Why Your LinkedIn Posts Aren’t Getting Traction — And How to Fix It

It’s like an endless waterfall of words and images.  

You’re scrolling through LinkedIn. Post after post starts to blur — industry updates, humble brags, career moves. And then, one line stops you. You click “...more.”

That moment? That’s the power of a strong hook — the first two to three lines of a post that grab attention, spark curiosity and get people to stop scrolling.

At Altis, we recently ran a LinkedIn training session to dig into what actually drives visibility and engagement. We talked algorithms, eye-tracking data and real strategies to make your posts stand out. And because we like to test our theories with real humans, we ended with a live poll: which hook would you click on?

Below, we’re breaking down the psychology behind that scroll-stopping moment.

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You’ve Got 2–3 Seconds. Use Them Wisely.

Most people don’t read on LinkedIn — they skim, scan and swipe.  

In fact, on average, readers will spend less than three seconds on a LinkedIn post before deciding whether to engage (Nielsen Norman Group).  

So, here’s your job: Make the first three lines count.

According to LinkedIn data and eye-tracking studies:

• “Your opening line is the most important part of your post” — Iris Mansour, LinkedIn Senior Tech Community Manager

• Posts with short paragraphs and white space get 40% more dwell time (Nielsen Norman Group)

• Carousels or “swipe to see more” CTAs get up to 2x more engagement (Loomly)

• Dwell time (how long someone stays on your post) is more important than likes (LinkedIn)

In short: writing a compelling hook isn’t just good storytelling — it’s a visibility strategy.

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What Makes a Hook Work?

Your hook — roughly the first 210 characters — is what determines whether someone stops scrolling or keeps going. It needs to be clear, intriguing and worth a click.

In our LinkedIn training, we shared a few proven tips:

• Use “you” or “your” to speak directly to the reader (MagicPost)

• Start with “I” — Personal posts feel more human and less scripted

• Tap into emotion — Words like “overwhelmed,” “nervous,” or “relieved” increase relatability

• Use odd numbers (e.g., “3 ways to...” or “5 lessons on...” perform better than “top tips,” and can help increase click-through rates

• Try mini cliffhangers — Phrases like “Here’s what happened next…” double your ‘see more’ clicks

• Posts with real faces (e.g., selfies or team photos) get 38% more dwell time

Ultimately, a good hook creates tension. It makes the reader need to know what’s coming next, whether that’s a story, a tip or a takeaway. Try adding emotion, curiosity, vulnerability or surprise to your next hook.

We Put It to the Test... And Here’s What We Learned

To see these tips in action, we asked our team to choose the best hook inspired by our blog Why Am I Not Getting Hired?  

Here were the contenders:

1. “At one point, I applied to 27 jobs in a month and heard back from none of them.”

2. “You might be applying for the right roles, but the wrong way. Here’s why your applications aren’t landing.”

3. “The most frustrating job search moment I’ve ever had? Let me tell you…”

4. “Only 26% of job seekers research the employer before applying.”

And the winner?

🥇 “You might be applying for the right roles, but the wrong way...” (45%)

Why it worked: Speaks directly to the reader, creates a curiosity gap and promises a solution.

🥈 “I applied to 27 jobs in a month…” (23%)

Why it worked: Relatable, honest and opens the door to a personal story.

🥉 “The most frustrating job search moment...” (21%)

Why it worked: Emotional, intriguing and sets up a story arc.

🏅 “Only 26% of job seekers research the employer...” (12%)

Why it underperformed: Interesting but lacked emotional pull or personal connection.  

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Want to Practise Writing Hooks?

If you’re staring at a blank post, wondering how to start, here are some ChatGPT prompt templates we shared with our team. Try one the next time you’re stuck:

Hook Prompts to Try in ChatGPT

• “Write 3 curiosity-piquing first lines for a post on [topic].”

• “Give me a bold or emotional hook for a post about [career growth / a recent challenge / a team win].”

• “Write a confession-style opening: something I wish I’d done differently at work.”

• “Create a hook that starts with a question and ends with a cliffhanger: ‘Here’s what happened next…’”

• “Start with: ‘I used to think ____. Then I learned ____.’”

• “Turn this blog intro into 3 LinkedIn-ready hooks that make people want to click 'see more'.”

• “Write a stat-based hook, a story-based hook and a question hook about [topic].”

• “How would I say this if I were texting a friend — but still wanted to make a point?”

The goal isn’t to trick the algorithm. It’s to earn attention and build connection — with intention.

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Before You Post… Ask Yourself This

Would you click “...more” on your opening line?

If the answer is no, rewrite your first three lines. Because in a crowded feed, your opening line is the difference between being seen… or being skipped.

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Let’s Keep Reading, Writing and Learning Together

We’re always experimenting with new formats, post styles and content tips — and sharing what we learn along the way. Want to follow along?

Follow Altis on LinkedIn for more tips on building your personal brand, job search advice and behind-the-scenes insights from our team.

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