How do you grab your listener's attention with a hook?

I'm fishing for your attention, people! And I just used a hook. A "hook" is an attention grabbing opening line. For example, when I launched my "Storytelling in Business" workshop here, I opened the workshop with this line - "It took you an hour to get here but it has taken me 18 years to reach here". It made everyone curious about what I was going to say next and I had everyone's attention for my story.

I've been trying to get better at opening my articles with hooks beyond just generic introductions. Relevant and surprising work well for me, like starting reviews with a unique perspective on the product versus just a basic description. I always have to kill off my darlings, cutting unnecessary setup details even when they sound clever to me. My hooks have gotten way stronger when I force concision, get right to the intriguing point quickly, and connect it to readers' interests. Though my intros are still a work in progress, focusing on crafting dynamic hooks has already made my writing much more compelling overall! Now I just need to avoid slipping back into lazy openings just to get the draft started.

A hook is not a device. It's how you do a thing. The best way to hook your audience is by jumping right into the action. Don't tell them you're going to tell them a story. Just start telling it. Don't tell them you want to ask them a question. Ask it. Cut the preamble fluff and get to the meat. That's how you hook them.

Using great hooks in your career stories can be a superpower. (and here's why) You'll stand out in interviews ? as you grab their attention from the onset You'll build the trust you need to influence ? as they envision what life is like working with you They'll stay engaged and curious ? as you move them through a story arc Here are a few opening hook ideas for the dreaded interview question, "Tell me about you?" Hook: I think of my career as the ultimate reinvention story with three chapters. Looking for hook ideas? Try an analogy, a meaningful quote, or humor.

You absolutely have to get eyes on your message. But, if you are only competing for attention, you'll lose. You have to quickly convert attention into interest to make you audience want to continue giving their attention to your message. I teach Storybuilders in my course to start by teasing a moment of change and promising a lesson in the first few seconds of a story. If I can get my audience to attach my story to something they are already interested in, I don't have to compete for attention.

Na era digital, onde a aten??o é um recurso escasso e altamente disputado, um gancho eficiente torna-se um instrumento essencial na arte de contar histórias. Ele serve como um convite cativante, incentivando o ouvinte a mergulhar profundamente em sua história. Mais do que capturar a aten??o, um gancho eficaz estabelece um elo emocional, sinalizando ao ouvinte que o que vem a seguir é n?o apenas interessante, mas significativo e relevante para suas experiências ou aspira??es. Desta forma, um gancho n?o é apenas uma estratégia narrativa; é um elemento essencial para criar uma conex?o genuína e duradoura com seu público.

Have you thought why TED Talks are so engaging? One "secret" is they use a hook based on making an emotional connection with the audience. Many TED Talks aim to connect with the audience on an emotional level, whether it's through humor, empathy, inspiration, or even provoking outrage. This emotional connection is a powerful tool for engagement. The second "secret" is compelling storytelling or "ideas worth spreading". TED speakers often use powerful storytelling techniques. They craft narratives that are relatable, emotionally resonant, and memorable. Storytelling helps to humanize complex topics and makes them more accessible to a broad audience.

Finding the right hook is oftentimes the hardest part in creating a story. My "trick" is drafting the rest of the story and only then going back to the beginning. This takes pressure off one's shoulders. Once you know what you wish to say, what the story really is about, finding the right beginning comes naturally.

Here are two hooks that I love: Hook #1: Jump into Action Start your story right into the action (with forward momentum). Make your character do something, whether it’s stepping, walking, shouting, biking. Example: "I stood in front in front of manager’s door, took a big breath, and knocked three times. Slowly I opened the door. As I walk in, I see my manager and the head of HR. Immediately knew that this wasn’t good.” Hook #2: Start with Dialogue Share the exact words that were used in a crucial moment of your story. Example: “‘Mom, I have something to tell you,’ I said, my voice trembling with nervousness. And with those words, I began the conversation that would change everything."

Struggling to write a hook that will connect with your audience on an emotional level? Try using the word 'you' in your intro (or 'your,' like I just did!). It subconsciously signals that the article is for your reader, not just an anonymous individual.

I usually finish writing the article and then zero down on the single most important thematic communication that I want to the reader to take away with them. Usually, my process is to create an intrigue which sometimes, comes with a burning question and other times, through a twisted headline. Recently, I wrote an article with the headline - 3 Ways Drinking Alcohol Made my Friend a Rich Writer - it's intriguing! Sure, the article is about the mindset reframe from being an addict to creating a healthy habit, but that sounds preachy and nobody likes preachy stuff. So making it sound exciting, twisted works in the favor of the story and also lets the reader smoothly into the material with a dramatic intrigue to curb their curiosity.

Indeed it’s true that your hook is the first thing that will grab reader’s attention Before presenting your hook to your readers make sure it interesting to you in the place of a reader Check it if kindles curiosity and thought provoking by reading it aloud Ask for feedback if it’s interesting From your friends and fellow writers Experiment and learn what kind of hook is interesting to your readers

My favourite way to test hooks is with family & friends. Start your story with a certain hook and see what resonates. Test & iterate friend by friend and use the hook that worked best in your final piece

There is a thin line... And you shouldn't ever cross it! Know the difference between a hook and clickbait! You want to create enough suspense for them to read ahead BUT also not keeping your hook irrelevant to the story! Don't be the over-sensational Hollywood gossip news headline...

Your, smile, presence, appearance, and charisma is the first hook with your audience, and from the first seconds, reflect self confidence to attract attention. Then you have to choose a catchy title, don't give direct statements, start with sentences that creates eagerness in your audience to know more about your topic. How do you find this sentence, think of the following two points: 1. If you had to summarize your speech into a single sentence, what would that be? 2. If your audience could leave remembering only one thing, what would that be?