How to Write LinkedIn Hooks That Stop the Scroll: A Step-by-Step Guide

You've poured your heart and soul into a LinkedIn post. You've researched, you've written, you've polished it to a shine. You hit 'post' and... crickets. Sound familiar? The hard truth is that even the most brilliant content can fall flat without a powerful opening. On a platform as fast-paced as LinkedIn, your first sentence is everything.

It's the gatekeeper to the rest of your message. If it doesn't grab your reader by the collar and demand their attention, they'll just keep scrolling. But what if you could learn the secret to writing hooks that consistently stop the scroll? What if you could turn those drive-by scrollers into engaged readers, and engaged readers into loyal followers and clients? It's not magic, it's a skill. And in this guide, we're going to teach it to you, step-by-step.

What Makes a Hook 'Scroll-Stopping'?

A scroll-stopping hook does one thing exceptionally well: it creates a gap. It opens a loop in your reader's mind that they feel compelled to close. This can be a knowledge gap, a curiosity gap, or an emotional gap.

It's the difference between a title that says 'My Thoughts on Marketing' and one that asks, 'Are You Making This Common Marketing Mistake?'. The first is a statement; the second is an invitation. Your hook needs to be an invitation. It should be specific, intriguing, and promise a clear benefit to the reader for continuing.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Great Hooks

Ready to craft hooks that work? Here is our proven process for writing LinkedIn hooks that demand to be read.

1. Know Your Audience and Their Pains. Who are you talking to? What are their biggest challenges, fears, and desires? Your hook needs to speak directly to their world. A hook for a CEO will be very different from a hook for a recent graduate. Get specific. Instead of 'How to improve your business,' try 'The 3-step framework to double your B2B leads in 90 days.'

1. Choose Your Angle. Not all hooks are created equal. The best one for your post will depend on your objective. Are you trying to educate, entertain, inspire, or start a conversation? Here are a few powerful angles to try:

• The Question Hook: Start with a provocative question that your audience will want to know the answer to. (e.g., 'What if you could land your dream job with a single LinkedIn message?')
• The Bold Statement Hook: Make a controversial or surprising claim that challenges conventional wisdom. (e.g., 'Your resume is irrelevant. Here's what actually matters.')
• The Storytelling Hook: Begin in the middle of a story. Humans are wired for narrative. (e.g., 'I was down to my last $100 when I discovered this simple LinkedIn trick.')
• The 'How-To' Hook: Promise a clear, actionable solution to a problem. (e.g., 'How to write a LinkedIn post that gets 10,000+ views, even if you have no followers.')

1. Write, Don't Edit. The biggest enemy of a great hook is your internal critic. When you're first starting, the goal is quantity, not quality. Set a timer for 10 minutes and write as many different hooks for your post as you can. Don't judge them. Just get them down on the page. Try different angles, different wording, and different lengths.

1. Refine and Select the Winner. Now it's time to put on your editor's hat. Read through your list of hooks. Which one creates the strongest curiosity gap? Which one is the most specific and promises the clearest benefit? Read them aloud. Which one sounds the most natural and conversational? Select the top 2-3 contenders and then make your final choice. Often, your gut will tell you which one is the winner.

Putting It All Together

Let's be honest, writing great hooks takes practice. It's a muscle you need to build. The more you do it, the easier it will become. Don't be afraid to experiment and see what resonates with your audience.

Track your results. Pay attention to which types of hooks get the most engagement. Over time, you'll develop an intuitive sense for what works.

Why A/B Testing Your Hooks is a Game-Changer

If you really want to level up your LinkedIn game, you can't just post and pray. You need to test. A/B testing, in this context, means trying out two different hooks for the same piece of content to see which one performs better. While LinkedIn doesn't have a built-in A/B testing feature for posts, you can easily do it yourself.

Post the same article or idea with two different hooks, spaced a few days or a week apart. Track the views, likes, and comments for each. This data is gold. It will tell you exactly what kind of language resonates with your audience. Does your audience prefer question-based hooks or bold statements? Do they engage more with stories or data-driven hooks? The answers are in the data. Over time, you'll build a powerful understanding of what works for your specific niche, allowing you to write winning hooks with confidence every single time.

More Examples of Hooks That Work

Let's look at a few more examples to get your creative juices flowing:

• The 'Common Enemy' Hook: Unite your audience by calling out a shared frustration. (e.g., 'Tired of sending out hundreds of resumes and getting no replies? You're not alone.')
• The 'Data-Driven' Hook: Use a compelling statistic to grab attention. (e.g., '93% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates. Is your profile ready?')
• The 'Prediction' Hook: Make a bold prediction about the future of your industry. (e.g., 'In 5 years, this skill will be more valuable than a college degree.')

Remember, the key is to be specific, be relevant, and always, always, always focus on providing value to your reader. Your hook is a promise, and the rest of your post must deliver on that promise.

Your Turn to Stop the Scroll

Now you have the tools and the framework to write LinkedIn hooks that don't just get seen, they get read. It's time to put this knowledge into action. Stop being a passive observer on LinkedIn and start being a conversation starter. The next time you sit down to write a post, don't just slap on any old title. Take the time to craft a hook that is intentional, strategic, and designed to stop the scroll. You'll be amazed at the difference it makes.

Want to skip the guesswork? Try the free EXEED AI Hook Generator at exeeddigitals.com/tools/hook-generator. Paste your LinkedIn post and get 10 scroll-stopping hooks instantly, each using a different technique tailored to your post's objective.