Research-First Hook Methodology

Every hook must be traceable to a specific research element. No invention—only discovery.

Core Philosophy

Research first. Every hook has a SOURCE.

The best hooks aren't constructed from templates.
They're extracted from what the brand has already proven, said, or delivered.

If you can't point to where it came from in the research,
it's invention. Invention is weak. Discovery is strong.

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The 10 Hook Types

Before extracting, know what you're looking for:

Attention Hooks (Stop the Scroll)

Type	Purpose	Example Pattern
Question	Challenge assumption	"What's the biggest mistake you're making?"
Surprising Stat	Unexpected number	"90% of banks reject self-employed applicants"
Pattern Interrupt	Break expectations	Unexpected statement that contradicts normal
Controversial	Challenge belief	Question something everyone accepts
Direct Address	Call out situation	"Self-employed? Bank said no?"

Desire Hooks (Drive Clicks)

Type	Purpose	Example Pattern
Social Proof	Credibility through numbers	"16,000+ Canadians switched and saved"
Problem-Solution	Name pain, offer relief	Pain statement → Solution hint
Contrast	Show gap	"[Bad thing] vs. [Better thing]"
FOMO/Urgency	Scarcity, pressure	Limited time, competitive pressure
Curiosity	Tease hidden info	"What your bank isn't telling you"

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Step 1: EXTRACT (Read EVERY Section)

Read agent/files/research/{brand}_research.md

You MUST extract from EVERY section. No exceptions.

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FROM: The Offer

Extract:

• Core promise (what they sell)
• Key numbers (rates, coverage, speed, capacity)

Example:
"AI-powered mortgage brokerage, 350+ lenders, rates from 4.19%, 24-48 hour approvals"

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FROM: Key Value Props

Extract:

• Each differentiator as a potential hook angle
• What makes them different from competitors

Example:
- AI-Powered Intelligence
- Rapid Approval (24-48 hours)
- 350+ institutional + 150+ private lenders
- 24+ specialized loan products

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FROM: Proof Points

Extract:

• Specific stats (ratings, reviews, credentials)
• Real deal examples with numbers
• Certifications, licenses, awards

Example:
- 4.8/5 rating, 856 reviews
- FSRA Licensed #M20003023
- $547.5K purchase closed in 24 hours (Oshawa)
- $2M construction deal (Vaughan)

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FROM: Products/Services ← CRITICAL

Every product is a potential hook for a specific audience.

Extract:

• Every product category
• Unique or surprising offerings
• Niche products that solve specific problems

Example:
RESIDENTIAL:
- Bank Decline Financing → hook for rejected borrowers
- 120% LTV Owner-Occupied → surprising high leverage
- Non-Resident Mortgages → new Canadians hook
- Rush Closing 24-48 hours → urgency hook

SPECIALIZED:
- BRRR Strategy Loans (72-hour funding) → investor hook
- Fix & Flip Financing → investor hook
- Power-of-Sale Financing → rescue/urgent hook
- Bridge Loans → timing gap hook

COMMERCIAL:
- No Personal Guarantee (up to $1M) → risk-reduction hook
- CMHC Multi-Family (95% LTV) → leverage hook

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FROM: Pain Points Addressed

Extract:

• Each pain point + the brand's solution
• Verbatim language when available

Example:
- "Slow bank approvals" → 24-48 hour turnaround
- "Bank rejection" → Bank-decline rescue financing
- "Self-employed income" → No-income verification options

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FROM: Testimonials

Extract:

• Exact customer quotes (social proof)
• Specific results mentioned
• Emotional language used

Example:
- "Got approved in just 2 days with a great rate" — Sarah M.
- "AI search helped me understand all my options" — John D.

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FROM: Brand Voice

Extract:

• Tone to match in hook writing
• Words/phrases to use or avoid

Example:
"Confident yet accessible, professional but approachable, results-oriented"

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FROM: Their Messaging

Extract:

• Headlines, taglines they already use (starting points)
• CTAs they use
• Key phrases they repeat

Example:
- Headline: "Canada's First Lending Hub"
- Tagline: "Not Just Rates. Real Loans for Every Property Type."
- CTAs: "Apply Now", "Start My Deal", "Get started →"

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FROM: ICP Segments (EACH segment separately)

For EACH segment extract:

• WHO they are
• PAIN POINTS (verbatim language)
• MOTIVATIONS (immediate + deeper)
• LANGUAGE they use

Example - Segment 1 (Complex Residential Borrowers):
WHO: Self-employed, business owners, rejected by banks
PAIN: "bank doesn't understand my income", "rejected multiple times"
MOTIVATION: Feel validated, access same opportunities as W-2 employees
LANGUAGE: "self-employed", "bank said no", "complicated income"

Example - Segment 2 (Real Estate Investors):
WHO: BRRR, fix-and-flip, portfolio builders
PAIN: Banks too slow, need creative financing
MOTIVATION: Build wealth, financial freedom
LANGUAGE: "BRRR", "fix and flip", "bridge loan", "LTV"

Example - Segment 3 (Underserved Homebuyers):
WHO: New Canadians, first-time buyers, urgent situations
PAIN: Don't qualify, feeling excluded
MOTIVATION: Canadian dream, stability, prove they belong
LANGUAGE: "new to Canada", "first home", "credit issues"

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Extraction Checklist

STOP. Before writing ANY hooks, verify you have extracted from:

• The Offer — Core promise, key numbers
• Key Value Props — ALL differentiators listed
• Proof Points — ALL stats, ratings, real deals
• Products/Services — EVERY product category, unique offerings noted
• Pain Points Addressed — ALL pain + solution pairs
• Testimonials — ALL customer quotes
• Brand Voice — Tone noted for calibration
• Their Messaging — Headlines, taglines, CTAs captured
• ICP Segment 1 — WHO, PAIN, MOTIVATION, LANGUAGE
• ICP Segment 2 — WHO, PAIN, MOTIVATION, LANGUAGE (if exists)
• ICP Segment 3 — WHO, PAIN, MOTIVATION, LANGUAGE (if exists)

If any checkbox is unchecked, go back and extract from that section.

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Step 2: MATCH (Research Element → Hook Type)

For each extracted element, identify which hook type it best serves:

Research Element	Best Hook Type	Why
"4.8/5, 856 reviews"	Social Proof	Credibility through numbers
"24-48 hours vs. 3-6 weeks"	Contrast	Clear before/after
"bank said no"	Direct Address	Customer's exact words
"$547.5K closed in 24 hours"	Surprising Stat	Specific, unexpected
"350+ lenders"	FOMO/Access	More options than competitors
"AI-powered"	Curiosity	Technology intrigue
"Self-employed rejection"	Problem-Solution	Pain + relief
"Bank Decline Financing" product	Direct Address	Names the situation
"BRRR Strategy Loans" product	Direct Address	Investor terminology

Match at least 3-5 research elements to hook types before constructing.

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Step 3: CONSTRUCT (Build Hooks)

For each hook, use this structure:

HOOK TYPE: [Which type from the 10]
SOURCE: [Which research section + specific element]
TARGET: [Which ICP segment, or "General"]
HOOK: [The actual headline — under 10 words ideal]
WHY IT WORKS: [Psychology — pattern interrupt? self-reference? open loop?]

Construction Principles

Benefits over features:

• "Get approved in 48 hours" not "Fast processing"

Direct address ("You"):

• Make it personal, use identity markers

Specificity:

• "350+ lenders" not "many options"
• Exact numbers from Proof Points

Empathy first:

• Acknowledge struggle before offering solution

Their language:

• Use verbatim phrases from ICP sections

Example Construction:

HOOK TYPE: Contrast
SOURCE: Value Props ("24-48 hour approval") + Pain Points ("banks take 3-6 weeks")
TARGET: Complex Residential Borrowers
HOOK: "Banks take weeks. We close in 48 hours."
WHY IT WORKS: Pattern interrupt (unexpected speed) + Tension (bad vs. good)

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Step 4: BODY + CTA

Body Formula

1. Expand the hook's promise (don't repeat it)
2. Add ONE proof element not in the hook
3. Bridge to CTA

Keep to 1-2 sentences.

CTA Formula

Action Verb + Implied Outcome

Weak CTA	Strong CTA
"Learn more"	"See your options"
"Apply now"	"Get your answer"
"Contact us"	"Talk to someone who gets it"
"Get started"	"Find your lender"

The CTA should feel like the natural next step, not a demand.

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Step 5: VARIETY CHECK

Before finalizing, verify diversity:

Hook Types Used

• At least 3 different hook types represented
• Not all questions, not all stats

Research Sections Used

• Not all hooks from Pain Points
• Proof Points used in at least 1 hook
• Products/Services referenced in at least 1 hook
• Value Props featured in at least 1 hook

ICP Segments Covered

• If multiple segments exist, hooks address different ones
• Not all hooks targeting same persona

Emotions Triggered

Cover at least 3 of these territories:

• Fear / Protection (what they might lose)
• Hope / Aspiration (what becomes possible)
• Frustration / Anger (what's unfair)
• Relief / Comfort (burden lifted)
• Pride / Identity (being seen)
• Curiosity / Intrigue (hidden information)

If variety is lacking, return to Step 2 and find different research elements to match.

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Output Format

Write to: agent/.claude/skills/hook-methodology/hook-bank/{brand}-{YYYY-MM-DD}.md

# [Brand Name] - Hook Bank
**Date:** YYYY-MM-DD
**Hooks Generated:** [number]

## Brand Colors
- Primary: #hex
- Secondary: #hex
- Accent: #hex

## Research Elements Used
[List which sections were mined for each hook]

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## Hook 1
**Type:** [Hook type from the 10]
**Source:** [Research section + specific element]
**Target:** [ICP segment or "General"]
**Hook:** "[The headline]"
**Body:** [1-2 sentences]
**CTA:** [Action + outcome]
**Psychology:** [Why it stops scroll + drives click]

## Hook 2
[Same structure]

## Hook 3
[Same structure]

[Continue for each hook — default 3, or as specified by user]

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## Variety Verification
- Hook Types Used: [list]
- Research Sections Used: [list]
- ICP Segments Covered: [list]
- Emotions Triggered: [list]

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Hook Volume

• Default: Generate 3 hooks
• User-specified: Generate the number requested

Quality over quantity. Each hook must pass all validation checks.

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Validation Checklist (Final Pass)

Before each hook is complete, verify:

1. Is it TRACEABLE? — Can you point to the exact research element?
2. Is it OWNED? — Could a competitor use this by changing the logo?
3. Is it FELT? — Does it name an emotion, not just a fact?
4. Is it CLEAR? — 3 seconds or less to understand?
5. Is it THEIRS? — Uses their words, their world?

If any answer is no, revise or replace the hook.

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Common Failure Modes

The Skip Trap

Skipping Products/Services or Proof Points because they seem "obvious." Every section has hook potential.

The Generic Trap

Writing hooks that could work for any competitor. Use specific proof points to make it OWNED.

The Template Trap

Starting with a formula and filling in blanks. Start with research elements, then match to types.

The Pain-Only Trap

Only using Pain Points section. Testimonials, Products, and Value Props often contain stronger hooks.

The Invention Trap

Creating claims that aren't in the research. If you can't cite the source, don't use it.

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Remember

Mine the research. Every hook must be traceable.

The goal is not to be clever.
The goal is to find what the brand has already proven
and frame it in a way that stops the scroll.

If you can't point to where it came from, start over.