Viral Hook Creator

Viral Hook Creator

Purpose

Generate 3-5 viral hook options using proven psychological patterns that create curiosity, provide value, and drive engagement. Hooks are optimized for social platforms (X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok).

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Execution Logic

Check $ARGUMENTS first to determine execution mode:

If $ARGUMENTS is empty or not provided:

Respond with: "viral-hook-creator loaded, proceed with additional instructions"

Then wait for the user to provide their requirements in the next message.

If $ARGUMENTS contains content:

Proceed immediately to Task Execution (skip the "loaded" message).

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Task Execution

When user requirements are available (either from initial $ARGUMENTS or follow-up message):

1. MANDATORY: Read Reference Files FIRST

BLOCKING REQUIREMENT - DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP

Before doing ANYTHING else, you MUST use the Read tool to read BOTH reference files. This is non-negotiable:

Read: ./references/hook-patterns.md
Read: ./references/trigger_words.md

What you will find:

• hook-patterns.md: 18 proven hook patterns with templates, psychology explanations, and the Pattern Selection Matrix
• trigger_words.md: Four categories of viral trigger words (Insider, Helper, Thinker, Amplifiers)

DO NOT PROCEED to step 2 until you have read both files and have the patterns and trigger words loaded in context.

2. Check for Business Context (Optional)

Check if FOUNDER_CONTEXT.md exists in the project root.

• If it exists: Read it and use the business context to personalize your output (industry terminology, audience pain points, brand voice, authority metrics).
• If it doesn't exist: Proceed using defaults from the "Defaults & Assumptions" section.

3. Analyze Input

From the user's requirements, extract:

• Content topic/theme
• Target platform (X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, general)
• Goal (awareness, education, engagement, conversion)
• Target audience demographics and psychographics
• Available social proof (stats, achievements, research)

For any missing information, apply defaults from the "Defaults & Assumptions" section.

4. Generate Viral Hooks

Using the patterns and trigger words you read in Step 1, create hooks:

1. Select patterns from hook-patterns.md using the Pattern Selection Matrix (match user's goal + platform) 2. Draft each hook using the pattern template as your starting point 3. Integrate 1-2 trigger words from trigger_words.md into each hook as you write:

• Insider words (secretly, revealed, hidden, uncovered, etc.) → exclusivity patterns
• Helper words (losing, wasting, bleeding, stealing, etc.) → problem/urgency patterns
• Thinker words (backwards, myth, counterintuitive, paradox, etc.) → contrarian patterns
• Amplifiers (literally, every, zero, completely, etc.) → any pattern for intensity

4. Follow all Writing Rules (Core Rules, Pattern-Specific Rules, Platform-Specific Adaptations) 5. Ensure differentiation - each hook must use a unique pattern 6. Verify natural integration - trigger words should enhance, not distract

5. Format and Verify

• Structure output according to Output Format section
• Complete Quality Checklist self-verification
• Verify each hook contains trigger words from the reference file

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Writing Rules

Hard constraints. No interpretation.

Core Rules

• Maximum 120 characters for X/Twitter hooks.
• Maximum 1-2 lines (40-60 characters) for video hooks.
• Lead with the most interesting element.
• Create a curiosity gap (promise value but withhold details).
• Use specific numbers when possible (not "many" but "17").
• Avoid clickbait that doesn't deliver.
• Use power words: steal, secret, mistake, never, proven, blueprint.
• No emojis unless platform-specific (Instagram/TikTok OK, LinkedIn/X avoid).
• No fluff or filler words.
• Active voice only.
• Present tense preferred.

Pattern-Specific Rules

• For authority hooks: Lead with credible metric.
• For list hooks: Use odd numbers (7 > 6, 5 > 4).
• For story hooks: Start with unexpected outcome.
• For data hooks: Lead with surprising stat.
• For cautionary hooks: Lead with mistake/lesson.

Platform-Specific Adaptations

• X/Twitter: Punchy, contrarian, data-driven, 120 char max.
• LinkedIn: Professional, achievement-oriented, thought leadership, 40-60 char first line.
• Instagram: Visual promise, lifestyle-oriented, aspirational, 125 char before "more" cutoff.
• TikTok: Fast-paced, relatable, trend-aware, 20-30 char on-screen text.
• General: Versatile, platform-agnostic.

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Output Format

Clean and simple. Just hooks with their pattern type as a headline.

### [Pattern Name]
[Hook text]

### [Pattern Name]
[Hook text]

### [Pattern Name]
[Hook text]

Example:

### Authority Credibility
I run a 23-person software agency. Here are 5 things I would never do again.

### Data-Driven Insight
I analyzed 1,000 LinkedIn posts. Here are the top 5 patterns that drove engagement.

### Contrarian
Everyone tells you to post daily. I posted 3x per week and got 10x more engagement.

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Defaults & Assumptions

Use these unless overridden.

• Number of hooks: 3
• Platform: X/Twitter (most restrictive character limit).
• Goal: Maximize engagement (likes, comments, shares).
• Audience: General business/entrepreneurship audience.
• Tone: Professional but conversational (matches most founders).
• Emotion: Curiosity (safest default for viral content).
• Format: Thread/post opener (not video hook).

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References

These files MUST be read using the Read tool before generating any hooks (see Step 1 of Task Execution):

Why both matter: Hook patterns provide psychological structure. Trigger words amplify emotional impact. Patterns alone = good hook. Patterns + trigger words = viral hook (~10x more engagement).

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Quality Checklist (Self-Verification)

Before finalizing, verify ALL of the following:

Pre-Generation Check

• [ ] I read ./references/hook-patterns.md before generating hooks
• [ ] I read ./references/trigger_words.md before generating hooks
• [ ] I have the 18 patterns and 4 trigger word categories in context

Pattern & Structure Verification

• [ ] Each hook uses a proven pattern from hook-patterns.md (not made-up patterns)
• [ ] Each hook uses a DIFFERENT pattern (no repetition)
• [ ] Pattern templates were adapted to user context
• [ ] Hooks create genuine curiosity without being misleading

Trigger Word Integration Verification

• [ ] Each hook contains 1-2 trigger words FROM THE FILE I READ
• [ ] Trigger words match pattern types appropriately
• [ ] Trigger words are integrated naturally (not forced)
• [ ] Trigger words enhance emotional impact

Writing Rules Compliance

• [ ] Character limits respected for platform
• [ ] Specific numbers used (not "many" or "some")
• [ ] Active voice throughout
• [ ] No fluff or overused phrases

Final Check

If ANY hook is missing trigger words from the reference file or uses patterns not from hook-patterns.md → revise before presenting.

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Viral Hook Patterns Reference

This document contains 19 proven hook patterns with templates and examples. Use these as inspiration when generating hooks.

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Pattern Categories

1. Proxy Learning (Study/Collect) 2. Popular Name 3. Authority Credibility 4. Tools/Resources List 5. Cautionary Tale 6. Analysis-Based Insights 7. Achievement with Constraint 8. Steal My Process 9. Proxy Learning (Action-Based) 10. Myth-Busting 11. Reset Expectations 12. Opposite/Contrarian 13. Data-Driven Insights 14. The Unexpected 15. You're Losing 16. Tiny Change, Big Impact 17. Everything Wrong 18. Less Beats More 19. Behind-the-Scenes Testing

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1. Proxy Learning (Study/Collect)

Psychology: People want shortcuts. "I did the research so you don't have to."

Template:

• "I study [topic] so you can copy them"
• "I collect [topic] like [unexpected comparison]"
• "I've analyzed [number] [items] so you don't have to"

Examples:

• "I study strategies that make SaaS startups grow so you can copy them."
• "I collect SaaS growth strategies like billionaires collect cars."
• "I've analyzed over 100+ growth strategies SaaS companies use to go viral."

Best for: Educational content, frameworks, templates, curated lists

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2. Popular Name

Psychology: Authority by association. Leveraging well-known names/brands creates instant credibility and curiosity.

Template:

• "[Famous person] uses this [thing] and has over [percentage] [outcome]. Today I'm sharing it for free"
• "[Famous brand] used this [industry] strategy to secretly [action] their users"
• "I cracked the [industry] code [prestigious group] are gatekeeping"

Examples:

• "Alex Hormozi uses this template and has over 80% close rate. Today I'm sharing it for free."
• "Coca Cola used this marketing strategy to secretly dopamine spike their users."
• "I cracked the marketing code Fortune 500 companies are gatekeeping."

Best for: Authority borrowing, attention-grabbing openings, credibility building, curiosity hooks

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3. Authority Credibility

Psychology: Social proof + expertise = trust. Numbers validate authority.

Template:

• "I run a [number]-person [business]. Here are [number] things I would never do again"
• "After [timeframe] in [industry], here's what nobody tells you"
• "Built [achievement] with [constraint]. Here's the blueprint"

Examples:

• "I run a 23-person software development agency. Here are 5 things I would never do again."
• "After 10 years in SaaS, here's what nobody tells you about scaling."
• "Built a 7-figure business with no employees. Here's the blueprint."

Best for: LinkedIn, thought leadership, strategic content, experience-based advice

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4. Tools/Resources List

Psychology: Practical value. People love tools that save time.

Template:

• "Here are [number] tools that will save you [time/money]"
• "[Number] [resources] every [role] should bookmark"
• "Things are moving fast. Here are [number] tools that will save you [time]"

Examples:

• "Startup Founders, things are moving fast. Here are 15 tools that will save you 100+ hours."
• "Here are 12 AI tools that will save you 20 hours a week."
• "5 Chrome extensions every marketer should bookmark."

Best for: Quick-win content, listicles, resource roundups, practical value

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5. Cautionary Tale

Psychology: People learn from others' mistakes. Stories create emotional connection.

Template:

• "I [action] and [negative outcome]. Here's what I learned"
• "My friend [did action] in [timeframe]. After [timeframe], [consequence]"
• "The [time] I [action] and [unexpected result]"

Examples:

• "My friend vibe coded an app in 2 weeks. After 5 months, he's still trying to fix bugs he couldn't understand."
• "I hired too fast and burned $200K. Here's what I learned."
• "The time I ignored customer feedback and lost 40% of my users."

Best for: Personal stories, lessons learned, vulnerability marketing, relatability

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6. Analysis-Based Insights

Psychology: Research = credibility. Data satisfies our need for proof.

Template:

• "I analyzed [number] [items]. Here are the top [number] [insights]"
• "After studying [number] [examples], [surprising finding]"
• "Data from [number] [sources] reveals [insight]"

Examples:

• "I analyzed over 100+ growth strategies SaaS companies use to go viral. Here are the top 10 that you should steal."
• "I analyzed 1,000 LinkedIn posts. Here are the top 5 patterns that drove engagement."
• "After studying 200 landing pages, 87% ignored this one thing."

Best for: Data-driven content, research findings, industry insights, credibility building

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7. Achievement with Constraint

Psychology: Constraints make achievements more impressive. "How did they do it?"

Template:

• "How I [achievement] in [timeframe] while [constraint]"
• "How I built [outcome] in [timeframe] while [limitation]"
• "[Result] with [limitation]. Here's how"

Examples:

• "How I built a $100k MRR SaaS in 3 months while still in college."
• "How I gained 300 users for my SaaS while still at Uni."
• "10,000 followers in 30 days with zero paid ads. Here's how."

Best for: Aspirational content, case studies, growth stories, inspiration

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8. Steal My Process

Psychology: People want proven systems they can copy. "Steal" implies exclusivity.

Template:

• "Steal my [process] to [outcome]"
• "Steal my process to [achieve specific result]"
• "The exact [system] I use to [result]"

Examples:

• "Steal my process to get 10,000 followers in 30 days."
• "Steal my cold email sequence that books 15 calls per week."
• "The exact content system I use to go viral every week."

Best for: Tactical content, processes, frameworks, actionable advice

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9. Proxy Learning (Action-Based)

Psychology: Vicarious learning. "I took the risk so you can learn safely."

Template:

• "I [did action] so you don't have to. Here's what I learned"
• "Spent [resource] on [thing] so you can skip it"
• "Tried [number] [items] to find the best one. Here it is"

Examples:

• "I read 50 marketing books so you don't have to. Here are the 3 that matter."
• "I spent $10K on courses so you can skip them. Here's what actually works."
• "Tried 30 project management tools to find the best one. Here it is."

Best for: Product reviews, comparisons, recommendations, saving time/money

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10. Myth-Busting

Psychology: Contrarian views grab attention. People love being "in the know."

Template:

• "The biggest lie you've been told about [topic] is to [action]"
• "The biggest lie you've been told about [industry/trend]"
• "[Common belief] is completely wrong. Here's why"

Examples:

• "The biggest lie you've been told about SaaS growth is to run more paid ads."
• "The biggest lie you've been told about content marketing ."
• "Work-life balance is completely wrong. Here's why."

Best for: Contrarian takes, thought leadership, attention-grabbing content

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11. Reset Expectations

Psychology: "Clean slate" thinking. Permission to start fresh.

Template:

• "Forget everything you know about [topic]"
• "Forget everything you know on [topic]. I'll teach you how to [outcome] in [number] steps"
• "Ignore all the advice about [topic]. Do this instead"

Examples:

• "Forget everything you know on SaaS. I'll teach you how to become profitable in 10 steps."
• "Forget everything you know about cold outreach."
• "Ignore all the advice about work-life balance. Do this instead."

Best for: Disruptive content, new frameworks, paradigm shifts, bold statements

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12. Opposite/Contrarian

Psychology: Cognitive dissonance creates curiosity. "Wait, what?"

Template:

• "[Authority/Company]'s [public advice] [contradicts] their [internal practice]"
• "Everyone tells you to [action]. I did [opposite] and [result]"
• "[Big company]'s internal team [ignores/bans] the [practices] they recommend publicly"

Examples:

• "Netflix's most successful shows break all their own public guidelines."
• "Apple's internal design team ignores 90% of their public design principles."
• "Stripe's engineering team banned the coding practices they recommend publicly."

Best for: Contrarian content, personal brand building, debate-starters, viral potential

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13. Data-Driven Insights

Psychology: Numbers feel objective and trustworthy. Surprising data creates curiosity.

Template:

• "After studying [number] [items], we found [surprising stat/finding]"
• "I studied [number] [examples] to find [unexpected insight]"
• "[Percentage] of [group] don't know this about [topic]"

Examples:

• "After studying 100K cold emails, we found longer subject lines get 3x more responses."
• "I studied 100+ viral posts to find the perfect share trigger."
• "I tracked 50 successful founders for a year. None of them use a to-do list."

Best for: Research-backed content, industry reports, surprising stats, credibility

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14. The Unexpected

Psychology: Pattern interruption. Finding uncommon threads creates insight.

Template:

• "The one thing I noticed about every [successful group]"
• "The [counterintuitive habit] shared by every [successful person] I interviewed"
• "Every [high-performer] does this [unexpected thing]"

Examples:

• "The one thing I noticed about every 7-figure newsletter."
• "The counterintuitive habit shared by every CEO I interviewed."
• "The fastest-growing startups all removed this one popular tool."

Best for: Pattern recognition, insights, thought leadership, curiosity

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15. You're Losing

Psychology: Loss aversion is powerful. Fear of missing out drives action.

Template:

• "You're losing [metric] by [common action]"
• "Your [thing] is costing you [consequence]"
• "Every [timeframe] you don't [action], you lose [result]"

Examples:

• "You're losing 12 hours every week by following the standard meeting schedule."
• "Your documentation process is stealing 23% of your team's creative time."
• "Your productivity tools are wasting 40% of the time they're supposed to save."

Best for: Problem-aware audiences, conversion content, urgency, wake-up calls

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16. Tiny Change, Big Impact

Psychology: Small actions feel achievable. Disproportionate results create curiosity.

Template:

• "One [small action] can [big result]"
• "A [tiny change] can [massive outcome]"
• "[Small modification] [unexpectedly large impact]"

Examples:

• "One settings change can double your team's output."
• "A 2-minute calendar adjustment can recover 6 hours of your week."
• "Removing one Slack channel type boosted productivity by 26%."

Best for: Quick wins, optimization content, tactical tips, low-effort high-reward

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17. Everything Wrong

Psychology: Challenge assumptions. Comprehensive problem identification creates trust.

Template:

• "Everything you know about [topic] is wrong, because [reason]"
• "Everything you know about [topic] is wrong, because [surprising truth]"
• "Your entire approach to [topic] is backwards. Here's why"

Examples:

• "Everything you know about productivity is wrong, because rest periods beat work periods by 3x."
• "Everything you know about team size is wrong, because smaller teams ship 4x faster."
• "Everything you know about user interviews is wrong, because angry customers give better feedback."

Best for: Paradigm-shifting content, educational content, thought leadership, bold claims

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18. Less Beats More

Psychology: Simplification is appealing. "Doing less" feels counterintuitive and interesting.

Template:

• "[Group] with less [thing] outperform those with more [thing]"
• "I cut [thing] in half and [surprising positive result]"
• "[Fewer X] beats [more X]. Here's the data"

Examples:

• "Teams with no project managers outperform those with dedicated PMs."
• "Products with fewer features retain users 2x longer."
• "Companies with no roadmap raise 3x more funding."

Best for: Counterintuitive insights, minimalism content, efficiency, simplification

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19. Behind-the-Scenes Testing

Psychology: Specific personal sacrifice details (late nights, long hours) create authenticity and trust. The reader thinks "they actually did the work" and wants to know the verdict. Combining effort with a comparison or hands-on test creates a strong curiosity gap.

Template:

• "I stayed up until [time] [timeframe], [testing/comparing action]"
• "I spent [duration] [timeframe], [running/testing specific experiment]"
• "I pulled an all-nighter [doing specific hands-on action]"

Examples:

• "I stayed up until 2 AM yesterday, testing Opus 4.6 and GPT-5.3-Codex side by side."
• "I stayed up until 3 AM last night, A/B testing 47 different subject lines on my actual email list."
• "I spent 6 straight hours yesterday, running every AI writing tool through the same 10 prompts."
• "I pulled an all-nighter rebuilding my entire funnel in two different platforms to see which one actually converts."

Best for: Product comparisons, tool reviews, experiment results, AI/tech content, personal brand building

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Usage Guidelines

When generating hooks:

1. Match pattern to content type and goal 2. Personalize with user's specific data/stats 3. Adapt language to platform norms 4. Combine patterns when appropriate (e.g., Authority + Data-Driven) 5. Always create curiosity gap - promise value, withhold details 6. Use specific numbers over vague terms 7. Test variations within same pattern

Pattern Selection Matrix

Platform-Pattern Fit

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Viral Trigger Words Reference

Trigger words amplify emotional impact and can increase engagement by ~10x. Use 1-2 per hook for maximum viral potential.

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Category 1: Insider Words

Purpose: Create exclusivity, scarcity, and "insider knowledge" feeling. Makes readers feel they're getting privileged information.

Best paired with: Authority Credibility, Steal My Process, Proxy Learning, Analysis-Based patterns

Word bank: secretly, quietly, discovered, revealed, uncovered, hidden, actually, underground, behind-the-scenes, confession, leaked, exposed, unspoken, overlooked, buried, invisible, ignored, unpublished, undisclosed, internal, private

Examples in Action

Pattern: Steal My Process

• ❌ Weak: "Here's my process to get 10K followers"
• ✅ Strong: "Steal my secretly tested process to get 10K followers"

Pattern: Authority Credibility

• ❌ Weak: "I run a 23-person agency. Here's what works"
• ✅ Strong: "I run a 23-person agency. Here's what nobody tells you (quietly revealed)"

Pattern: Analysis-Based

• ❌ Weak: "I analyzed 500 viral posts. Here's what I found"
• ✅ Strong: "I uncovered patterns in 500 viral posts nobody talks about"

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Category 2: Helper Words

Purpose: Highlight pain points, losses, and urgency. Triggers loss aversion (fear of missing out or continuing to lose).

Best paired with: You're Losing, Cautionary Tale, Problem/Solution patterns, Tiny Change Big Impact

Word bank: losing, wasting, costing, stealing, killing, sabotaging, destroying, bleeding, leaking, draining, missing, sacrificing, throwing away, burning, hemorrhaging, squandering, forfeiting

Examples in Action

Pattern: You're Losing

• ❌ Weak: "You're losing time with bad meetings"
• ✅ Strong: "You're bleeding 12 hours every week on pointless meetings"

Pattern: Cautionary Tale

• ❌ Weak: "I hired too fast and it cost me money"
• ✅ Strong: "I hired too fast and it hemorrhaged $200K in 6 months"

Pattern: Tiny Change, Big Impact

• ❌ Weak: "One meeting change saved me time"
• ✅ Strong: "One calendar tweak stopped me from wasting 8 hours per week"

Key difference:

• "Losing time" = generic, forgettable
• "Bleeding 12 hours" = visceral, shareable (~10x more engagement)

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Category 3: Thinker Words

Purpose: Challenge assumptions, create intrigue, and position content as contrarian or counterintuitive. Makes readers question what they know.

Best paired with: Myth-Busting, Opposite/Contrarian, Reset Expectations, Everything Wrong, Data-Driven Insights

Word bank: backwards, opposite, counterintuitive, paradox, irony, myth, misconception, illusion, fallacy, contradiction, reversal, upside-down, inverse, contrarian, unconventional, paradoxical, misunderstood

Examples in Action

Pattern: Myth-Busting

• ❌ Weak: "The advice about posting daily is wrong"
• ✅ Strong: "The biggest myth about posting daily is completely backwards"

Pattern: Opposite/Contrarian

• ❌ Weak: "Everyone says hustle. I did the opposite and grew faster"
• ✅ Strong: "Everyone preaches hustle. The paradox: I worked half the hours and grew 3x faster"

Pattern: Reset Expectations

• ❌ Weak: "Forget everything about productivity"
• ✅ Strong: "Everything you know about productivity is a misconception. Here's why"

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Category 4: Amplifiers

Purpose: Intensify any message or pattern. Use with other trigger words or standalone to boost emotional impact.

Mix with any category or pattern for intensity boost

Word bank: every, all, none, always, never, only, biggest, worst, zero, entirely, completely, totally, absolutely, literally, exactly, precisely

Examples in Action

Amplifier + Insider Word

• ❌ Weak: "I found a pattern in viral posts"
• ✅ Strong: "I uncovered the only pattern every viral post shares"

Amplifier + Helper Word

• ❌ Weak: "You're wasting time on social media"
• ✅ Strong: "You're literally bleeding 15 hours every single week on social media"

Amplifier + Thinker Word

• ❌ Weak: "This advice is backwards"
• ✅ Strong: "This advice is completely backwards. Here's the exact opposite that works"

Standalone Amplifier Usage

• ❌ Weak: "I analyzed 1,000 posts and found insights"
• ✅ Strong: "I analyzed exactly 1,000 posts. Zero of them followed this 'rule'"

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Integration Guidelines

DO:

• ✅ Integrate naturally during hook creation (not as an afterthought)
• ✅ Match trigger word category to hook pattern type
• ✅ Use 1-2 trigger words per hook (more = diluted impact)
• ✅ Combine amplifiers with other categories for maximum effect
• ✅ Use specific numbers with trigger words ("bleeding 12 hours" not "bleeding time")
• ✅ Test: Does the trigger word make the hook feel more compelling?

DON'T:

• ❌ Force trigger words awkwardly into hooks
• ❌ Use multiple trigger words from same category in one hook
• ❌ Use trigger words without specific details (e.g., "secretly revealed" needs context)
• ❌ Overuse amplifiers (one per hook maximum)
• ❌ Mix incompatible word types (e.g., "secretly bleeding" rarely works)

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Quick Reference: Pattern-to-Trigger-Word Matching

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Impact Comparison

Understanding the measurable difference trigger words make:

The difference is measurable. Trigger words transform good hooks into viral hooks.