LinkedIn Hook Formulas: 50+ Opening Lines That Stop the Scroll

Your first line on LinkedIn determines whether 100 people or 10,000 people read your post.

The difference between "Let me share some thoughts on productivity" and "I wasted 8 months building the wrong thing. Here's how to avoid my mistake" is a 40x difference in engagement.

That's not an exaggeration. LinkedIn's algorithm gives your post about 60 minutes to prove itself. In that window, the first line is the only thing most people see before they decide to keep scrolling.

This guide gives you 50+ battle-tested hook formulas organized by psychological trigger, complete examples for each, when to use which type, what to avoid, and a systematic testing framework.

If you want your LinkedIn content to perform, master the hook first. Everything else comes second.

Why the First Line Is Everything

Before we dive into formulas, understand why this matters so much.

The Algorithm Side

LinkedIn's algorithm measures engagement velocity in the first 60-90 minutes after you post. That engagement determines whether your post reaches 500 people or 500,000.

The first line drives that initial engagement.

What happens when someone scrolls past your post:

• No engagement signal to the algorithm
• Your post dies before reaching broader distribution
• You wasted the entire post you worked on

What happens when your hook makes them stop:

• They click "see more" (dwell time signal)
• They read the full post (stronger dwell time)
• They engage: like, comment, share (direct engagement signals)
• Algorithm sees value, pushes to more people

Your hook determines whether the algorithm even gives your content a chance.

The Psychology Side

The average LinkedIn user scrolls at 300-400 pixels per second. That's about 0.5-1 second per post in their feed.

Your hook has less than one second to interrupt their scroll pattern.

What makes someone stop:

• Curiosity gap: "I need to know more"
• Relevance hit: "This is about my problem"
• Pattern interrupt: "That's surprising/unexpected"
• Emotional trigger: "I feel something about this"
• Authority signal: "This person knows something I don't"

Generic opening lines trigger none of these. Specific, well-crafted hooks trigger multiple simultaneously.

Hook Formula Categories

These 50+ formulas fall into eight psychological categories. Each works differently. Each has ideal use cases.

---

1. Curiosity Hooks (Open Loops)

The mechanism: Create an information gap the reader needs to close. Start a story without finishing it. Make a claim without explaining it. Drop a number without context.

When to use: When you have a compelling story, surprising insight, or counterintuitive data.

Formula 1: The Incomplete Statistic

Template: "[Number]% of [group] don't know [surprising fact]."

Examples:

• "73% of LinkedIn posts fail in the first hour. Here's what the 27% do differently."
• "90% of founders ignore this metric until it's too late."
• "Only 12% of sales reps actually convert cold DMs. I studied what they're doing."

Why it works: Incomplete information creates tension. Readers want to know what comes next.

Formula 2: The Unfinished Story

Template: "I [action] and [unexpected result]. Here's what happened next."

Examples:

• "I published 100 posts in 90 days. My engagement went down 40%."
• "I turned down a $200K job offer last month. Best decision I've made."
• "I cold-called 500 investors. 3 responded. Here's what I learned."

Why it works: Humans are wired to complete narratives. An unfinished story demands closure.

Formula 3: The Hidden Pattern

Template: "I analyzed [large number] of [thing] and found [surprising pattern]."

Examples:

• "I analyzed 1,000 viral LinkedIn posts. 87% shared one hidden trait."
• "After reviewing 300 cold emails, I noticed the top performers all did this."
• "I studied 50 successful founders. Their morning routines had zero in common."

Why it works: Data + surprise = curiosity. Plus it signals you've done the work.

Formula 4: The Before-State Contrast

Template: "I was [negative state] until I [action]."

Examples:

• "I was averaging 200 post views until I changed my first line."
• "I spent 6 months building in stealth mode. Zero users on launch day."
• "I was getting ghosted by 90% of prospects until I tried this."

Why it works: Transformation stories create curiosity about the turning point.

Formula 5: The Unconventional Number

Template: "[Specific unusual number] [timeframe] ago, [event]. Here's what changed."

Examples:

• "417 days ago, I had 200 followers. Today I have 25,000. Here's the shift."
• "72 hours after posting this, I had 15 inbound leads."
• "In 23 minutes, this post generated more engagement than my last 10 combined."

Why it works: Oddly specific numbers feel authentic and create curiosity about why that exact number matters.

Formula 6: The Mysterious "This"

Template: "This [simple thing] changed [big outcome]."

Examples:

• "This one line 10x'd my response rate."
• "This question in discovery calls tripled my close rate."
• "This formatting trick doubled my post reach."

Why it works: Vague reference to a simple solution creates maximum curiosity gap.

---

2. Controversial/Contrarian Hooks

The mechanism: Challenge conventional wisdom. State an unpopular opinion. Disagree with common advice. Creates pattern interrupt and sparks debate.

When to use: When you have a defensible contrarian position backed by experience or data.

Formula 7: The Direct Contradiction

Template: "Stop [common advice]. It's [negative outcome]."

Examples:

• "Stop trying to grow your LinkedIn following. It's killing your engagement."
• "Stop posting daily. You're training the algorithm to ignore you."
• "Stop using AI to write your posts. LinkedIn can tell."

Why it works: Contradicts what they've heard before. Creates cognitive dissonance that demands resolution.

Formula 8: The Unpopular Truth

Template: "[Popular thing] is overrated. Here's why."

Examples:

• "Morning routines are overrated. Here's what actually moves the needle."
• "Your elevator pitch is probably terrible. Here's why it doesn't work."
• "Viral posts won't grow your business. Here's what will."

Why it works: People love seeing someone challenge conventional wisdom, especially if they've had doubts themselves.

Formula 9: The Industry Callout

Template: "Everyone's doing [thing] wrong. Including you."

Examples:

• "Everyone's using LinkedIn like it's Twitter. That's why you're failing."
• "You're positioning yourself wrong on LinkedIn. Here's how to fix it."
• "Most LinkedIn advice is from 2019. Here's what works now."

Why it works: Direct challenge creates emotional response (agreement or disagreement). Both drive engagement.

Formula 10: The Myth Buster

Template: "[Popular belief] is a myth. Here's the truth."

Examples:

• "The 'optimal posting time' is a myth. Here's what actually matters."
• "Engagement pods were never a good idea. Here's why."
• "You don't need 10,000 followers to succeed on LinkedIn."

Why it works: People want to know if they've been misled. Creates urgency to learn the "real" truth.

Formula 11: The Reverse Advice

Template: "Want to [goal]? Do the opposite of [common advice]."

Examples:

• "Want to grow on LinkedIn? Post less, not more."
• "Want better clients? Stop trying to appeal to everyone."
• "Want more engagement? Stop asking for it."

Why it works: Counterintuitive advice creates cognitive friction. Reader wants to understand how this could possibly work.

---

3. Story Hooks (Narrative Entry Points)

The mechanism: Drop readers into a moment, scene, or turning point. Use concrete details. Create immediate immersion.

When to use: When you have a personal experience worth sharing. When showing beats telling.

Formula 12: The Specific Moment

Template: "[Timeframe] ago, I was [specific action in specific place]. Then [unexpected event]."

Examples:

• "Tuesday morning, 6:47 AM. I'm staring at my inbox. 47 unread messages. All rejections."
• "I was in a Zoom call with 3 investors when my co-founder quit. Mid-pitch."
• "2 hours before my product launch, our entire database crashed."

Why it works: Specificity creates immersion. Readers experience the moment with you.

Formula 13: The Dialogue Opener

Template: "[Quote from someone]. That's when I knew [realization]."

Examples:

• '"We're going with another vendor." That was the 23rd no in a row.'
• '"Your pricing is too low." Best advice I ever got from a lost deal.'
• '"Why would anyone buy this?" My co-founder's brutal question changed everything.'

Why it works: Dialogue feels immediate and real. Creates curiosity about context and outcome.

Formula 14: The Confession Intro

Template: "I [embarrassing or unexpected admission]. Here's what happened."

Examples:

• "I faked my first 100 customers. Here's what happened when they found out."
• "I lied in my last interview. It cost me the job and taught me this."
• "I ghosted a $50K client mid-project. Here's why I don't regret it."

Why it works: Vulnerability and honesty are rare on LinkedIn. Stands out immediately.

Formula 15: The High-Stakes Scene

Template: "I had [time limit] to [high-stakes action]. Here's how it went."

Examples:

• "I had 60 seconds to pitch to our dream investor in an elevator."
• "I had 2 weeks to hit $10K MRR or shut down. Here's what I tried."
• "I had one shot to close this deal before our runway hit zero."

Why it works: Time pressure and high stakes create tension. Readers want resolution.

Formula 16: The Turning Point

Template: "Everything changed when [specific event]."

Examples:

• "Everything changed when I stopped treating LinkedIn like Twitter."
• "My business turned around the day I fired my biggest client."
• "Everything changed when I started sharing my failures, not my wins."

Why it works: Signals a transformation story. Everyone wants to know what unlocks breakthrough.

---

4. Data/Number Hooks (Proof-Based)

The mechanism: Lead with concrete numbers, research findings, or statistical insights. Creates credibility and curiosity simultaneously.

When to use: When you have data, case studies, or measurable results worth sharing.

Formula 17: The Surprising Metric

Template: "[Metric] is [surprisingly high/low number]. Here's why."

Examples:

• "Average LinkedIn engagement dropped 50% last year. Here's why mine went up."
• "The top 1% of LinkedIn creators post 3x per week, not daily."
• "Posts with external links get 60% less reach. Here's the workaround."

Why it works: Numbers feel authoritative. Surprising numbers create curiosity gap.

Formula 18: The Before/After Numbers

Template: "We went from [metric] to [metric] in [timeframe]. Here's how."

Examples:

• "We went from 500 to 50,000 followers in 6 months. Here's the strategy."
• "I went from 200 impressions per post to 20,000. One change did it."
• "From $0 to $10K MRR in 90 days. Here's what worked."

Why it works: Concrete transformation with numbers. Creates credibility and curiosity.

Formula 19: The Cost/Investment Hook

Template: "I spent [money/time] on [thing]. Here's what I learned."

Examples:

• "I spent $15K on LinkedIn ads. Here's what actually worked."
• "I invested 300 hours in content. 90% of results came from 10% of posts."
• "I paid $5K for LinkedIn coaching. Here's what was worth it."

Why it works: Investment signals skin in the game. People want to learn from your expensive lessons.

Formula 20: The Comparative Analysis

Template: "I tested [A] vs [B]. [Winner] outperformed by [number]%."

Examples:

• "I tested 100 hooks. Personal stories outperformed tips by 340%."
• "Text posts vs. carousels: One format got 5x more engagement."
• "Morning posts vs. afternoon: The difference was shocking."

Why it works: A/B test results feel scientific and actionable. Data-driven readers love this.

Formula 21: The Breakdown Format

Template: "[Number] [things]. [Specific detail about impact]."

Examples:

• "10 posts. 250,000 impressions. Here's what they had in common."
• "5 cold emails. 3 meetings booked. Here's the template."
• "30 days, 30 posts. Here's what happened to my business."

Why it works: Clean structure. Numbers create curiosity. Format promises specific insights.

---

5. Question Hooks (Engagement Primers)

The mechanism: Ask a question readers mentally answer. Creates immediate engagement. Use questions that expose pain, reveal gaps, or challenge assumptions.

When to use: When you want to prime engagement. When addressing a common problem or misconception.

Formula 22: The Yes-Ladder Question

Template: "Are you [doing common but ineffective thing]?"

Examples:

• "Are you still using engagement pods to boost your LinkedIn posts?"
• "Are you copying viral post templates and wondering why they don't work?"
• "Are you posting on LinkedIn but not seeing any business results?"

Why it works: Reader says "yes" mentally. Now they're engaged and want your solution.

Formula 23: The Diagnostic Question

Template: "Why do [common frustrating outcome]?"

Examples:

• "Why do your LinkedIn posts get likes but no leads?"
• "Why do some posts go viral while yours get ignored?"
• "Why do your prospects ghost you after the first message?"

Why it works: Diagnoses their problem. Positions you as someone with the answer.

Formula 24: The Hypothetical Challenge

Template: "What would you do if [scenario]?"

Examples:

• "What would you do if your best client fired you tomorrow?"
• "What would you do with 100,000 LinkedIn followers but zero revenue?"
• "What would you post if you knew it would reach 1 million people?"

Why it works: Hypotheticals make readers think. Thinking creates engagement and dwell time.

Formula 25: The Multiple Choice

Template: "Which [option A], [option B], or [option C]?"

Examples:

• "Which gets more engagement: long text posts, carousels, or video?"
• "Which matters more: posting frequency, posting time, or post quality?"
• "Which converts better: LinkedIn ads, organic content, or cold outreach?"

Why it works: Readers mentally answer. Creates curiosity about whether they're right.

Formula 26: The Self-Assessment

Template: "Do you know [important thing about reader's situation]?"

Examples:

• "Do you know what percentage of your followers actually see your posts?"
• "Do you know which of your LinkedIn posts drove the most profile views?"
• "Do you know why your last post flopped?"

Why it works: Exposes knowledge gap. Reader wants to fill it.

---

6. Confession Hooks (Vulnerability-Based)

The mechanism: Admit mistakes, failures, or unflattering truths. Creates authenticity and relatability. Counteracts the "highlight reel" nature of LinkedIn.

When to use: When you have a genuine failure story with a valuable lesson. When showing the messy reality behind success.

Formula 27: The Expensive Mistake

Template: "I wasted [resource] on [mistake]. Here's what I should've done."

Examples:

• "I wasted 6 months building a product nobody wanted."
• "I wasted $20K on LinkedIn tactics that don't work anymore."
• "I wasted 2 years trying to please everyone. Here's what happened."

Why it works: Vulnerability stands out on LinkedIn. People learn more from failures than successes.

Formula 28: The Painful Truth

Template: "I have to admit: [uncomfortable truth]."

Examples:

• "I have to admit: most of my viral posts didn't help my business."
• "I have to admit: I was completely wrong about content marketing."
• "I have to admit: my first 100 LinkedIn posts were terrible."

Why it works: Honesty is disarming. Creates immediate trust and curiosity.

Formula 29: The Imposter Moment

Template: "I felt like a fraud when [situation]. Then I realized [insight]."

Examples:

• "I felt like a fraud giving LinkedIn advice with only 1,000 followers."
• "I felt like a fraud calling myself a founder. No revenue. No team."
• "I felt like an imposter in every investor meeting."

Why it works: Universal feeling. Creates instant connection with readers feeling the same way.

Formula 30: The Regret Frame

Template: "I wish I'd [action] [timeframe] ago. Would've saved me [consequence]."

Examples:

• "I wish I'd started on LinkedIn 2 years ago. Would've saved me $100K in ads."
• "I wish I'd niched down sooner. Would've saved me 18 months of confusion."
• "I wish I'd fired that client on day one. Would've saved me months of stress."

Why it works: Hindsight lessons feel hard-earned and valuable. Reader wants to avoid your regret.

Formula 31: The Failure Admission

Template: "I failed at [thing]. Repeatedly. Here's what finally worked."

Examples:

• "I failed at LinkedIn for 8 months straight. Here's what changed."
• "I failed to close my first 47 sales calls. Call 48 taught me this."
• "I failed to build an audience for 2 years. Then I tried this."

Why it works: Normalizes failure. Shows persistence. Makes eventual success feel earned and replicable.

---

7. Challenge Hooks (Action-Oriented)

The mechanism: Issue a challenge, dare, or invitation to take action. Creates urgency and engagement through implicit competition or commitment.

When to use: When you want to drive specific behavior. When testing reader commitment.

Formula 32: The Direct Challenge

Template: "Try [specific action]. Report back in [timeframe]."

Examples:

• "Try this hook format on your next post. Report back with results."
• "Send 10 cold DMs using this template. Tell me your response rate."
• "Post at Tuesday 8 AM for 4 weeks. Track what happens to your engagement."

Why it works: Action creates commitment. Results create social proof for future posts.

Formula 33: The Prediction Setup

Template: "I bet [prediction about reader]. Prove me wrong."

Examples:

• "I bet 90% of you have never checked your LinkedIn analytics."
• "I bet you're making this mistake in your DMs."
• "I bet your LinkedIn headline isn't converting. Here's how to test it."

Why it works: People want to prove you wrong (or right). Creates engagement either way.

Formula 34: The If-Then Trigger

Template: "If you [condition], you need to [action]."

Examples:

• "If you're posting on LinkedIn but not getting leads, you need to read this."
• "If you have under 1,000 followers, this strategy is for you."
• "If your posts get likes but no comments, here's why."

Why it works: Conditional framing makes it feel personally relevant. Creates inclusion.

Formula 35: The Invitation Frame

Template: "Here's [promise]. [Action] to get started."

Examples:

• "Here's how to 3x your LinkedIn engagement. Start with your hook."
• "Here's the exact strategy I used to get 50K followers. Steal it."
• "Here's the template that books 70% of my sales calls. Use it."

Why it works: Direct value offer with clear entry point. Low barrier to engagement.

Formula 36: The Results Promise

Template: "Do [action] for [timeframe]. Expect [specific result]."

Examples:

• "Post 3x per week for 30 days. Expect 2-5x more engagement."
• "Spend 15 minutes daily engaging with others. Your reach will double."
• "Test this hook formula for 5 posts. At least 2 will outperform your baseline."

Why it works: Specific promise with defined timeframe creates measurable commitment.

---

8. Transformation Hooks (Journey-Based)

The mechanism: Show the arc from before-state to after-state. Demonstrate change, growth, or evolution. Creates aspirational engagement.

When to use: When you have a genuine transformation story. When your journey offers transferable lessons.

Formula 37: The Timeline Transformation

Template: "[Past timeframe]: [negative state]. Today: [positive state]. Here's the journey."

Examples:

• "2023: 200 followers, zero leads. 2026: 25,000 followers, fully booked. Here's what changed."
• "6 months ago: terrified to post. Today: 100+ posts published. Here's how."
• "Last year: copying everyone else. This year: found my voice. Here's the shift."

Why it works: Clear before/after with implied valuable lesson in the middle.

Formula 38: The Identity Shift

Template: "I used to be [old identity]. Now I'm [new identity]. Here's what changed."

Examples:

• "I used to be the cheapest option. Now I'm the premium choice. Here's what changed."
• "I used to be a 'wannabe founder.' Now I'm a CEO. Here's the shift."
• "I used to chase followers. Now I focus on revenue. Here's why."

Why it works: Identity transformation is deeper than tactical change. More emotionally resonant.

Formula 39: The Mindset Evolution

Template: "I used to think [limiting belief]. Then I learned [truth]."

Examples:

• "I used to think you needed 10K followers to make money on LinkedIn. I was wrong."
• "I used to think viral posts were luck. Then I learned the system."
• "I used to think AI would replace content creators. I was looking at it wrong."

Why it works: Belief shifts feel profound. Readers want to know what changed your thinking.

Formula 40: The Breakthrough Moment

Template: "For [timeframe], I struggled with [problem]. Then [breakthrough moment]."

Examples:

• "For 6 months, I struggled to get engagement. Then I changed my first line."
• "For 2 years, I struggled to monetize my audience. Then one post changed everything."
• "For months, I got zero replies to my DMs. Then I tried this approach."

Why it works: Struggle-to-breakthrough arc is universally compelling. Creates hope.

Formula 41: The System Discovery

Template: "I discovered [system/framework]. It changed how I [outcome]."

Examples:

• "I discovered the hook-body-CTA framework. My engagement tripled."
• "I discovered the 60-30-10 content mix. My DMs exploded."
• "I discovered the golden hour protocol. My posts finally took off."

Why it works: Promises a replicable system, not just luck. Systems feel learnable.

---

Advanced Hook Techniques

Beyond individual formulas, these techniques amplify any hook's effectiveness.

Use Specificity

Weak: "I increased my engagement." Strong: "I went from 47 impressions to 12,000 in one post."

Specific numbers, dates, and details create credibility and immersion.

Create Pattern Interrupts

Expected: "Here are 5 tips for better LinkedIn posts." Interrupt: "Stop using these 5 'tips.' They're killing your reach."

Contradict expectations to break scroll patterns.

Add Emotional Weight

Flat: "I made a mistake." Weighted: "I made a $50K mistake that almost ended my company."

Emotions amplify engagement. Add stakes.

Use Conversational Tone

Formal: "In this post, I will discuss LinkedIn engagement strategies." Conversational: "Your LinkedIn posts are getting ignored. Here's why."

Write like you talk. Formal language creates distance.

Stack Multiple Triggers

Single trigger: "I analyzed 1,000 posts." (curiosity) Stacked triggers: "I wasted $5K analyzing 1,000 viral posts. 90% shared this trait." (confession + curiosity + data)

Great hooks trigger multiple psychological responses simultaneously.

---

Hooks to Avoid (What Doesn't Work)

Some opening lines actively hurt your performance.

The Generic Greeting

❌ "Hey LinkedIn!" ❌ "Happy Monday everyone!" ❌ "Hope everyone's having a great week!"

Why it fails: Zero specificity. Zero curiosity. Immediate scroll.

The Topic Announcement

❌ "Today I want to talk about LinkedIn engagement." ❌ "In this post, I'll share some thoughts on content strategy." ❌ "Let me share some tips about cold outreach."

Why it fails: Announces content without creating curiosity. Boring.

The Vague Promise

❌ "This will change your life." ❌ "You need to see this." ❌ "This is important."

Why it fails: Overpromise without specificity. Feels like clickbait.

The Engagement Bait

❌ "Comment YES if you agree." ❌ "Like if you want more content like this." ❌ "Tag someone who needs to see this."

Why it fails: LinkedIn's algorithm now penalizes these phrases. Reduces reach by 30-50%.

The Self-Promotion Opener

❌ "We just launched our new product!" ❌ "I'm excited to announce..." ❌ "Check out my latest blog post about..."

Why it fails: People don't care about your announcements. They care about their problems.

The Obvious Statement

❌ "Content marketing is important." ❌ "LinkedIn is a powerful platform." ❌ "Networking matters."

Why it fails: States something everyone already knows. No value, no curiosity.

The Quote-First Hook

❌ "As Steve Jobs once said..." ❌ "Confucius said it best..." ❌ "Here's a quote I love..."

Why it fails: Generic quotes are everywhere. Your voice is what matters.

The Apology Opener

❌ "Sorry for the long post, but..." ❌ "I know this might not be popular, but..." ❌ "Hope I'm not bothering anyone, but..."

Why it fails: Undermines your own content before anyone reads it.

---

How to Test and Improve Your Hooks

Writing great hooks is a skill. Skills improve with practice and feedback.

The A/B Testing System

Step 1: Write 3-5 hook variations for your next post

Same content. Different opening lines. Use different formulas.

Example post topic: "How I improved my cold email response rate"

Hook A (Data): "I sent 500 cold emails. 7% responded. Here's what worked." Hook B (Story): "Tuesday morning. Inbox: 0 replies. 100 sent. I was doing it wrong." Hook C (Confession): "I wasted 3 months on cold email before I learned this." Hook D (Contrarian): "Stop personalizing your cold emails. It's killing your response rate." Hook E (Question): "Why do your cold emails get ignored?"

Step 2: Test them in smaller settings first

Post variations in:

• LinkedIn comments on relevant posts
• Industry Slack channels
• Your newsletter
• Direct messages to connections

See which gets more engagement.

Step 3: Use the winner for your main post

The hook that generates the most response wins.

Step 4: Track performance

After posting, track:

• Click-through rate (how many expand "see more")
• First-hour engagement (comments, likes, shares)
• Total impressions vs. your baseline
• Comments asking questions (deeper engagement signal)

Step 5: Build your personal hook library

Keep a document of your best-performing hooks. Categorize by:

• Formula type
• Topic
• Engagement rate
• Why you think it worked

Over time, you'll discover which formulas work best for your audience.

The Hook-Improvement Framework

Review your last 10 posts. For each hook, ask:

1. Does it create curiosity? (Would you read more?)
2. Is it specific? (Numbers, names, details?)
3. Does it trigger emotion? (Surprise, curiosity, fear, hope?)
4. Is it relevant to your audience? (Their problem, not yours?)
5. Does it stand out? (Different from what they usually see?)

If the answer to any question is no, rewrite using a formula from this guide.

The 50/50 Rule

Spend 50% of your content creation time on the first line.

Writing process:

1. Write your full post (30-40 minutes)
2. Write 5-10 hook variations (30-40 minutes)
3. Test hooks with a colleague or friend
4. Choose the strongest
5. Post and track results

Great hooks are crafted, not improvised.

The Pattern Recognition Practice

Daily habit (5 minutes):

Scroll LinkedIn and screenshot posts that made you stop. Add them to a "Great Hooks" folder.

Weekly review (15 minutes):

Review your screenshots. Ask:

• What made me stop?
• What formula was used?
• Can I adapt this for my content?
• What emotion did it trigger?

You learn to write great hooks by studying great hooks.

---

When to Use Each Hook Type

Different goals require different hooks.

For Maximum Engagement

Use:

• Question hooks (Formula 22-26)
• Controversial hooks (Formula 7-11)
• Challenge hooks (Formula 32-36)

Why: These formulas invite participation. Comments drive algorithm performance.

For Building Authority

Use:

• Data hooks (Formula 17-21)
• Insight hooks (Formula 3)
• Analysis hooks (Formula 20)

Why: Numbers and research signal expertise. Authority compounds over time.

For Connection and Trust

Use:

• Story hooks (Formula 12-16)
• Confession hooks (Formula 27-31)
• Transformation hooks (Formula 37-41)

Why: Vulnerability creates relatability. People buy from people they trust.

For Driving Action

Use:

• Challenge hooks (Formula 32-36)
• Results-focused hooks (Formula 36)
• How-to hooks (Formula 35)

Why: Action-oriented language drives action. Clear next steps convert.

For Thought Leadership

Use:

• Contrarian hooks (Formula 7-11)
• Mindset hooks (Formula 39)
• Prediction hooks (Formula 33)

Why: Original thinking sets you apart. Leaders challenge conventional wisdom.

---

The Hook Library Strategy

Don't start from scratch every time.

Build a personal hook library:

Category 1: Your Go-To Formulas

Identify your 3-5 best-performing hook types. These are your defaults.

Example: If data hooks and story hooks consistently perform well for you, those become your primary templates.

Category 2: Topic-Specific Hooks

Pre-write hooks for topics you cover frequently.

If you post about LinkedIn strategy often:

• "LinkedIn reach dropped 50% in 2024. Here's what top performers did."
• "I analyzed 1,000 LinkedIn posts. The pattern was clear."
• "Stop [common LinkedIn mistake]. It's killing your reach."

Category 3: Seasonal/Trending Hooks

Adapt formulas for timely topics:

• Year-end: "2024: [struggle]. 2026: [goal]. Here's the plan."
• Industry news: "Everyone's talking about [trend]. Here's what they're missing."
• Platform updates: "LinkedIn's new algorithm change [impact]. Here's what to do."

Category 4: Your Greatest Hits

Save your top 10 best-performing hooks. When stuck, remix these.

Remixing example:

Original (performed well): "I wasted 6 months building the wrong product."

Remixes:

• "I wasted 6 months on LinkedIn tactics that don't work."
• "I wasted 6 months creating content nobody read."
• "I wasted 6 months optimizing the wrong metrics."

Same structure, different content.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long should a LinkedIn hook be?

A: Your hook should be 1-2 lines maximum, ideally under 150 characters. This is what displays before "see more" on mobile.

The goal is to stop the scroll and trigger curiosity in one glance. Longer openings get cut off and lose impact.

Q: Should my hook always be shocking or controversial?

A: No. Controversy is one tool, not the only tool. Overuse it and you'll seem like you're trying too hard.

Mix curiosity, data, stories, and confessions. Build credibility with multiple hook types. Save controversy for when you have a genuinely defensible contrarian position.

Q: Can I use emojis in my hooks?

A: Yes, but use them strategically. One emoji can add visual interest and stop the scroll. Three or more can look unprofessional.

Best practice: Use emojis in the body of your post, not the hook itself. Let your words do the work.

Q: Do questions always work as hooks?

A: Not if they're generic. "What do you think about LinkedIn?" is weak. "Why do your LinkedIn posts get likes but no leads?" is strong.

The best question hooks expose a specific pain point or knowledge gap. Generic questions get ignored.

Q: Should I write my hook first or last?

A: Write it last. You need to know what your post says before you can create curiosity about it.

Write your full post, identify the most compelling insight or moment, then craft your hook to tease that element.

Q: How often should I test new hook formulas?

A: Try a new formula every 3-4 posts. This gives you enough consistency to build what works while still experimenting.

Once you find 3-5 formulas that consistently perform, those become your defaults. Keep experimenting with 20-30% of posts.

Q: What if my hook performs well but the post doesn't get engagement?

A: Your hook did its job (got them to read). The issue is your content or call-to-action.

Check:

• Does your post deliver on the hook's promise?
• Is your content valuable and specific?
• Do you ask a question or invite engagement at the end?
• Are you present to respond to early comments?

Hook gets attention. Content keeps it.

Q: Can I reuse the same hook formula multiple times?

A: Yes. Your best-performing formulas should become templates you reuse with different content.

Example: "I analyzed [number] of [thing] and found [pattern]" works repeatedly:

• "I analyzed 500 LinkedIn posts and found this pattern."
• "I analyzed 100 cold emails and found this mistake."
• "I analyzed 50 sales calls and found this objection."

Same formula, different insights.

Q: How do I know if my hook is too clickbaity?

A: Ask: "Does my post deliver on what the hook promises?"

If yes, it's curiosity-driven. If no, it's clickbait.

"I made a $50K mistake" is clickbait if the post is about a $200 software subscription. It's a good hook if you actually lost $50K and share the lesson.

Q: Should I tailor my hook to my industry?

A: Tailor your examples and language, not the formulas. The formulas work across industries because they tap into universal psychology.

A SaaS founder and a fitness coach can both use: "I wasted [resource] on [mistake]."

• SaaS: "I wasted 6 months building features nobody wanted."
• Fitness: "I wasted 3 years training clients the wrong way."

Same structure, industry-specific content.

---

Start Writing Better Hooks Today

You now have 50+ proven formulas. Here's how to implement them.

This week:

1. Audit your last 5 posts: Which hooks worked? Which flopped?
2. Pick 3 formulas from this guide that fit your content style
3. Rewrite your next post's hook using each formula
4. Test and track which version performs best

This month:

1. Build your hook library: Document your 10 best-performing hooks
2. Practice daily: Screenshot great hooks you see, analyze why they work
3. Experiment systematically: Try 1-2 new formulas per week
4. Review and refine: Double down on what works for your audience

This quarter:

1. Master 5-7 core formulas that consistently perform for you
2. Develop your voice within those formulas
3. Build topic-specific hooks for your most common content types
4. Teach others what you've learned (teaching reinforces mastery)

Ready to test your hooks? Postking's Hook Generator helps you create variations based on these formulas. Preview how your hook looks before posting. Write hooks that stop the scroll.

The difference between a post that reaches 500 people and 50,000 people starts with one line.

Make it count.

---

Related Resources:

• LinkedIn Content Strategy: The Complete Framework
• LinkedIn Algorithm 2026: How It Works & How to Beat It
• LinkedIn Post Formatting Guide
• How to Get More Engagement on LinkedIn

Sources:

• Hootsuite - LinkedIn Algorithm 2024
• Agorapulse - How to Write LinkedIn Hooks
• Buffer - Best Practices for LinkedIn Posts
• Copyblogger - The Psychology of Headlines