11 Opening Lines That Win Clients for Solopreneurs

Most solopreneurs don’t have a traffic problem. They have a “first sentence” problem.

You can have a smart offer, a decent blog post title, and real expertise—and still watch readers bounce because the opening line feels like homework. If your content marketing is supposed to bring leads (not just polite likes), the opener isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s the moment your future client decides whether you’re worth their attention.

This article is part of the SMB Content Marketing United States series, where we focus on practical ways to build audience and demand on a budget. Here’s what works when you’re doing the writing, marketing, and selling yourself: 11 opening line strategies you can reuse across blog posts, newsletters, LinkedIn posts, and landing pages—without sounding like a copywriting robot.

The solopreneur rule: your opener has one job

Your opening line has a single job: earn the next line.

That’s it. Not to be clever. Not to “set context.” Not to introduce yourself. The reality is simple: people skim, they’re busy, and they’re deciding fast.

Here’s the standard I use when editing content for one-person businesses:

If your first line could be swapped into 1,000 other blog posts, it’s not doing its job.

Good openers are specific, relevant, and momentum-building.

Strategy 1–3: Start by pulling the right people in

These are the strategies that work best for lead generation because they attract the right reader—someone who has the problem you solve.

1) Identify a need (say the problem out loud)

The fastest way to get engagement is to show readers you understand what they’re dealing with.

Why it works: It creates instant relevance and reduces skepticism.

Swipeable opening lines:

• “If your website gets visits but not inquiries, your content is doing the wrong job.”
• “You don’t need more content—you need fewer pieces that actually convert.”
• “If your calendar is full but your pipeline is empty, this is why.”

Solopreneur tip: Name a specific version of the problem. “Marketing is hard” is vague. “Your blog posts get read but don’t lead to discovery calls” is specific.

2) Ask a one-answer question (the ‘yes’ question)

A one-answer question nudges the reader into agreement.

Why it works: It triggers a micro-commitment. Readers who think “yes” are more likely to keep going.

Examples:

• “Want your next blog post to generate leads without spending on ads?”
• “Tired of publishing weekly and hearing crickets?”

Important: Keep it truly one-answer. If the reader thinks “well, it depends,” you’ve lost momentum.

3) Pose an intriguing question (open a loop)

This is the curiosity version—less about pain, more about mystery.

Why it works: People want closure. A strong curiosity gap pulls them down the page.

Examples:

• “Why do some consultants get inquiries from ‘small’ posts while others don’t—even with bigger audiences?”
• “What’s the easiest part of your content to improve that most people ignore?”

Use it when: Your topic is familiar (like “write better content”) and you need an angle that feels fresh.

Strategy 4–6: Make it feel human (without rambling)

Solopreneurs have one unfair advantage over big brands: you can sound like an actual person. Use that.

4) Offer a surprise (pattern break)

A surprise line interrupts autopilot scrolling.

Why it works: It creates contrast. Contrast earns attention.

Examples:

• “I deleted half my blog posts and got more leads the next month.”
• “The worst opener I see in SMB marketing is also the most common: ‘In this post, we’ll…’”

Guardrail: The surprise must connect back to the topic within a sentence or two. Random shock value doesn’t build trust.

5) Tell a story or analogy (short, sharp, relevant)

A story doesn’t need three paragraphs. One or two sentences can do it.

Why it works: Stories create emotional context and make advice stick.

Example openers for solo businesses:

• “Last week a client told me, ‘People read my posts… but nobody books a call.’ The fix took 10 minutes.”
• “Your opener is like a storefront sign. If it’s generic, people keep walking.”

My stance: If your story doesn’t create a clear lesson quickly, cut it. Lead-gen content isn’t a memoir.

6) Make a bold claim (a promise you can defend)

A bold claim works when you can back it up with steps, proof, or clear reasoning.

Why it works: It raises stakes and signals confidence.

Examples:

• “You can improve your blog conversion rate without changing your offer—start with the first sentence.”
• “The intro is where most SMB content marketing fails, not the middle.”

Caution: Don’t overpromise. If you say “double your leads,” you better explain how and under what conditions.

Strategy 7–9: Add tension, clarity, or credibility

These openers create urgency and authority—useful when your reader is skeptical or distracted.

7) Stir (smart) controversy

Controversy isn’t being rude. It’s taking a clear position.

Why it works: It forces the reader to react—and reaction creates attention.

Examples:

• “Most solopreneurs should stop publishing weekly.”
• “If your opener ‘sets the stage,’ it’s probably costing you leads.”

How to keep it professional: Attack the idea, not people. Then explain the reasoning quickly.

8) Paint a vivid picture (make the outcome feel real)

This is especially effective for service businesses where buyers need to imagine the improvement.

Why it works: Visualization creates motivation.

Examples:

• “You hit publish, close your laptop, and two days later a qualified lead replies: ‘This is exactly what I needed—can we talk?’”
• “Picture writing one post that becomes your go-to link in every sales conversation.”

Tip: Keep it grounded. Readers can smell fantasy.

9) Highlight a startling statistic (use numbers to frame the problem)

Stats make the opener feel concrete.

Why it works: Numbers create instant specificity.

Examples (use your own analytics if you can):

• “If 300 people read your post and 0 contact you, that’s not ‘awareness.’ That’s a conversion problem.”
• “A 1% click-to-call rate means 1 inquiry per 100 readers—intros can move that.”

Better than generic industry stats: Your real numbers from GA4, Search Console, email open rates, or CRM counts.

Strategy 10–11: Borrow strength from others (quotes and visuals)

These are the easiest to execute when you’re short on time—but they still need intent.

10) Start with a powerful quote (and make it do work)

A quote only works if it sets up your point.

Why it works: It lends authority and gives readers a “hook” to hold onto.

Examples:

• “

‘Clarity beats persuasion.’

If your opener isn’t clear, no amount of clever writing will save the post.”

Tip: Follow the quote immediately with your interpretation. Don’t make readers guess why it’s there.

11) Lead with an impactful image (especially for social + blog)

For solopreneurs, an image can increase stop-the-scroll on social and improve engagement on-site.

Why it works: Visuals create instant context and pattern interruption.

Practical ways to use this:

• Use a simple screenshot (analytics, a headline test, a before/after intro rewrite)
• Use a photo of your real workspace or process when it supports the story
• Use a clean illustration that reinforces the main concept (attention → interest → action)

Rule: The image must be relevant. Pretty-but-random images train people to ignore your visuals.

A quick way to choose the right opener (so you don’t overthink it)

Pick your opener based on what your reader needs most right now:

1. They don’t realize they have the problem yet → statistic, vivid picture, surprising claim
2. They know the problem and want a fix → identify a need, bold promise
3. They’re skeptical or overloaded with advice → controversy, short story with a result
4. You’re repurposing for social → surprise, one-answer question, image-first

Here’s a simple workflow I’ve found reliable when writing solo:

• Draft 3 different first lines in 3 minutes (no editing)
• Pick the one that makes the rest of the post easiest to write
• Make sure line #2 connects directly to the post’s promise (no throat-clearing)

Mini swipe file: 11 plug-and-play openers for your next post

Use these as templates and fill in your niche specifics:

1. “If you’re struggling with [specific outcome], it’s probably because [root cause].”
2. “Want [result] without [thing they hate]?”
3. “What do [two surprising things] have in common?”
4. “I used to think [common belief]—then [surprising discovery].”
5. “Last week, [client/friend/me] said: ‘[real quote].’”
6. “You can fix [problem] in [timeframe] if you start with [starting point].”
7. “Unpopular opinion: [stance].”
8. “Picture this: [realistic scenario].”
9. “If [number] people see your content and [number] act, here’s what that means.”
10. “

‘[quote]’

Here’s what that looks like in SMB content marketing.” 11. “The screenshot below is why your intro matters.”

What to do next (if you want leads, not just readers)

Your next step is simple: rewrite the first 1–2 lines of your three most-visited posts. Don’t touch anything else yet. You’re looking for quick wins.

Track one metric for each post over the next 30 days:

• email sign-ups
• contact form submissions
• discovery call bookings
• replies to your newsletter

If you want to build a predictable audience in the U.S. SMB space, this is the kind of compounding work that pays off: a small edit on page one can change the results of the whole funnel.

What’s your go-to opening move right now—problem statement, story, statistic, or something else?