How to Write LinkedIn Hooks for Different Content Formats

You’ve poured hours into crafting the perfect LinkedIn post. You’ve done your research, polished your insights, and you’re ready to share your wisdom with the world. But all that effort goes to waste if you can’t get your audience to stop scrolling. That's where a powerful hook comes in.

The first one or two lines of your post determine whether someone keeps reading or scrolls right past. And here’s the secret: the best hooks aren’t one-size-fits-all. The format of your content, whether it’s a text-only post, a carousel, a video, or a poll, plays a huge role in what kind of hook will be most effective. So, how do you tailor your hooks to grab attention for each specific format?

What Makes a Great LinkedIn Hook?

Before we dive into the specifics of each format, let's cover the universal principles of a great hook. A strong hook does one or more of the following things: it sparks curiosity, it makes a bold or controversial statement, it asks a thought-provoking question, it tells the beginning of a story, or it promises a clear benefit to the reader.

Your hook should be concise, direct, and focused on your audience's interests and pain points. It’s the virtual tap on the shoulder that says, “Hey, you need to pay attention to this.”

How Do You Write Hooks for Text-Only Posts?

With text-only posts, your words have to do all the heavy lifting. You don’t have a flashy image or a video to help you out. This is where storytelling and vulnerability can really shine. Start with a personal anecdote or a surprising statistic. For example, a hook like, “I made a huge mistake early in my career, and it taught me a lesson I’ll never forget,” immediately draws the reader in.

Another effective technique is to ask a direct question that your audience will want to answer. Something like, “What’s the one piece of advice you wish you had received when you started your business?” can generate a lot of engagement. Bold statements also work well. A post starting with, “Stop networking. Start building relationships,” is sure to make people pause and reconsider their own strategies.

What About Hooks for Image or Carousel Posts?

When you’re using visuals like a single image or a multi-slide carousel, your hook has a slightly different job. It needs to create a bridge between the visual and the rest of your content. Your hook should create curiosity and encourage the viewer to swipe or click to see more.

For a carousel post, you could use a hook like, “Here are 5 common LinkedIn mistakes you might be making right now.” This creates a sense of urgency and makes the reader want to swipe through to see if they are guilty of any of them. For a single image post, your hook can provide context or ask a question related to the image. For instance, if you post a picture of your team, a hook like, “Can you guess what we’re celebrating in this photo?” can be a fun way to engage your audience.

Writing Hooks for Video Posts

With video content, your hook is twofold: it’s the title of your video and the first three to five seconds of the video itself. The title needs to be compelling enough to get someone to click the play button. Titles like, “The Ultimate Guide to…” or “How I Achieved X in Y Days” are effective because they promise a clear value proposition.

Once the video starts, you need to deliver on that promise immediately. You can start by asking a question, presenting a problem, or stating a surprising fact. The goal is to confirm to the viewer that they’ve made the right decision to watch your video and to keep them engaged for what’s to come.

Hooks for Polls and Document Posts

Polls are a fantastic way to boost engagement, and the right hook can make all the difference. Your hook for a poll should be a clear and concise question. Avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of asking, “What do you think about remote work?”, a better hook would be, “What is your company’s current remote work policy?”. This is a specific question that is easy for people to answer.

For document posts, like sharing a PDF or a slide deck, your hook should highlight the value of the document. A hook like, “I’ve created a free checklist to help you optimize your LinkedIn profile. Grab it here,” is direct and provides a clear call to action.

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.