Writing Clear and Concise Blog Introductions

𝐀 60-𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭 Most people lose readers in the first line. Not because their content is bad, but because their hook is forgettable. Here’s a quick framework you can use right now: 1. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 Instead of telling everything upfront, create an open loop. ✅ Bad: “Here are tips for productivity.” ✅ Good: “The 3-minute routine that doubled my focus.” 2. 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐬 Numbers make your promise feel tangible. ✅ “How I got 78 leads from a single post.” 3. 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞 Hooks work when they tap into what your audience wants or struggles with. ✅ “Why your content isn’t landing (and how to fix it).” 4. 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 The best hooks are between 7–10 words. Enough to spark curiosity without giving away the punchline. 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐬 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝. 𝐈𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭, 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. The hook decides whether your content lives or dies.

Here's how I write B2B blog intros: Step 1: Am I doing a fancy intro or a business-like intro? E.g. am I doing something fun here, or is this just "This is what this blog is about and this is why I know what I'm talking about? My rules of thumb: 1. If I'm writing for an audience that reads a lot of content (e.g. content marketers :), then I'll probably try and do a fun intro. 2. If I'm writing a very tactical, "how to do this thing" blog, then it's a minimal intro and get to the meat asap. 3. If it's a thought leadership piece, usually fun intro. 4. Highly technical topic? Usually minimal intro. 5. Look at the client's existing content. Long intros? Go fun. Short intros? Go brisk. Step 2: If it's a fancy intro, choose a flavor. Here are a couple of options: 😬 The Painful Intro This is probably the easiest one to write. Just state the pain point in emotional, empathetic terms. Note: Don't just say the pain point exists (e.g. "Many content writers struggle with intros.") Describe how it feels. ("You know that feeling when you have to write an intro, and you start to panic that you're going to totally mess it up, and the client will hate you, and maybe you shouldn't really even be a writer anyway, and maybe they're hiring at Target? Yeah, me too.") 🙃 The Weird Intro Go with an unexpected analogy or seemingly somewhat unrelated but intriguing story. You have to handle this one with care. If you go off on a tangent you'll lose your reader. So keep it short and sweet and scroll-stopping. To come up with a weird analogy, let your mind wander a little. What does the topic make you think of? 👊 The Punchy Quote/Stat If you have one of those, use it right up top. But only if it's genuinely interesting. Bland stats make for bland intros. Step 3: If it's a functional intro, you really only need to do three things: 1. Keep it short. Like 5-12 lines max. 2. Say why someone should read this blog - the specific benefit they'll get. 3. Say why you know what you're talking about. Backlinko does these very well if you want a reference. Whether I'm writing a fancy intro or a functional intro, there are a couple of things I try to avoid: ⛔ Broad, sweeping, state of the industry type statements. These are always a yawn fest. (I'm looking at you, "rapidly evolving digital landscapes." ⛔ Waving a hand generally towards the pain point. "Many marketers feel that"....NOPE ⛔ Obvious statements. [Obviously important thing] is important. [Obviously bad thing] is bad. ⛔ Selling the reader on the topic at hand. You aren't reading a blog post about, say, "How to write a great intro" if you don't think writing great intros is important. Don't waste intro space selling the topic - get into the topic. ⛔ Burying the lede. If you have a great point to make, make it up top, not somewhere around the second H2. That's pretty much it! How about you? Any tips on blog intro writing? What do you like in an intro?

You have 8 seconds. That’s it. Not to sell. Not to impress. Just to keep someone listening. Because in today’s world, attention isn’t earned. It’s lost quickly. The average human attention span? Just under 8 seconds. That’s less than a goldfish. So if you start with a long-winded backstory, a weak intro, or a “quick thought” that takes two minutes to land? You’ve already lost them. Here’s the truth: The first 8 seconds of anything you say determine whether people will keep listening. This isn’t about gimmicks. It’s about clarity. Intent. And how you show respect for someone’s time. Want to master the 8-second rule? Here’s how: 1. Start with the point, not the preamble. “Let me back up a bit…” = disengagement. “Here’s what I think we should do.” = engagement. People don’t need buildup. They need value—fast. 2. Drop your best line first. Don’t bury the insight. Don’t save the story’s punchline for the end. Lead with the line that makes them look up. 3. Use contrast. “This worked last year. It’s failing now.” Contrast creates tension. And tension creates attention. 4. Ditch filler words. If it starts with “I just wanted to say…” you’ve already wasted 3 of your 8 seconds. Be direct. Be kind. But cut the fluff. 5. Ask a question. Real curiosity pulls people in. “What would happen if we flipped the script?” That’s how you make ears perk up. 6. Get visual. Stories, metaphors, images; they light up the brain. “Saying yes to everything is like trying to run with bricks in your backpack.” Now they’re listening and picturing it. 7. Own your voice. Speak with calm, clear conviction. People don’t just hear your words. They feel your certainty. 8. Leave them wanting more. Not “Let me explain for 15 more minutes.” Try: “There’s a deeper layer to this; happy to unpack it if helpful.” Curiosity is a more powerful hook than explanation. You’ve been in those meetings. Someone starts rambling. You check your phone. They lost you at hello. Now flip it. You say one sentence that hits. Someone looks up. You’ve earned the next 8 seconds. And then the next. This isn’t just about being polished. It’s about being intentional. Because in a noisy world, clarity feels like leadership. So before your next pitch, update, or conversation, ask yourself: What can I say in 8 seconds that will make someone want to hear 80 more? Master that, and people won’t just listen. They’ll remember. ❓ Do you enjoy public speaking? ♻️ Repost to help others. ➕ Follow Nathan Crockett, PhD for daily posts about leadership, culture, and family.

Hooks can either make or break your post. There are two paths… Relevancy and Curiosity. Here’s the difference. ⸻ Relevancy hooks: - These hit home immediately. - They speak to a pain someone is actively feeling. Example: “You posted for 6 months straight… and still haven’t cracked 1,000 views.” If you’re in that boat… ….you have to click. - It’s relevant. - It’s real. - It’s you. You want to know what you’re doing wrong. You want to know how to fix it. It pulls you in because it’s your current reality. ⸻ Curiosity hooks: These trigger a question in your mind. And questions demand answers. Example: “How this one investor got 14 warm leads from a single LinkedIn post…” If you’re a VC scrolling, you’re asking: - Who’s the investor? - What did the post say? - How did the strategy work? You don’t relate yet… …But you need to know. ⸻ Great hooks do one thing well: They stop the scroll. You can either: - Be deeply relevant - Spark a curiosity Both work. Just don’t try to write a boring hook and hope it gets read. Which type do you use more? Relevancy or Curiosity?

Bad writers wait too long to get into the good stuff. You can think of your title, subtitle, and first few sentences as a sales funnel. Even after somebody's opened your piece, you need to persuade them to keep reading. Here's how you can write better intros: 1) Surprise: Create Suspense You don't need as many words as you think. Sometimes, it only takes one sentence to capture a reader's attention. These one-sentence hooks work particularly well for thrilling and suspenseful pieces. • "On two separate occasions, I've woken up to an intruder breaking into my home after midnight (years apart and in different states)." • "I wanted to strangle mother but I’d have to touch her to do it." — Loretta Hudson • “Every time I see it, that number blows my mind." 2) Insight: Teach the Reader Though these ones are a little bit longer, it doesn't take long for the reader to learn something, and that spark of insight launches them into the piece because they come to see the author as an authority. Both the examples below make the reader say: "Hmmmmm..." • Everyone knows that to do great work you need both natural ability and determination. But there's a third ingredient that's not as well understood: an obsessive interest in a particular topic. — Paul Graham • During a regular dive in the sea, Alexey Molchanov can go 131 meters deep (or about 43 stories) while holding a single breath for nearly five minutes. In that period, his body experiences more gravitational stress than an astronaut during a launch into space. — Polina Marinova Pompliano 3) Set the Scene A few sentences is all it takes to throw the reader into the story. You don't need many words to create a narrative arc, and the words you do choose set the frame for the rest of the piece. • Steamboat Willie put Walt Disney on the map as an animator. Business success was another story. Disney’s first studio went bankrupt. Later cartoons were monstrously expensive to produce, and financed at onerous terms. By the mid-1930s Disney had produced more than 400 cartoons – most of them short, most of them liked, and most of them losing money. Disney and his studio were nearly broke. — Morgan Housel • On February 10, 2002, in a New York State prison cell, the bestselling author and twice-convicted killer Jack Abbott hanged himself with an improvised noose. That same day, the body of the man I murdered washed ashore on a Brooklyn beach in a nylon laundry bag. My reason for connecting these events is to account for my crime. — John J. Lennon To hone your knack for writing introductions, study stand-up comedians. Note how quickly they set the frame for their jokes. They rarely need more than 1-2 sentences to set the scene and make the audience laugh. Your introductions don't need to be funny, but they should be captivating, and you don't need many words to do that.

I was sitting in a class full of 45 people. Everyone was talking to each other. So lost in gossip, they’d miss a dinosaur walking in. A situation a teacher would call a fish market. It was that chaotic. Suddenly, one of the backbenchers stood up. And he said, “There’s one thing none of you know about our topper.” Everyone turned. We all wanted to know what he would say next. We were hooked. Desperate to hear. And that’s why I say: To write good posts, you need great hooks. No matter how good your content is, if the first line doesn’t grab attention, no one sticks around to read the rest. 5 Tips to Write Irresistible Hooks: 1. Flip a belief, then prove it Say something that challenges what your audience believes. It makes them stop and ask—“Wait, what?” That’s when you’ve got them. Just make sure you back it up with logic or a story. 2. Share a highlight, not a summary ❌ “Here’s how my trip to Bali went.” ✅ “I almost drowned in Bali because I trusted a stranger.” Start with the most interesting moment, not a recap. A great hook pulls people into the story. It doesn’t explain the whole thing upfront. 3. Keep it as short as possible “I cried in the middle of a meeting today.” Short. Personal. Long intros lose attention. Hooks should punch fast. 4. Use contrast to grab attention Juxtapose two opposite emotions or situations: “I was smiling. But inside, I was falling apart.” It creates tension. It makes people curious. It makes them stay. 5. Say something unbelievable, but true “This ₹30 dish got me a ₹3 lakh client.” The more unbelievable, the better. Bonus Tip 6: Say what they’re thinking “Every time I take a break, I feel guilty.” The best hooks feel like they wrote it. When your words echo their thoughts, you win attention. Remember: Great posts don’t start with introductions. They start with emotion, surprise, or truth. Your hook = the doorway to your story. Make it sharp enough… and they’ll have to step in. Follow for more FREE #PersonalBranding and content tips. Need help with branding? I'm just a text away.

I analyzed what my top 5 posts had in common (each got 2500+ reach & 100+ comments) The results were surprising - All of them were formatted. - Had a clear A → Z breakdown process. - Spoke to my ICPs pain & gave solutions. - Written in simple & 5th grader's language. But 1 thing stood out every single time: Hooks Here are my top-performing hooks & why they worked 1). “I went from having 0 to 40+ comments on my posts” Why it worked? → Numbers → It shows an inspiring transformation. → Numbers interrupt the word pattern. → The results are relevant for people in my niche. 2). “How to create 1 weeks content in 2 hours?” Why it worked? → Inlcuding "How to" → Highlights what people will gain from the post. → Promises & delivers a solution everyone wants. → Builds trust because they follow you for your expertise. 3). "Struggling to create content on LinkedIn?" Why it worked? → Asks a question → Makes it relevant for those struggling in my niche. → Shows their problem is understood & heard. → Makes people recognize & accept their struggles. 4). “I didn’t want to write this post today” Why it worked? → Vulnerability → Hints a story & people love to listen to stories. → Relates to people who have felt the same way. → It’s not the typical positive, motivational start. 5). “The only writing rule I blindly follow as a ghostwriter” Why it worked? → Includes “I” → People feel they’re getting knowledge directly from you. → Shows you’re sharing valuable info that’s helped you. → Makes readers more curious about what it is secret. TLDR: Add a number in the hook "How to" for giving a solution Ask a question Include "I" to Vulnerability to challenge the status quo Your hooks are the first line people see. Write them like your life depends on it. P.S. Which element have you tried in these?

Ya know those fluffy intros we think we need? "In today's fast-paced digital landscape..." "As we navigate the evolving world of..." Delete. Delete. Delete. Because here's what's happening to content: → Podcasts with long intros are dying → 5-minute ad reads are killing engagement → Blog posts with "setting the scene" are getting clicked out of Your audience is begging you: Get. To. The. Point. The best hook? The one that respects your audience's time. ..The one that delivers value in the first sentence. ..The one that makes them think "okay, I need to hear this." Stop writing introductions. Start writing reasons to keep reading. #ContentStrategy #Copywriting #Marketing

I’ll admit it—I’m as guilty as anyone of forgetting to use a hook, let alone perfecting it! But if there’s one thing my own research has shown, it’s that without those strong hooks, even the best posts can fall flat. On social media, if you don’t capture attention within the first few words, your message might be lost. That’s where a powerful hook comes in. Here’s how to craft hooks that make people stop, think, and engage: 1. Ask a Bold Question Start with a question that taps into your audience’s challenges or curiosity. “Are you tired of creating content no one reads?” “Ever wonder why some brands make you feel something?” 💡 Why It Works: Questions create instant engagement by inviting readers to pause and reflect. They want to know if you have the answer. 2. Share a Surprising Stat or Fact Lead with a jaw-dropping fact to grab attention: “90% of people never get past the first sentence of a post. Let’s change that.” “Only 2% of companies leverage storytelling in their marketing—are you one of them?” 💡 Why It Works: A surprising stat makes readers curious, creating a “wait, really?” moment that compels them to keep reading. 3. Create Curiosity with a Cliffhanger Leave a gap that urges them to read more: “I made this one mistake in my career, and it cost me… a LOT.” “Want to know the one thing I wish I’d known before launching my business?” 💡 Why It Works: Cliffhangers activate our need for closure, keeping readers glued to your post. 4. Use “If You’re…” Statements to Target Your Audience Directly call out your audience with phrases like: “If you’re an entrepreneur struggling to scale, read this.” “If you’re tired of networking that leads nowhere…” 💡 Why It Works: This immediately speaks to those who relate, drawing in the right readers for your message. 5. Add a Twist on Common Advice Challenge the typical approach to spark curiosity: “Forget everything you know about personal branding. Here’s what works.” “Stop doing this one thing if you want to boost engagement.” 💡 Why It Works: Contrarian advice stands out, making readers stop to see why your perspective is different. 6. Use Relatable Statements Start with something that makes people say, “That’s me!” “Working late again? You’re not alone.” “Ever feel like you’re talking to a wall when you post?” 💡 Why It Works: It creates instant connection by validating shared experiences. I’m keeping these in mind because, as I’ve learned, a strong hook is your best chance at grabbing attention and inviting readers into your world. What’s your go-to hook strategy? Share it below! 👇 #SocialMediaStrategy #LinkedInTips #ContentCreation #MarketingEssentials #StopTheScroll #SmallBusiness #MarketingTips #Entrepreneur

Cut the fluff and say what matters. If your content starts with these phrases- start over: “I’ve been thinking a lot about…” “A lot of people have been asking me…” “So I wanted to take a moment to…” “I just wanted to hop on here and say…” “This might be a little all over the place, but…” “I’m no expert, but…” “Here’s something I’ve been thinking about lately…” “Bear with me as I try to explain this…” “This might be a bit long, but I promise it’s worth it…” “I was talking to a friend the other day and they said…” Delete it. (This applies mostly to service and leadership content) You just wasted the most valuable part of your post: the first few seconds of attention. We live in a scroll world. If your content doesn’t immediately deliver value, most people will swipe up. Here’s how to cut the fluff: -Start with the insight, not the backstory. -Eliminate soft openers, readers aren’t here for your diary entry. -Don’t narrate your thought process, just share the takeaway. Every sentence should earn its place. Before you hit post, ask: Is this useful? Is this clear? Can I say it with fewer words? Content that's efficient will be more respected.