Want to Capture Interest in the Frist 5 Seconds?

What's one of the breakout TV shows this season?

"Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?"

Learn from this title. Look at the lead lines in your blog postings, articles, chapters, and Web pages.

Do they start off by simply describing what you have to say or sell?

Why not rephrase those introductory remarks into questions that elicit answers? You'll be setting up two-way communication instead of a one-way sermon.

Look at the difference between "Don't Sabotage Yourself" and "Are You Sabotaging Yourself?" One is an order. Do you know anyone who likes to be ordered around? The other Socratically causes people to reflect and respond.

Next time you write marketing material or sales copy, ask yourself, "How can I open with a question so I'm capturing interest instead of making a statement?"

Why is that so important? Statements sit on the page. Questions engage.