Are you looking for a great hook sentence to captivate your readers? Whether you’re writing an essay, email, blog article, or novel, a good hook sentence is essential to grab your reader’s attention. We cover the seven types of good hook sentences in this article along with six tips from professional writers and marketers.
7 Types of Hook Sentences Types and 37 Hook Sentence Examples
1. Interesting Question
When you ask a question that is relevant to your essay or paper, it’s an intriguing lead-in. The only way for someone to know the response to that query is by reading your work.
Try to narrow in on the reason that they are reading your content in the first place and ask that question. Also, try to use “you” in the opening question to speak directly to the reader.
For example, this article starts with one of these questions. Here are some hook sentence examples:
- Are you….?
- Did you know…?
- How many times have you…?
- What do you think…?
- When is the last time…?
- Where were you when…?
- What is…?
2. Declarative Statement
A statement hook is a sentence that makes an assertive claim about your topic. It connects to the thesis statement and demonstrates the significance of your essay or paper. Get right to the point of your topic and make a bold claim that leaves the reader NEEDING to know more.
This statement can hint at your thesis statement for an essay. Here are some good hook sentence examples:
- X is better than Z.
- X is cheaper than Z.
- X is more effective than Z for Y.
- Contrary to popular belief…
- Most people do not know…
- I am here to tell you that X is Y.
3. Facts and Statistics
Hooking your reader with facts and statistics is a good idea because they provide actual information about a topic. From the start of your essay, you may wow your audience with your intellect and evidence.
However, you must include genuine, intriguing, and trustworthy data. Examine all of your material carefully to verify that it is accurate, fascinating, and reliable.
This hook works especially well when it contradicts a truth universally acknowledged. Here are some good hook sentence examples:
- X% of Americans…
- X,XXX people every year…
- X in Y people…
- X% of survey respondents…
- According to X, Y% of people…
- You are one out of X….
- X% people believe that…
- X has risen by Y% in only Z years.
4. Captivating Metaphor or Simile
Metaphors and similes are powerful tools in your arsenal. They engage your readers because they provide a new perspective on a subject.
Your target audience is likely asking themselves what you mean and how you compare one thing to something else that appears unrelated.
- X is Y.
- X is like Y because…
- While it may not seem like it, X is a Y.
5. A Simple Story
This is a hook that starts with a short piece of material that relates to your subject. Readers adore stories, especially if they’re well-written and memorable. Your story might be about someone else, or it could be about you. Making sure the tale you tell connects directly to your essay or paper topic is crucial for a great story hook. Here are some examples:
- This one time…
- Once upon a time…
- I…
- My friend…
- My colleague…
- I have never told this story before, but…
6. Strong Description
This is a hook for you to use when describing a scene that entices your readers to read on. The description hook will pique the reader’s interest and encourage them to find out what happens next in your work. It’s most commonly seen in narrative essays, but any sort of writing can benefit from it.
Try it in your next marketing campaign, academic paper, or blog post. Also, try using this hook with lots of adjectives to make it especially descriptive to grab readers attention. This hook is especially helpful when writing a narrative essay. Here are some essay hook examples:
- The X was Ying like never before.
- X was Y in Z, but not everything was as it seemed.
- In X there was a Y and the Z was U.
7. Thought-Provoking Quotation
This is a hook in which you start your essay with a quotation. The quotation doesn’t have to come from a renowned figure. If the person’s words are relevant to what you’re writing about, you may quote them. Here are some of these essay hook examples:
- X once said “…”
- Famously, X stated “…”
- Like any great X, Y believed that “…”
- X’s belief that “….” has never been more relevant.
Six Pro Tips For Great Hook Sentences
To help you create hook sentences for marketing, we asked content writers and marketing professionals this question for their best ideas. From using the fake draft method to “save money”, there are a number of ideas that may help you develop hook lines for your marketing content.
1. The Fake Draft
Recommended by Michael Alexis at TeamBuilding.
Although not the most transparent method, one of the most clever email marketing hooks I ever heard of was a company beginning their email subject line with the word [draft]. The company structured the email copy to make it seem like an intern was forwarding the message internally for approval, but accidentally sent the mail to the customer list.
The company sent a follow-up email that sending was unintentional yet the company would still honor the promotion, which resulted in a higher-than-average conversion rate. Folks like to feel as if they are lucky, receiving a good deal, and privy to privileged information. Feigning a mistake can be an effective way to make recipients take notice of marketing materials, though it is a tactic that should be used sparingly as folks are quick to wise up to this kind of trick if repeated.
2. You Can’t Afford To Miss This
Recommended by Natalia Brzezinska, PhotoAiD
“You can’t afford to miss this.” It’s a well-known fact that people are more likely to take action if they feel like they’re losing out on something. That’s why phrases like “you can’t afford to miss this” work so well in marketing copy.
They create a sense of urgency and make the prospect feel like they need to act now if they want to get the best deal. Other examples of hooks include phrases like “limited time offer”, “act now”, and “price ends soon”. If you can create a sense of urgency in your copy, you’ll be more likely to get people to take action.
3. The Pastor Method
Recommended by Drew Sherman, Carvaygo
There is a copywriting method called “PASTOR.” This is an acronym which stands for Problem, Amplify, Solution, Transformation, Offer, Response. This is an effective way to intrigue your target audience, as it starts with triggering their pain points.
This way, the solutions, promises of transformation, offers, and your response in asking your customers to take an action will seem that much more rewarding. If you lead with anything other than the problem, your copywriting could come off as pushy, so be sure to follow this exact order.
4. Urgency
Recommended by Danielle Bedford, Coople
Scarcity is a powerful marketing tool that can create a sense of urgency and encourage people to take action. If you have a limited-time offer or a product that is in high demand, be sure to mention it in your copy. You could use scarcity as a hook, such as “Only 5 left in stock!” or “Get it while it’s hot!”.
Other ways to create a sense of urgency include using phrases such as “act now,” “don’t miss out,” or “while supplies last.” You can also highlight time-sensitive bonuses, discounts, or deals. For example, you could offer free shipping for a limited time or 20% off all orders placed within the next 24 hours.
Scarcity may be an effective way to grab attention and persuade people to take action but only if it is used correctly can it be a powerful tool in your marketing arsenal.
5. Presenting The Company as a Club
Recommended by Agata Szczepanek, MyPerfectResume
Making a good marketing copy great requires brainwork. And “heartwork”, as emotions are the key to creating content that is both memorable and effective. My best example of a hook in a marketing copy is to present a promoted company not just like a business but as a lifestyle or a club instead.
It creates a feeling of belonging in the audience and evokes an emotional reaction based on people’s need to be liked, accepted, and important. The more they feel like a part of a team, the more likely your campaign is to be successful. Emotion is a secret ingredient of the recipe for a compelling, irresistible copy, actually.
6. Save Money
Recommended by Steve Mascarin, Taunton Village Dental
The best hooks are those where people feel like they can save money or get something for free so my best example of a hook being used now is for Geico “Save hundreds on your car insurance.” There are plenty of similar ones like “Try us for free, love us forever” or “Save money with these five simple hacks.”
Everyone is going to click on those types of things just to see if it shows them something they don’t know.
FAQ
What is a good hook sentence?
A good hook sentence is something that catches the reader’s attention and makes them want to learn more. It can be an interesting fact, a provocative statement, or an intriguing question. Whatever your hook is, it should be relevant to the topic you are writing about and should make the reader want to keep reading. Good luck!
What is a good hook for an essay examples?
There are many different ways to start an essay, but a good hook is often a strong statement that creates an emotional response in the reader. It can be something that the reader can relate to, such as a personal story or an interesting fact about the topic you are writing about. It can also be something unexpected or controversial that makes the reader think about the issue in a new way. Whatever your hook is, make sure it is relevant to the rest of your essay and that it helps create a strong, engaging opening for your paper.
What is a hook opening sentence?
A hook opening sentence is a statement or question that catches the reader’s attention and makes them want to learn more. It can be an interesting fact, a provocative statement, or an intriguing question. Whatever your hook is, it should be relevant to the topic you are writing about and should make the reader want to keep reading.
What is a good sentence starter for a hook?
There are many different ways to start an essay, but a good hook is often a strong statement that creates an emotional response in the reader. It can be something that the reader can relate to, such as a personal story or an interesting fact about the topic you are writing about. It can also be something unexpected or controversial that makes the reader think about the issue in a new way. Whatever your hook is, it should be relevant to the rest of your essay and should help engage your readers from the start.