9 Simple Ways to Write a Good Introduction Sentence

Once I began my journey as a contract author, I struggled with writing introductions. I’d usually discover myself diving into the primary physique of the article and even wrapping up the conclusion earlier than circling again to the start.

The stress to craft an attention-grabbing opening was overwhelming, and I’d spend days making an attempt to determine the correct angle. The reason being that intros must be compelling sufficient to make readers proceed.

They must make an excellent first impression.

Compelling readers to learn the article is an artwork kind in itself. And when you don‘t do it properly, you’re lacking out on potential subscribers, leads, and prospects.

On this submit, I will share some easy methods that helped me write highly effective introductions that flip informal browsers into readers. Article introductions matter, and right here’s how one can make yours depend.

Desk of Contents

Find out how to Begin an Introduction

Writing a compelling introduction is essential for grabbing your reader’s consideration and setting the tone to your whole article.

Whereas there are various approaches you’ll be able to take to your introduction, listed below are three widespread however efficient methods to begin an intro that captivate your viewers from the very first sentence:

1. Utilizing Quotes

Beginning with a quote can instantly interact your readers by introducing a voice or perspective that resonates with the theme of your article.

Whether or not it’s a well-known quote, a line from a related ebook or film, or a press release from an trade knowledgeable, a well-chosen quote can lend authority and context to your subject. It could actually additionally spark curiosity, encouraging readers to consider how the quote connects to the content material that follows.

Within the article, The Hidden Prices of Hobbies and Facet Tasks, the creator, Sam, begins with an nameless quote: “You need to sacrifice in life, or your life will turn out to be the sacrifice.”

Whereas the article’s title is considerably worrying, the quote does intensify the ominous feeling readers will probably develop as they look at their very own lives to see what their hobbies and aspect tasks may be costing them and the way detrimental these prices are to their total well-being.

One other instance of how quotes multiply the influence an article intro has on readers is that this one in an article in regards to the three deep books that rewired his thoughts.

Whereas the quote shouldn’t be the primary sentence within the intro, it does seem fairly early: “We query all our beliefs besides those we actually imagine in” by Orson Scott.

This quote carries emotional weight, upsetting thought and stirring curiosity in readers. It makes them need to discover out the titles of those books, how precisely they rewired the creator’s worldview, and if the books will help them query their very own deeply held beliefs.

2. Setting a Scene

Setting a scene originally of your article can draw readers into a selected second, place, or scenario. This methodology is especially efficient for making a vivid psychological picture that makes the subject extra relatable and interesting.

By portray an image along with your phrases, you invite your readers to step into the situation and expertise it alongside you, which may make your content material extra impactful and memorable.

Right here’s an article titled Your OKRs Aren’t OKRs. Whereas business-related articles might be boring and monotonous, the creator of this one infuses life and coloration into the piece by beginning with a situation.

This situation prompts readers’ creativeness, permitting them to “see” the context of the piece earlier than consuming the primary content material.

It’s additionally written in a manner that readers will probably be capable of relate, particularly because the creator discusses their very own former dislike for Aims and Key Outcomes (OKRs), displaying that it’s one thing of a common expertise for managers.

Whenever you set a scene, you’re not simply describing a scenario — you’re creating an environment that evokes emotion.

Whether or not it’s pressure, pleasure, nostalgia, or calm, the scene you set can affect how readers really feel as they start studying. This emotional connection makes them extra invested and extra prone to proceed studying.

Professional tip: At any time when I’ve a related private or work expertise to share (that pertains to my article subject), I like to make use of my expertise because the intro (as I did on this article). However as an alternative of swapping one for the opposite, you’ll be able to mix a fictional situation with an anecdote to create a stronger influence.

3. Utilizing Statistics or Enjoyable Information

Beginning your introduction with a statistic or enjoyable truth is a strong solution to seize consideration by stunning your readers or offering them with a chunk of knowledge they won’t have identified.

This method can rapidly set up relevance and credibility, particularly when the statistic or truth immediately pertains to the issue or subject your article addresses. It additionally encourages readers to assume critically in regards to the topic, making them extra invested in studying extra.

On this article about the advantages of eye contact, the creator referenced a research by Clever.com that exhibits that over 50% of employers interpret a wrestle to make eye contact as nervousness or a insecurity.

This statistic achieves two issues on this article. First, it educates readers who weren’t conscious of this truth. Those that wrestle to make eye contact, particularly in interviews, will need to learn the article until the tip to determine easy methods to repair this difficulty and enhance their probabilities of discovering a job.

Second, it lends credibility to the piece and, by extension, the creator. As a substitute of the creator merely saying that not making eye contact can lead others to assume one is nervous or lacks confidence, they discover and reference an precise research to show their level and emphasize the significance of eye contact in dialog.

Readers will extra readily imagine the research and different articles by the identical creator as they’ve seen that the creator doesn’t pull claims out of skinny air.

Enjoyable details may not be based mostly on surveys, however utilizing them in your intros is a, dare I say, enjoyable solution to quicken readers’ curiosity in your piece. The caveat is that they must be related to the subject you’re discussing.

Take, for instance, this enjoyable truth within the intro of an article titled, How Writing Makes The Invisible Seen (And Utilizing This to Hook up with Issues Far Greater).

The creator makes use of the truth that octopuses can style issues (and thus, pattern their setting) with their tentacles to attract a parallel to how writing will help people “flip our advanced worlds into structured language.”

Certain, this enjoyable truth is nice to be taught, however it additionally provokes curiosity and helps readers assume critically in regards to the subject.

1. Maintain it quick.

I’m an enormous fan of quick sentences. I like them as a result of folks can perceive them simply. There’s nice worth in brief sentences which can be readable, digestible, and punchy.

Writers usually get so caught up within the stress of an excellent intro that they ship lengthy, run-on sentences. The issue with these sentences is that they make readers work exhausting, which isn’t an awesome incentive to maintain studying.

Whereas the size of an introduction can fluctuate, it’s greatest to goal for brevity with as much as three quick paragraphs. Utilizing AI instruments like our Paragraph Rewriter device will help make your paragraphs extra impactful and concise.

Readers are impatient to get to the meat of the article, so do not bury the lede deep in your article — reduce to the chase.

A very good instance of a brief intro is that this one by Pablo Srugo for his article titled “I Was Supposed To Be a Millionaire at 25 … As a substitute, I Went Bankrupt.” The intro is simply three sentences lengthy and adequately enhances the attention-grabbing headline, prompting readers to proceed.

One other one is that this listicle explaining the highest 15 software program improvement traits. The intro rapidly explains why software program builders should concentrate on these traits and segues proper into stated traits.

2. Say one thing sudden.

You‘ve most likely heard recommendation like “Create a hook” and “Seize the reader’s consideration.” However what sort of stuff truly grabs somebody’s consideration?

The trick is to say one thing sudden — one thing that catches the reader off guard.

This may very well be a private story that’s relatable but stunning, a query that challenges assumptions, compelling knowledge that shifts views, or a scene-setting sentence that transports the reader into a special context.

Give it some thought — your reader has already clicked on the headline. So, they’re all in favour of your subject. However now, you need to reel them in a bit additional.

In case your very first sentence is attention-grabbing sufficient to make folks need to learn the subsequent one, you then’ve completed an excellent job.

For instance, this intro for an article titled “Absurdism: The Philosophy That Modified My Mindset” begins off with a thought that many individuals wrestle with: Nothing good is occurring in my life.

Whereas this can be a surprising solution to begin an article, it does talk to readers that the creator has been of their sneakers and understands what they’re going by means of. And so, individuals who had by no means heard of absurdism earlier than can be all in favour of persevering with the article to see if there’s something in it for them.

Right here’s one other instance of an awesome intro, besides this one units the scene with a fictitious character named George, a recruiter whose job is to type by means of hundreds of resumes for brand new job openings.

This scene helps readers image an setting during which they’re key gamers. On this case, the character they’re referring to isn’t George however the candidates whose resumes get caught within the Applicant Monitoring System (ATS) and who await a response that may by no means come.

George’s character gives the mandatory context for candidates to know what goes on on the different finish of their software as soon as they’ve despatched it.

3. Don’t repeat the title.

You solely have a number of seconds to make a robust impression in your introduction, so use that point properly.

Whereas repeating the title of your article within the opening sentence may appear to be a pure solution to begin, it’s truly a wasted alternative. Your reader has already seen the title and clicked on it as a result of it intrigued them. Now, they’re in search of one thing extra.

As a substitute of reiterating the headline, use your introduction to strengthen the promise made by the title and set the stage for the remainder of the article.

That is your likelihood to increase on the subject, present context, and spotlight the worth your content material will convey.

4. Use the phrase “you” at the least as soon as.

The phrase “you” is a strong phrase.

It tells the reader that you simply, the creator, are writing the article with them in thoughts. You empathize with them, you care about them, and also you need your piece to resonate with them.

It is a easy trick that establishes a vital connection along with your reader. It could actually rework an editorial from a distant, impersonal narrative right into a dialog that resonates with the reader on a deeper degree.

I’m utilizing this method on this article itself.

After discussing my expertise struggling to write down introductions, I defined to you, my readers, why understanding easy methods to write compelling introductions is necessary and the way these methods will assist you write higher intros.

5. Inform readers what’s coming subsequent.

As you craft your introduction, information your readers by letting them know what they will anticipate from the remainder of your article. What is going to you be protecting? What is going to the reader be taught? How will this assist them?

By answering these questions in your intro, you set clear expectations and assist your viewers navigate your content material. They could simply leap to the part they’re most all in favour of or learn the entire thing. Listed below are a number of examples:

• “You’re about to seek out out why sea turtles all the time lay their eggs on the seashore.”
• “And, when you’ve ever questioned why sea turtles lay their eggs on the seashore, here is every little thing you must know.”
• “This text explains the 17 explanation why these superb creatures lay their eggs on seashores.”
• “Fascinating, humorous, and surprising, these are the explanation why sea creatures lay their eggs on the seashore.”

However you don’t all the time must be so express. Typically, a well-placed query is sufficient to assist readers infer that you simply’re about to provide them some good info or suggestions within the article.

Right here’s an instance of this from a enterprise article about dealing with a low performer:

After explaining how managers usually inherit group members they didn’t rent, and a few don’t meet the corporate’s expectations, the creator asks, “So what do you have to do when confronted with an underperforming group member?”

The presence of this query implies that the creator will reply it in the primary physique of the article, so readers know to sit up for it.

6. Clarify why the article is necessary.

It might be apparent to you why your article is necessary to your readers, however it’s as much as you to emphasise its worth and put it in context.

As an example, say you’re writing an article about TikTok written for a advertising viewers. You may lead with a stunning TikTok stat about its consumer base. Right here’s an instance:

“Up to now two years, TikTok’s consumer base has grown by 15% whereas different platforms are seeing stagnant or declining engagement. This implies that entrepreneurs might need to pay extra consideration to this short-form video platform.”

In two sentences, you’ve offered an attention-grabbing tidbit and defined why it issues.

Take the introduction to this text. You will recall the next sentence: “And when you don‘t do it properly, you’re lacking out on potential subscribers, leads, and prospects.”

My objective right here was to attach the subject of weblog submit introductions to a enterprise’s backside line.

This text by Rakia Ben Sassi about beginning a YouTube channel does one thing related:

She units the stage by describing the worry, pleasure, and uncertainty folks really feel when beginning a YouTube channel. Then, she talks about her credentials and why readers ought to belief her opinion (she launched her personal channel three years in the past).

Then, she explains why the article is necessary: It’s to assist readers who’re beginning a brand new channel or making an attempt to scale an current one.

7. Consult with a priority or drawback your readers may need.

Everybody in each subject has their very own set of issues. It is best to have some listed already from once you created your purchaser personas.

Addressing a selected concern or drawback your readers face is a strong solution to interact them proper from the beginning.

By acknowledging their challenges, you present empathy and instantly set up the relevance of your content material. Individuals need to clear up their issues, and articles that designate how to do that will assist you earn readership.

For instance, when you’re writing an article explaining how digital entrepreneurs can sustain with the ever-evolving digital panorama, you may say: “Feeling overwhelmed by the fixed modifications in digital advertising? You’re not alone. On this article, we’ll discover methods that can assist you keep forward with out burning out.”

This empathetic method helps you construct belief and credibility, because it demonstrates your understanding of your readers’ wants. Whenever you faucet into the reader’s problem-solving mindset, they’re motivated to proceed studying in quest of options, making your content material extra impactful and memorable.

8. Watch out telling tales.

Many individuals will let you know that you must write a narrative within the introduction to captivate your viewers. Tales is usually a highly effective device to attract readers in, as they naturally spark curiosity and create an emotional connection.

Nonetheless, there are each good and dangerous methods to make use of storytelling in your introductions. The hot button is to inform a concise, related, and compelling story that piques your readers’ curiosity with out overwhelming them with an excessive amount of element.

Whereas it’s tempting to delve into an extended and complicated story, do not forget that an introduction goals to seize consideration rapidly and set the stage for what’s to come back. An extended-winded story can lose readers alongside the best way, diminishing the influence of your article.

Should you select to start your article with a narrative, contemplate withholding the conclusion of that story till later within the article and even till the very finish. By delaying the decision, you create a story thread that weaves by means of your article, sustaining your readers’ curiosity as you construct as much as the story’s conclusion.

For instance, say you’re writing an article about overcoming challenges in entrepreneurship.

Should you’re an entrepreneur your self, you may begin with a brief anecdote a couple of time you confronted a big setback in your entrepreneurial journey.

Describe the wrestle you confronted and the way it appeared insurmountable on the time, however don’t reveal the way you overcame it simply but.

As a substitute, use the story as an instance the theme of resilience and promise your readers that you simply’ll discover the way you turned issues round later within the article.

9. Use a stat or a truth to convey urgency.

When journalists start a information story, they usually give readers an attention grabbing stat or truth about what is going on on.

As a blogger or any kind of author, a extremely attention-grabbing stat or truth will draw your reader in and present them why your subject is absolutely necessary.

For instance, say you are a plumber writing a weblog submit on pipe substitute. You may pull in additional readers when you begin a submit by explaining how continuously outdated pipes burst within the winter.

Or, when you’re writing an article displaying people easy methods to spend extra time studying as an alternative of scrolling their cellphone screens, you can begin by sharing statistics on what number of hours younger folks spend on their telephones every day. Like this:

If readers see that this can be a widespread difficulty that others face, they may maintain studying to learn the way they will keep away from it.

Utilizing Generative AI to Write Content material

ChatGPT’s instantaneous and big reputation in late 2022 heralded critical discourse about utilizing generative AI to write down content material.

Whereas there are some polarizing opinions on how generative AI must be used, there’s no denying that AI instruments like ChatGPT, Jasper, and Copy.ai have turn out to be helpful instruments for content material creators, together with myself. These instruments assist writers brainstorm concepts, overcome author’s block, and generate content material drafts.

In my expertise, they pace up my writing course of by offering a place to begin, crafting compelling introductions, and suggesting different phrasings.

Nonetheless, whereas generative AI might be extremely useful, I don’t assume you must solely depend on what it generates. AI instruments can produce coherent and well-structured content material, however the output usually lacks the depth and nuance that come from private expertise, deep analysis, and subject-matter experience.

Furthermore, AI-generated textual content might embody inaccuracies or “hallucinations” — situations the place the AI presents false or deceptive info as truth.

On this article, the group at IBM detailed a number of examples of AI hallucinations, together with the time Meta pulled its Galactica LLM (giant language mannequin) demo in 2022 after it offered customers with inaccurate info that was typically rooted in bias and prejudice.

That is why you must all the time fact-check something AI generates for you.

That stated, you need to use AI as a place to begin in your writing course of after which refine the content material with your individual (or third-party) experience to create an enticing and reliable piece. Should you wrestle with intros, listed below are the steps to utilizing AI to craft article introductions:

1. Decide the kind of introduction you need to create. Are you beginning with a enjoyable truth, a quote, or by setting a scene? Every method requires a special immediate.
2. Subsequent, write a immediate that instructs the AI on what sort of intro you want. Be clear in regards to the tone, type, and content material you’re aiming for.
3. As soon as the AI device generates the textual content, learn it fastidiously. Search for any inaccuracies or areas which may want clarification, restructuring, or extra element. The AI’s output is only a draft; it’s as much as you to refine it.
4. Edit the AI-generated content material to include your individual information, experiences, and voice. Be sure the introduction aligns with the remainder of your article and gives an enticing begin.
5. Confirm any knowledge, quotes, or details included within the AI-generated textual content and personalize the content material the place obligatory to make sure it resonates along with your viewers and displays your distinctive perspective.

Listed below are a number of examples of AI prompts for various intro sorts.

1. Stating a Enjoyable Truth

Immediate: Write an enticing introduction for an article about the advantages of morning train. Begin with a stunning enjoyable truth about how train impacts psychological well being.

Attainable output: Do you know that simply 20 minutes of train within the morning can enhance your temper for as much as 12 hours? On this article, we’ll discover how a easy morning exercise can set a constructive tone to your whole day.

2. Utilizing Quotes

Immediate: Create an introduction for an article about management within the office. Begin with a strong quote about management from a widely known determine.

Attainable output: “The best chief shouldn’t be essentially the one who does the best issues. He’s the one which will get the folks to do the best issues.” This quote by Ronald Reagan completely captures the essence of management. On this article, we’ll focus on how nice leaders encourage their groups to realize extraordinary outcomes.

3. Setting a Scene

Immediate: Write an introduction for an article in regards to the challenges of distant work. Begin by setting a scene that highlights a typical wrestle for distant employees.

Attainable output: It’s 7:00 AM, and also you’re already answering emails from the consolation of your kitchen desk. The road between work and residential blurs as you sip your espresso, looking for focus in an area that was as soon as reserved for rest. That is the brand new actuality of distant work, the place the challenges are as advanced as they’re distinctive.

Word: Should you discover it tough or time-consuming to write down an entire weblog submit from begin to end, take a look at HubSpot’s free weblog submit templates that assist you save time with out compromising on high quality.

Making a Nice First Impression

Whereas setting a scene and/or sharing a related anecdote is my favourite solution to begin an article intro, I discovered — and I hope you probably did, too — that there are a number of methods to write down an introduction that packs a punch and prompts readers to learn until the tip, together with utilizing quotes and sharing enjoyable details.

Nonetheless, whereas these methods are wonderful for creating curiosity, over the previous couple of years, I noticed that what actually retains folks studying a chunk is the empathy I, the creator, infuse into it.

Letting readers know that I do know and relate to their struggles and that I’ve a potential resolution for them, be it another manner of doing issues or a contrarian concept to assist them broaden their epistemic horizons, is what retains them engaged.

So now, each time I write an introduction, I take into consideration what sort of introduction would make me need to learn the article. I then use that to tell the method I take.

Introductions are exhausting, and writing efficient ones takes time and apply. However keep in mind, it is all value it if it means maintaining the eye of some extra of your readers.

Editor’s be aware: This submit was initially printed in October 2015 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.