How to Write LinkedIn Hooks That Stop the Scroll

Your first 1-2 lines determine whether people read or scroll past. Master the art of writing hooks that grab attention instantly.

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⚡ Critical Fact:

You have less than 2 seconds to capture attention. If your first line doesn't hook readers, 80% will scroll past without reading further. The LinkedIn feed is ruthless.

The Anatomy of a Great Hook

1. Creates Curiosity

Makes readers want to know what happens next

2. Relatable or Relevant

Speaks directly to your audience's experience or pain points

3. Specific and Concrete

Uses numbers, names, or vivid details (not vague statements)

4. Creates an Open Loop

Promises value that's delivered in the post

10 Proven Hook Formulas

1. The Bold Statement

Make a controversial or counter-intuitive claim.

• Most LinkedIn advice is wrong.

• You're optimizing for the wrong metrics.

• The #1 mistake entrepreneurs make? Working hard.

• I stopped networking. My career took off.

2. The Specific Number

Lead with a compelling statistic or timeframe.

• I built a $1M business in 18 months.

• 73% of LinkedIn users make this mistake.

• 6 years ago, I was broke.

• I analyzed 10,000 viral LinkedIn posts.

3. The Personal Story

Start with a vulnerable or relatable moment.

• Yesterday, I got fired.

• My biggest failure taught me this.

• I used to hate public speaking.

• The email that changed my career arrived at 2 AM.

4. The Question Hook

Ask something that makes readers pause and think.

• What if everything you know about marketing is outdated?

• Ever wonder why some people succeed faster?

• Why do 90% of startups fail in year one?

• Are you making this fatal career mistake?

5. The Surprising Fact

Share something unexpected or counter-intuitive.

• Coca-Cola's marketing budget decreased 40%. Sales went up.

• The best engineers write the least code.

• Amazon's first office was a garage. Actually, that's a myth.

• Steve Jobs got rejected by his own company.

6. The "Here's What Nobody Tells You"

Promise insider knowledge or hidden truth.

• What they don't teach you in business school:

• The secret every successful founder knows:

• Nobody talks about this part of entrepreneurship.

• Here's what LinkedIn doesn't want you to know.

7. The Comparison

Set up a before/after or this-vs-that contrast.

• Amateurs focus on tactics. Pros focus on systems.

• Your competition is hustling. You should be strategizing.

• Good leaders tell. Great leaders ask.

• 2020: Broke. 2025: $5M in revenue.

8. The Pattern Interrupt

Say something unexpected that breaks the scroll.

• Stop creating content.

• Delete your LinkedIn profile.

• I'm quitting my 6-figure job.

• Productivity hacks are destroying your career.

9. The List Preview

Tease a numbered list that promises value.

• 5 habits that changed my life:

• 7 mistakes I see every day on LinkedIn:

• 3 books that made me a millionaire:

• 10 lessons from building a failed startup:

10. The Admission

Confess something vulnerable or honest.

• I've been lying to you.

• I don't have all the answers.

• I was wrong about remote work.

• Confession: I'm scared to post this.

Hook Writing Best Practices

✓

Keep it short

1-2 lines maximum. Long hooks lose impact.

✓

Be specific

"I made $127K in 6 months" beats "I made good money recently"

✓

Create curiosity gaps

Hint at the answer without giving it away in the hook

✓

Use power words

Mistake, secret, proven, surprising, counterintuitive, unexpected

✓

Test different angles

Same content, different hooks = vastly different engagement

Hook Mistakes to Avoid

✗

Generic openers

"I want to share something with you" - too vague, no hook

✗

Overpromising

"This will change your life" - unrealistic, hurts trust

✗

Clickbait without value

Hook promises one thing, post delivers another

✗

Burying the lead

The most interesting part should be first, not third paragraph

✗

Using jargon

Industry buzzwords alienate readers outside your niche

Hook Testing Framework

The 3-Second Test

Before posting, ask yourself:

  1. Would I stop scrolling if I saw this?
  2. Does it create curiosity or emotion?
  3. Is it specific enough to be interesting?
  4. Does it promise clear value?

If you answer "no" to any question, rewrite your hook.

Real Examples: Before & After

❌ Weak Hook:

I want to share some thoughts about productivity today.

✅ Strong Hook:

I deleted 90% of my to-do list. Productivity doubled.

❌ Weak Hook:

Here are some tips for better LinkedIn engagement.

✅ Strong Hook:

I analyzed 10,000 LinkedIn posts. 97% made this mistake.

❌ Weak Hook:

I learned something important about business recently.

✅ Strong Hook:

My mentor told me: "If you're not embarrassed by your first product, you launched too late."

Quick Hook Checklist

  • ✅ Under 20 words
  • ✅ Creates curiosity or emotion
  • ✅ Specific (numbers, names, details)
  • ✅ Relevant to your audience
  • ✅ Promises value
  • ✅ Makes sense standalone
  • ✅ Would make YOU stop scrolling

Generate Powerful Hooks

Our AI-powered formatter can help you craft hooks that grab attention and increase engagement.

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