Stop the Scroll

by Brenna Martin, VPG Social Media Specialist

I recently attended an online personal branding course with Ashley Cheung and Melissa Cohen, and it opened my eyes to the power of a strong LinkedIn profile. Like many in their mid-20s, I hadn’t given it much thought until now. I’m excited for this opportunity to kick off this series on leveling up your LinkedIn, starting with the most important part: your first sentence.

One of the first things to learn is what makes someone stop scrolling and read your post on LinkedIn? It’s not luck, it’s a hook. A good hook is carefully composed and intentionally written to tap into curiosity and invite engagement right from the start. A strong hook is critical because it determines whether your audience will actually engage with your content or scroll past it. In a study cited by LinkedIn’s Content Marketing Manager, Tequia Burt, posts with compelling openings tend to perform significantly better in both reach and engagement.

Why? Because the average professional spends only a few seconds deciding whether to read a post. That means your first line must deliver immediate value, spark curiosity, or highlight a relatable challenge. As copywriting expert Ann Handley says, “You have seconds, make them count.” A well-crafted hook respects your reader’s time and signals that the rest of your message is worth reading.

“This is my coolest career moment of all time.” "You smile too much in your LinkedIn photos." “My last 469 LinkedIn posts went viral. Over 2 years!” These are just a few examples of the strong opening lines that Jasmin Alic, a Bosnian digital mogul, copywriter, LinkedIn strategist, and keynote speaker, has used to stand out on LinkedIn. With just a quick view of his page, you’ll notice he rarely starts with fluff.

Instead, he begins with a sharp insight, a bold opinion, or a relatable challenge, something that stops you mid-scroll. A hook isn’t about gimmicks: it’s about an immediate connection with your audience. By speaking directly and opening with clarity, Alic shows how a strong first sentence can transform a post from just another thought into a conversation starter. By analyzing how Alic hooks his readers, we can see why the right opening line is more than just clever, it’s the key to building real engagement.

The algorithm favors engagement, but people favor connection. And you won’t get either if your opening line doesn’t give your audience a reason to care about what you have to say. A strong hook isn’t about increasing views; it’s about making your message impossible to ignore. In a feed packed with competing voices, your opening line acts as a filter, separating content that blends in from content that stands out. The goal isn’t just to capture attention for a second, but to spark enough curiosity, emotion, or recognition that someone actually wants to engage. On a platform full of noise, that’s what sets great content apart.

About the Author:

Brenna Holland, 26-year-old business owner in Kenosha, Wisconsin and a Social Media Specialist for VPG.