bit of humor, you can make even the most mundane story an entertaining hook for your blog post.

Of course, it’s important to make sure that the story relates to the topic of the post in some way. Often the connection is obvious, but other times it might be more subtle. If that’s the case, don’t drag out the story to the point where readers are left scratching their heads.

For example, let’s say your headline promises that your post will tell the reader how to start a freelance writing business. However, you decide to open your post with a story that tells about the time you lost your passport while traveling in Europe.

It’s an intriguing story, but it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with freelance writing. If you don’t explain the connection quickly, readers might end up clicking away.

Sometimes you might need to include a line like, “You might be wondering what all of this has to do with freelance writing. Stay with me. I promise there’s a connection.”

Second, you can tell a story about your reader using the personal pronoun “you”.

Italo Calvino famously opened his novel If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler with this type of introduction,

You are about to begin reading Italo Calvino’s new novel, If on a winter’s night a traveler. Relax. Concentrate. Dispel every other thought. Let the world around you fade. Best to close the door; the TV is always on in the next room.

In my post here, I open with this introduction:

Has this ever happened to you? You’re out to dinner with friends (none of whom are writers), and everyone’s answering the question, “What have you been up to lately?” Your friends talk about their jobs or upcoming trips, and then it’s your turn to answer.

Excitedly, you begin to explain how your blog is growing and that you’ve been asked to guest post. Or you tell them that you’re in the midst of plotting your new novel.

Then you get that look. You know the look. The bored look that’s usually followed by, “That’s cool.” And then they quickly change the subject.

This type of introduction is powerful because it immediately connects with the reader and answers the question, “Why should I spend my time reading this?”

By directly addressing the reader, it’s as if you’ve crawled right into their brain and know the problems and concerns they’re facing. You stir up their curiosity because they now want to know how you will help them solve their problem.

That’s why copywriters use this type of introduction repeatedly on sales pages and other types of advertisements.

However, while it’s an effective method, it’s also a bit overused in the blogosphere. I’ve been getting a bit frustrated when I keep coming across so many articles that start with some variant of “Do you feel disheartened? Are you wondering why so many people succeed when the same methods don’t work for you?…” etc., etc.

If you choose this type of introduction, please don’t cop out and just lazily string together a bunch of questions addressing your reader. (Yes, I have been guilty of this on occasion.)

Instead, try to craft a story. Eliminate vague, bland sentences and challenge yourself to include specific details and description. Paint a vivid picture for your readers.

Third, and finally, you can tell a story about another person, real or imagined.

Dale Carnegie opened the first chapter of How to Win Friends and Influence People, one of the best selling books of all time, with this type of introduction.

On May 7, 1931, the most sensational manhunt New York City had ever known had come to its climax. After weeks of search, “Two Gun” Crowley — the killer, the gunman who didn’t smoke or drink — was at bay, trapped in his sweetheart’s apartment on West End Avenue.

How’s that for a compelling hook?

A Wall Street Journal copywriter also used this type of introduction to write the best selling sales letter of all time that generated over $2 billion in profit.

On a beautiful late spring afternoon, twenty-five years ago, two young men graduated from the same college… Recently, these men returned to college for their 25th reunion. They were still very much alike…But there was a difference…

If you’re writing an article on, say, a scientific topic, this is a fantastic way to draw readers in so they don’t feel like they’re reading a boring, dense textbook.

And if you’re a fiction writer, you’ll probably find that this type of introduction comes most naturally to you.

Two final tips: You might want to save your introduction to work on last since the direction of your blog post can change a lot as you write. Once you’ve written the body of the post, you’ll have a better idea of the type of story that would be perfect to begin the post.

Additionally, you can mix together these three different narrative introductions. For example, the introduction to this blog post starts out with a story about me. Then I transition into a story that describes the plot to Charlotte’s Web. Then back to me and how I enjoyed the book as a kid. And then I include a paragraph that directly addresses you, the reader, and your struggle to write a blog post.

The Takeaway

William Zinsser warned,

The most important sentence in any article is the first one. If it doesn’t induce the reader to proceed to the second sentence, your article is dead.

Wow, I’ve got to go back and read my first sentence. (Though if you’ve read this far, I’m guessing it wasn’t too bad.)

Few of us are experts at this technique right off the bat and able to write an introduction like E. B. White’s. But don’t worry. With practice, you can get better and better.

Once you master this technique, your writing will rise to a new level as you delight and captivate your readers. It’s likely you’ll even see more comments and shares on your posts.

Why not try it out with your next blog post? If you use a narrative introduction when writing your post, leave a link to it in the comments. I’d love to read what you come up with.

And if you found this post helpful, please share it with a friend. You can share it on Pinterest using the image below.

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Comments

  1. Chris says

    June 8, 2018 at 9:28 pm

    Thank you, Nicole! This is a great piece– I read through to the end even though I rarely write blog posts. Your points are applicable for talks too and a good reminder.

    Thank you!

    Reply
  2. Cary says

    April 18, 2018 at 12:37 pm

    Great post about creating hooks, love your website

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      April 19, 2018 at 3:45 pm

      Thanks so much, Cary! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Trisha Traughber says

    April 6, 2018 at 4:55 am

    I loved this post and it did help me with my latest blog post…I tried the narrative style but I ended up wanting to shorten the intro down. I kept thinking: “This isn’t about me!” Maybe the ‘you’ point of view will work better for me. Still, I was thinking of this as I wrote, so it definitely has practical applications.

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      April 7, 2018 at 4:08 pm

      Thanks, Trisha. Yes, it really depends on the subject of your post. Often this strategy works but sometimes you might want to try something different, as long as it captures the reader’s attention.

      Reply
  4. Kate Findley says

    March 30, 2018 at 9:05 pm

    Great tips! Yes, that Wall Street Journal sales letter has long been an inspiration of mine. I admit that I too have fallen prey to the overuse of “you,” particularly because I also write sales copy and sometimes it’s hard to switch gears.

    Lately I’ve been opening with scenes from movies, quotes, or song lyrics. Here’s my latest post (https://www.generatemagic.com/2018/03/31/what-do-you-do-with-a-b-a-in-english/), where the opening is inspired by the Avenue Q song “What do you do with a BA in English?” Also, I read your article at the right time. I hadn’t yet published my post and when I read back over it, I realized my thesis didn’t appear until the end! I went back and revised my piece based on your tips.

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      April 4, 2018 at 11:20 pm

      Thank you, Kate. Glad that tip helped you. I just stopped by your blog and enjoyed reading your latest post. 🙂 That’s a cool strategy to use song lyrics or to open with scenes from movies (another fantastic way to incorporate storytelling).

      Reply
      • Kate Findley says

        April 4, 2018 at 11:56 pm

        Thanks!

        Reply
  5. Amber says

    March 27, 2018 at 12:26 pm

    Cool! Thanks Nicole, I really enjoyed the post!
    I just got around to reading it this morning and decided to rework the opener of my latest blog entry 🙂

    https://www.intotheportal.com/portal-blog/

    Cheers!

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      March 28, 2018 at 2:16 pm

      Hi Amber,

      First off, your podcast looks fascinating. Just started listening to an episode and love the music at the beginning. 🙂

      That’s a fantastic opening line you chose — definitely made me want to find out what happened.

      Thanks for your comment! I’m glad you enjoyed the post.

      Reply
  6. David Ford says

    March 26, 2018 at 7:34 pm

    Great stuff! As ever Nicole. I always look forward to getting your blog post notifications. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      March 26, 2018 at 9:07 pm

      Thank you so much, David! 🙂 That makes me happy to hear.

      Reply
  7. river says

    March 26, 2018 at 6:44 pm

    Hey Nicole,

    That was a breath of fresh air!

    I also love the the beautiful verse you put up on your sidebar..

    “My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.”
    – Psalm 45:1

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      March 26, 2018 at 9:05 pm

      Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂 And, yes, that verse is beautiful — one of my favorites. God bless.

      Reply
  8. Margaret Westhoff says

    March 26, 2018 at 1:17 pm

    Your post is super helpful, as I struggle with writing good introductions for my blog posts. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      March 26, 2018 at 2:38 pm

      Thank you for your comment, Margaret! It does take extra effort to come up with a catchy intro. I’m glad you found this strategy helpful.

      Reply
  9. Alessandro Tinchini says

    March 26, 2018 at 1:09 pm

    One man was working for a big company. The other man was leading the company.

    That fabulous sales-letter’s introduction continued more or less like this, didn’t? I saw we shared some steps in our creative writing’s career, Nicole.

    Your article is a masterpiece and comes in handy right now, because I’m a lot into articles in the last few days. Especially on Medium, but I’m also pitching other publications outside of Medium.

    Since articles are my focus now, your post is timely and extremely useful.

    Thanks infinitely for sharing.

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      March 26, 2018 at 2:53 pm

      Ciao, Alessandro! Yes, that’s the same introduction. I’ve found that it’s a fantastic template to use when coming up with an anecdote to illustrate my own writing too.

      Grazie mille. 🙂 I’m so glad you found this post helpful. And I wish you all the best as you write on Medium and pitch other publications. In bocca al lupo!

      Reply
  10. Mommy Jhy | www.myfavoritelists.com says

    March 26, 2018 at 12:34 pm

    Here is a blog post that I wrote a few months back http://myfavoritelists.com/2018/01/21/mom-are-we-rich/. I feel that it’s similar to what you’re saying. Or, should I still tweak it a little bit more?

    Thanks.

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      March 26, 2018 at 2:58 pm

      Cool intro! I enjoyed your story. 🙂 You could expand on the post a little more by adding a thesis statement and maybe offering some additional tips on how to teach kids about saving and investing. Hope this helps.

      Reply
  11. Annalia Fiore says

    March 26, 2018 at 9:02 am

    Simply splendid…and very much a call to action for writers such as myself, who monologue instead of care for our readers. 🙂

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      March 26, 2018 at 2:46 pm

      Thank you so much, Annalia! 🙂 Yes, though it’s fun to write about the topics that intrigue us, we always have to remember to include how it will benefit our readers too.

      Reply
  12. John DiCarlo says

    March 25, 2018 at 9:40 pm

    Hi Nicole

    And good morning from Thailand. I can only say 2 things

    1) of all your blogs, that is my favourite
    2) of all the articles I’ve ever read on “how to open” you’ve just written the best

    THANK YOU!!!

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      March 26, 2018 at 2:41 pm

      Thank you so much for your kind comment, John. It encourages me to continue sharing articles like these. I love hearing that they are helping other writers. And I’m humbled that you said this was the best you’ve read on the topic. 🙂 Wishing you much success with your writing!

      Reply
  13. Mike Mather says

    March 24, 2018 at 7:44 pm

    Magnificently written…thank you, Nicole.

    My writing life has been a whirlwind of learning and found, this month.

    I had saved your website to the screen of my phone. Sitting quietly alone on Sunday morning, I wondered “What’s so special about Nicole Bianchi that she made it yo my screen face???

    Now I know why.

    Superb advice for me, in a brilliant style.

    love alawz
    mike

    Reply
    • Nicole Bianchi says

      March 24, 2018 at 9:41 pm

      Wow, I’m honored that my website made it to your phone’s screen. Thanks so much for your kind words, Mike. Love hearing that you are enjoying my posts and finding them helpful. All the best with your writing!

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Nicole! I help creatives, business owners, and writers take their writing and copywriting to the next level and grow their online audience. I’m also a published writer of essays and short stories. As a Christian, I seek to follow in the tradition of artists like Johann Sebastian Bach, dedicating all my work Soli Deo gloria.
Find out more about me here.
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“My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.”
– Psalm 45:1

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