Curiosity Hooks
Curiosity hooks create an information gap — they hint at something surprising, counterintuitive, or valuable without giving it away. The reader has to keep scrolling to satisfy their curiosity.
1
I asked 50 CEOs what they look for in a hire. Not a single one said "experience."
2
One sentence in a cold email changed my entire sales career. I almost deleted it.
3
I've reviewed over 2,000 resumes. The ones that get interviews all have one thing in common.
4
I turned down a $300K job offer last year. My friends thought I was crazy until they heard why.
Story Hooks
Story hooks pull readers in with a personal narrative. They set a scene, introduce tension, or share a vulnerable moment — making readers feel like they're right there with you.
5
My first startup failed in 11 months. I lost $40,000 and my best friend as a co-founder.
6
Three years ago, I was delivering pizzas. Last week, I closed my first million-dollar deal.
7
I got fired on a Tuesday. By Thursday, I had the best job offer of my life.
8
I bombed a presentation in front of 500 people. What I did next saved my reputation.
Contrarian Hooks
Contrarian hooks challenge conventional wisdom and popular opinions. They stop the scroll by making a bold, unexpected claim that provokes thought and demands engagement.
9
Stop telling people to "follow their passion." It's the most dangerous career advice out there.
10
Networking events are a waste of time. The best connections happen when you're not trying to network.
11
Your company doesn't have a hiring problem. It has a leadership problem.
12
Hiring for "culture fit" is just a polite way of saying you want to hire people who think like you.
Data Hooks
Data hooks lead with a number, statistic, or quantifiable result. They immediately establish credibility and give readers a concrete reason to pay attention.
13
I grew my LinkedIn following from 200 to 50,000 in 14 months. Here's exactly what I did each week.
14
It takes 21 touchpoints to convert a cold lead. Most salespeople give up after 3.
15
Only 3% of LinkedIn users post content weekly. That small habit puts you ahead of 97% of professionals.
16
LinkedIn posts with a hook get 2-3x more engagement than those without one. The first line is everything.
List Hooks
List hooks promise a specific number of tips, insights, or lessons. They work because readers know exactly what they're going to get — and numbered lists are irresistibly scannable.
17
7 things I'd tell my 25-year-old self about building a career (that nobody told me):
18
3 email templates that actually get responses from busy executives. I've tested them hundreds of times.
19
9 red flags to watch for in a job posting. If you see number 5, run.
20
3 skills that will be more valuable than coding in the next 5 years: