Finish Strong! How to Write a Conclusion That Sticks with Your Reader

Award-winning writer Kathy Widenhouse has helped hundreds of nonprofits and writers produce successful content and has gained 600K+ views for her writing tutorials. She is the author of 9 books. See more of Kathy’s content here.

When you know how to write a conclusion for your article, letter, or blog post – or any content, for that matter – you finish strong and make your point. You also make it worthwhile for your reader to stick with you until the end.

It’s no secret that you need to write a strong opening to hook Joe Reader. When he gets interested, he proceeds to read or skim the body itself.

Less well-known is the secret of finishing strong. Studies show that only 50% of today’s readers stay with a piece of content beyond the halfway mark (at most.)

That means half of your readers finish the piece!

What if your Joe Reader is among the remaining 50%? By writing powerful endings, you give Joe an unexpected bonus. He doesn’t expect memorable or useful content at the end. 

How can you give it to him? 

How to Write a Conclusion That Sticks: 3 Tips 

Tip #1: Make It Short

Show Joe a bit of respect and finish quickly. As a general rule, keep your ending to 10% of the piece’s total word count.

Tip #2: Make a Final (Additional) Point

The weakest endings are a straight-up rehash of the content’s main point, either by using the same language or the same angle. A strong ending goes one step beyond the main point you made in the lead when you set out the problem. Then you unpacked it with reasons why. Now is the time to add, amplify, or expand on the promise you made in the opening.

Tip #3: Make It Memorable

End with a twist or unexpected conclusion, and your reader has a better chance of remembering your point. A quote, a turn of events, a new insight – keep a surprise in your back pocket to pull out at the end as a way of saying, “I saved this for last!”

By consistently writing powerful endings, you surprise Joe Reader in a good way. You earn his trust because you give him more than he anticipated. It’s what marketers sometimes call “over-delivering.” Your point sticks with him. Do it often enough and Joe Reader looks forward to finishing your content because now, he expects to find a jewel.

An ending is not just a throwaway. It’s a takeaway. 

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