It all starts with the first sentence. The first sentence of your article is like a proverbial fishhook; it’s designed to snag the reader’s attention and reel them in.
If your opening line is dull or uninteresting, then there’s a good chance that people will scroll right past your article without giving it a second thought, but if your first sentence is intriguing, then you stand a much better chance of hooking your readers and keeping them engaged.
Reel them in from the first sentence.
The first sentence of your article is like a first impression. You have to grab your reader’s attention from the get-go and hold onto it for dear life.
It’s your chance to make a good impression and ensure that your readers want to keep reading. So, how do you write a first sentence that’s eye-catching and compelling? Here are a few tips:
1. Start with a BANG.
Your first sentence should be attention-grabbing and make the reader want to continue reading. It could be an interesting fact, a shocking statistic, or a question that piques curiosity.
Whatever it is, it should be something that will make the reader want to know more.
2. Hit the headlines.
Your headline is the first—and sometimes only—thing your readers will see. It should make them want to read more. A good headline will also give your readers an idea of what the article is about so that they know whether or not it’s something they’re interested in.
But beware—your headline shouldn’t give away too much. You want to leave some things for your readers to discover on their own.
Read some of Crunchy Lemons’ blogs for some headline inspiration!
3. Find your voice.
When you use an active voice, your sentences are shorter and easier to read. They’re also more engaging because they sound more like a conversation than a lecture.
For example, compare these two sentences:
“The audience was unimpressed with the speaker’s delivery” (passive voice) vs “The speaker’s delivery left the audience unimpressed” (active voice).
See the difference? When you use an active voice, your readers will feel like you’re talking directly to them—and that’s always a good thing.
4. Write like you’re talking to a friend.
Your readers don’t want to wade through paragraphs of dense text—they’ll just get bored and move on. So, keep your language simple and straightforward.
Use short sentences and clear words that everyone can understand. Also, don’t be afraid of using humor! A little wit can go a long way in keeping your readers engaged.
5. Captivate your audience.
It’s important that you understand who your target audience is before you start writing a copy. What are their pain points, what do they want or need, and what motivates them?
Once you have a good understanding of who you’re writing for, tailoring your message will be a breeze—and your readers will appreciate it because they’ll feel like you really “get” them.
Make sure you’re using the right hashtags and keyphrases as well. If you need help with navigating all of these, Crunchy Lemons offers a SEO service that might help you reach and connect with your target audience better.
6. What’s in it for them?
A lot of businesses make the mistake of focusing on features instead of benefits in their copywriting—but features aren’t nearly as persuasive as benefits are.
That’s because people don’t really care about what your product or service can do; they care about what it can do for them so, when you’re writing a copy, focus on highlighting the benefits instead of the features.
7. Paint a picture.
If you can transport your readers to another time or place—whether it’s real or imaginary—you’re sure to pique their interest. To do this, focus on creating strong visual images through your words.
Rather than simply telling your readers what happened, show them by bringing the scene to life with sensory details.
Don’t have the tools to paint the picture? Crunchy Lemons offer a graphic design service that might help you bring your ideas to life.
Write on and on.
Writing a great first sentence is essential if you want to hook your readers from the start and ensure that they keep reading until the very end.
By following these tips, you can write eye-catching and compelling articles that will engage your readers from beginning to end.
Not a good writer, or lacking creativity? Crunchy Lemons also offers copywriting services that would help you take the words and ideas out of your mouth.
Why not start now? Book a free consultation with us today.