Let’s be real: your first sentence can make or break your newsletter.

Take this line from one of my top-performing emails:

“The more I reflect on the last few years, the more obvious it becomes that I’ve failed far more times than I’ve succeeded.”

It crushed—not just because of the subject line, but because that opening made people stop scrolling.

We’ve all done it. Subscribed to a newsletter, opened it, skimmed the first two lines... and bailed. That’s not always because the content sucks—it’s often because the intro didn’t give us a reason to care.

Strong openers = stronger engagement. It’s that simple.

In this post, I’m breaking down:

• What makes a killer opener (and what kills your retention)?

• The types of intros that work for creators.

• And how you can apply it starting today.

Whether you’re covering news, trends, storytelling, or selling a product, if you don’t nail the first 5 seconds, it doesn’t matter what comes after.

Why Strong Openers Matter (Especially in Newsletters)

This isn’t about fluffy copywriting tips. It’s about retention.

A great opener does three things:

The Proof Is in the Scrolls

beehiiv’s platform data shows an average open rate of 37.98% in 2024. But opens are just the start. What really drives engagement? Clicks and scroll depth—and that starts with the first sentence.

If you lose them in line one, everything else is wasted.

The Most Common Opener Mistakes I See

Let’s clean house. These are the biggest traps:

• Starting with "Hey everyone..." ← lazy and generic

• Burying the lead ← don’t wait till paragraph 4 to get to the point

• Sounding like ChatGPT ← yes, ditch the robotic intros

• Making it all about you ← your reader needs to see themselves in the intro

Here's an example of what not to do:

“Today, we’re going to talk about a really exciting trend in digital marketing that I came across recently…”

🛑 Boring. Vague. Forgettable.

The Best Newsletter Openers I’ve Seen

Let’s look at a few that hit hard—fast:

🧠 For a crypto audience:

“Bitcoin is pumping. But your grandma still doesn’t care.”

It’s funny, simple, and instantly tells you what the newsletter is about: making crypto accessible.

💼 For business builders:

“Want to buy a boring business and retire in 5 years?”

It’s aspirational and specific. And it’s written like she’s texting a friend, not pitching.

📬 For the creator economy:

“MrBeast just turned down $1 billion. Here’s why.”

You have to keep reading. That’s the point.

Types of Writing Openers That Work (And When to Use Them)

Let’s break them down by style and where they shine.

1. The Question

Great for sparking curiosity.

• “Why do 80% of newsletters fail after three issues?”

• “Ever wonder how YouTubers go broke with 5M subscribers?”

Use it when your content solves a problem or explains something people already wonder about.

2. The Contrarian Take

Hook readers by flipping the script.

• “Email open rates don’t matter. Here’s what does.”

• “Writing less might actually grow your newsletter faster.”

This works when your content challenges assumptions.

3. The Bold Statement

Hit ‘em with a punch.

• “Your welcome email sucks.”

• “The only SEO strategy that still works is stealing.”

It’s risky—but sticky.

4. The Micro Story

Start with a mini anecdote or scene.

“Yesterday, I emailed 11,000 people. I got 6 replies, and 3 were angry. Here’s what I learned.”

Stories = human. Use them.

How to Tailor Openers to Your Audience

The intro that crushes for crypto bros won’t work for nonfiction book lovers. Know your people.

Ask yourself:

If your newsletter is for indie authors, open with a publishing pain point.
If you’re writing to marketers, open with a tactic that saves them time.

📌 Pro tip: Go through your own inbox. What made you open or keep reading? Steal those structures.

Don’t Just Write Openers—Test Them

You won’t get it perfect on the first draft. So don’t try.

Instead:

• Write different versions.

• Run an A/B test if your ESP allows.

• Use beehiiv’s built-in click maps and open rates to track what works.

beehiiv also makes it dead simple to test subject lines, intros, and layouts—and the analytics dashboard shows exactly what keeps people engaged.

Real Talk: Your Readers Decide in 3 Seconds

If your opener doesn’t pass that test, the rest doesn’t matter.

So write for that moment. Make it count.

Final Thoughts: Start Strong or Don’t Start at All

Your opener is the first impression—and sometimes the only one.

You don’t need to be a pro copywriter. You just need to:

• Know your audience,

• Deliver value fast,

• And sound like a human.

Even a one-liner can turn a skimmer into a subscriber.

So next time you sit down to write your newsletter, don’t start with the content. Start with the hook.

👉 Want more like this? Sign up for beehiiv—it’s what top newsletters use to write, grow, and monetize.