Everyone, what kind of content stands out to you these days? Probably, it was a headline and an introduction that captured your attention within the first few seconds. That’s the power of hooking. Today, we introduce 12 types of hooking copy that will add magic to your content. These strategies will stimulate your reader’s curiosity, evoke empathy, and immerse them in your content.
1. Creating Curiosity with Results
The first type is ‘Leading with the Result.’ This strategy sparks the reader’s curiosity right from the beginning, making them read till the end. For example, when you see a headline like “I lost ten million won in a day,” you can’t help but wonder, ‘How did that happen?’ Such copy stimulates the reader’s curiosity and makes them want to know more.
- “Starting a family business is crazy”
- “Delivering packages after a divorce”
- “It took me 9 years to realize this one thing”
2. The Truth or Question You Couldn’t Say
The second type contains truths that many people empathize with but find difficult to say. For instance, “Why the rich people you see on Instagram aren’t visible in real life” resolves many people’s curiosity and evokes empathy.
- “What do office workers consider a ‘high salary’?”
- “Indeed, music should be played by old-school folks!”
3. Opinions that Break Common Sense
The third type is presenting opinions that break common sense. For example, “Morning routines are trash” grabs attention with a statement that goes against general beliefs.
- “Follower count doesn’t matter at all”
- “Nature is pure? Nature hates purity”
4. Shocking or Surprising Facts
The fourth type is presenting shocking or surprising facts that are not widely known. This is highly effective in capturing the reader’s attention.
- “Population decline will begin in earnest in about 15 years”
- “Born poor and successful? Lower risk of dementia?”
5. Promising Value
The fifth type is promising value that the reader can gain. For example, “12 psychological principles that doubled sales performance” clearly presents the expected outcome for the reader.
- “A low-budget marketing guide for startups”
- “10 thought training methods to make writing easier”
6. Calling Out the Desired Audience
The sixth type is directly calling out the desired audience. This is very effective in strengthening a personal connection with the reader.
- “Looking for CEOs of companies with less than 10 employees who find marketing frustrating”
- “Special lecture on [Lazy Study Methods] for chronic procrastinators”
7. Combining Strong Tone Words
The seventh type is combining words with a strong tone. Words like ‘absolutely,’ ‘immediately,’ ‘unbelievable’ have the power to provoke action from the reader.
- “Amazing value-for-money restaurant serving both cheap meat and seafood”
- “Unbelievable physical prowess of an elementary school dribbling sensation”
8. Emphasizing Resources Invested to Create Value
The eighth type is emphasizing the resources invested in creating the content. For example, “A crazy person’s review who spent 10 million won on robot vacuum cleaners” raises the reader’s expectations by highlighting the resources invested.
- “60 hours spent compiling a list of large cafes nationwide”
- “Common traits of the rich discovered after meeting 100 successful people”
9. Highlighting Achievements (or Authority of a Celebrity)
The ninth type is highlighting your achievements or the authority of a celebrity. This can instill trust in the reader.
- “Revealing the journey from 0 to 1,000 newsletter subscribers”
- “Secrets of a YouTube channel that gained 50,000 subscribers in a year”
10. Undesirable Outcomes
The tenth type directly mentions outcomes the reader wants to avoid. For example, “Your carefully built account will be completely deleted if you don’t do this” raises awareness and prompts action from the reader.
- “Worst habits that lead to hair loss”
- “Unexpected causes of sleep disorders”
11. Stimulating Anxiety about Falling Behind
The eleventh type stimulates anxiety about falling behind trends. This prompts the reader to stay updated.
- “Chat GPT alone is no longer enough”
- “Top 3 emerging hotspots for pop-up stores”
12. Purely Stimulating Curiosity
Finally, the twelfth type is purely stimulating curiosity. Question-format copy is great for eliciting an unconscious response from the reader.
- “Why are luxury goods so expensive?”
- “Why do you still feel like you haven’t left work after getting off?”