How Running a Magazine Taught Me to Create Attention-Grabbing Hooks

Every week, you’re probably frantically typing away, trying to come up with the perfect hook for your latest content.

You know, the one that’ll make your ideal clients or customers stop in their tracks and think, “I need to work with this person, like, yesterday!” or “I need to get their products now!”

Well, stick with me, because I’m sharing a few things I learned from my days of running a Christian women’s magazine.

First, I want to backtrack to 2013. During that time, I started a blog called “Memoirs of a Virtuous Woman.” Over time, as it got more traction on its site and on Instagram, I turned it into a quarterly print and digital magazine, alongside its usual articles on its site.

This meant I started managing contributing writers and working with other creatives. I had a designer that did the quarterly print and digital magazine, and a company helped me launch an app for the site.

These days, “Memoirs of a Virtuous Woman” is now known as “The Virtuous Creative” – an online community for Christian women creatives who want to boldly show up in life and business. Our resources include a weekly podcast, blog posts from contributors, and an email list of over 1K amazing women.

But back to my magazine days. That experience taught me how to manage a publication and engage an audience. In fact, one of the biggest things that I learned was creating headlines that could make even the most distracted reader sit up and pay attention.

On top of that, it built on what I was already learning at my first TV news station as a reporter.

You see, when you’re trying to reach an audience of busy people, you can’t simply slap any old headline or hook on your content and call it a day. You need hook that stand out and promise a transformation.

And that’s exactly what I bring to the table as your copywriter. I know how to tap into the deepest desires of your ideal clients or customers and create hooks that’ll have them lining up to invest in your business.

For example, a business coach could use a hook like, “The 5 Mindset Shifts That Helped My Clients Double Their Revenue in 90 Days!” This hook promises a powerful transformation and showcases the coach’s ability to drive results.

An example for a beauty brand would be, “The Secret Ingredient That Makes Our Lipsticks Last All Day (Without Drying Out Your Lips)!” It highlights a unique selling point and addresses a common pain point for lipstick wearers.

For a realtor, a good example is “The Staging Strategy That Helped Me Sell Homes 50% Faster Than the Market Average!” This hook shows the realtor’s expertise and effectiveness in a competitive market.

A life coach could use, “The Simple Daily Practice That Helped My Clients Find Unshakeable Confidence and Inner Peace!” This one offers a relatable solution to a common struggle and positions the coach as a guide to personal growth.

And for a skincare brand, there could be a hook like “The Anti-Aging Serum That Erases Fine Lines (Without Irritating Sensitive Skin)!” It zeroes in on a specific benefit and addresses a concern many skincare enthusiasts have.

Those are the kind of hooks that will have your ideal clients or customers thinking, “This person knows their stuff.”

The point is, running a magazine taught me how to create hooks in marketing that command attention. And now, I’m ready to put those skills to work for you and your business.

So, if you’re tired of writing marketing content that falls flat, it’s time for us to have a chat about how I can be your copywriter for any of the following: