9 Simple Ways to Write a Good Introduction Sentence
By Althea Storm
When I started my journey as a freelance writer, I struggled with writing introductions. I’d often find myself diving into the main body of the article and even wrapping up the conclusion before circling back to the beginning.
The pressure to craft an attention-grabbing opening was overwhelming, and I’d spend days trying to figure out the right angle. The reason is that intros have to be compelling enough to make readers continue.
They have to make a good first impression.
Compelling readers to read the article is an art form in itself. And if you don‘t do it well, you’re missing out on potential subscribers, leads, and customers.
In this post, I’ll share some simple techniques that helped me write powerful introductions that turn casual browsers into readers. Article introductions matter, and here’s how you can make yours count.
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How to Start an Introduction
Writing a compelling introduction is crucial for grabbing your reader’s attention and setting the tone for your entire article.
While there are many approaches you can take to your introduction, here are three common but effective ways to start an intro that captivate your audience from the very first sentence:
1. Using Quotes
Starting with a quote can immediately engage your readers by introducing a voice or perspective that resonates with the theme of your article.
Whether it’s a famous quote, a line from a relevant book or movie, or a statement from an industry expert, a well-chosen quote can lend authority and context to your topic. It can also spark curiosity, encouraging readers to think about how the quote connects to the content that follows.
In the article, The Hidden Costs of Hobbies and Side Projects, the author, Sam, starts with an anonymous quote: “You have to sacrifice in life, or your life will become the sacrifice.”
While the article’s title is somewhat worrying, the quote does intensify the ominous feeling readers will likely develop as they examine their own lives to see what their hobbies and side projects might be costing them and how detrimental these costs are to their overall well-being.
Another example of how quotes multiply the impact an article intro has on readers is this one in an article about the three deep books that rewired his mind.
While the quote is not the first sentence in the intro, it does appear quite early: “We question all our beliefs except the ones we really believe in” by Orson Scott.
This quote carries emotional weight, provoking thought and …read more
Source:: HubSpot Blog
