Most readers decide within the first few lines whether an article is worth their time. A long warm-up (“Since the dawn of time, people have wanted to save money…”) loses them before you have said anything useful. A good introduction answers fast and gives a reason to keep reading.
The four-part introduction
- Hook with the reader’s situation. One sentence that shows you understand why they searched.
- Give the short answer. If there is a direct answer, give it now. Searchers reward this, and so does Google’s featured snippet.
- Show why to keep reading. What does the full article add: steps, examples, the exceptions, the numbers?
- Set expectations. Optional: who it is for, how long it takes, what you tested.
That is often three to five sentences. Many good introductions are shorter than this paragraph.
Example: before and after
Before: “Choosing the right laptop can be a daunting task. With so many options on the market, it’s important to consider your needs carefully. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into everything you need to know.”
After: “For most students, a laptop with 16 GB of memory and at least 8 hours of real battery life is the sweet spot, and you shouldn’t pay more than $900 for it. Below are the five we’d buy, what we measured, and when it’s worth spending more.”
The second version answers, names numbers, and tells the reader what follows. It also contains no phrases that every other article uses.
Hooks that work
- The direct answer: best for questions and how-tos.
- The surprising fact: only if it is true, sourced and relevant.
- The common mistake: “Most people water succulents on a schedule. That’s why they die.”
- The result: “This setup cut our page load time from 4.1 to 1.3 seconds.”
- The scene: a short, concrete moment the reader recognizes. Use sparingly in search-driven articles.
Phrases to cut from introductions
- “In today’s fast-paced world…”
- “Have you ever wondered…?”
- “In this article, we will discuss…”
- “Look no further!”
- “Whether you’re a beginner or an expert…”
Each delays the answer and signals filler. The AI Draft Checker flags most of them automatically.
Write it last
You can only promise what the article delivers once the article exists. Draft the body first, then write the introduction to match. Read the first three sentences aloud and ask: if I stopped here, would I know what I’m getting and want it? If not, cut until you do.