Daniel Korenblum recently shared something that caught my attention: "Bad hooks bury good content every day. Here are 10 ways to make sure yours doesn't." That line is blunt, and it is true.

I have seen smart ideas, real results, and thoughtful opinions disappear because the first sentence asked too much of the reader. Hooks are not gimmicks. They are the moment your ideal client decides, "This is for me" or "Next."

Below, I am expanding on Daniel's 10 hook styles, with extra context, examples, and practical prompts you can use to write hooks that hold attention without selling your soul.

Why hooks decide if your content gets read

A hook is not just the first line. It is the first promise.

When someone scrolls, they are running a micro-evaluation:

Is this relevant to me?
Is this specific or generic?
Will I get a payoff quickly?

A strong hook answers those questions fast. As Daniel implies, the tragedy is that weak hooks can bury strong content. You do not need to be louder. You need to be clearer.

Key insight: A good hook does not trick people into reading. It helps the right people recognize themselves.

The 10 hook types Daniel Korenblum outlined (expanded)

Daniel listed 10 ways to start, and each one maps to a different reader motivation. Pick the hook that matches the message, not the one that sounds clever.

1) Misconception hook

Daniel's angle: call out a false belief, state the assumption, then challenge it.

Why it works: People pay attention when you name a belief they currently hold, especially if it is costing them.

Example hooks:

"Posting daily is not what grows pipeline. Distribution is."
"Your content is not failing because you are boring. It is failing because it is vague."

Prompt to write yours: "Most [ideal clients] think [common belief]. The real issue is [truth]."

2) Transformation hook

Daniel's angle: before vs after, highlight the gap, make readers see themselves.

Why it works: Transformation compresses a whole story into a single tension: "If they did it, maybe I can too."

Example hooks:

"Two years ago I hated writing. Now it is my main growth channel."
"I went from 0 inbound leads to weekly calls, and the change was not better topics."

Make it credible: Add one concrete detail (time, constraint, or emotion) so it does not sound like a highlight reel.

3) Objection hook

Daniel's angle: quote the exact objection, share the conversation, address the doubt.

Why it works: Objections are pre-loaded attention. If your reader has said it, they will read your response.

Example hooks:

""My industry is too niche for LinkedIn." I hear this every week."
""Hooks feel clickbaity." Here is how to write them with integrity."

Tip: Use the objection in their words, not your polished version of it.

4) Process hook

Daniel's angle: lead with the pain, give step-by-step, number the steps.

Why it works: Process reduces uncertainty. Readers relax when they see a path.

Example hooks:

"If your posts get views but no conversations, do these 5 edits."
"Here is my 4-step hook checklist before I publish."

Keep it tight: Your first line should name the outcome or the pain, not the method.

5) Client story hook

Daniel's angle: start with the client challenge, then the outcome, then let similar prospects picture it.

Why it works: Stories make results feel attainable, especially when you include a recognizable starting point.

Example hooks:

"A founder came to me with great work and zero content system. 30 days later, he had 6 warm inbound conversations."
"She was posting consistently and getting polite likes. We changed one thing and meetings started."

Guardrail: Focus on the decision and the change, not a long timeline.

6) Industry take hook

Daniel's angle: state the change, say it is a good thing, make them curious why.

Why it works: It taps into uncertainty. When the environment shifts, people want a map.

Example hooks:

"Engagement is down in many feeds, and that is good news for serious creators."
"AI is making average content cheaper, which makes clarity more valuable."

Best practice: Do not just announce the change. Tell them what to do differently because of it.

7) Framework hook

Daniel's angle: position it as the only solution they need, add a save trigger, make it a quick win.

Why it works: Frameworks promise repeatability. Readers want something they can reuse, not just consume.

Example hooks:

"Steal this: the 3-line hook formula I use for every post."
"Save this framework for the next time you do not know what to write."

Reality check: "Only solution" is positioning. Earn it with a clean structure and one example.

8) Contrast hook

Daniel's angle: what everyone does vs what they should do instead.

Why it works: Contrast creates pattern interruption. It also gives the reader an immediate choice to evaluate.

Example hooks:

"Most people start posts with context. Start with the conclusion."
"Stop trying to sound smart. Start trying to sound specific."

Make it fair: Do not strawman "everyone." Name a common behavior and the cost of it.

9) Lesson hook

Daniel's angle: open with a struggle, share the lesson, make it relatable.

Why it works: It signals honesty and lowers defenses. Readers lean in when you admit the hard part.

Example hooks:

"I spent months writing posts nobody saved. The fix surprised me."
"The biggest mistake I made with hooks was chasing clever instead of clear."

Add the payoff early: Tease the lesson in the first two lines so it is not a diary entry.

10) Case study hook

Daniel's angle: state results, include a metric and timeframe, connect to prospects wanting that result.

Why it works: Specificity sells. Metrics create gravity.

Example hooks:

"We increased profile-to-call conversions by 38% in 21 days with one hook change."
"In 6 weeks, his average post retention doubled after we rewrote his first line."

Important: Tie the metric to a business outcome (calls, demos, referrals) when possible.

A simple way to choose the right hook

If you only remember one thing from Daniel's list, make it this: match the hook to the reader's state of mind.

Skeptical reader? Use Misconception, Objection, or Contrast.
Overwhelmed reader? Use Process or Framework.
Hopeful reader? Use Transformation, Client story, or Case study.
Uncertain reader? Use Industry take or Lesson.

The best hook is the one that makes the next sentence inevitable.

Quick editing checklist for your first line

Before you publish, run these edits:

Replace broad words ("better," "more," "optimize") with specifics ("more calls," "higher retention," "clearer offer").
Remove throat-clearing ("I wanted to share," "Quick thought").
Add one of: a belief, a number, a time window, a named pain, or a clear promise.
Read it as your ideal client. Would you stop?

Closing: stop losing readers in the first line

Daniel Korenblum's point is simple: your ideas do not fail in the body. They often fail at the door.

If you want to write hooks that hold them, pick one of the 10 types, commit to clarity, and earn attention with a real payoff.

This blog post expands on a viral LinkedIn post by Daniel Korenblum, Win clients on LinkedIn with branded content. View the original LinkedIn post →