Powerful Ways to Begin LinkedIn Posts

Most of your LinkedIn posts don’t need a better point. They need a better start. Email subject lines, video intros, and speeches - that first 0.25 seconds is everything. And if your first line doesn’t grab attention? No one clicks “see more.” If no one clicks “see more,” LinkedIn assumes no one cares, and your post flops. Here’s an easy way to improve your LinkedIn hooks (the first line of your post): A couple of months ago, I was having brunch in NYC with Calvina Nguyen. She’s been a big video creator in the past and now up + coming on LinkedIn for her branding & messaging expertise (highly recommend giving her a follow!) She gave me the best advice: “When I edit videos, I skip halfway through and start there. The hook is always buried in the middle.” She’s 100% right. When I edit client posts, it’s almost always the same. The most interesting part is rarely the first line. It’s usually 3… 4… 5 sentences down. Why? Because social media writing is counterintuitive. In formal essays, we warm up with an intro paragraph. In conversations, we ease in. But LinkedIn? It’s abrupt. You have to give away the best part immediately, or at least hint at it in a way that makes people curious enough to click “more.” Hook writing is an art form (one I love hacking). So if you want your message seen, learn this skill.... Here’s how to do it: 1. Write your post draft. 2. Come back later with fresh eyes. 3. Scan halfway down. 4. Ask: Could this be the most compelling part? 5. Move it to the top. Chances are, that’s your new hook. You’ll be amazed at how much stronger your posts feel, and how much faster they pull people in. (This works for video editing too.) What about you? What’s one thing you’ve had to unlearn to write better social posts? Or your best tip for writing good LinkedIn hooks?

The most successful storytelling posts I’ve studied all have one thing in common. Which also happens to be the biggest struggle I see people face when creating content. Creating hooks that connect and capture attention. Now, writing on LinkedIn comes with a new set of rules, but it doesn’t mean we can’t rely on traditional techniques to get there. The technique in question? 👉 Start in the middle of your story. Here’s what I mean: Instead of easing readers in, drop them into the action. It’s a technique called in medias res—starting right in the middle of things. Your favorite novels do this all the time, and it works for hooks, too. Why? Your readers are busy and distracted. If you don’t hook them in seconds, they’ll scroll away. Here’s how you can do it: 1. Start with conflict or tension.  2. Use the reader’s pain points to make it feel real. 3. Skip the setup and jump right into the core of the issue. Why does this work? ✅ You grab attention fast. ✅ You build curiosity with a strong opening. ✅ You make the problem real from the start. Next time you write, don’t start at the beginning. Start in the middle and watch your reader stick around. 

I’ve analyzed and edited 100s of LinkedIn posts across our agency clients. And I’ve noticed a clear trend. The best-performing posts don’t waste time with slow build-ups. What do I mean? You have exactly 3 lines to hook a reader in and have them click "see more." (FYI... that click is a key engagement signal to the algorithm. It's one of the first metrics it uses to assess your content’s value and decide how far it should be distributed). But, most people spend the first few lines of their LinkedIn posts “warming up.”  They set the stage, give context, ease the reader in… And by the time they get to the good part? The reader is gone. Readers don’t have patience for the “once upon a time.”  They want the good stuff and fast. Here’s a trick: Write your post. Then delete the first few lines. Example: ❌ Original: "A lot of professionals struggle with imposter syndrome. It’s a common issue that affects many people at some point in their careers. I remember the first time I was asked to speak on stage. I almost said no because I felt like I didn’t belong." ✅ After deleting the first few lines: "The first time I was asked to speak on stage, I almost said no. I was convinced they picked the wrong person." See the difference? The second version drops you right into the moment. No warm-up. No fluff. Just impact. Next time you write a post, try this: Delete your first lines. See if your post gets stronger. Bet it will. 😉 Try it and let me know. Or, post your hook in the comments and let's workshop it.