How to Get Clients to Stop Scrolling on LinkedIn And Start Buying
Photo by Aakash Malik Hire on Unsplash
If you're creating content on LinkedIn, there's one skill that can make or break your traction & visibility:
The very 1st line of your post aka = The Hook
A great hook grabs attention, sparks curiosity, and convinces someone to click "See more." {which favorably prompts the algorithm}
But most business owners posting on LinkedIn bury the good stuff. They lead with disclaimers, context, or long intros that cost them precious seconds of attention.
In this blog, I’m going to teach you:
Why hooks matter so much on LinkedIn
The 12 most effective types of hooks (with examples)
Hook strategies that work with the algorithm
Mistakes to avoid
Before-and-after rewrites to learn from
Let’s get into it.
Why Hooks Matter on LinkedIn
Your hook is your first impression. In a sea of professional content, your post only gets 1-3 lines of preview in the feed. If that opening doesn't stop someone from scrolling, everything else you wrote gets ignored. And if they’re not reading your posts, they can’t take action i.e. buy from you.
In order for them to be impacted by your perspectives and expertise they have to read your content.
Great hooks:
Make the reader feel seen
Create curiosity
Set the tone for your story, insight, or offer
In short: a luke warm hook, no impact.
12 Types of LinkedIn Hooks (with Examples)
1. Relatable & Understanding
Make readers feel like you’re reading their mind.
"The thought of being in the exact same spot next year terrifies me."
2. Value & Knowledge
Lead with something they want to learn.
"How to write email subject lines that qualified leads pay attention to:"
3. Surprising Information
Share something counterintuitive or unknown.
"You may want to pay more tax than you need to."
4. New Perspectives
Challenge how people usually think.
"I planned my wedding as if I was building a startup."
5. Contrary Opinions
Create tension with a hot take.
"You don’t need templates to succeed on LinkedIn."
6. Spicy Ideas 🌶️
Say the thing no one else is saying.
"The layoffs are increasing, and even more are coming."
7. Celebration
Share a win with emotion.
"4 years ago I started my business and never looked back!"
8. Failures
Reveal a mistake others can learn from.
"My biggest mistake in business:"
9. Aspirational
Paint the dream life.
"I finish work everyday at 3pm to pick up my kids."
10. Cliffhanger
Leave them needing to know what happens next.
"If you think working 80-hour weeks is the dream..."
11. Expertise
Flex your credentials and insights.
"I’ve helped 50+ women find their forever partner."
12. Photos
Use a high-quality, relevant image to attract attention (especially of faces).
Strategy 1: The 2-Line Curiosity Builder
Line 1: Short, bold, under 10 words. Should intrigue, provoke, or challenge.
Line 2: Even shorter, in parentheses. It should add to or contradict line 1.
Example:
Line 1: Burnout is killing your top leadership.
Line 2: (But it’s not in the way that you think.)
Strategy 2: The Strong Statement
Use a 1-2 line declaration that hints at transformation, conflict, or a strong belief.
Example:
This psychological phenomenon explains why LinkedIn LOVES posts about vulnerability.
Hook Mistakes to Avoid
Throat-clearing: Get to the point. No one needs a long intro.
Lack of clarity: Choose ONE idea to lead with.
Being generic: Vague = forgettable.
Clichés: No one stops scrolling for "Rome wasn’t built in a day."
Too much info: Keep it tight. Save the details for the body.
AI-sounding copy: Avoid overused phrases, emojis, and formulaic hype.
Clickbait: Don’t make big promises you can’t back up.
Jargon: Speak like a human, not a tech manual.
"So what?" fails: If your hook doesn’t pass the "So what?" test, cut it.
3 Core Hook Formats
Personal Story Hooks
Vulnerability + transformation = trust
Make sure it ties back to your audience's experience
Educational / Thought Leadership Hooks
Challenge assumptions
Offer fresh insight
Client Result Hooks
Lead with tangible outcomes
Include the "before" state and transformation
In Real Life: Before & After Hook Rewrites
-> Original:
"Should you write a thank-you note after an interview? Definitely."
—> Rewrite:
"Don’t forget to do this after an interview:" (It’s my #1 tip to stand out)
Final Thoughts: The Boldest Thing You Can Say Should Come First
One of the biggest shifts I help my LinkedIn Intensive clients make is this:
Lead with your boldest insight.
Don’t bury the value under disclaimers or context. Don’t soften it so much that it disappears.
The edgiest, riskiest thing you want to say? That’s your hook.
Pattern disrupters capture attention. And in a sea of content, attention is what earns you trust, leads, and business.
P.S. Want personalized feedback on your hooks, content strategy, and how to turn posts into paying clients? I coach founders, consultants, and creatives inside my LinkedIn Intensives.
Let’s connect and craft your content to convert.
