How to Write Hooks That Stop the Scroll (Without Feeling Clickbaity)

Sandra Baucom
7 days ago
2 min read

If your captions start strong, your audience keeps reading. But if the first line falls flat, even your best message might never be seen.

That first line — your hook — is one of the most powerful (and most frustrating) parts of writing social media content. And based on last week’s Talk It Out Tuesday, you’re not alone in finding it tricky!

The good news? You can write scroll-stopping hooks without sounding pushy, fake, or clickbaity. Let’s break down how.

Why the Hook Matters

The hook is what stops someone mid-scroll. It’s your “Hey, wait — this might be for you!” moment.

But here’s the thing:

The goal of a hook isn’t to trick people into reading.

It’s to show them — quickly — that what follows will be worth their time.

Think of it like the subject line of an email or the headline of a blog post. You have one chance to grab attention, so make it count.

Common Hook Mistakes

Before we get into what works, let’s cover what doesn’t:

Writing too vaguely (“Some thoughts for today…”)
Overpromising (“This one post will change your life!”)
Burying the value (“Today I want to talk about something important…”)

Remember — your readers are scrolling fast. Clarity beats cleverness every time.

Three Types of Hooks That Work Every Time

You don’t need a complicated formula. Most great hooks fall into one of these three types:

The Curiosity Hook

Make people wonder what’s next.

“Most creators skip this one simple step — and it’s why their posts flop.”

The Relatable Hook

Speak directly to how your audience feels.

“Ever spend 20 minutes writing a caption and still feel ‘meh’ about it?”

The Value Hook

Lead with the benefit.

“Here’s the 3-step caption formula that helps your posts actually convert.”

💡 Pro Tip: Keep a “Hook Bank”

Next time you write something that performs well, save that first line in a note or spreadsheet. Over time, you’ll build a personal hook library — ideas you can reuse, remix, or repurpose.

You’ll never start from a blank page again.