7 Shrewd Phrases Copywriters Use to Keep You Hooked Throughout the Article

‘This blog post was shared 1.5k times, commented 37 times and READ 2 times.’

Did this joke feel like a dagger in your heart?

If yes, then read on.

This is the ugly reality we’re happily living in.

You hand-pick a burning topic, write an in-depth article (you generously share all you know with an open heart) to find that no one read the article?

The result?

You believe the content doesn’t help and that you need content just to keep your SEO thing on the track. You even think of dumping the content game altogether and run ads to sell your stuff. Right?

What if I tell you that there’s a way by which people will read your stuff even if you have nothing to say?

Not convinced?

See, here’s the thing-

It’s not always about what you say, but HOW you say it.

Why one article gets viral while the other (maybe with more value and information) never sees the light of the day?

And that’s what the job of a good writer is- to put your point in a nice way. And that’s the reason copywriters are paid so much- because they know what that Nice Way is.

Do you wanna know that secret? 

Here it goes-

See, human beings are curious creatures. Studies show that human beings have a strong genetic component to curiosity.

In other words- curiosity is an itch that we naturally feel to scratch.

Have you ever thought why some articles are so addictive that you can’t stop reading them and you want to read more and more from that author?

Because…

The writer knows how to use words to evoke curiosity.

So, in this article, I have gathered 7 irresistible hooks that copywriters use in their articles so that you can also (finally) write an article that is as interesting as Game of Thrones, that gets read till the end, and gets you REAL compliments.

I have used many of them so far in this article. Can you find them without looking down at the list? (play a fair game, don’t cheat).

So, let’s get started.. Yayay

But, before that, grab the 37-points checklist to write a killer blog post.

7 Shrewd Phrases Copywriters use to keep you hooked throughout the article

1- Because

This word is no less than an atom bomb. 

In a study by a Harvard Professor published in 1978, it was found that the same request with the word ‘because’, followed by the most obvious reason shot up the compliance rate from 60 to whopping 93%. 

“Excuse me, I have 5 pages. May I use the xerox machine?” [60% compliance]

“Excuse me, I have 5 pages. May I use the xerox machine, because I have to make copies?”[93% compliance]

You can use it at the end of the article to ask for comments or share-

Would you please share this article because each share means a lot to me.

2- Do you know?

Do you know ‘do you know’ used to be my catchphrase for a long time? I don’t know how I discovered the power of this phrase when I was a kid (maybe my subconscious mind found that it works well to get instant attention) but I started using it whenever I had to share something interesting with my friends (oops.. I did it again in this para!). It stopped when I was caught and leg-pulled for overusing it. Lol!

So, it’s an attention grabber phrase you can use before sharing any interesting point or fact.

Example-

Do you know, 80% of our brain is water?

Do you know, a newborn baby already knows how to swim?

3- Here’s the thing

Again, the attention grabber! Use this phrase before you explain the point you have already made. Like, in the text above, I used it –

What if I tell you that there’s a way by which people will read your stuff even if you have nothing to say?

Not convinced?

See, here’s the thing-

It’s not always about what you say but HOW you say.

Why one article gets viral while the other (maybe with more value and information) never sees the light of the day?

4- This brings me to the next point

This is an excellent connector. 

You can use it in a list post or a post that shares #steps to do sth. 

By writing this phrase at the end of one point you connect it with the next point in a way it feels one. And, it’s the human brain’s tendency to finish what it has started. Even if she’s thinking of leaving the article she won’t, without reading the next. 

Brilliant! Right?

And this brings me to the next hook to write an article.

Yes, that was the example 😉

5- According to a study/ Studies reveal

Sharing a study or fact is a great opener as it establishes trust and puts the reader in the right frame of mindset so that she believes what you have to say going forward. Use it as an opener or where you need to win their trust.

6- As I told you/ As we already discussed

Use this phrase when you want to emphasize something important you have shared in the article that they should NOT forget.

So, even if they have missed the point in the first time they’ll go back and check again.

7- Before, I tell you that 

As I told you curiosity is the biggest differentiator between a good and not so good article, this point re-emphasizes that principle.

I forgot to give you the example of ‘As I told you’ phrase so the above mentioned line is one of the ways you can use this phrase. 😀

But, ‘before I tell you that’ phrase is a game-changer!

Use it when you HAVE to make them read a point (something that is most important for you, like a pitch). You can use it anywhere- in your emails, social media posts, sales page. It’s the trick that most popular Hollywood movies use and this is called a LOOP.

Here’s how it works-

<open the loop>

Before I tell you that < make your point>

<close the loop>

Example-

I was about to get fired that day. 

But first I want to tell you what happened that day….(tell your story)

Close the loop and tell them the specific incident that made you feel that you will lose your job that day.

So, my lovelies, I have shared almost everything I know of writing an article that hooks. Will you do me a favour and share this post?