11 Tips for Writing Catchy Intros

Every writer understands the pain of writing intros. We labor over the introduction of every piece we write because we know the truth — the opening either makes or breaks the work. It’s where the reader decides if they’re sticking around. It’s a decision they make in about 10 seconds. In fact, you’ve already decided if you will keep reading this post.

Still here? Great! Then it’s safe to assume you’re ready to learn more about writing intros that make readers stick around to see what else you have to say.

Why Writing Intros is So Challenging

Starting anything can be challenging. We fear failure, uncertainty, and things not turning out as expected. We get overwhelmed, and it causes us to procrastinate. If we’re writers, we turn it into something fancy. We call it “writer’s block” when it’s actually fear of starting a new piece because people might not like what we write.

A huge reason intros are so challenging is that they’re the first part of any new piece of writing. They’re the starting line. And the beginning is filled with uncertainty.

Intros are challenging because of the need to:

• Summarize. The intro often has to take a big issue and make it easy for the reader to understand. Considering how to do this is intimidating. What if you can’t help the reader understand?
• Engage. As I mentioned, if you lose the reader in the intro, that’s it. Writing introductions is challenging because you have to figure out a way to immediately capture the reader’s attention and draw them into your writing.
• Differentiate. Your intro must make your piece stand out from everything else on the topic. That’s dang difficult. Intros are tricky because you have to summarize and engage, all while being unique. 

So, if you feel like writing intros is difficult, it’s because it is. But if you don’t start, then you’ll never write. Really, you have no choice but to put words on the page. And, in the end, it will be worth it.

Why Your Intro is Worth the Effort

You understand that the introduction to any piece is essential, so you write and rewrite. Sometimes you still aren’t satisfied, but you hope the reader is at least slightly interested. 

The intro is worth the time and effort because it:

• Introduces the Topic. You have to start any piece by introducing the topic to your reader. Imagine what your writing would be like without it — like joining a meeting in the middle of a conversation. 
• Sets the Tone. Your intro sets the vibe for the piece. It helps the reader understand what to expect from the rest of the work.
• Establishes Credibility. Your intro is the opportunity for you to convince the reader that you know what you’re talking about. You don’t provide your credentials, but you establish your expertise by relating to them and presenting information effectively.
• Grabs Attention. Have you ever gotten to the end of a piece and thought, “I didn’t even know I was interested in that?” Reading that piece started with an introduction that grabbed your attention and piqued your interest. You want to do that for your readers too.

What the Best Intros Contain

So, how do you do it? How do you write an introduction that meets the challenges head-on and pulls the reader in? The best intros are clear, engaging, and tell the reader what to expect from the rest of the piece.

The best intros have:

• A Hook. You need a strong opening sentence or two that will draw the reader in and make them want to know more. Of course, there’s more than one way to do this. You can attempt to relate to something they experience, like I did in the intro for this post. You also can deliver an interesting stat or tell them a personal story. There’s no right or wrong way to deliver a hook. The most important thing is to consider your audience and what interests them.
• Context. The intro should tell the reader why the piece delivers information that’s worth knowing. This approach means putting the subject into greater context and outright telling or suggesting why they should care.
• A Summary. Once the reader understands why they should care about the content, the intro should summarize what’s coming up. This summary could be an excellent quote or an overview of what a post will entail. Again, there’s not necessarily a correct or incorrect way to do this, but you want to lead the reader further into the piece.
• Style. The best intros couldn’t be copied and pasted onto another piece and make sense. You know the cliches I’m talking about. Think: “The definition of blah, blah, blah is blah, blah, and more blah.” When writing an intro, make sure it shows your style and makes the reader look forward to what’s ahead.

11 Tips for Writing Catchy Intros

Your intro needs to tell your audience what they will read about in an engaging, unique way. You can only provide the necessary supporting evidence and commentary after you grab their attention.

Want readers actually to read your content? You have to pull them in through the introduction. To do that, apply these 11 tips.

1. Don’t Repeat the Title

Your reader already read the title, and that’s why they clicked on your post. Repeating the title doesn’t serve much of a purpose and bogs down an exciting intro. Repetition of the exact phrasing feels like filler rather than valuable content.

2. Answer the Title’s Question

At the same time, if your post’s title is a question, you want to give at least a summary answer in the introduction. You can’t leave the reader hanging and expect them to stick around.

3. Keep it Brief 

If it takes five minutes to read, your intro is not catchy. Too many words equal uninterested readers. Even if your opening includes a story or statistic, it must be brief.

4. Say Something Unique

Every introduction you write should be different and unique. If you need to, say something unusual or unexpected (but still accurate) to entice your audience to keep reading. You can use a quote, statistic, or anecdote to say something unique.

5. Use the Keywords

Your keywords help people find the information they’re looking for. That means your post should be about the keywords, and those words (the post’s purpose) should be in the introduction. Using the keywords immediately also helps you focus your writing around the topic. And, of course, Google wants them in the intro and throughout the piece for search and indexing purposes.

6. Establish a Purpose

Help your readers understand why what they’re reading is important and why they specifically should read it. Don’t wait until the second or third paragraph to tell your readers what they’re getting into. They won’t keep reading if you keep them guessing for too long. There are something like three million articles posted online every day. They have plenty of options. They’ll move on to another site if they don’t know what you’re getting at.

7. Reverse the Roles 

What would draw you into this piece if you were the reader instead of the writer? What aspects of an issue would be most relevant or unique? What would you go online searching for if you needed this information? Ask yourself these questions to gain some perspective on what readers seek. Don’t forget that context is essential. The reader needs to understand almost immediately why they should care.

8. Write and Rewrite

Not every intro you write will strike gold. That doesn’t mean you’re “bad” at writing intros. It certainly doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer. It means you need to get comfortable trying new things and expanding your style. Don’t give up!

9. Give it Personality

Whether your intro includes a fun fact, quote, story, etc., give it some flavor! Don’t be afraid to put some personality in your intro. Your personality and experiences make your piece different from all others on the same topic.

10. Speak to Them

Use the word “you” in your intro if you can. It makes the reader feel like you’re speaking directly to them and helps them see themselves in your content. In other words, it makes your post immediately relatable.

11. Check out the Competition

Never write about a topic without seeing what else is out there. Google to see what other writing exists on the same topic. Read some of that content. Do your best not to mirror the introductions on any of those posts. 

Let Content Journey Do Your Writing

Writing intros isn’t easy. Heck, writing isn’t so simple itself. If you still feel uneasy about creating content, let Content Journey write catchy intros for you. Our SEO content writing services make your content stand out and help you grow your business. Contact us today!