Ask any top Twitter creator what’s the secret to their thread’s success, and they’ll all say the same thing:
Thread Hooks.
Thread hooks follow the Pareto Principle, which states that 80% of the outcomes (of the thread) come from 20% of causes (the hook).
The problem is that thread hooks are very difficult to write. But don’t worry, that’s why we created these plug-and-play templates to make the writing process easier for you.
We have already written two articles with a total of 19 templates (Part I and Part II). But there’s always room for more.
So here they are 👇
#1 - Open loops
I tried to teach ChatGPT how to use storytelling.
— Content Kuba (@contentkuba) January 17, 2023
The output?
Very mediocre.
Until...
Open loops type of hooks are one of my favs. They are just so irresistible.
They leave you wondering because the information is incomplete. It’s almost impossible not to keep reading if you are interested in the thread’s topic.
✍️ The template:
✍️ I tried (this thing)
✍️ The output?
✍️ (Mediocre, bad, it failed…)
✍️ Until…
#2 - What if I told you…?
What if I told you it's possible to grow an audience on Twitter by just investing 35 minutes a day?
— Alex Llull🕵️♂️ (@AlexLlullTW) January 25, 2023
Here's how (highly tactical thread incoming):
The “What if I told you” type of hook is a great way to start a thread.
The idea is to present something that is unlikely to be achieved, in a very short period of time.
As a reminder when you use these types of hooks, make sure you deliver on what you are promising!
✍️ The template:
✍️ What if I told you it’s possible to (something that sounds unlikely) by just investing (short amount of time)?
✍️ Here’s how:
#3 - Free Resources
10 free courses to help you build your online business
— Jon Brosio (@jonbrosio) February 7, 2023
(From Harvard, MIT, Stanford, etc.):
Curating content is a great way to build an audience. You can curate virtually anything, then compile your findings on a thread using this hook.
This one in particular relies heavily on borrowing credibility from the sources you are curation.
✍️ The template:
✍️ N free (resources) to help you (achieve audience desire)
✍️ From (credibility sources):
#4 - I’ve done the work for you
I’ve listened to more than 500 podcast episodes in the last 2 years.
— Ali Abdaal (@AliAbdaal) October 3, 2022
Possibly a bit excessive, but these are the 12 podcasts that have changed my life and helped me grow my business 👇
This hook type is a classic if you’ve been around Twitter for a while.
It consists of presenting something you did that requires a lot of effort. Then curating the best resources.
The audience will perceive that your message is more believable because of the effort you put into it.
✍️ The template:
✍️ I’ve (listened, watched, studied, read…) more than (big number + what you did) in the last (time frame).
✍️ These are the (N) that have helped me (achieve the desire that audience also has):
#5 - Looking for it?
Looking for a $5000+ monthly revenue stream?
— Dan Kulkov (@DanKulkov) January 16, 2023
I got you.
Here are 7 content products Solopreneur should launch in 2023:
[with examples]
This one is pretty simple. It follows the formula of “want this? then here’s the solution”.
Simple and effective.
✍️ The template:
✍️ Looking for (audience desire)?
✍️ I got you.
✍️ Here are N (vehicle to reach that desire):
#6 - Superpower
Copywriting is a superpower.
— Alex Garcia 🔍 (@alexgarcia_atx) June 16, 2021
Learn it and you can sell just about anything.
Use these 7 threads to master copywriting in the next 5 min 🧵
Another one for the curation team. You present something as the “superpower that will help you achieve your goals.” Then curate a bunch of resources so people can “master” that topic.
✍️ The template:
✍️ (Niche topic) is a superpower
✍️ Learn it and you can (achieve audience desire)
✍️ Use these N (threads, resources, channels, people) to master (niche topic):
#7 - Challenge conventional wisdom
How to work for 4 hours straight (without drugs) :
— MATT GRAY (@matt_gray_) January 19, 2023
If someone asked you how would you stay focused for four hours, most people would say “drugs” (legal ones!)
Matt knows this, so he attempts to confront the initial reaction that most people have to his hook.
✍️ The template:
✍️ How to (do something that feels impossible)
✍️ Without (doing this other thing):
#8 - The 101
Onboarding 101
— Christine Carrillo (@ChristineCarril) September 28, 2022
I’ve onboarded 100s of team members over the past 5 years.
Here’s the 3-email template I use to make new team members feel appreciated and involved:
101 types of threads are pretty common and position you as an expert on certain subjects.
The key here is to provide some elements that add credibility to your expertise. In this example, Christine does it by mentioning how many people she has onboarded over the last 5 years.
✍️ The template:
✍️ (Niche topic) 101
✍️ I’ve (something that proves your expertise) over the past (time frame)
✍️ Here’s the (process/resource/template) I use to (do something very specific):
#9 - The playbook
If you're under 25, and
— Clint Murphy (@IAmClintMurphy) July 14, 2022
You want to be a multi-millionaire by 30,
This is the exact playbook you can use to do it:
“If you are under 25” combined with “and want to be a multi-millionaire” (who wouldn’t?) makes for a hook that appeals to a bigger part of Clint’s audience.
I always say to keep your content focused on a specific niche, but in this case, Clint breaks the rule by addressing a larger, general audience. And it works.
✍️ The template:
✍️ If you are under (age)
✍️ And want to (achieve this desire) by (age)
✍️ This is the playbook you can use to do it:
#10 - Mistake that costs $$$
I've negotiated employee compensation countless times.
— Dave Kline (@dklineii) April 12, 2022
Most people make simple mistakes that cost them $1,000s.
Here's how to negotiate a raise and get paid what you're worth:
Everyone wants to avoid mistakes that cost them time or money. And what better if you get advice on how to avoid them from a subject expert?
This is exactly how Dave positions himself (I’ve negotiated employee compensation countless times) and his thread (get paid what you are worth).
✍️ The template:
✍️ I’ve done (this thing) countless times.
✍️ Most people make simple mistakes that cost them (time/money)
✍️ Here’s how (to do the thing) and (achieve desire):
Hooks aren’t everything
Despite what we’ve said in this article, hooks aren’t the only thing that makes a thread successful. Once you get people’s attention, you need to redirect it somewhere once they are done reading.
And how do you do that? Whit a Call to Action.
We wrote a post with seven types of call to action that you can add to your threads. Combine them with these hook templates and you’ll become unstoppable.