Key Takeaways
- • David Ogilvy, the father of advertising, said: *"When you have written your headline, you have spent eighty cents of your dollar."* On LinkedIn, your headline is the Hook.
- • The math is simple: If your Hook is boring, nobody clicks "See more." If nobody clicks "See more," the algorithm assumes your post is trash.
- • You have exactly 3 seconds and 3 lines of text to save your post from oblivion.
The Mechanics of the "Fold"
LinkedIn truncates your post. It hides the value behind a ...see more button.
- On Mobile: You get about 2 lines.
- On Desktop: You get about 3 lines.
Your only goal with the first sentence is to force the reader to read the second sentence. Your goal with the second sentence is to get them to click "See more."
The 5 Types of Viral Hooks
Stop guessing. These 5 templates account for 90% of top-performing content.
1. The Contrarian Hook (Pattern Interrupt)
Attacks a commonly held belief in your industry. It stops the scroll because it creates immediate friction.
- Weak: "Cold calling is hard."
- Strong: "Cold calling is dead. If you are still dialing 50 numbers a day, you are burning money."
2. The Negative Hook (Fear of Loss)
Psychologically, humans fear loss 2x more than they desire gain. Warning them about a mistake is powerful.
- Weak: "How to improve your profile."
- Strong: "7 profile mistakes that are costing you at least 3 leads per week."
3. The Transformation Hook (Social Proof)
Shows a clear A to B journey. It promises a roadmap.
- Weak: "We helped a client grow."
- Strong: "How we took a SaaS from $0 to $1M ARR in 11 months (without spending $1 on Ads)."
4. The "Listicle" Hook (Utility)
Promises high value in a scannable format. Numbers are essential here.
- Weak: "Here are some good AI tools."
- Strong: "10 AI tools that will save you 20 hours this week (and they are all free)."
5. The "Statement of Fact" Hook (Curiosity)
A short, punchy statement that opens a "Loop" in the reader's brain. They have to read the rest to close the loop.
- Weak: "Consistency is key."
- Strong: "Most people quit LinkedIn at the exact moment they were about to succeed."
| Topic | ❌ The "Boring" Hook | ✅ The "Viral" Hook | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Productivity** | "It is important to manage your time well." | "I stopped working Fridays. My income doubled. Here is the system:" | **Curiosity + Benefit.** |
| **Sales** | "Sharing some tips on closing deals." | "Stop saying 'Just checking in'. It makes you look desperate." | **Negative/Attack.** |
| **Hiring** | "We are hiring a new designer." | "I fired my best designer yesterday. Here is why (and what I learned):" | **Drama/Story.** |
The CreatorHub Advantage
1. The "Magic Command" Rewrite:
You don't need to be a copywriter. Let the AI punch up your text.
- Action: Write your boring hook in the CreatorHub editor.
- Workflow: Highlight the sentence Click Magic Commands Select "Make it punchier" or "Make it controversial."
- Result: The AI transforms "Marketing is changing" into "Marketing as we know it is over."
2. Hook Variations:
Never settle for your first idea.
- Action: Use AI Post Creation.
- Prompt: "I am writing about [Topic]. Give me 5 different hooks using these frameworks: Contrarian, Negative, and Listicle."
Actionable Steps (Homework)
The "So What?" Test
Look at the last post you wrote. Read the first line. Ask yourself: *"So what?"* If the answer isn't immediately obvious, rewrite it.
The Formatting Rule
Never write a paragraph in the hook. * Line 1: The Hook. * Line 2: [Blank Space]. * Line 3: The sub-hook/context. * *Why:* White space draws the eye.
Practice
Take one idea (e.g., "Remote work is good") and write 3 variations: * *Negative:* "Returning to the office is killing your productivity." * *Specific:* "3 reasons why remote workers earn 15% more." * *Contrarian:* "Remote work isn't the future. It's the filter that separates good companies from bad ones."