One Really Simple Technique to Grab Readers at the Start of Your Post and Engage Them at the End - DailyBlogTips

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One Really Simple Technique to Grab Readers at the Start of Your Post and Engage Them at the End Posted: 09 Jun 2015 06:55 AM PDT Do you ever feel like you're writing good posts but no-one's reading them? Maybe you're coming up with powerful headlines. You're making sure your posts are easy to follow. You're writing in a friendly, conversational way. But it just doesn't seem to be working. Even when you can see from Google Analytics that your posts are getting read, no-one's sticking around to comment. Some bloggers give up at this stage – which is a real shame. They might have a great topic, or a great writing style: they just need to pay more attention to the two most important parts of their posts. The introduction and conclusion of a post are vital. The introduction should grab readers' attention and get them engaged from the very first sentence. The conclusion should prompt them to do something – don't just leave it to chance that they'll do what you want after reading. Where Bloggers Often Go Wrong (Are You Making These Mistakes?) I've read a quite probably embarrassing number of blog posts over the years, and I've reviewed blog posts for dozens of bloggers and writers. Time and time again, I see the same mistakes cropping up with introductions and conclusions. Introductions typically go wrong because bloggers: Spend too long getting into the post. They write about the inspiration behind the post, or they apologise for not blogging for so long. Don't explain why something matters. If readers don't understand why what you're teaching them is important, they won't stick around. Conclusions typically go wrong because bloggers: Miss them out altogether (e.g. if they've written a list post, it ends with the final item on the list). This is an easy mistake to make – but a huge wasted opportunity. Only sum up the post, without providing any call to action. Get it Right: Ask Questions There are plenty of different techniques for writing good introductions and conclusions, but I'm going to recommend just one: ask questions. This is an easy technique to get right, whereas others can be more complicated. It instantly engages readers because it turns your post into a conversation and forces them to think. Introductions Open your post by posing a question – ideally one to which the answer is "yes". For instance, a post about waking up early could begin, "Do you always find it a struggle to get out of bed?" The idea behind this is to show readers that you're on their side and understand what they're going through. There's also an implicit promise in the question: your post will teach the reader how to solve their problem. Here are a couple of examples: Have you ever wished you were more creative? Of course you have!I mean, who hasn't? – How to Be Creative and Find Your Brilliance: 10 Superb Articles, Mary Jaksch, Write to Done Do you wish you had more time? Or rather, do you wish you spent less time on mind-killing, boring stuff like managing emails? – 16 Email Productivity Hacks to Unchain You from Your Inbox, Oleg Starko, Firepole Marketing Conclusions You can use questions in conclusions, just like you do in introductions. This time, though, there's a twist. As well as asking a question, you want to encourage readers to comment or to reply on social media. Don't just assume they will – specifically invite them to. Here are a couple of examples: Question: Do you regularly exercise? If yes, what benefits do you notice? If no, why not? Share your answer on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. – 3 Surprising Reasons Every Entrepreneur Needs Regular Exercise, Michael Hyatt, MichaelHyatt.com Have you struggled with this? Or have you found the perfect posting schedule? I'd love to hear in the comments. – ProBlogger FAQ: How Often Should I Post?, Darren Rowse, ProBlogger Now, over to you. Come up with an idea for your next post. What question will you start (or end) that post with? Share it with us in the comments! Bio: Want to take your blogging further? Ali Luke runs Writers' Huddle, a community / teaching site for all bloggers and writers, with monthly seminars, in-depth ecourses, supportive forums, and more. It's only open for new members until Friday June 12th, and we're about to start a new Summer Challenge for accountability (and prizes)! If you think you might be interested, check it out now. Wanna learn how to make more money with your website? Check the Online Profits training program!

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