5 Expert Tips to Write Blog Introductions That Increase Engagement

You’ve heard that stories, statistics, and anecdotes make a strong blog introduction. But are they enough to drive engagement, or do you need specific elements to keep readers hooked?

To find out, I asked content decision-makers which blog introductions keep readers hooked.

How do blog introductions impact engagement?

The beginning of your blog post sets expectations for readers. If it doesn’t grab their attention immediately, they might leave the page. But if your introduction resonates with them and highlights a problem they need to solve, they’ll want to keep reading.

Here’s an example: Both of the following blog post introductions are for dog owners. The first one is generic and unengaging, while the second one immediately connects with the reader’s struggle.

"If you're constantly stressed about your dog barking at strangers or guests, you're in the right place. Dog owners are said to be happier, but when your dog won’t stop barking at the mailman or every visitor, it can feel more stressful than joyful.

Excessive barking can stem from medical issues or training mistakes—both of which can be managed with the right approach. But first, you need to recognize the underlying cause.

I spoke with ten dog owners and experienced veterinarians to uncover the most common causes of excessive barking. This post offers practical tips to help you understand your dog’s behavior and reduce unwanted barking."

"Dogs bark a lot, and sometimes it can be annoying. There are many reasons why dogs bark too much, like health problems or bad training. If your dog barks a lot, you should try to figure out why. I talked to some people and vets about this.

In this blog, I will share some reasons why dogs bark a lot and what you can do about it."

How to improve engagement with blog post introduction?

If you work in marketing, you must've heard how important it is to hook the reader. And everyone has different ideas for writing a great hook. Some writers prefer statistics in the opening sentence while others like to open it with a question.

But have you ever consciously read different content pieces beginning with different types of hooks? If so, have you noticed which makes you more interested in the piece?

Offer a solution to a problem

Providing a solution isn’t the same as simply setting the stage. When you set the stage, you're outlining the blog’s purpose, letting readers know what information they’ll gain.

But offering a solution goes a step further. It reassures the reader that their problem is understood.

For example, if you're writing about budget-friendly home decor, saying, "In this post, you’ll learn five ways to cut decoration costs" is different from:

"Saving enough to design your dream home, only to run out of money halfway through, is frustrating. Yet thousands face this challenge without realizing there are affordable hacks to cut decor costs."

The second version builds empathy and makes the reader feel seen.

Alyssa Corso, SEO Consultant for Healthcare Brands and Startups

Understand your audience

Understanding your audience isn’t just about their profession or interests. It’s about knowing your goal. Are you writing for humans or AI?

For human readers: Start with a problem they face and why it matters. Show them how their life could change if they solve it. A compelling introduction makes them feel understood.

For AI or SEO: Keep it short and direct. Open with a high-level answer to the article’s main question, then use the rest of the piece to provide a structured deep dive.

"It depends on your goal for the piece. If you're writing primarily for SEO or gen ai, then it's best to open with a straightforward, short, high level "answer" to the question being posed by the article topic, and then use the rest of the article as a well-structured deep dive into that answer.
On the other hand, if you're primarily focused on reader engagement, then I like to open by immediately establishing the reason for being (i.e. the challenge the reader is facing) and why it's important to overcome it. I also like to set expectations for the article by briefly describing my "solution" and what it entails.
All things said, I feel it's best to strive for clarity over everything else, even if it's somewhat less interesting. As long as the reader is clear on what they can expect from the article, they can assess for themselves whether it's worth sticking around. But if it's unclear, they're unlikely to waste their time."

Shannon O'Shea, Senior Copywriter

Understand audience intent

The time your reader is willing to spend on an introduction depends on their intent. If they’re searching for quick definitions or statistics, they might skip the introduction entirely, expecting an immediate answer. In these cases, a concise and direct approach works best.

However, if they’re looking for in-depth guidance, such as overcoming imposter syndrome, they’re likely to engage with the introduction more thoughtfully.

They want reassurance that your content provides fresh insights, actionable advice, or a unique perspective. In such cases, the intro should acknowledge their struggle, establish credibility, and hint at key takeaways.

“It's very difficult to assess an article introduction by itself in relation to engagement. Engagement levels will depend on a variety of things, like:

type of article, e.g. detailed case study/data-filled experiment vs listicle

how/why the reader lands there, e.g. browsing articles vs typing a specific query into Google

For example, if I land on an article from the SERPs because I'm looking for an answer to a specific question, I might completely ignore the introduction and scan the sub-headings to see if I can find what I'm looking for.

So a clear navigable structure with logical sections and jump links is as effective as a good introduction in terms of encouraging me to stay on the page, increasing engagement time.”

Jo Furnival, Marketing Manager at Sitebulb

Share personal experiences

People connect with stories, making personal experiences a powerful tool for engagement. However, anecdotes don’t need to be lengthy or overly detailed to be effective.

A well-placed personal insight can make your writing more relatable, helping readers see themselves in your story. By briefly acknowledging their struggles or successes, you create an emotional connection that builds trust and keeps them invested in your content.

"When it comes to blog introductions, relatability is key. What can you do that can instantly build trust with your audience? It's sort of like being a standup comedian. You have to learn to read the room, or everything you have to say will fall flat. And if you lose them early on, it just might be too late to pique their interest enough to read on to the next H2. I've started off a post before by showing how I understand the reader's successes or pain points when it comes to the topic. Have I jumped off a cliff before? YES, and this is why I love it. Have I done my own taxes before? YES, and this is why I'll never do it again. Are you seeing the big picture?"

Angela Ash, Content Manager and Digital PR Specialist at Flow Agency

Prioritize clarity

No matter what style you choose, clarity should always come first, even if you think it makes your writing less exciting. Here’s an example of an unclear introduction:

"Barking is something that all dogs do, but sometimes it becomes a problem. If a dog barks too much, it can be frustrating. There are a few reasons why this happens, and it’s important to figure them out."

This introduction is vague and repetitive. A clearer version would be:

"Dogs bark for many reasons, but excessive barking often has a fixable cause."

To ensure clarity in your writing, follow this checklist:

One idea per sentence

✅ Dogs bark for many reasons, but excessive barking often has a fixable cause.

❌ Dogs bark for many reasons, and some bark excessively due to medical issues, poor training, or boredom, which can be fixed if identified properly.

Use simple and direct language

✅ Too much barking? Here’s how to fix it.

❌ If your canine companion engages in excessive vocalization, you may be wondering about potential solutions.

Avoid unnecessary words (fluff)

✅ This guide will help you stop excessive barking.

❌ In this article, we will be discussing some of the ways in which you might be able to reduce the frequency of excessive barking in your dog.

Be specific, not vague

✅ Your dog might be barking at strangers due to anxiety.

❌ There are many reasons why dogs bark at things.

Add quoted links to subsections

Make your content easy to navigate by adding internal links to key subsections right after the introduction. This helps readers quickly find the information they need, reducing frustration and increasing engagement. It also improves SEO by enhancing site structure and distributing link equity across your pages.

Additionally, well-placed links encourage readers to explore related topics, increasing time spent on your site.

"A big recommendation for intros I have is to include a bullet points list of what's going to be covered (especially if it's a long piece). If you have the functionality, it's also good to add quicklinks to these so people can jump down to the info they need."

Alice Rowan, Website Copywriter and SEO Consultant

Common mistakes to avoid when writing blog introductions

Whether you're a beginner looking to improve your introductions or a senior writer guiding juniors, this checklist covers common mistakes writers make and how to avoid them.

Writing an introduction at the beginning

An introduction should serve as a concise preview of your content, making it more effective when written last. If you write it at the beginning, you might leave gaps or end up revising it later to reflect the full depth of your article.

Another advantage of writing the introduction last is avoiding writer’s block. Instead of struggling to craft the perfect hook upfront, you can let the key points emerge naturally as you write.

For example, while researching the benefits of remote work, you might come across insights about its impact on mood swings. You can use this information in your introduction to create a stronger hook.

Laura explains this approach well:

“I see really rambling intros that feel as if they’ve been written first and are helping to warm up the writer as they get into their flow. I always advise writing the intro last to avoid this.”

Repeating what the reader already knows

Readers want fresh insights. Repeating common knowledge can make them lose interest quickly. Instead, tailor your introduction to your audience’s level of expertise and offer something new or thought-provoking.

Alyssa suggests: "I encourage writers to put themselves in the reader's shoes and try to understand their level of understanding of the topic before writing a lengthy introduction."

Rambling and including fluff

Long, drawn-out introductions filled with excessive storytelling can lose the reader’s attention. Instead, get to the point after briefly establishing a connection.

This doesn’t mean jumping straight into “In this blog post…,” but rather ensuring every sentence serves a purpose.

Angela says: “Some choices I sometimes see when reviewing work from writers in an editing sense is that, even thought you may want to build relatability, you don't have to write them a short story. You can easily engage with a reader in one or two sentences... as long as you have done your research on your target audience. "Fluff" is the dirtiest word in the Dictionary of Content Writing. Establish the connection you've identified from your research, and then get straight to the tips and strategies you promised in the post's title.”

Writing engaging blog introductions

All those methods for writing attention-grabbing intros are great, but they need specific components to boost engagement. Next time you write an introduction, make sure it targets the intent, offers a solution, is clear and relatable, and is written at the end.

If you've noticed any specific elements in an intro that increase engagement, I'd love to learn from you! Feel free to share your tips with me on LinkedIn.

"I find it best practices to set the stage in the introduction for what the reader can expect from the article. So I encourage writers to include 1-2 sentences summarizing what the article is about. Also, offering a solution to the problem (if there is one) in the introduction has increased engagement in my experience."