How to use the Hook Generator
- Enter a topic. Write the subject the way it would read in a sentence, such as "cold email" or "meal prep on a budget".
- Choose the platform. Instagram, LinkedIn, X or TikTok. The tool marks hooks that are likely to run past where that platform cuts the post with "more".
- Pick from five styles. You get four question, contrarian, number, story and warning hooks. Shuffle for a different four of each.
- Edit and test. Make the hook true to your post, for example the real number or the real story, then paste your favourites into the Hook Line Tester to compare them.
The five hook styles
What each style does
Question hooks ask something the reader wants answered. Contrarian hooks push back on common advice, so only use them when you can back the claim up in the post. Number hooks promise a list or a step count and set clear expectations. Story hooks start in the middle of something that happened to you. Warning hooks name a mistake and work best when the post gives the fix.
Folds and sources
The "more" cut lengths are shared with the Hook Line Tester: about 125 characters on Instagram, 210 on LinkedIn and 80 on TikTok, observed in October 2026 and not documented by the networks. Length is counted in visible characters, so an emoji counts once. The templates are editorial and carry no performance claim.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hook in a social media post?
The first line, the one people see before they decide to keep reading or scroll on. On most networks it is also the only part visible before "more". A hook makes a promise the rest of the post keeps, so it needs to be specific and true.
Which hook style works best?
There is no single answer, and this tool does not claim one. Questions open a gap, contrarian lines challenge a belief, numbers promise a countable payoff, stories put the reader in a moment and warnings name a mistake. Try different styles on similar posts and compare your own results.
How long should a hook be?
Short enough to show before the cut. In our observation that is roughly 125 characters on Instagram, 210 on LinkedIn and 80 on TikTok; X shows the whole 280 character post. These are approximate and change by device, so the tool flags hooks that are likely to be cut, not exact ones.
Are these hooks written by AI?
No. They come from 40 hand-written templates, eight per style, with your topic filled in. Some templates mention a number or a time span, such as "30 days": change it to what really happened, or pick another hook.
How is this different from the Hook Line Tester?
This tool writes options. The Hook Line Tester scores up to five lines you already have on signals such as length, a number, a question, concrete words and reading level. Use this one first, then the tester.