Hypothetical question that sparks imagination and curiosity.
What would happen if is just question with better hypothetical
It works because it hits three triggers: hypothetical, curiosity, and investment. The what would happen creates hypothetical. The if creates curiosity. The you creates investment. People see "What would happen if you tried this for 30 days" and think: "I want to imagine that. I want to see what would happen." They click because what would happen if feels engaging—even when the outcome is standard. It's not about being clever—it's about making questions feel hypothetical.
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 would happen if," you create hypothetical curiosity. Not because they're smart—because they're human and want to imagine outcomes. These hooks don't need to be clever. They just need to spark imagination. The "what would happen if you [action]" hook does exactly that—it makes questions feel hypothetical.