- Heythem's Letter
- Posts
- my 3-sentence viral hook structure
Virality is a science.
Once you know how, it’s easy to go viral.
Problem:
Most people overcomplicate writing hooks. They try to be clever or shock people with something extreme.
But you don’t need to reinvent the wheel.
There’s one hook structure that works again and again.
It’s simple, replicable, and it gives your posts the best shot at grabbing attention right away.
I call it the 3-sentence hook structure.
Here’s how it works:
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Sentence 1: State your credibility
People want to learn from those who know what they’re talking about (unfortunately, most don’t).
So when we look for information, we look for whom we can trust to give us the right information. And the best way to do that is to talk about your past.
Start your hook with why people should listen to you.
Credibility comes in many forms:
Age → “I’m 23. Here are 3 things I wish I knew when I was 18.”
Special travel experiences → “I’ve been to 12 countries in the last 3 years. This is what travel taught me about people.”
Significant past experiences → “When my startup failed, I thought my life was over. It turned out to be the best thing that happened to me.”
Difficulties you’ve faced in life → “I battled depression for years. Here are the lessons that stuck with me.”
Unique life circumstances → “As an immigrant growing up in two cultures, here’s what I learned about belonging.”
Things you’d normally put on a CV → “After 5 years of studying law, this is what I really learned about justice.”
Transformations you went through → “At 20, I was lost and anxious. At 27, I feel free. Here’s how I got here.”
Think of it like this: If you were writing your CV, what would you put there? Education, work experience & skills.
That’s credibility that goes into your hook. And then you can end your sentence with:
And I need to tell you
And I have to speak up
And I’m gonna be honest
And you have been lied to
And I need you to hear this
And I hate to break it to you
I don’t know who needs to hear this
And I'm frustrated this isn't discussed more
And I wish more people would talk about this
Example:
And if you’re now thinking: “but I don’t have credibility”
You’re wrong.
People think they need a degree, a PhD, or some crazy story to be “credible”. But that’s not true.
EVERYBODY has credibility.
What are the struggles, traumas, and turning points that shaped you? That’s credibility. Instead of saying “I’m an expert,” you say “I messed this up.” That’s equally powerful.
Here’s a post of one of our Full Circle ⭕members:
Alternative to credibility: calling out big corporations
Still not convinced? Here are ways to skip the credibility part by call-outs:
Big therapy/pharma doesn't want you to know this:
The cosmetic industry will hate me for this:
The food industry is hiding this from you:
School/University won’t teach you this:
Society doesn’t want you to hear this:
Your boss doesn’t want you to know:
They won’t teach you this in therapy:
Your therapist won’t tell you this:
Your doctor won’t prescribe this:
Dan Koe/Eckhart Tolle is wrong:
Example:
Sentence 2: Honesty, Controversy, Impact
This is the part that makes people stop scrolling.
It’s where you put:
Controversial statement
Topic not often talked about
A reliable pain to the audience
Making people aware of a big problem
New Idea/ new way of looking at a topic
This is the place where you become honest, raw & courageous.
Being controversial for the sake of it is no good. But being honest will bring controversy.
You can’t build a personal brand without repelling someone. If everyone agrees with you, you’re saying nothing.
When you speak your truth, the right people rally around you. The wrong people leave. Both outcomes are good. 🙂
Viral examples I used in the past:
“We’re all traumatized.”
“Depression is overdiagnosed.”
“Science is not against God. It explains God.”
“You don't need to spend money on therapy to heal.”
“Your creativity is slowly dying without you noticing.”
“Most problems are solved by taking a walk in nature.”
“Communication is more important than your university degree.”
“The deeper the trauma the more a spiritual approach is needed.”
“Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts are breaking your brain.”
The key here is clarity.
Don’t try to use fancy words, jargon, or long-winded explanations. Just one sharp, clear sentence that cuts.
Sentence 3: The Bridge
The third sentence is the invitation to read further. Think of it as a bridge from the hook into the body.
It can look like this:
Here’s proof
Here’s how/ Here’s why
Here’s the X-step system to..
Here's the scientific blueprint
Here are 5 science-backed hacks
What no one else will tell you about…
Here’s the sad truth (and how to fix it)
Here’s the X-Step blueprint I used (save this post)
If you work in corporate/ are in your 20s, read this
Here are X brutal/controversial/eye-opening truths
👉 Here is an example from Claudia (another Full Circle ⭕ Member 🙂):
See how she coupled age, credibility, controversy, and call out, all in one post?
Genius.
Let me show you some more examples from our Full Circle ⭕Students:
Example 1 – Dr. Samanta (drsam_sleepdoctor on Threads)
“I’m a sleep doctor, and I need to confess: I had terrible gut health all my life, which disrupted my sleep. If you are struggling with sleep, read this.”
She starts with her credibility (sleep doctor). Then she makes it vulnerable (negative credibility) and closes with the bridge in the form of a call-out.
Example 2 – Vivek (therealvivekiyer on Threads)
“I negotiated a six-figure deal in an hour, but I couldn’t get my six-year-old to eat broccoli. Here’s how I learned to negotiate with my kids.”
Credibility: high-stakes corporate success.
Impactful statement: failing at something small and funny.
Bridge: “Here’s how.”
Example 3 – Thomas (amayaguide on Threads)
“I have drunk Ayahuasca with a thousand people, and I have to break it to you. For most people, doing ayahuasca is a waste of their time and money. Here’s why.”
Credibility: Massive first-hand experience.
Impactful statement: Controversial take.
Bridge: Clear promise.
Example 4 – Sameera (hopeengineer on Threads)
“When I was 21, I left Sri Lanka for the UK to build my dream career. At 33, I returned to Sri Lanka completely broke. Here’s what no one tells you about rebuilding your life from scratch.”
Credibility: personal journey across 12 years.
Impactful statement: the brutal truth of coming back broke.
Bridge: “Here’s what no one tells you…”
If you take one thing away from this newsletter, let it be this:
Everyone has credibility.
You don’t need a PhD, be a millionaire, or have climbed Mount Everest.
Your life already holds the material for powerful hooks.The challenge is to dig deep, journal your experiences, and turn them into content.
Because people don’t connect with perfect writing. They connect with raw, unfiltered, relatable stories.
The 3-sentence structure is the framework - what makes it powerful is when you fill it with your truth.
Here’s my call to you:
Inside Full Circle, I do “posts roasts” where I go over people’s posts and give them feedback on what could be improved.
So I invite you:
Try this structure, write a hook, and send it to me.
I’ll give you feedback, make comments, and tell you how I’d write it - then I’ll send it back to you ready to post.
Looking forward to reading your hooks/posts 🙂
With love,
Heythem