Hooks

Listicle hook with specific count

Open with a numbered promise. Odd counts (5, 7, 9) outperform even counts in feed click-through. The qualifier after the count is what separates a high-performing listicle hook from a generic one.

When to use this template

When the post genuinely contains discrete, separable items - frameworks, steps, examples, mistakes. Don't force a story or argument into a list. The list format only works when each item is genuinely independent and parseable in one line.

The template

{odd_number} {things_mistakes_lessons_or_frameworks} {specific_qualifier}.

{one_line_setup_that_frames_why_these_matter}.

1. {item_1_one_line}
2. {item_2_one_line}
3. {item_3_one_line}
4. {item_4_one_line}
5. {item_5_one_line}

{optional_closing_meta_lesson_that_connects_all_items}

Variables

{odd_number}: 5, 7, 9, or 11. Odd numbers outperform even counts in click-through. Research-backed: odd feels more 'curated' than even. Never use 10 - it reads as a round number.
{specific_qualifier}: The qualifier after the number is the difference between generic and specific. '7 mistakes I made before crossing €250K in pipeline' beats '7 LinkedIn mistakes'. 'that doubled my pipeline', 'every B2B founder needs', 'I made in my first year as a consultant' - all specific.
{one_line_setup_that_frames_why_these_matter}: One sentence that makes the list feel relevant and urgent. 'If you're posting and getting nothing back, one of these is probably why.' or 'Most people do at least 3 of these - fixing 1 moves the needle.'
{item_1 through 5}: Each item must be parseable in one line. If an item needs a paragraph, write a different post. Concrete, specific items: 'Not following up on profile views' beats 'Missing engagement opportunities'.
{optional_closing_meta_lesson}: The best listicles end with the underlying principle connecting all items. This is what drives saves. 'The fix for all 7: one ICP, post for them only, reply to every comment within 2 hours.'

Worked example

7 LinkedIn mistakes I made before crossing €250K in pipeline.

If you're posting consistently and getting nothing back, one of these is probably why.

1. Posting 5x a week with no content pillar
2. Writing for 'the LinkedIn algorithm' instead of my ICP
3. Hiding the offer until the bottom of every post
4. Treating comments as an engagement metric instead of a pipeline entry point
5. Not following up on profile views within 24 hours
6. Sending booking links before warming the conversation
7. Tracking impressions instead of inbound conversations

The root of all 7: I was optimising for reach instead of relevance. One ICP, one pillar, one call to action per post changed everything.

How to use it

1
Pick an odd number between 5 and 11
5 is tight but focused. 7 is the sweet spot - feels comprehensive without feeling like a dump. 9 works when each item genuinely earns its place. Never use 10 - it reads as a round number and performs like one.
2
Write the qualifier before anything else
The qualifier is the headline's value proposition. '7 mistakes I made before crossing €250K' tells you the source (personal experience), the proof (the outcome), and the relevance (before the milestone). Write it first, then write the list.
3
One line per item, specific nouns only
'Not following up on profile views' is specific (a concrete action). 'Missing opportunities' is not (no action, no specificity). Each item should be actionable enough that a reader could do or stop doing it today.
4
End with the meta-lesson
What do all 7 items have in common? That principle is more valuable than any single item. The meta-lesson is what drives saves. Write it last, after the list reveals what it is.

More hooks templates

Auto-generate posts using this template.

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