Top 50 Viral Hooks in May

Author

Artem Chetverykov
May 17, 2025

Here are the top 50 hooks from the most popular posts by personal brand and marketing influencers.

  1. Justin Welsh (Popularity: 2604.19)

    • Hook: "Remember the good old days?"

    • Why it was effective: This nostalgic and evocative question immediately draws the reader in by tapping into shared human sentiment before pivoting to a profound point about living in the present.

  2. Daniel Korenblum (Popularity: 867.73)

    • Hook: "If you never feel like a broken record…"

    • Why it was effective: This hook uses a relatable creator pain point (fear of repetition) and frames it as a potential sign of doing something wrong, compelling users to read on for the contrarian insight.

  3. Nick Broekema (Popularity: 831.87)

    • Hook: "Your biggest wins won’t come from big leaps."

    • Why it was effective: It offers a contrarian take on common "big results" advice, appealing to those seeking sustainable, realistic growth strategies through stacking small actions.

  4. Justin Welsh (Popularity: 819.22)

    • Hook: "You can just do things."

    • Why it was effective: This is a powerfully simple and liberating statement that directly addresses the pain point of 'needing permission' and resonates deeply with aspiring entrepreneurs.

  5. Tom Pestridge (Popularity: 783.76)

    • Hook: "These are the top 9 psychological marketing lessons you must master."

    • Why it was effective: It promises high-value, authoritative knowledge in a structured listicle format ("Top 9 lessons"), appealing to a desire for actionable marketing expertise.

  6. Samridhi Bhardwaj 🚀 (Popularity: 615.65)

    • Hook: "This 2-second positioning shift helped our client land an $80K deal."

    • Why it was effective: It combines a specific, highly desirable outcome ($80K deal) with an incredibly quick and seemingly easy solution ("2-second shift"), creating intense curiosity and a promise of high-impact, low-effort insight.

  7. Justin Welsh (Popularity: 597.54)

    • Hook: ""Everybody is replaceable" is how bosses are now talking about employees."

    • Why it was effective: This hook uses a provocative and timely quote related to workplace fears (AI, job security), immediately tapping into current anxieties and promising a compelling counter-narrative.

  8. Justin Welsh (Popularity: 532.38)

    • Hook: "Most people are stuck."

    • Why it was effective: It's a bold, direct statement that addresses a common pain point ('feeling stuck') which resonates broadly with individuals seeking change, permission, or progress.

  9. Justin Welsh (Popularity: 466.11)

    • Hook: "I burned out chasing perfection."

    • Why it was effective: This hook uses a vulnerable personal admission ("I burned out") tied to a common creator struggle ("chasing perfection"), creating immediate relatability and anticipation for the lessons learned.

  10. Oliver Ramirez G. (Popularity: 461.04)

    • Hook: "Great leaders don't hover."

    • Why it was effective: This offers a concise, assertive statement on leadership, challenging a common negative trait (micromanagement) and promising insights into better, empowering practices.

  11. Oliver Ramirez G. (Popularity: 358.22)

    • Hook: "Letting go is a difficult skill to master."

    • Why it was effective: It validates a common leadership challenge ("letting go") and promises guidance on balancing autonomy and accountability, appealing to managers.

  12. Liz Willits (Popularity: 276.36)

    • Hook: "Marketing is not:"

    • Why it was effective: This hook creates curiosity through negation, promising to debunk common misconceptions about marketing and reveal its true, strategic, and multi-faceted nature.

  13. Matt Gray (Popularity: 236.14)

    • Hook: "I’m 35. At 18, I was broke, kicked out of my own home, and wanted to end my life."

    • Why it was effective: It presents a stark, deeply vulnerable, and dramatic personal transformation story, compelling readers to learn the "harsh lessons" behind such a profound change.

  14. Tomas Loucky (Popularity: 230.30)

    • Hook: "What if your podcast could turn LinkedIn into your ultimate growth engine?"

    • Why it was effective: It poses a benefit-driven "what if" question directly to content creators (podcasters), promising a solution to leverage existing assets for LinkedIn growth.

  15. MJ Jaindl (Popularity: 230.17)

    • Hook: "Most creators fight the algorithm"

    • Why it was effective: This hook identifies a common struggle for content creators (fighting the LinkedIn algorithm) and implies a better way, drawing them in to learn how to "use it to your advantage instead."

  16. Pierre Herubel (Popularity: 193.13)

    • Hook: "CEO: "Our website doesn't convert, it must be the copy""

    • Why it was effective: It starts with a relatable client problem ("website doesn't convert") presented as a direct quote, immediately engaging marketers and business owners who have faced similar challenges.

  17. Abhisake Dutta (Popularity: 188.78)

    • Hook: "Work is invading personal time. Life seems hectic."

    • Why it was effective: This hook immediately taps into the widespread pain point of work-life imbalance and the "always on" culture, making the subsequent question ("why do people stay in toxic workplaces?") highly relevant.

  18. Oliver Ramirez G. (Popularity: 184.83)

    • Hook: "Always-on teams don’t win. They burn out."

    • Why it was effective: It offers a strong, contrarian statement against "hustle culture" in the workplace, promising an alternative perspective on team productivity and the importance of avoiding burnout.

  19. Ayesha Ameer (Popularity: 181.91)

    • Hook: "Tired of rejection? You can change this in 2025."

    • Why it was effective: It directly addresses a painful emotion (rejection) common in business and careers, offering a hopeful, actionable promise of transformation ("you can change this") within a specific timeframe.

  20. Tom Pestridge (Popularity: 171.89)

    • Hook: "NEVER punish top talent by making them clean up after low performers."

    • Why it was effective: This hook uses a strong, imperative statement ("NEVER") addressing a common frustration in leadership and team management, promising a clear stance on valuing top performers.

  21. Nick Broekema (Popularity: 171.46)

    • Hook: "How you can optimize your LinkedIn profile today ↓"

    • Why it was effective: It offers immediate, actionable value ("optimize your LinkedIn profile today") with an implied easy-to-follow guide (down arrow), appealing to users seeking quick wins and profile improvements.

  22. Abhisake Dutta (Popularity: 156.79)

    • Hook: "Your workplace isn’t your family."

    • Why it was effective: This hook presents a firm, slightly controversial statement that challenges a common workplace analogy, sparking interest in the author's perspective on healthy company culture.

  23. Justin Welsh (Popularity: 151.61)

    • Hook: "What if the good life was right in front of you all along?"

    • Why it was effective: It’s a deeply resonant question that challenges common striving and introduces his "simplicity" theme, prompting self-reflection and curiosity about finding fulfillment now.

  24. Richard van der Blom (Popularity: 151.57)

    • Hook: "Since their launch, Scripe has taken LinkedIn by storm."

    • Why it was effective: It leverages social proof and intrigue around a specific tool's success ("taken LinkedIn by storm"), making the announcement of a webinar with insights from "Mr. Algorithm" highly appealing.

  25. Oliver Ramirez G. (Popularity: 149.58)

    • Hook: "Letting go of control makes you a stronger leader."

    • Why it was effective: This hook offers a counterintuitive yet empowering piece of advice for leaders, promising to explain how relinquishing control and fostering trust leads to better leadership.

  26. Justin Welsh (Popularity: 146.70)

    • Hook: "Entrepreneurs are obsessed with scale."

    • Why it was effective: It identifies a common entrepreneurial trait and immediately sets up a contrarian argument ("But scale has a problem"), engaging those questioning the "growth at all costs" mindset.

  27. Hrabren Lindfors (Popularity: 145.98)

    • Hook: "Ugly truth about social media…"

    • Why it was effective: The phrase "Ugly truth" creates immediate intrigue and promises a candid, perhaps uncomfortable, revelation that challenges conventional wisdom about social media.

  28. Oliver Ramirez G. (Popularity: 143.21)

    • Hook: "Leadership isn’t just a role."

    • Why it was effective: It elevates the concept of leadership beyond a mere job title, promising a deeper exploration of its responsibilities, impact, and how to promote team growth.

  29. Oliver Ramirez G. (Popularity: 134.68)

    • Hook: "Working while sick isn't a badge of honour."

    • Why it was effective: This hook directly confronts and debunks a toxic work culture norm, resonating with anyone who has felt pressured to work while unwell and advocating for rest.

  30. Justin Welsh (Popularity: 134.01)

    • Hook: "You don't need permission."

    • Why it was effective: It's a direct and empowering statement that addresses the common pain point of 'feeling unqualified' or 'waiting for the green light', resonating strongly with aspiring creators and entrepreneurs.

  31. Justin Welsh (Popularity: 133.79)

    • Hook: "I don't chase growth anymore."

    • Why it was effective: This personal declaration signals a significant shift in perspective from a known growth advocate, creating curiosity about his new focus on "freedom" and "keeping things small."

  32. Oliver Ramirez G. (Popularity: 115.84)

    • Hook: "Brutal truths every employer needs to read."

    • Why it was effective: This hook promises candid, potentially uncomfortable, but essential insights ("Brutal truths") for employers regarding talent retention beyond just monetary compensation.

  33. Luke Matthews (Popularity: 112.39)

    • Hook: "I reject a “normal" life."

    • Why it was effective: It’s a bold, personal declaration of nonconformity that appeals to those questioning traditional life paths and seeking meaning in unconventional journeys.

  34. Jasmin Alić (Popularity: 111.70)

    • Hook: "I haven't done a post like this in years."

    • Why it was effective: This hook creates intrigue and a sense of a special, rare re-introduction from an established creator, prompting followers to discover more about his personal story.

  35. Justin Welsh (Popularity: 110.39)

    • Hook: "The numbers game is a distraction."

    • Why it was effective: This offers a contrarian viewpoint on a common creator focus (follower counts), promising a deeper insight into the importance of building relationships over mere reach.

  36. Abhisake Dutta (Popularity: 109.74)

    • Hook: "People don’t quit jobs. They quit bad bosses."

    • Why it was effective: It uses a well-known and highly relatable adage about employee retention, immediately striking a chord with anyone who has experienced or witnessed poor leadership.

  37. Justin Welsh (Popularity: 108.53)

    • Hook: "Is your life on autopilot?"

    • Why it was effective: This introspective question prompts readers to assess their own lives and routines, tapping into a common feeling of being stuck or unfulfilled by "default paths."

  38. Jasmin Alić (Popularity: 106.80)

    • Hook: "Got a "No" from a prospect? That's great news!"

    • Why it was effective: It reframes a typically negative experience ("getting a No") into a surprising positive, offering an encouraging perspective for salespeople and entrepreneurs.

  39. Mike Hays (Popularity: 104.78)

    • Hook: "Your clear message is being misunderstood…"

    • Why it was effective: This hook directly addresses a common frustration for communicators (being misunderstood despite clarity efforts) and promises to explain "why" and "how to fix it."

  40. Jesse Chan (Popularity: 102.52)

    • Hook: "I grew my LinkedIn to 43K followers."

    • Why it was effective: It leads with a significant achievement (43K followers) which establishes credibility, making readers eager to learn the "5 Harsh realities" behind this success.

  41. Justin Welsh (Popularity: 97.95)

    • Hook: "The right people change everything."

    • Why it was effective: It's a universally resonant statement about the power of connection and community, appealing to the desire for meaningful relationships to foster growth.

  42. Justin Welsh (Popularity: 97.22)

    • Hook: "Ever notice how everyone's wearing "busy" like a badge of honor these days?"

    • Why it was effective: This observational hook identifies a common societal trend (glorifying busyness), setting the stage for a counter-argument about the value of intentionality and "doing less."

  43. Marina Panova (Popularity: 94.91)

    • Hook: "Last week’s post took me 5 mins to write it."

    • Why it was effective: It presents a desirable outcome (quick content creation) followed by impressive results (leads, likes, followers), making readers curious about the effortless yet impactful approach.

  44. Lara Acosta (Popularity: 94.52)

    • Hook: "My first post went viral, but I almost didn't post it."

    • Why it was effective: This hook combines a significant success story ("viral post") with relatable vulnerability ("almost didn't post it"), addressing the "fear of posting" pain point.

  45. Sami Sharaf (Popularity: 92.79)

    • Hook: "If you want to post on LinkedIn but just have 20 minutes a day, here’s what to do:"

    • Why it was effective: It directly addresses a major pain point for creators (lack of time) and offers a clear, structured, and seemingly manageable solution.

  46. Tim Hillison (Popularity: 92.20)

    • Hook: "Some people show leadership in a boardroom."

    • Why it was effective: It starts with a conventional image of leadership, then implies a contrast ("Others show it by how they treat the barista"), sparking curiosity about a deeper truth.

  47. Oliver Ramirez G. (Popularity: 90.60)

    • Hook: "The fastest way to grow isn't figuring it out alone."

    • Why it was effective: This hook offers actionable advice that counters the "lone wolf" mentality, promoting knowledge-sharing and learning from others as key growth strategies.

  48. Lara Acosta (Popularity: 89.16)

    • Hook: "I taught Sophia how to make money from her LinkedIn."

    • Why it was effective: It uses a specific, relatable success story (teaching someone to monetize LinkedIn) which acts as powerful social proof and promises learnable strategies for monetisation.

  49. Tomas Loucky (Popularity: 88.92)

    • Hook: "He posts daily, runs companies and still has time for fun. How?"

    • Why it was effective: This hook highlights an aspirational scenario (achieving success, consistency, AND work-life balance) and ends with a question ("How?") that promises to reveal the secret.

  50. Jesse Chan (Popularity: 86.97)

    • Hook: "The best don’t always win."

    • Why it was effective: This hook presents a provocative, slightly contrarian statement that challenges common assumptions about success, making readers curious about who does win (the best-known).