/viral-hook-creator

name: viral-hook-creator
description: Creates viral social media hooks using proven psychological patterns and trigger words. Use when user needs attention-grabbing openings for posts, threads, videos, or content.

Viral Hook Creator

Purpose

Generate 3-5 viral hook options using proven psychological patterns that create curiosity, provide value, and drive engagement. Hooks are optimized for social platforms (X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok).

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Execution Logic

**Check $ARGUMENTS first to determine execution mode:**

If $ARGUMENTS is empty or not provided:

Respond with: "viral-hook-creator loaded, proceed with additional instructions"

Then wait for the user to provide their requirements in the next message.

If $ARGUMENTS contains content:

Proceed immediately to Task Execution (skip the "loaded" message).

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Task Execution

When user requirements are available (either from initial $ARGUMENTS or follow-up message):

1. MANDATORY: Read Reference Files FIRST

**BLOCKING REQUIREMENT - DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP**

Before doing ANYTHING else, you MUST use the Read tool to read BOTH reference files. This is non-negotiable:

Read: ./references/hook-patterns.md
Read: ./references/trigger_words.md

**What you will find:**

• **hook-patterns.md**: 18 proven hook patterns with templates, psychology explanations, and the Pattern Selection Matrix
• **trigger_words.md**: Four categories of viral trigger words (Insider, Helper, Thinker, Amplifiers)

**DO NOT PROCEED** to step 2 until you have read both files and have the patterns and trigger words loaded in context.

2. Check for Business Context (Optional)

Check if `FOUNDER_CONTEXT.md` exists in the project root.

• **If it exists:** Read it and use the business context to personalize your output (industry terminology, audience pain points, brand voice, authority metrics).
• **If it doesn't exist:** Proceed using defaults from the "Defaults & Assumptions" section.

3. Analyze Input

From the user's requirements, extract:

• Content topic/theme
• Target platform (X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, general)
• Goal (awareness, education, engagement, conversion)
• Target audience demographics and psychographics
• Available social proof (stats, achievements, research)

For any missing information, apply defaults from the **"Defaults & Assumptions"** section.

4. Generate Viral Hooks

Using the patterns and trigger words you read in Step 1, create hooks:

1. **Select patterns** from hook-patterns.md using the Pattern Selection Matrix (match user's goal + platform) 2. **Draft each hook** using the pattern template as your starting point 3. **Integrate 1-2 trigger words** from trigger_words.md into each hook as you write:

• **Insider words** (secretly, revealed, hidden, uncovered, etc.) → exclusivity patterns
• **Helper words** (losing, wasting, bleeding, stealing, etc.) → problem/urgency patterns
• **Thinker words** (backwards, myth, counterintuitive, paradox, etc.) → contrarian patterns
• **Amplifiers** (literally, every, zero, completely, etc.) → any pattern for intensity

4. **Follow all Writing Rules** (Core Rules, Pattern-Specific Rules, Platform-Specific Adaptations) 5. **Ensure differentiation** - each hook must use a unique pattern 6. **Verify natural integration** - trigger words should enhance, not distract

5. Format and Verify

• Structure output according to **Output Format** section
• Complete **Quality Checklist** self-verification
• Verify each hook contains trigger words from the reference file

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Writing Rules

Hard constraints. No interpretation.

Core Rules

• Maximum 120 characters for X/Twitter hooks.
• Maximum 1-2 lines (40-60 characters) for video hooks.
• Lead with the most interesting element.
• Create a curiosity gap (promise value but withhold details).
• Use specific numbers when possible (not "many" but "17").
• Avoid clickbait that doesn't deliver.
• Use power words: steal, secret, mistake, never, proven, blueprint.
• No emojis unless platform-specific (Instagram/TikTok OK, LinkedIn/X avoid).
• No fluff or filler words.
• Active voice only.
• Present tense preferred.

Pattern-Specific Rules

• For authority hooks: Lead with credible metric.
• For list hooks: Use odd numbers (7 > 6, 5 > 4).
• For story hooks: Start with unexpected outcome.
• For data hooks: Lead with surprising stat.
• For cautionary hooks: Lead with mistake/lesson.

Platform-Specific Adaptations

• **X/Twitter**: Punchy, contrarian, data-driven, 120 char max.
• **LinkedIn**: Professional, achievement-oriented, thought leadership, 40-60 char first line.
• **Instagram**: Visual promise, lifestyle-oriented, aspirational, 125 char before "more" cutoff.
• **TikTok**: Fast-paced, relatable, trend-aware, 20-30 char on-screen text.
• **General**: Versatile, platform-agnostic.

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Output Format

Clean and simple. Just hooks with their pattern type as a headline.

### [Pattern Name]
[Hook text]

### [Pattern Name]
[Hook text]

### [Pattern Name]
[Hook text]

**Example:**

### Authority Credibility
I run a 23-person software agency. Here are 5 things I would never do again.

### Data-Driven Insight
I analyzed 1,000 LinkedIn posts. Here are the top 5 patterns that drove engagement.

### Contrarian
Everyone tells you to post daily. I posted 3x per week and got 10x more engagement.

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Defaults & Assumptions

Use these unless overridden.

• Number of hooks: 3
• Platform: X/Twitter (most restrictive character limit).
• Goal: Maximize engagement (likes, comments, shares).
• Audience: General business/entrepreneurship audience.
• Tone: Professional but conversational (matches most founders).
• Emotion: Curiosity (safest default for viral content).
• Format: Thread/post opener (not video hook).

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References

**These files MUST be read using the Read tool before generating any hooks (see Step 1 of Task Execution):**

| File | Purpose | |------|---------|