8 Steps To Write a Blog Intro Like a Pro

Did you know that the blog introduction is as important as the headline in determining whether someone will read your article.

The average time spent reading a blog post takes 15 seconds. However, if they can make them stay longer than 15 seconds, the majority of readers will read a blog post for 7 minutes. Fast Company says so.

If you want people to continue reading, blog intros should be engaging and clearly communicate the value of the article. You need a hook to get people to read your blog.

There are many proven ways to ensure you hit the mark every time. These tips are used to train our writers, so that our clients get the best introduction possible!

This post will show you 8 proven ways to create a blog article introduction like a pro.

Quick Takeaways

• 
  Some formulas are more appealing than others.
  
• 
  Asking questions through blog introductions stimulates readers to think.
  
• 
  It is important to find a balance between telling the reader what to expect and giving away everything in the introduction.
  
• 
  Blog introductions that emphasize the benefits and value of the article are effective.
  

PPB Formula for Awesome Blog Intros

We are always open to learning new tips and tricks for writing the perfect blog post.

Brian Dean of Backlinko sent me an email a few years back describing his preferred formula for writing blog intros, the "the PPB Formula".

This was something I'd never heard of before so I was intrigued. The PPB Formula stands as:

• 
  Promise (or Preview)
  
• 
  
  
• 
  Bridge
  

Here's an example.

• Promise: Good blog intros can encourage readers to read your blogs.
• (or preview): Today, I will show you how to create a great blog intro.
• Evidence: Research has shown that people who only read the first 15 seconds or so of an article will read it all.
• Bridge Let's get in. . .

The "Promise" one is a bit better. The "Preview", however, seems bland and generic. You can test them both. Both work! Let's take them apart a bit more.

Promise or Preview

This is where you inform your reader exactly what to expect from your article. This is the main benefit of reading your article.

This way, people who visit your post will know that they are in the right spot. Which do you prefer?

Now Offers The Proof

This is where you can show people you are knowledgeable. Stats are my favorite way to prove credibility, but proof is also possible.

• Your personal results
• Your many years of experience in solving this problem
• Exemples of specific clients
• Additional forms of third party credentials such as stats, experts, and quotes

Take, for example:

This is how we generated tens of thousands search rankings, nearly all of our new clients, and 1 million readers each year.

How We Rank #1 – Get a Million Visitors (And Win All Our Customers)

Bridge from The Intro To The Article

This is where you convert people from your intro to your content. This is how you create a bridge between your intro and what's in the meat section of your post. The promise is also something I like to repeat in some way, using the main phrase of the article.

• Let's get started. . .
• I will show you. . .
• Learn more. . .

Digital Marketer has a similar "hook" method. It includes "short, punchy and curiosity-laden openings" that allow you to "slide" through the rest of the article.

8 Ways to Create Amazing Blog Introductions

Get to know others

People search for content that will help them solve problems or accomplish important tasks. It could be completing a difficult project at work, organizing their home better, or understanding complex situations happening around the globe.

No matter what the topic, blog introductions can help you keep your readers interested by telling them "Hey, we relate!"

Let's see:

Let's say that a user is looking for ways to increase conversions through their content. Instead of focusing on the steps they should take, you could start by saying things like "Converting customers can be difficult" or "Many businesses create great contents but struggle to get customers the next step."

These statements create a bond between you and your reader. It makes them feel connected because they are understood. They realize they are not the only one suffering from this problem. They will also realize that understanding the problem makes it more likely for them to offer a solution.

This type of content that is focused on customers' pain points has been proven to be extremely effective in keeping customers engaged. It starts with a clear mention in your blog introduction.

You can use keyword research to identify user pain points. Also, you can engage with customers to directly ask them questions. You can also conduct your own exploratory research. This article will provide a deeper look at how to identify customer pain points and what your products or services could solve.

Ask a question

Engaging people in blog introductions by asking them questions is a great way to get them thinking. It's also possible to use questions to highlight the content of your blog posts (more information on why this is important coming next).

You can ask questions about your customer's pain point. This is a great way for the user to either execute the previous tip or get curious about the content of your article.

To use the customer conversions example, you could ask: "Are your visitors driving traffic to your site but not converting paying customers?"

The question addresses the user's pain point in such a way that they ponder.

You could also use a question to see how your article will benefit you.

Your customer will be more inclined to read your article because they know they will find the answer in the end. It is your responsibility to ensure that it is there.

Tell people what to expect

The thing is that people want fast answers. Particularly on the internet. They won't stop until you get to the point 1000 words later.

As we said, you have about 15 seconds to get people interested enough that they will continue reading. Blog introductions that leave customers in the dark will not work.

You don't have to include everything in the first few sentences. Instead, provide a quick and concise summary of what your customers will find in the article, without going into detail.

Example: "In this article, we'll cover eight effective tactics that you can use in order to convert paying customers using your content." We'll then give you concrete steps to follow in order to implement these strategies immediately.

Your user now knows exactly what they will find if they decide to continue reading, but they still need to be able to understand the value of your article.

Value is what you should be focusing on

Content marketers must be able to distinguish between benefits and features.

This is a simple example to illustrate the concept.

If they don't know the benefits of the product, people won't care much about its features. Blog articles are the same.

It's not enough to simply list what you will include in your article. It is not enough to simply list what you will include in your article.

Talking directly to your readers is a great way to achieve this. Let's go back to the example. As we said, we will tell our readers what to expect from the article.

"In this article, we'll discuss 8 effective strategies you can use in order to convert paying customers through your content. We'll then give you concrete steps to follow in order to implement these strategies immediately.

Notice how the second person is used. Imagine if we said: "We'll cover eight tactics that increase customer conversions in companies."

You might argue that this still provides the same information. Although it is true, it does not directly address why I find it important. Both "You can use" or "implement them immediately" tell our users that the content is theirs and they will benefit directly from it.

To make it even more powerful, I may say something like: "Successfully applying these tactics will lead you to higher conversions as well as sales that drive revenue for the brand."

My reader now knows I am sensitive to their pain and is clear about how I will address it in my article. They can also see how it will directly benefit them.

Provide a Unique Perspective

Google searches typically yield millions of results. Even the first page of Google searches, which is where most people are looking, has 10 results for every query. What can you do to stand out from all the other content? You can do this by offering a unique perspective on the subject you are covering.

Consider this: How many times have we searched for the exact same thing only to find several articles with similar content? It's not helpful.

A blog introduction with a unique approach can grab your readers' attention. Even if you have specific topics to cover, you can still be original by writing with a different tone or showcasing your brand's personality.

It's possible to take a completely different position on a topic that has become repetitive or stale in your industry. Let's take, for instance, the blog title and intro to our article on personas. We argue that "Personas" are awesome. Except when they are a suck!

Huh? Personas don't suck! Personas are the best way to get to know your customer. Right?

They don't have to be done correctly. This article is one of our most popular, due to its challenge to the common opinion about a marketing tool that brands use.

While I do not advocate being the contrarian always, it is important to be against the grain when necessary (and emphasize it in your blog introduction) to attract people.

Do not give up on everything

Now, let's talk about balance. We've already covered the importance of telling readers what to expect from your blog post. This is absolutely true.

You should not give away everything in the first few sentences. The blog introduction should give a hint of what's coming. Your blog introduction should be a teaser for what's to come.

Let's look at our customer conversions example one more time:

"In this article, we'll discuss 8 effective strategies you can use in order to convert paying customers through your content. We'll then give you concrete steps to follow in order to implement these strategies immediately.

We let our readers know that they will find 8 tactics but don't give details about those tactics. We wouldn't want our readers to go on their own and Google each one. Instead, we encourage them to continue reading to learn more about them and how they can be used.

Write the Blog Intro

Although it might not be intuitive, I promise you that writing your blog introduction first will save you time and make your intros more interesting.

If you blog, you'll quickly realize that you cannot predict the content or direction of an article's content until it is complete. As you write, inspiration strikes, new ideas emerge, as well as the evolution of your content. It's almost certain that your blog introduction will be written before your article's body.

Write the article first so you can get an idea of the main points and overall tone. Writing your intro will be much easier.

Never fail to live up to the blog's promises

Last, but not least – I cannot stress this enough – always keep your promises in your blog introduction.

It's easier to lose trust in your readers than telling them that you will give them something, and then failing to do so. Articles with great hooks but no follow-through will go a long way in convincing readers to trust your content.

Also, 5 blog post templates to help you create remarkable content

Did you take 7 minutes to read this post? This is equivalent to 1600 words, but we're still cruising at 2143 words. It's important to increase your blog word count!

Blog content that produces results

Blog content can be published to jumpstart your entire content strategy. Marketing Insider Group has a team that includes SEO experts and writers who can provide you with ready-to-publish content for a whole year. ).

To learn more, visit our Content Builder Service.