Creates curiosity about outcomes and consequences of actions.
What happens if is just question with better curiosity
It works because it hits three triggers: curiosity, question, and investment. The what happens creates curiosity. The if creates question. The you creates investment. People see "What happens if you post at this time" and think: "I want to know what happens. I want to know the outcome." They click because what happens if feels engaging—even when the outcome is standard. It's not about being clever—it's about making questions feel curious.
Real-World Examples
About this hook technique
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Start Hooks SessionAbout Experiment & Hack Hooks
Experiment & Hack Hooks work because people want to see what happens. When you ask "what happens if," you create curiosity. Not because they're smart—because they're human and want to know outcomes. These hooks don't need to be clever. They just need to create curiosity. The "what happens if you" hook does exactly that—it makes questions feel curious.