A Captivating Start: Editing Tips for Blog Post Introductions

A Captivating Start: Editing Tips for Blog Post Introductions

Blog post introductions are hard. Especially when it’s a blog about introductions. You cannot comprehend the pressure. Luckily, expert copywriter and editor Kirsty Mac Dougall comes to the rescue in this collab blog.

All blog content creators know readers’ attention spans are almost non-existent (8 seconds and dwindling). And if your blog is 3,000+ words? Hello, bounce rate, my old friend. Here’s where your blog post introduction’s true value lies.

It creates the first impression, assuring your readers this is the blog they’ve been looking for (if you didn’t read that in an Obi-Wan voice, I don’t even know what you’re doing here). It acknowledges their pain but also offers solutions—and explains how the blog gets there.

Readers often bounce because they can’t find the information they need in the blog. So, your introduction is essentially a roadmap.

Our Blog Post’s Roadmap

We’ve divided the blog into theory and practice. We start by examining what a blog post introduction is and which elements make up a good one.

Then, we jump in with a case study to see blog intro writing and editing in action, highlighting which editing mistakes to avoid. Finally, we give a brief nod to AI because what’s a blog nowadays without that buzzword?

Table of Contents

    Key Takeaways for Good Blog Post Intros

      • Introductions are essential because they’re your readers’ first impression of your blog.
      • Introductions need to do more than just orientate the reader. They must present the blog in the best possible light and highlight what the reader stands to gain from it.
      • Blog post introductions have a basic, foolproof structure that you can follow every time: hook, transition, pain points, solution, and intrigue.
      • Keep the introduction as short, punchy, and engaging as possible. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box when trying to gain and sustain the readers’ attention.
      • Edit with the reader in mind at all times. This should inform the introduction’s tone, style, word choice, and structure.
      • AI can be a helpful writing and editing tool if used properly. However, don’t blindly implement AI suggestions or use an AI-generated introduction without checking it first.

    An Introduction to Blog Introductions

    An introduction is the first section of a blog that follows directly after the title (or subtitle if you’re fancy). While introductions take many shapes and sizes, we’ve edited quite a few… hundred… and can safely say that the sweet spot is one or two shortish paragraphs of around 150 words.

    What Is a Blog Post Introduction’s Purpose?

    Naturally, the introduction needs to do some introducing. It should acquaint the reader with:

      • The blog’s main topic (for example, how to change a plug)
      • The context of the blog (rewiring a two-pin South African plug at home)
      • What the reader serves to gain from the blog (mad rewiring skills)
      • How the reader is going to achieve this (walking through 7 steps with cute diagrams)
      • The blogger’s approach to the topic (methodical and beginner-friendly)
      • Their general writing style and voice (conversational with a side of dad jokes)

    Well, here’s the thing: The blog you’re working on will ultimately get published with around 6 million other blogs that same day. To stack the odds up further, the average reader will only spend 37 seconds engaging with any one blog.

    This is your one chance to make a first impression that actually impresses. A drab, generic, vague, verbose, or overly complicated introduction just won’t cut it. In less than a minute, the reader will likely get bored, confused, and/or frustrated and move on.

    It’s up to your editing artistry to transform a stale and stodgy introduction into something fresh and zesty, coaxing a little more than 37 seconds from your readers.

    How to Write a Blog Intro (With Introduction Examples) 

    Before you start flexing your editing skills, it’s helpful to understand the framework of a successful blog introduction. These are the five most important ingredients for baking up an impactful and convincing introduction:

    Hook

    The hook is the first sentence (sometimes two) of the introduction and is one of the blog’s most essential features. It has a similar function to the blog’s title: immediately capturing attention and enticing the reader to continue reading—hook, line, and sinker.

    The hook can take many forms, like a question, surprising statistic, quote, controversial opinion, or a short anecdote. The key to getting it right is to keep it as concise and original as possible. Take, for instance, Orbit Media’s strong blog post opening line for a piece about the progression of semantic SEO:

    Using just four italicised words for an opening paragraph is brave. And using one of the most overused clichés is even more daring. But it works because it takes the reader by surprise. 

    No one expects a technical SEO blog to start with the opening line of a fairytale. A nice additional touch is the ellipsis, naturally inviting the audience to continue reading.

    Transition

    Your introduction’s transition acts as a bridge, helping you move from one idea to the next. It needs to be smooth and logical, and provide clarification. Most commonly, writers and editors use it to contextualise the hook and build anticipation.

    For example, Healthline uses a question to transition from the problem (how grocery shopping has become complicated, especially if you’re unsure about the ingredients you’re buying) to the solution (a user-friendly ingredient glossary).

    It’s extra effective because it’s short and sweet (only two sentences). Plus, it emphasises to the reader what value they can get from it, i.e., important health information at their fingertips.

    Address Pain Points

    This is where you connect with your readers, making them understand you’ve been there. You know. In fact, it’s been such a struggle that you’ve written a whole blog post to help people with the same issues.

    However, don’t make it overbearing. Just because you’re writing pain points doesn’t mean it has to be painful.

    Mashable does a really good job of touching on the most irksome issues with buying noise-cancelling headphones without it becoming a pity party. Again, two sentences is a good length for this.

    Offer Solutions

    Understanding the readers’ pain points has little value if the blog doesn’t offer solutions. The introduction should clearly outline how the blog will help address the identified challenges.

    In other words, you must convey the blog’s value to the reader, providing yet another reason why they should continue reading.

    In Paul McDougal’s travel blog, he takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to presenting a solution:

    He simply assures us that he will share all the information we need while creating an air of mystery by not revealing any details.

    The writer builds a measure of rapport with his dashes of humour and makes readers feel heard by addressing them directly. Once you get into the readers’ good books, they’ll be far more inclined to keep reading.

    Intrigue

    Intrigue is a fun element for your blog post introduction because it’s so flexible. It can be at the start or end of your introduction, and it can take many forms: an unanswered question, a paradox, a shocking statement. As long as it piques your reader’s curiosity and uses strong verbs.

    Food blogger Kate Taylor adds some intrigue at the beginning of her blog simply by asking her readers, “You, too?”. This creates an instant connection, making the reader feel comfortable and more likely to continue reading.

    When concluding an introduction, it can be tempting to use tried-and-true approaches, like ‘Read on to find out…’ or ‘In this blog, we’ll explore…’ To avoid blending into the sea of online content, swap out these old and worn-out phrases with something that sparks interest and intrigue.

    For instance, wellness blogger Katie Wells packs quite the punch with her introduction’s concluding line:

    It’s a short, standalone sentence that implies the blog delivers a real-life, personal experience that proved successful. Who wouldn’t want to read more?

    Case Study: Editing Tips for Blog Post Introductions

    Now it’s time to put our money where our mouths are. To illustrate everything we’ve been talking about so far, we’ve used ChatGPT to write a blog post introduction using this prompt:

    I’m writing a blog titled “How to Change a Plug in 7 Simple Steps.” It will provide easy-to-follow and methodical steps for rewiring a South African 2-pin plug into a standard 3-pin one. The blog is aimed at beginners who want to change their plugs at home, and the target audience is South Africans. For each step, there will also be a simple diagram to illustrate it.

    Write the introduction for this blog using two paragraphs, around 150 words, and British English. The blog will have an informative and conversational tone with a few dad jokes, so keep your tone light and witty.

    This is the result:

    Red pens ready?

    Issue 1: Overwhelming Readers From the Get-Go

    The immediate issue with this introduction is its length. Three sizeable paragraphs for an intro is imposing—definitely not the first impression you want to make. Many readers will think twice about diving in before even reading the first word.

    ♣ Kirsty’s Tip:

    My blog writing tip here is simple: Don’t write introductions of 261 words. In fact, aim for half. In rare instances, like more technical blogs, longer introductions are needed. However, the average reader responds better to one or two (definitely not three) concise paragraphs. If you can make them skimmable, even better.

    Issue 2: Wasting Real Estate with Fluff and Filler

    Closely linked to this is the issue of saying too little in too many words. When it comes to introductions, every word counts. So, there’s no room to give unnecessary details or repeat the same point in different words.

    Our example goes as far as using a hypothetical scenario with its ‘Picture this’ comment. Worst still, we can remove the entire third paragraph without impacting the introduction’s overall meaning.

    ♣ Kirsty’s Tip:

    If a sentence or phrase doesn’t serve a purpose, save the reader some time and get rid of it. You only want to include the bare essentials. If it isn’t one of the five magic ingredients we mentioned earlier, it’s probably not worth mentioning. Scrutinise every sentence and ask yourself if it’s there to flesh out the introduction or whether it’s actually adding value.

    Issue 3: Clichés and Puns That Make You Facepalm

    If you don’t have anything good to say, say nothing, right? The same principle applies when using clichés or puns. If used cleverly, they can be charming and funny. However, not so in this case.

    Firstly, there are too many—basically one in every sentence. This slows your readers down as they must process each one as they read. It’s just extra fluff preventing them from getting to the point.

    Plus, it creates an air of unprofessionalism, giving the impression that you’re using smoke and mirrors to hide the fact that maybe you don’t know what you’re talking about.

    ♦ Michelle’s Tip:

    Keep your wordplay to 1-2 instances. Make sure it has a purpose and fits the context of the blog’s content (look at my edited version of the introduction for an example). Don’t use a cliché because you couldn’t think of anything else to say.

    Issue 4: Tone(deaf)

    While we want the tone to be conversational, this is over the top—and even slightly condescending. Because the blog is aimed at beginners, the tone must be practical and as un-frightening as possible.

    Readers will either need reassurance that changing a plug is simple (if they’re nervous/unsure), or they’ll want to get straight to the steps (because they don’t have time to drink tea first and listen to you chat).

    This suffocating tone will put readers off instantly, leaving all your efforts in vain.

    ♦ Michelle’s Tip:

    Remember, you’re trying to relate to your readers, so your tone must place you on equal footing. Don’t talk down or over their heads. Think about how you would want someone to explain a concept or steps to you.

    Issue 5: Leaving Too Much Up to the Imagination

    It’s interesting that you can read something of this length and still have almost no idea about the blog’s actual content or who the writer is. Sure, it tells us that seven steps are involved, but we already gathered that from the title.

    There are no specifics to persuade us to continue reading. For example, there’s no mention of the diagrams accompanying each step’s explanation.

    ♣ Kirsty’s Tip

    To side-step this, clarify the topic and context of the blog and outline its basic structure and purpose. Be your blog’s cheerleader, mentioning anything that adds value, like diagrams, videos, checklists, or charts. Establishing the writer’s credibility and authority is also a good idea. This is often overlooked but can be a major drawing card in its own right.

    Issue 6: Making Empty Promises

    While we want to present the blog in its best light, we shouldn’t make hyperbolic statements about what the reader serves to gain.

    For instance, our introduction claims that you’ll be “ready to tackle any DIY conundrum” after reading the post. Sadly, rewiring a plug won’t help you unblock the toilet.

    ♣ Kirsty’s Tip

    Avoid using ‘clickbait’ tactics at all costs when editing or writing blog post introductions. While it’s essential to highlight the blog’s unique value proposition, this should be an accurate reflection, not an exaggeration. We don’t want to set our readers up for disappointment and risk losing the credibility of the entire blog or even the brand.

    Issue 7: Write Your Audience’s Language

    Know your audience. This is a simple writing and editing best practice that often gets overlooked. Here, it’s a South African audience. So, why on earth are we talking about “sav[ing] a few quid”?

    It’s important to speak the same language as your readers—literally—otherwise, they either won’t understand what you’re getting at or think the blog doesn’t apply to them. In either case, your audience engagement will evaporate.

    ♦ Michelle’s Tip:

    Blog editing means knowing your audience. So, you need to combine a little fact-checking, research, and slang. A good start is setting your language tool (whether it’s Google Docs, MS Word, Grammarly, etc.) to your audience’s English. This will help you catch spelling and usage differences.

    Issue 8: AI Spy With My Little Eye

    Any content creator that writes or edits with AI knows about ‘the signs’. Those tell-tale signals that immediately give away this creator generated an introduction with AI and didn’t change a thing.

    We jokingly call them “AI’s preferences”: specific words and phrases that appear repeatedly in AI-generated content. For example, in this blog introduction:

    ♦ Michelle’s Tip: 

    While you can run your content through an AI detector to check, they’re about as reliable as the AI that generated the text in the first place. The best thing is to hire an editor for a professional once-over or at least have a second set of (human) eyes read your text before publishing.

    Now, we’ve each taken a crack at revising the blog post introduction. These are the final versions:

    Michelle's Edited Intro

    New text
    Changing plugs shouldn’t literally be electrifying. In fact, it shouldn’t make your hair stand on end in any way. That’s why we’re going to show you how to change a South African 2-pin plug into a standard 3-pin plug in seven simple steps (plus diagrams). So, whether you’re tired of using adaptors or all the 2-pin slots in your UPS are full, our simple guide gives you the tools to convert plugs efficiently.
    Notes
    I cut down the length, keeping it to two paragraphs, and reeled the tone back to make it conversational. I also removed most of the clichés and kept only two puns (“literally be electrifying” and “make your hair stand on end”). Finally, I contextualised the intro by adding “UPS”, as all South Africans will immediately associate it with loadshedding.

    Kirsty's Edited Intro

    New text
    Buying a new hair straightener is great… Until you want to use it for the first time and realise you don’t have an adapter for it. In cases like these, knowing how to change a two-pin plug to a standard three-prong one is invaluable. But if the thought of a DIY electrical job has your palms sweating, you’re in the right place. If I can teach my eye-rolling teenage daughter how to rewire her GHD plug, I can teach anyone.  I’ll walk you through the rewiring process as simply and safely as possible. There are even easy-to-interpret diagrams if you get tired of reading. So, get your outfit ready because you’ll be styling your hair in no time.
    Notes
    I used a tangible example (a hair straightener’s plug) to clarify the blog’s topic and purpose. This running example also helped to lighten the tone and introduce a subtler form of humour. I addressed the readers’ fears directly and provided reassurance (‘you’re in the right place’ and ‘I can teach anyone’). Lastly, I mentioned the diagrams and used them as an additional selling point.

    Tips for Editing Blog Post Introductions with AI

    As we’ve mentioned before: introductions are hard. So, writers and editors may turn to AI for online editing help. While this isn’t necessarily a problem, remember that AI isn’t perfect. There are certain writing and editing tasks it’s better at than others.

      • Catching spelling and grammar errors: Even the best editors still miss typos. Just be sure to check every AI recommendation as some will be a poor fit for the context.
    •  
      • Brainstorming: Conversation-driven AI tools can help you bounce ideas around and ignite your creativity.
    •  
      • Inserting keywords: If you’re doing SEO work, AI can help you insert and check keywords.
    •  
      • Using the right tone: AI can evaluate your tone and make suggestions if it’s not on point yet. Again, don’t unquestioningly accept every recommendation. For the best results, give AI examples of previously approved work.
    •  
      • Checking language usage and level: As the other side of the tonality coin, AI can check if your introduction is at the right readability level for your audience. You can also ask it to flag incorrect English version usage (e.g., US vs UK English).

    The point is to use AI as a tool—the same way you use an online dictionary or Google. It shouldn’t write or edit blog post introductions for you, but it should make you better and more efficient at it.

    From Humble Beginnings to the Start of Something Great

    Introductions are powerful. They can capture your readers’ attention using a single well-thought-out hook. They can also generate enough intrigue to convince readers to stick around and read the whole blog. But get them wrong, and chances are your audience won’t hang around for the main (blog) event.

    Our parting words of wisdom are to remember to edit and reshape introductions with the audience in mind. An introduction needs to market the rest of the blog by tailoring it to your readers’ interests, values, pain points, and desires.

    See this as your opportunity to edit with a creative eye, find innovative solutions, and flex your persuasive skills. Armed with this knowledge, there’s no doubt that you’ll make a captivating start.

    Michelle Meyer

    Michelle Meyer is the director and head editor of Blue Leaf Editing. With a background in publishing, bookselling, and marketing, she aims to turn all the content she edits into its best version. In her spare time, Michelle reads and watches as much horror and fantasy content as she can.

    Kirsty Mac Dougall

    Kirsty Mac Dougall is a psychology and linguistics graduate and qualified English teacher. She moved from a comfortable seven-year occupancy in academic work settings to the relatively unpredictable and dynamic world of writing and editing. Now Kirsty enjoys the daily blend of left- and right-brained thinking, navigating the shift between the big picture and fine details. When she's not at the beck and call of her cat, you'll find Kirsty immersed in music, lyrics, and poetry.