How To Write The First Sentence

You have a fantastic headline now so what’s next to keep readers focus on the article. Pretty obvious isn’t it? First statement becomes the next element to create retention ability.

In copywriting, the purpose of the first statement is to get you to read the second statement. The second statement is to get you to read the third on. This is a very important component which you must remember when writing the first few sentences.

The second concept in copywriting:

The purpose of the first sentence is to get you to read the second

sentence.

How To Write Your First Sentence

Now that you know the importance of the first sentence, what can you do to make it so compelling to read? The answer is to make it short.

The sentence is so short and simple that it causes a slippery slide effect which readers will fall into it unknowingly. Before they even realized, they are at the last paragraph of the article.

While reading this, you are into my slippery slide which leads you to this part of the article. Therefore, this show how simple it is if you know the correct techniques.

The third concept in copywriting:

Keep your first sentence as short as possible to create the slippery

slide effect.

Creating A Reason To Read

Now your readers are in the second paragraph of your article. You are about to capture their attention at this moment. Use this chance to create a reason for them to read on. You can use a problem to surface the reason.

For example, I have used this sentence in my opening paragraph “You have a fantastic headline now so what’s next to keep readers focus on the article”. I am bringing up the problem that you faced and this gives you a reason to read on.

This leads me to the next technique use by Joseph Sugarman in his copy – Harmonize.

The fourth concept in copywriting:

Get the reader to say yes and harmonize with your first paragraph

while reading your article.

Harmonizing with readers simply means getting them to agree with what you said. Stating a general problem is a good technique to get reader to say yes to what you have written. For example, “Having problem getting traffic to your website?” is a problem stating sentence that most readers will agree with.

Get reader to agree with you or you will lose them. Stating an obvious question works at times too. The main idea is to get them to nod their head over the statement you have on your article. Even question like “Do you want to make money from blogging?” works too.

Putting All Together

Initially, you have a compelling headline to draw attention. Supporting the headline, you have short sentences to retain reader from reading further. At the same time, you state the problem thus giving them a reason to read on. By then, it will be at the mid page of your article. All these are part of the slippery slide effect.

Imagine you jumping down from a 6 inch box. Can you control yourself by stopping in mid air? Same goes to reading, create a natural force to bring your reader into your article by using the techniques I have thought in here. Do you want to know the last technique to bring reader to the end of article?

Nurturing Seeds Of Curiosity

This will be the last technique that you need to sum up on copywriting. Churn up curiosity at different paragraphs to keep readers interested. Revealing benefit on the value of reading the article is a good way to keep the readers curiosity.

Another method is to include short sentences at mid paragraph. These sentences are means to connect to your next paragraph while keeping the curiosity level of the reader. Examples are “But there’s more” and “read on for more details”. Subconsciously, reader will take the action being the words which is to carry on reading.

Originally written by  Wei Liang for ABloggerBlog.com