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How I Used AI to Create Viral Hooks and 10x My Startup’s Growth
It was 3 AM, and I was staring at my computer screen, bleary-eyed and caffeine-fueled. Our startup’s content wasn’t getting the traction we desperately needed. We had great products, an amazing team, but our message just wasn’t cutting through the noise. That’s when it hit me: we needed better hooks.
The Hook Epiphany
As a founder, you know that feeling when you’re onto something big. That night, hunched over my laptop, I felt it in my bones. I’d been binge-watching MrBeast videos (for “research,” I told myself), and I was struck by how he hooked viewers in seconds.
“Behind me is an assassin, and if he stabs me with this rubber knife by the end of the day, he wins a hundred grand.”
I mean, come on. Who wouldn’t keep watching after that?
The MrBeast Effect
Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, has mastered the art of the hook. With over 289 million subscribers on YouTube as of July 2024, his success is a testament to his effective hooks. Let’s break down his strategy:
Video Titles
MrBeast’s titles are outlandish and immediately attention-grabbing:
- Lamborghini vs. World’s Largest Shredder
- Every Country On Earth Fights For $250,000!
- Ages 1 to 100 Fight for $500,000
- 7 Days Stranded At Sea
- I Got Hunted by the Military
- I Built the World’s Largest Lego Tower
Thumbnail Images
His thumbnails are colorful, interesting, and meticulously designed to stand out:
- Vibrant colors
- Clear imagery
- Expressions that evoke curiosity
