Want a Perfect Social Hook? Steal This.

What makes someone stop scrolling?

It’s not polish. It’s not your clever headline. It’s not a manufactured setup you spent hours wordsmithing.

It’s real words from real people.

Think about it, when was the last time a scripted ad stopped you mid-scroll?

Compare that to when you saw a raw comment, a surprising testimonial, or a message that made you nod and think, “That’s exactly how I feel.”

Your customers already write better hooks than you.

Their language is sticky because it’s unfiltered. They don’t overthink. They don’t hide behind jargon. They blurt out raw emotion. And that emotion is gold.

Start your next post not with what you think your audience wants to hear, but with what they actually say. Build the post around that one emotionally charged line.

That’s the heart of this week’s prompt.

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Why Use This Prompt?

Most social media hooks flop.

• You pour time into clever phrasing.

• You copy formulas you saw in a thread.

• You tweak, rewrite, tweak again.

And then? Ten likes. Maybe a pity share.

Your hook is trying to be smart, but your reader wants to feel seen. They want their own frustration, hope, or dream reflected back at them.

Customer quotes deliver that instantly.

I’ll be honest, the first time I tried this, it felt like cheating. I dropped a line straight from an email into the top of my post:

That post became one of my most-shared pieces. Why? Because thousands of creators had whispered that same thought in the dark. My audience didn’t need me to “craft” a hook. They needed me to amplify their voice.

So yes, this prompt works. Not because it’s clever, but because it’s honest.

Best Use Cases

This prompt shines when your content depends on authentic connection.

Try it for:

• Product launches: Use a customer’s “before and after” line to open your announcement.

• Case studies: Lead with a quote of frustration before showing how things turned around.

• Thought leadership posts: Start with the raw words of the people you’re trying to help.

• Email subject lines: Lift a powerful 10-word segment that hits straight to the heart.

• Short-form content: TikToks, Reels, YouTube Shorts—all start stronger with human language.

Anywhere you need to stop the scroll, this works.

PRESENTED BY SPONSOR

The Prompt

Here’s the prompt you can drop into any LLM:

Prompt: 

You are my writing assistant. Help me identify powerful customer quotes to use as social media hooks.

Ask me to share recent customer feedback, testimonials, DMs, or survey responses.

For each quote I provide:

• Extract the most emotionally compelling 10–15 word segment.

• Choose segments that capture strong emotions, surprising outcomes, or clear transformation moments.

• Show me how to introduce each segment so it lands with impact as a hook.

• Provide 3 alternative rewrites for each hook, so I can test versions.

• Keep the tone raw, human, and authentic—avoid jargon, polish, or “marketing speak.”

Important style rules:

• Write for one person, not a crowd.

• Open loops early: hint at something valuable later.

• Use short, punchy sentences.

• Hold a strong point of view.

• Back claims with proof when possible.

• Stay in active voice.

At the end, give me a sample post that starts with one of the selected hooks and flows into a simple, clear explanation of my offer.

Tips for Better Results

Want this prompt to really sing? Keep these tips in mind:

Collect quotes all the time. Don’t wait until you’re writing. Screenshot customer DMs, highlight survey answers, save Slack messages. Build a swipe file of raw language.

Hunt for the turning point. The best hooks live in transformation moments: “I thought this would never work then I tripled my leads in a week.”

Don’t clean it up too much. The power is in the imperfections. Resist the urge to “fix” grammar. Leave the humanity in.

Pair the quote with your story. The quote gets attention. Your commentary delivers clarity. Keep the handoff smooth: “Here’s what they said. Here’s why it matters. Here’s what you can do.”

Test, test, test. The algorithm rewards iteration. Post multiple versions of the same idea. See which phrasing sparks comments or shares. Double down on winners.

Admit when you miss. Sometimes the “perfect” quote flops. That’s part of the game. The trust you build by admitting what didn’t work will serve you more than pretending you nail it every time.

If you’ve been sweating over hooks, relax. You don’t need to invent them. Your audience already wrote them for you.

The question isn’t can I write the perfect hook? The question is am I paying attention to the real words people hand me every day?

Because when you start with their truth, your content finally feels like theirs. And that’s when they stop scrolling.

Thanks for reading!

Best,

Miroslav from The Zilahut

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