How to Write a Blog Post Introduction That Keeps Readers

Your analytics show people landing on a post and leaving within ten seconds, long before they reach the part you worked hardest on. The usual culprit is the blog post introduction. Readers decide almost instantly whether a page will answer their question, and an opening that warms up slowly gives them every reason to hit back and try the next result.

The good news is that intros are the easiest part of a post to fix. You do not need a clever hook or a dramatic story. You need to show the reader, in about three sentences, that they are in the right place and that the answer is coming. Here is how I write them, with templates and examples you can borrow.

What a blog post introduction has to do

An intro has three jobs, and only three.

Confirm the problem. Restate the reader's situation in words they would use, so they recognize themselves.
Promise the payoff. Tell them what they will be able to do, know or decide by the end.
Earn the scroll. Give one concrete detail that proves you know the subject, then get out of the way.

Anything beyond those three is extra weight. Background history, definitions of obvious terms, and a paragraph about why the topic matters can all move further down or disappear.

How long a blog post introduction should be

For most posts of 1,000 to 2,000 words, aim for 50 to 120 words, which is usually two or three short paragraphs. On a phone screen, that keeps your first subheading visible or close to it, which is reassuring to a skimming reader.

Longer posts can carry a slightly longer intro, but the rule of reaching the point quickly does not change. If your intro runs past 150 words, check whether the second half is really the first section of the body wearing the wrong label.

Three intro templates that work

These are not formulas to copy word for word. They are structures that suit different kinds of posts.

The problem and promise

Best for how to posts. State the frustration, then say exactly what the post will fix.

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The surprising fact

Best for explainers and opinion posts. Lead with one specific, checkable detail that challenges what the reader assumed.

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The quick answer first

Best for questions people search with a clear answer. Give the answer immediately, then explain why the full post is still worth reading.

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Notice that none of these start with a question like "Have you ever wondered?" and none open with a dictionary definition.

Write the intro last, not first

This is where I part ways with a lot of blogging advice. You will often read that you should perfect your opening before anything else, because it sets the tone. In practice, that leads to vague intros, because you do not yet know what the post actually delivers.

Write a rough placeholder line, draft the body, and then come back. Once the post exists, you can point to specifics: the number of steps, the tool you recommend, the mistake you warn against. Those specifics are what make an intro believable. If you plan your post with a proper outline first, as in our guide on how to outline a blog post before you start writing, the intro almost writes itself from the outline's headings.

Common intro mistakes and quick fixes

Mistake	Why it hurts	Fix
Opening with a broad statement about the internet or blogging	Says nothing the reader does not already know	Start with their specific problem instead
A long personal story before the point	Readers looking for an answer leave	Cut it to one sentence or move it lower
Hiding the keyword until paragraph three	Readers and search engines both doubt relevance	Use the main phrase naturally in the first two sentences
Promising more than the post delivers	Raises bounce and erodes trust	Promise exactly what the headings cover
Listing everything the post will cover	Reads like a table of contents	Name the single main outcome

On the keyword point, use the phrase people actually search for. If you are not sure what that is, our walkthrough on free keyword research for bloggers starting from zero shows how to find it without paid tools.

Test your intro in five minutes

Before publishing, run these quick checks:

Read only the first two sentences. Could a stranger tell what the post is about and who it is for?
Open the post on your phone. Can you see the first subheading without scrolling much?
Delete the first sentence. If the intro still makes sense, that sentence was probably throat clearing, so leave it deleted.
Look for one concrete detail: a number, a name, a time, a result. If there is none, add one.

Rewriting intros is also one of the fastest ways to improve older posts. When you refresh content, as described in our guide to updating old blog posts so they rank again, start with the opening paragraph. It is often where the biggest gains hide.

A before and after example

Here is a real style of intro many beginners write:

Blogging has become very popular in recent years. Many people want to start a blog but do not know which platform to use. In this post we will look at many things about choosing a template.

And a rewrite:

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The second version is the same length. It just spends every word on the reader.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a blog post introduction be?

For most posts, 50 to 120 words across two or three short paragraphs works well. That is long enough to confirm the problem and promise an answer, and short enough that the first subheading appears quickly on a phone.

Should I put the keyword in the first sentence?

It helps to use your main phrase within the first sentence or two, as long as it reads naturally. Forcing it in awkwardly does more harm than placing it a sentence later in a way that sounds human.

Is it okay to start a blog post with a question?

A specific question that mirrors the reader's search can work. Vague questions like "Have you ever wondered" usually do not, because they delay the answer and sound like filler.