On LinkedIn, the first line is the post. If it doesn't stop the scroll, the rest of your work never gets read. Yet most people write one opening and publish it without trying another.
The LinkedIn Hook Tester makes it easy to write two or three versions and compare them side by side. It is free, instant and needs no signup.
What the Hook Tester Does
You paste up to three openings, labelled A, B and C. For each one, the tool shows:
- How it looks on mobile, cut where LinkedIn adds “…see more”.
- The type of hook it is, such as a question, a contrarian take or a plain statement.
- What helps and what hurts, as short notes you can act on.
What It Looks For
A first line that fits on mobile
A first line that runs too long gets cut before it lands. The tester flags lines that will be cut and suggests staying under about 110 characters to be safe on phones.
Concrete details
A number, a name, a result or a direct “you” gives the reader a reason to stop. The tester marks openings that have one as Good.
Warm-up phrases
Openings like “I wanted to share…” delay the point. The tester spots them so you can cut straight to what matters.
The most skipped opening
“Excited to announce…” is the opening readers have learned to scroll past. The tester flags it every time.
Generic listicles and emoji starts
“5 tips for…” without a specific angle sounds like everything else in the feed, and a first line that starts with an emoji or a hashtag reads like an ad. The tester suggests adding a specific number, person or result, and starting with words.
How to Write Three Hooks Fast
Take the main point of your post and write it three ways:
- A: the result. Lead with what happened. “We lost our biggest client after 11 days of silence.”
- B: the contrarian take. Say what most people get wrong. “Price was never why clients left us.”
- C: the question. Ask what the reader is wondering. “How long can a client wait for a reply before they leave?”
Paste all three into the Hook Tester, keep the one with the fewest fixes, and read it aloud. If it sounds like you, use it.
Need inspiration? Browse our LinkedIn post hook examples, then check the full draft in the LinkedIn Post Checker.
Try It, Then Give the Post a Strong First Hour
The LinkedIn Hook Tester is free and needs no signup. Write three openings, keep the strongest.
The first hour after you publish decides how far a post travels. Podawaa gets your post early reactions from real people in your field, so the algorithm sees interest while it still matters. The free plan boosts up to 5 posts a month, no card required. Start free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the LinkedIn Hook Tester free?
Yes. It is free and needs no signup. Paste up to three openings and compare them instantly.
How long should a LinkedIn hook be?
Short enough to read in full before “…see more” on a phone. Under about 110 characters is a safe target for the first line.
What makes a good LinkedIn hook?
A concrete detail (a number, a person, a result) or a direct “you”, with no warm-up phrase. It should tell readers what the post is about and why they should keep reading.
Can the tool predict which hook will perform best?
No. It checks for the patterns that make readers scroll past. Your audience decides the rest, so test different styles over several posts.
