It's been said the MOST important aspect of any content, particularly blog posts, is the title. That's right. Even more so than the content that follows. This is for one simple reason- if you don't have a good title and 'fly-catching' opening people will quickly stick around long enough to hear what else it is you have to say- or offer.

The second most important aspect would then be your opening. So how do you get your readers to stick around past the first sentence?

Without further ado, here are 5 ways to open your post that will capture the reader's imagination and pull them deeper into your content.

1. "The next thing to saying a good thing yourself, is to quote one." Ralph Waldo Emerson-

Quotes from an identifiable authority or celebrity can also work wonders when holding attention in those critical opening seconds. Now you can identify this quote as a tie-in to the subject of your post. Anecdotes are short efficient stories that can make people laugh, smile or instantly set up the main point of your post. 2. Use all those words you should've learned in English class

Metaphors, analogies, and similes aren't just something you tuned out while passing notes to your friend across the room They are also a few of the most powerful devices existing when compacting a story and making a point efficiently. . This is a great way to capture a reader's attention and also acts to incite mental imagery that allows readers to tell a story to themselves. 3. Red pill or blue pill ?

Creating curiosity is a terrific way to draw a reader in and get them thinking. This equals active engagement with your writing, and that's a very good thing. If people remain detached from your writing, the more likely they will be to forget you and thus, they won't return. 4. Highlight A Surprising Statistic

This is effective because it is highly visual and easy to assimilate for the reader. Whatever statistics you're citing should of course be relevant to the point of your post as well and your field. ( Of course. ) People enjoy interesting data, but only if it is appalling, noteworthy, or novel. 5. Draw a picture

-With your words. A mental image in a reader's mind is one of the most commanding elements you can ever employ as a writer, so explicitly striking the imagination is a powerful opening technique. Trigger the mind's eye of the reader by using phrases such as "imagine this," "remember back when ...," etc.

This list is in no way all-inclusive, of course for great starting points and getting a reader to stick around. What else do you use to capture your readers attention ?