Most visitors decide within a few seconds whether a post is for them. The introduction is where they decide. It does not need to be clever, but it must be clear about what the post offers and why it is worth the reader's time.

What an introduction does

A good introduction does three jobs:

  1. Hooks the reader by touching something they care about.
  2. Sets context so they know what the post is about.
  3. Promises value: what they will know or be able to do by the end.

Aim for around 100 to 200 words. If the introduction takes longer to read than the first section, trim it.

Ways to open

A problem the reader knows. "You spend an hour on an email, and the reply is one word." Readers who recognize the problem will read on to find the fix.

A surprising fact or claim. "Small teams often ship faster than big ones." Follow it with a reason, so the surprise leads somewhere.

A short story. A two- or three-sentence moment from your own experience that leads to the topic.

A direct question. Ask something your reader is already asking, such as "How do you summarize a 50-page report in ten minutes?"

Avoid openings that start with a dictionary definition, a broad statement such as "In today's fast-paced world", or an apology for writing the post.

Make the promise specific

Compare these two promises:

  • "In this post, we'll talk about productivity."
  • "In this post, you'll learn three habits that cut my email time in half, and how to start with one today."

The second tells the reader exactly what they will get. State your promise plainly, and make sure the post delivers on it. An introduction that over-promises makes readers leave and not return.

Keep your reader in the lead

Write about "you", the reader, as much as you write about "I". Your story is useful only if it serves their problem. Cut anything that is mostly about you and does not help them.

Write it last

Many writers draft the introduction after the rest of the post. By then you know what the post really says, so you can describe it accurately. If you write the introduction first, check it again when you finish.

If you want people to find the post through a search engine, mention the topic in plain words early, in the way readers would phrase it. Do not repeat the keyword unnaturally. Search engines favor pages that answer the reader's question well, and a clear, helpful introduction does that.

Using a draft tool

A Blog Intro Generator can write a first version from your topic and angle. It helps with a blank page. Then:

  • Add a real example or number that only you could supply.
  • Remove any generic phrases.
  • Check the promise matches your post.
  • Read it aloud.

A checklist

  • Does the first sentence relate to the reader's situation?
  • Do they know what they will learn?
  • Is it short enough to read in under a minute?
  • Does the rest of the post do what it says?

Spend a little extra time on this paragraph. It is the most-read part of your post.