Second most important aspect of your blog post: the opening paragraph. Although having a captivating title is number one, if you have a boring lead and first paragraph, your readers will lose interest quickly and have no desire to read the rest of your post.
Here are five ways to open your post that will capture your reader’s attention.
1. Cite a Statistic
Starting off with an intriguing statistic is great technique. People love being provided with data, but only if it is unique, startling or shocking. The statistic should also be directly relevant to the point of your post as well.
For example, when blogging about Future Ranking’s blog packages, we emphasize statistics like small business that blog have 102 percent more Twitter followers and that 76,453 new blogs were created in the last 24 hours.
2. Ask a Question
Opening a post with a rhetorical question helps captivate readers and really gets them thinking. Thinking equals active engagement with your writing.
3. Share an Anecdote or Quote
Anecdotes are short stories that can make people laugh or allow them to easily relate to the main point of your post. A quote from a recognizable authority or famous person will also help and develop your opening paragraph.
4. Picture This
Producing a mental image in a reader’s mind is one of the best ways to establish your main point. Activate the mind’s eye of the reader by using words like “picture this,” “do you remember when,” and “imagine.”
5. Start With a Reader’s Question
If you have been receiving a lot of great reader questions, why not use them in a blog post. Other readers may have the same question in mind. Plus, it’s easier to address a specific question rather than have to pull unique content out of your head.
On that note, if you have any questions about blogs or Future Ranking’s custom blog packages, please feel free to email me at amy@futureranking.com.
Amy Sanford
FutureRanking Social Media Manager
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