Turn dusty history into attention-grabbing LinkedIn hooks

Why the past is the key to future success

Hey there, Digital Writers!

The best content on the internet sits at this Golden Intersection:

• It tells a story

• And it solves a reader’s problem (with a lesson, answer, or realization)

If you have these two elements, you can create viral and relatable content over and over again.

You might be thinking, “Nothing story-worthy ever happens to me.” I get it. But let’s put that to the side for a minute. Because I’m going to give you an easier way to tell a story—history.

History is full of wild stories most people don't know about. It contains drama, plot twists, and stuff crazier than any Netflix show. The past is a goldmine of content ideas.

For example, did you know:

• A chicken once lived for 18 months without a head? "Mike the Headless Chicken" survived from 1945 to 1947.

• Liechtenstein's army once went to war and came back with more men than they left with? They made a friend and brought him home.

• Ernest Hemingway was a KGB spy. What?!

Crazy—and perfect for grabbing attention online.

But who has time to dig through dusty old books looking for this stuff?

Most people don't, which is why we're going to make it super easy for you. And give you a ChatGPT prompt to quickly find those "Oh wow, I can't believe that happened" moments in history and instantly transform them into a viral hook for your next X Thread or LinkedIn post.

Let's get to the prompt.

The “Arresting Hook” Prompt

This prompt helps you write an opener that “arrests” your reader’s attention.

Like a plot twist in a crime show, a surprising historical fact can shatter their assumptions, and create a mental "train wreck" they can't look away from.

For example:

Curate Stories From History

There are 3 ways to use this prompt.

1. Go broad: Ask for "5 shocking historical facts." ChatGPT will give you 5 random facts, but it will get you thinking about different ideas for your niche. And you might learn something new.

2. Niche down by industry: Focus on a specific field for more targeted results. Example: "5 surprising facts about the history of Hollywood"

3. Zoom in on different time periods: Narrow your focus to specific eras. Example: "5 inspirational success stories from the Renaissance period"

Each option will give you an endless supply of hooks from history.

Simply swap out the Content Type, Historical Period, or Industry variables.

I’ve include some options below to get you going.

[CONTENT TYPE] examples:

1. Inspirational success stories

2. Little-known celebrity trivia

3. Surprising scientific discoveries

4. Unexpected business innovations

5. Hidden gems in world history

6. Remarkable personal transformations

7. Groundbreaking technological advancements

8. Unusual cultural practices around the world

9. Counterintuitive psychological findings

10. Extraordinary acts of human kindness

11. Unexpected origins of everyday items

12. Fascinating animal behaviors

13. Remarkable feats of human endurance

14. Surprising health and wellness tips

15. Lesser-known historical turning points

[HISTORICAL PERIOD] examples:

1. Ancient times

2. Middle Ages

3. Renaissance

4. Industrial Revolution

5. 20th century

6. 21st century

7. 2021

[INDUSTRY] examples:

1. Technology

2. Medicine

3. Art and culture

4. Business and commerce

5. Science and exploration

6. Politics and governance

7. Sports and entertainment

8. Education

9. Agriculture

10. Transportation

Once you know what you want to write about. Plug your variables into this template (the first sentence in the prompt):