You've written, if you do say so yourself, an excellent article, covered all the important points, and now you just need to write a conclusion.

Still, this feels like a must do every time. Think you're almost done, you still have to write that wretched conclusion.

And so you often choose one of the following shortcuts:

• You do what you learned in school and repeat the important points from your article in your conclusion
• You omit the conclusion altogether and let your article go out like a candle
• You end your article with a question about the topic: "What do you think of [topic]? Let me know in the comments!"

Recognizable? You're not the only one. Many content managers struggle with the conclusion. While this is your last chance to impress your reader and get him to take action.

As a content manager at Buzzlytics, I too found writing conclusions a frustrating business before I started working at Buzzlytics. But since I started using the PEP method for the introduction and the 4 R's method for the conclusion, both parts come a lot easier to me. And because they are both formulas, you can also write them very well with ChatGPT or Claude, which means you write better introductions and conclusions in less time. In our marketing and sales program, we'll teach you how!

In this article you will learn why an effective conclusion is so important and how to create one using the 4 R's method. I give you real-life examples of good conclusions and tips on how to avoid common mistakes. After reading this article, you'll know exactly how to quickly write an effective conclusion that spurs your readers to action, rather than having your article go out like a candle.

Your conclusion is a prime opportunity to anchor your core message in your reader's memory.

A good conclusion is not a must-have at the end of your article. It's a strategic component that strengthens your message and engages your readers.

After all, your readers mainly remember the beginning and the end of your article (the so-called primacy-recency effect). Your conclusion is therefore an excellent opportunity to anchor your core message in the memory of your reader.

Think about your own reading experience. In how many articles did you actually take action after reading them? Chances are this only happened with articles with a thoughtful conclusion that gave you the final push.

Fortunately, you don't have to reinvent the wheel every time. At Buzzlytics, we use the 4 R's method to write strong conclusions quickly and effectively. This formula consists of four components that you can apply in virtually any order (although the last one often works best at the end):

Resolution is all about wrapping up what your reader came to learn something about. You're helping the reader tie a bow, so to speak, around the package of information you've offered. You can also think of this as reassurance.

In a comparison article, for example, resolution can come down to helping you make a decision. The goal is to give the reader a sense of completion about what they just read. A few sentences usually suffice.

Example: "By following the four steps in this article, you can transform your email marketing from a generic approach to a personalized conversation with your customers."

At this step, remind the reader of the overarching problem they are trying to solve. Use this opportunity to re-emphasize the core problem to remind the reader what insights they want to take away from your article.

The difference with a simple summary is that here you focus specifically on the problem or challenge, not the content of your article.

Case in point: "Most companies struggle with creating email campaigns that are actually opened and read, losing valuable opportunities to reach customers."

This is a reminder of who you are and how you have helped people in similar positions. Remind your reader of who wrote the article and that you are there to help.

This may sound sales-oriented, but it doesn't have to be. The point is to subtly emphasize your expertise and show that you are not just making claims, but actually know what you are talking about.

Example: "At [company name], we've helped hundreds of companies improve their email response through this personalized approach, building stronger relationships with their customers."

End with a relevant follow-up step that is usually directly connected to the "remind" step. If you can show how a follow-up step helps solve the overarching problem, your reader is more likely to actually take that action.

The difference with generic recommendations like "Want to learn more? Then click here" is that you specify how the next step addresses the reader's problem.

Example: "Still struggling with low opening rates of your emails? In our next article, we'll show you how to use A/B testing to double your open rates within a week."

Time to see what this method looks like in practice. Below I analyze two examples of conclusions that effectively apply the 4 R's.

Below is an example of the 4 R's in action in a conclusion from our client Starcode.

Resolution

"Increasing the quality of your article numbering doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. With a clear plan and the right approach, you can get quick results that contribute directly to a more efficient and profitable business."

The first paragraph provides a solution to the problem the article aims to solve. It makes it clear that increasing the quality of article numbering can be easy, provided a good plan and the right approach are followed. It gives the reader a sense of clarity about what they have learned: improvement is possible and can be achieved quickly.

Remind

"By implementing proper item management, you not only avoid costly search time and duplicate inventory, but you also ensure that you can communicate much better between departments. You reduce errors in your processes and end up being able to provide your customers with what they need faster."

The second paragraph reminds the reader of the problem the article is about and why article numbering is important. It highlights the benefits of good article management, such as preventing costly search time, duplicate inventory and improving communication between departments. It reminds the reader of the key points the article is trying to address.

Reintroduction

"At Starcode, we help SME manufacturing companies optimize their item management on a daily basis and see time and time again how much time and money it saves. Our ERP software is specifically designed to streamline article management in manufacturing companies, so you can focus on your core business: producing high-quality products."

The third paragraph reintroduces author of the article: Starcode. This section explains why Starcode is suitable to help, by emphasizing that they support SMB manufacturing companies on a daily basis and that their ERP software is specifically designed to optimize item management. This gives the reader confidence in the company's expertise and why they are able to solve the problem of article numbering.

Relevant next steps

"Want to learn more about how effective article numbering can help your maker business grow? In this article, read 5 reasons why article numbering often goes wrong and how to fix it."

Finally, the fourth paragraph offers next steps for readers. They are encouraged to learn further by reading an article on the five reasons why article numbering often goes wrong and how to fix it. This makes it clear to the reader what they can do next to further address the problem.

Resolution

"BringingMarketing and sales in-house can be an excellent strategic move, but only if you are aware of the pitfalls that lurk. From underestimating the time required to lacking an objective view, each pitfall can make the difference between success and disappointment."

The first paragraph offers a clear solution: it emphasizes that bringing marketing and sales in-house may be a good move, but that you need to be aware of the pitfalls that can occur. This makes clear what has been learned and alerts the reader to potential problems.

Remind

"If you want to take this step, it's crucial to look beyond cost savings or more control. You will need to invest time, develop the right expertise and create a culture of consistency. In addition, you need to ensure objective feedback, the right metrics and a thoughtful toolset."

The second paragraph reminds the reader of the problem discussed: bringing marketing and sales in-house presents more challenges than just cost savings or control. It emphasizes the need for investment in time, expertise and creating a culture focused on success. This reminds the reader of the broader implications of their decision.

Reintroduction

"At Buzzlytics, we've helped many companies make this transition successfully. We see time and time again that companies that are aware of these pitfalls and proactively address them achieve much better results than companies that think they can just do it themselves."

The third paragraph reintroduces Buzzlytics as an expert who has experience helping companies make this transition successfully. This reminds the reader that Buzzlytics has the right knowledge and experience to assist the reader in this complex step.

Relevant next steps

"Because remember: If you keep doing what you did, you'll get what you got. Even the best athletes have a coach. Want to take that next step and get better results with your marketing and sales? Then schedule a call with me or one of my colleagues to discuss how we can help you avoid these pitfalls."

This paragraph offers the following steps for the reader: the request to contact Buzzlytics for a conversation. This is a clear call to action, encouraging the reader to take further steps and enlist the help of Buzzlytics to avoid the pitfalls and get better results.

The 4 R's are a flexible framework that you can adapt as you see fit. Here are some tips for applying this method flexibly.

The four components can be applied in almost any order, although the relevant follow-up step usually works best at the end. Experiment with different sequences to see what works best for your particular article.

Avoid general suggestions like "If you want to know more, read this." Instead, formulate specific, actionable steps that directly address your reader's problem, such as: "If you're still struggling with X, this next article will help you choose which solution to try first."

Make sure the 4 R's fit seamlessly into your article. Despite the formulaic structure, it should not feel like a formula, but should come across as a natural conclusion that helps the reader apply what they have learned.

Articles with a strong conclusion according to the 4 R's method lead to more interaction, longer reading time and - most importantly - more action from readers.

Writing a powerful conclusion no longer has to be a challenge when you use the 4 R's method. With Resolution, Remind, Reintroduction and a Relevant Next Step, you have all the ingredients you need to inspire your readers and spur them into action, instead of letting your article go out like a candle.

Many content managers struggle with their conclusions because they don't know what elements make a strong conclusion. They simply repeat what has already been said or end with a meaningless phrase. By applying the 4 R's structure, you can solve this problem for good and make sure your conclusion is as impactful as the rest of your content.

At Buzzlytics, we've seen how this method has helped content managers write better conclusions faster. Where they used to spend a lot of time coming up with a good conclusion, they now have a proven formula that works every time. And the results don't lie: articles with a strong conclusion using the 4 R's method lead to more interaction, longer reading time and - most importantly - more action from readers.

Are you ready to take your own conclusions to the next level? Then start applying the 4 R's in your next article today. And while you're at it, include the introduction right away. In this article, you'll read all about how to write a proven effective introduction.