5 Strategies I Use to Write Captivating Hooks

A few days ago, I wrote a LinkedIn post that helped me gain 400 followers in one day. All thanks to my writing skills.

Especially my ability to write killer hooks.

The post in question talks about why I felt like a superstar after finishing my first month as a data analyst. And the lesson I shared kissed the souls of many beautiful data dorks.

And since you’re reading this now, I assume you have some love (or kink) for data.

I’m about to show you how you can copy my writing strategy to get more impressions and engagements on your LinkedIn posts.

You may think, “Cool, Mike. But why should I care?”

Well…

If you’re a data professional and want to build credibility through your content, this blog post will help you do that.

If you’re trying to land a data analyst job and want more people to see your projects, this blog post will help you do that.

Or, if you simply want more people to see your posts, this blog post will help you do that, too.

So, let’s dive in…

Here are my five secret strategies that’ll help you write killer hooks:

• Keep things simple
• Set expectations
• Spark Curiosity
• Have personality
• Say what your audience wants to hear

Keep things Simple

You’ve gotta remember who’s reading your posts. It’s not beasts and monsters from Middle Earth. It’s fellow data analysts, recruiters, and data dorks. In simpler terms… People read your posts.

And people like things simple and sweet.

They don’t want to overwork their minds to decipher the meaning behind your cryptic words.

You don’t need to be fancy to grab attention.

Your hooks will succeed if you make them clear and concise.

Clear…. And concise.

Check out this example I used recently…

See?

This ain’t no hieroglyphic or riddle.

It’s simplicity at its finest.

So, rather than being too creative or complex with your hooks, keep things simple.

Set Expectations

This tip is the most straightforward yet most ignored writing tip ever to roam the internet…

Set expectations.

Make your readers understand what they’ll encounter if they read your post. Think you can do that? When your potential readers scroll through their LinkedIn feed, they don’t see your entire posts. This ain’t Twitter.

They only see the first 3-4 lines.

That’s your hook.

So you have to capture their attention and convince them to keep reading in these measly three lines.

Think about this…

If someone has no idea what you’re talking about in your hook, why would they want to keep reading? Don’t act as if confusing them will make them want to keep reading for clarity.

In case you didn’t know, we humans don’t work like that.

Here’s an example of how I set expectations with my hooks.

Spark Curiosity

Every single hook you write should spark curiosity in your readers’ minds. Let’s repeat that…

Every. Single. Hook. You. Write. Should. Spark. Curiosity. In. Your. Readers’. Minds.

Got it?

LinkedIn content creation is a game. The winners know how to intrigue readers. They know how to make people curious. And the loser? Well, they can’t do anything. Who would you rather be, the winner or the loser of this game?

In copywriting, there’s a term called “the slippery slope.”

You want to take your readers on a journey where they are so compelled to read every word that it’s as if they’re sliding down a slippery slope. Remember this when you write hooks.

Because your hook is the top of that slippery slope.

If your hook doesn’t spark curiosity, you’re readers won’t ever dare to slide down.

One way I like sparking curiosity is by cutting off my thoughts mid-sentence.

Check out how I do it below (using an ellipsis for power).

Have Personality

I could spend 5+ hours ranting to you about how much I hate 95% of the content I see on LinkedIn.

That’s because most people suck at writing.

I’m not afraid to say it. Heck, I’ll shout it from the peak of the highest mountain in the Dorky World of Data. And I’m not afraid to say I’m one of the better writers on the platform. Sometimes you’ve got to kick humble in the butt and say the truth.

The reason most people suck at writing is that they have no personality. They’re shallower than a waterless kiddie pool.

Their words don’t dance on the page. Their words sit stiff and lay lifeless.

But us great writers/content creators aren’t like them.

We know how to inject personality into our words.

Sadly, it’s not something easy to teach.

I can’t give you a 10,000-word outline on how to write with personality. All I can do is tell you to write with your soul. Write like the madman that exists in your mind.

Stop being punctually correct every time.
Stop writing as if it’s your college thesis.
Stop being someone who isn’t you.

I’m not giving you any examples of hooks that showcase my personality. I make sure every damn word I write has life. And if you think I’m lying, then get out of here. You don’t deserve to read this dorky blog.

Okay, let’s get back on track…

Say What Your Audience Wants to Hear

I’m not telling you to be a data simp. You don’t have to drop to your knees and deliver your audience a golden platter of their wishes and dreams.

No.

Nor do you have to forget who you are to give them what they want. Write whatever the hell gives you enjoyment.

All I’m saying is to tailor your words in a way that interests your audience.

Everything I write on LinkedIn revolves around one topic – data.

Shocker, right?

However, some of my posts make connections and analogies to other topics. Something I noticed about my worst-performing posts is that, despite being about data, they open up with stories related to physics, Twitter, and self-development.

Aka - topics my audience doesn’t like.

But my best posts share something in common. They all talk about data from the beginning. I literally use the words data, data analytics, data jobs, etc, right from the start.

When your hook directly speaks about topics that interest your audience, you’ll make them more compelled to read your work.

This tip is my secret weapon.

I almost didn’t want to share it with you, so you’re lucky I did.

Conclusion

My class ain’t out of session yet. I’ve still got something to stay, so stay in your seats and wait. The bell doesn’t dismiss you. I do!

Next time you go to write your data LinkedIn content, keep these tips at the front of your mind:

• Keep things simple
• Set expectations
• Spark Curiosity
• Have personality
• Say what your audience wants to hear

Especially remember the slippery slope. Because if you can’t spark curiosity and grab attention right away, no one’s gonna want to read your data stories.

But at the same time, don’t force these strategies into your hooks.

You don’t have to blend all five into every hook you write. Mix and mash them. Manipulate them like a composer. Even just one or two will make your words stronger and more engaging.