How to Write a Strong Blog Post Introduction

Your blog post introduction has one job: make people keep reading.

Most introductions fail at this. They ramble, state the obvious, or promise "everything you need to know" without giving a reason to care. And so readers leave before reaching the good stuff. A strong blog post introduction earns attention in the first few sentences and sets up what's coming. Here's how to write one that works.

Why your blog post introduction matters more than you think

The first sentence of your introduction matters more than any other. It's the difference between someone reading and someone hitting the back button.

Most writers open with throat-clearing. They're not ready to say something yet, so they stall with warm-up sentences like "Have you ever wondered about...?" or "In this article, we will explore..." or "Blog post introductions are important because..." These openings waste the moment of highest attention. Someone clicked your headline. They're giving you a chance. Don't waste it on placeholder sentences.

What works instead

Strong openings make a claim, state a problem, or say something specific enough that the reader reacts. A bold claim might be "Most blog posts fail before anyone reads the second paragraph." A specific problem could be "Your introduction has 8 seconds to earn attention. Most waste it being generic." Or a direct statement like "Your blog post introduction is broken. Here's how to fix it."

The hook doesn't need to be clever. It needs to make someone think "okay, I want to know more."

Give context without over-explaining

After the hook, you need 1-2 paragraphs answering: why should I care?

Good context does three things. It acknowledges the problem the reader has. It hints at the solution you'll share. And it creates enough curiosity to keep them reading. That's it. No lengthy backstory. No personal anecdotes about how you "used to struggle with this too."

If your context section runs long, you're probably including background information the reader already knows, information that belongs in the body sections, or warming up instead of getting started. Context should get readers to the first H2, not answer the whole question. One or two paragraphs is usually enough.

Make your promise explicit

Every blog post introduction makes an implicit promise: read this, and you'll learn something valuable. The best introductions make that promise explicit.

Vague vs. specific promises

Compare these two approaches. The vague version says "We'll look at some tips for writing better introductions." The specific version says "You'll learn the three-part formula for introductions that hook readers, with examples you can steal."

The specific version tells readers exactly what they're getting. It also holds you accountable - now you have to deliver that formula.

When you're explicit about what you'll cover, readers can decide if this post is for them, you have a checklist for what to deliver, and trust increases because you were upfront. If you're writing about how to structure a blog post, preview the framework. If you're explaining SEO basics, tell them which parts you'll cover.

Match the tone of what follows

Your blog post introduction sets expectations for the entire post. A mismatch between intro and body feels like bait-and-switch.

If you open with a joke, readers expect a casual tone throughout. If you open with data, they expect analysis. When the rest contradicts that expectation, it creates friction. Think of your introduction as a preview. It should feel like a natural lead-in to your first H2, not a separate piece stuck at the top.

Here's a useful trick: write your introduction after you've written the body. Once you know what's actually in the post - the structure, the tone, the takeaways - the introduction becomes much easier. Many professional writers work this way. The introduction is easier when you know what you're introducing.

Keep it short

How long should a blog post introduction be? Short enough to get to the point, long enough to set up the post.

For most blog posts, aim for 100-200 words (3-6 sentences), 1-2 short paragraphs, and rarely more than 200 words. Your meta description is about 150 characters. Your introduction is the expanded version of that promise. They should align.

If you're past 200 words, check for information that belongs in the body, over-explaining the problem, background the reader already knows, or warming up instead of starting. Cut it down. The best introductions feel almost too short. That's usually right.

The three-sentence blog post introduction formula

When stuck, use this structure:

Hook: Grab attention with a claim, problem, or surprise
Problem: Name what's at stake - why does this matter?
Promise: Preview the solution - what will they learn?

Example using the formula

Here's what it looks like in practice: "Your email open rates are probably lower than they should be. The problem isn't your content - it's your subject lines. Here's a simple framework for writing subject lines that get clicks without clickbait."

That's 40 words. It works for almost any topic. It's not fancy, but it does the job. The formula isn't a permanent crutch - once you've written dozens of introductions, you'll develop your own style. But when you're stuck, it gets you unstuck.

Understanding search intent helps here too. When you know what readers expect when they click your meta title, you know exactly what promise to make in your introduction.

For more on writing posts that perform, see our guides on headlines that get clicks, blog post structure, and how to end a blog post.