Here are 5 ways to open your post that will capture the reader’s
imagination and pull them deeper into your content.
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.
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.
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