The "You Can't Understand" Viral Hook

Welcome back to Viral Examples 👋

Each week we break down 3 posts that got lots of engagement on X and LinkedIn:

• Why the post resonated

• A templated version you can copy/paste and use

• Our own example using the template

Viral Examples is your superpower to grow faster on X and LinkedIn.

PS — we’re the team behind Megaphone, a platform that gets big, reputable creators in your niche to comment on and repost your content. We generate millions of impressions each day for our users.

Our ghostwriting agency also helps build and grow newsletters, as well as X and LinkedIn accounts. Book time with us to learn more.

If You Understand This Template

Why It Works

1. Contrarian tension: pick a fight with conventional wisdom and readers stay to see if you can back it up.

2. Flatters readers into finishing and sharing, since sharing signals they're in the informed minority.

The Template

Everyone thinks [common belief].

They’re wrong.

What just happened is a [paradigm shift].

If you understand this thread, you’re ahead of [group].

Our Example

Everyone thinks social media is saturated.

They're wrong.

What just happened is an attention reset.

If you understand this thread, you're ahead of almost every creator.

You Can’t Understand Template

Why It Works

1. Killing the common approach creates instant tension for everyone currently using it, which is most of the audience.

2. The wrong-way/right-way contrast gives the thread built-in structure with a numbered payoff.

The Template

You can't [achieve outcome] by [common approach].

[Wrong approach] gives [undesired result].

If you want [desired outcome], [better approach].

Here are [#] [things/questions] that will [desired outcome]. 👇🧵

Our Example

You can't become confident by avoiding failure.

Avoidance creates insecurity.

If you want confidence, collect evidence.

Here are 6 actions that will build real confidence. 👇🧵

NEVER [decision] Template

Why It Works

1. Loss aversion: readers check the list to make sure they're not about to make an expensive mistake.

2. Trait lists become checklists readers grade real people against. Self-application drives saves and replies.

The Template

NEVER [major decision] [person] who has these [#] [traits].

-Thread-

Our Example

NEVER hire an employee who has these 7 habits.

-Thread-

Time to Grow

There’s two parts to getting results from posting content:

1. High quality content

2. Relevant distribution

Megaphone, the team behind Viral Examples, helps with both.

1. Our writing team works learns your voice and delivers weekly batches of content for you to post.

2. Our creator network helps get your posts in front of the right audience.

Grab time here or just reply to this email to learn more.