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  • Writer's pictureEva Baluchova

Do You Know What a Cliffhanger Is?



If you're new to writing, you may not know what a cliffhanger is.


Recently, I realised something...


… the words in this article have something to do with it…


As a writer, you need to know what a cliffhanger is in copywriting. A cliffhanger is a hook that keeps readers interested in the next part of the story. It's one of the most powerful writing techniques for capturing readers' attention. But if you don't know how to write a cliffhanger, you could be losing out on traffic. This post will show you how to write a cliffhanger and explain why it's so important to your business.


What is A cliffhanger?


A cliffhanger is a short, punchy paragraph or sentence that leaves readers hanging on a question or a statement. It's a great way to hook readers and keep them coming back for more.


A cliffhanger in copywriting is an ambiguous sentence that leads the reader to question what is coming next. There are two main reasons why a cliffhanger works so well in copy:


  1. It's suspenseful. If you don't know what is coming next, you will be waiting for the next part of the story. It leaves the reader guessing what happens next.

  2. It makes the reader want to read the next part. You have to be careful when you use a cliffhanger in copy. You don't want to do it too often. It should be used in moderation. If you do, you'll end up irritating your readers.


How to write A cliffhanger?


The best way to write a cliffhanger is to use a question. This way, your reader will be intrigued and want to know what's next. For example, you can use "Who?" or "What?" as a cliffhanger.

You can also use a "Why?" or a "How?" to create a cliffhanger. You can even use a "Where?" or a "When?" to make a cliffhanger. Finally, if you have a lot of information you want to share, you can use a "What if?" or a "What if..."


If you have a long story, you can use a cliffhanger to keep your reader's attention. You can use a cliffhanger if you have a lot of information that you want to share. You can also use a cliffhanger at the end of a copy to make it more interesting.

Here are our wearebridge.io favorite cliffhangers examples:


"Little did I know how important______"

"But wait! There's more."

"The basics of it is this: ......."

"Then I realised something."

"But how do you do it?"

"For example"

"Let me explain."

"Here's what I mean."

"Here's why"

'But that's not all….'


'In a moment, I will reveal to you the five most important reasons why to join our company. But first…' (this is especially useful when writing long copy. Adding a sentence such asIt is like dangling a carrot in front of them.)
"Do you still need more information? Don't worry; we understand that you don't know what to do right now; you like what you read, but you still have more questions before you decide to move forward, but that's what Eva is here for." 
"You probably have questions about how you can fast you can grow your career in our company. Don't worry. In the short call, we'll dive into exactly how you can do just that."
"P.S. Today, I shared with you about our company and the role we are hiring for. I understand you might wanna take time to think of this. In a few days, I'm going to share the rest of the story: what we exactly offer and how fast you can see growth within our company. Keep an eye on your inbox on Tuesday when I'll send you more info." 

More examples? See in our visual guideline :-)

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The cliffhanger technique is one of the most powerful tools in copywriting. Unfortunately, it's also one of the most misunderstood. Many people think it's just a way to make your audience want to read the rest of your story, but that's not the case at all. "The cliffhanger is a very effective technique for pulling readers into your next piece of copy."


You can write an interesting headline and a great opening paragraph. You can use a cliffhanger to hook the reader. You can also use a cliffhanger in your opening paragraph. So much potential ...


Final Thoughts

In conclusion, a cliffhanger is a type of story arc. A cliffhanger is a device that draws the reader into the next part of the story, leaving them wanting more. In other words, the cliffhanger is a very effective technique for pulling readers into your next piece of copy. It's a story that leaves the reader wanting more, and it's a great way to grab their attention and keep them reading.


Want to learn more? Get our copywriting in recruitment e-book.


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Our favorite reads on this topic:

  • https://www.enchantingmarketing.com/hook-your-reader-with-cliffhangers/

  • https://www.bizwrites.com/copywriting-technique-every-writer-learn/

  • https://www.honeycopy.com/copywritingblog/what-is-a

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