Usually, the first word, phrase, or sentence captures the reader’s attention in any storytelling technique. This aspect is especially true in fictional cases, where you have an opening that immediately captivates the reader.
Getting the reader’s attention is only the first step. Once you’ve pulled them in, your work begins. Your website and promotional elements should work together to create a user experience that never lets the reader’s attention go away.
There are many ways to grab the reader’s attention, and all are designed to create some emotion and action so that users can stay on your site to learn more. Bear this in mind as you know these nine clever ways to keep your reader’s attention in your blog posts, all proven to be successful in helping to build an audience.
1. Use Lists
The truth is, the list works because it intrigues you (even if it annoys you sometimes). First, you can’t help wondering what six techniques you need to engage readers. Next, you wonder, “Will reading this piece make me a better writer? Will, I learn a new helpful trick?“
Now you know this is the first writing trick that grabs attention. Of course, you wouldn’t want to use a list in a novel (and certainly not in a screenshot). However, knowing how to use punctuation marks such as semi-colons, colons, and strings in your prose can effectively elevate your writing.
2. Crisp, Concise, Conversational Tone Works Well
People read more when they feel that you are talking to them or part of the conversation.
Short, simple, free-flowing sentences with equally simple vocabulary and first- and second-person narrative styles (“You,” “I,” “Us,” “We”) will make your readers feel the story as if You are addressing them personally, on your level. So, yes, write for your audience and keep it short and straightforward.
In general, when you write in a conversational tone, people tend to:
- Read more.
- Feeling more connected to the story.
- Avoid turning the page too quickly.
- Trust your sources more.
3. Meta Description
A meta description is a text that appears under each result on a search engine results page. The role of a meta description is to attract readers and prompt them to click on a link to your website. However, even if you’re at the top of the results list, readers will still ignore you if your meta description doesn’t make them feel confident in your content.
Now that you have a good title, you need to ensure that your meta description is at the same level. The main features of an excellent meta description are:
- Use action words: Get your readers to click on your website by building on the pledge of your title using actionable words like “learn,” “check,” and “read.”
- Keep it within 155 characters: This is the maximum number of characters that Google will display in search results. Don’t let your description get cut off.
- Be descriptive (no fluff): don’t write anything general or broad; be specific. Describe in a short summary what you are going to give readers if they click on the link.
4. Make A Surprising Statement
Beginning your composition with a controversial or unexpected statement will encourage your audience to continue reading as they anticipate how you will prove your statement.
5. Leave Your Reader With Questions
Most reader hook-up techniques have one thing in common: They force the reader to ask questions. A good hook—whether it uses action, emotion, a strong statement, or some other technique—your reader will guess at your characters’ motivations, backstories, and more.
Maybe you learned to start an essay with a rhetorical question in high school. Now try the same technique, but leave the question out of the ending section. Instead, set a scene that prompts your reader to think differently about the question.
6. Write About What Readers Are Interested In
It is the biggest tip of all. What you write about doesn’t matter as long as the reader wants to read. Once you’ve got this right, the pressure of having the correct title is lessened. On the other hand, don’t be too clever. Write what people want to read.
Generally, writers write what they care about – and they try to get others to be interested in it. Don’t limit yourself. Readers already know what kind of things they want to read. Their minds rarely change, and if they do, it is usually meant to be seen and not read.
Readers will hang in there until the last word if you choose the right topic. And it’s not because they like you – you don’t matter for them long as you write something that interests them.
7. Tell Compelling Stories
Everyone wants to know how the story ends. If you hook a reader to a story, they want to see it through. Stories are a great way to grab the reader’s attention. And above all, remember that readers only read what interests them, so start there.
8. Help Them See What You See
Maybe you’re focusing on yourself when creating the message about your business, thinking that everyone sees things your way. But they are not.
People don’t “hear” or pay attention to you until they understand what you’re getting at.
That’s why you need to articulate your position clearly- help them see what you’re looking for, using storytelling, descriptions, personal experiences, case studies, and anything else that will put the prospect in the correct position to understand your message.
9. Use Images to Grab Attention
Marketing visual content doesn’t have to be complicated.
Think of easy ways to cut long blocks of text out of images that give your reader a moment’s pause for the content. The trick is to make the pictures relate to your subject, so even they pause from reading your words, you will still keep their attention.
If you start with an eye-catching image at the top of your content, you can immediately make your writing more productive, and you can gradually add more photos to the rest of your text as appropriate.
If you want to learn more tricks to grab user attention, contact us. Our experts are here to help you. Call now!