How do I write a hook that actually stops the scroll?

How do I write a hook that actually stops the scroll?

Q: "My first lines are weak and people scroll past. How do I fix my hooks?"

Short answer: a good first line creates a small open loop the reader needs to close. "I wasted $3,000 learning this" works because you now have to know what "this" is. "Here are some tips on productivity" closes the loop immediately, so there's no pull to read on.

Strong hooks usually do one of three things: promise a specific payoff, name a tension the reader feels, or state a surprising claim. Vague and balanced is the enemy. Specific and slightly bold wins.

Also, write the hook last. You can't tease a post you haven't written yet.

Try this today: take your next post's first line and rewrite it 3 ways — one with a number, one with a tension, one with a surprise. Pick the one you'd click.