How to Turn Curiosity into Clicks, Sales, and Fanatical Loyalty…
Or…
How to stack the loops, crank the tension, and build a funnel so addictive, it should come with a warning label.
Last month in Part 1, you discovered that the Zeigarnik Effect isn’t just a fun psych party trick—it’s a conversion superpower. You saw how unfinished tasks hijack the brain, how brands like ASOS and Home Depot keep shoppers hooked, and how a single cart reminder with an open loop can quietly pull in 18% more sales.
You also learned how to write emails, build content, and design pages that leave just enough unresolved to make your audience need to come back for more.
Which means you’re no longer just a marketer—you’re a psychological puppeteer with a flair for suspense.
But here’s where it gets dangerous. The real magic isn’t just dangling one open loop. It’s knowing how to stack multiple loops at once—threading them through your funnel like cliffhangers in a binge-worthy Netflix series. That’s the leap from “interesting” to “unreasonably effective.”
And now, in Part 2, it’s time to stack the loops, crank the tension, and build a funnel so addictive it should come with a warning label.
What You’ll Discover (and Can Steal) in Part 2…
- The subject line formula that makes inboxes impossible to ignore (and why ellipses are your secret weapon).
- How one sneaky “cliffhanger” sentence can pull readers past the buy button without them realizing.
- Why a failed TikTok video might be the most powerful sales hook you’ll ever use.
- The 3-day “email binge” formula that has subscribers refreshing like it’s Netflix night.
- The fill-in-the-blank phrase that works in any niche and turns hesitation into clicks.
- The weird sales page headline that makes prospects scroll past your pricing (in a good way).
- Why teasing Module 3 (instead of explaining it) can be worth thousands in sales.
- The one word you should end on if you want your audience mentally screaming for more.
- How to turn a “boring” carousel post into a cliffhanger that demands Part 2.
- The bonus email you should always send after your 3-day campaign (and what to put inside).
- Why giving away the whole answer in your freebie kills conversions—and how to fix it fast.
- The ultimate “mental itch” line you can paste into emails, captions, or scripts—and watch clicks spike overnight.
Let’s get started…
Real-World Templates, Swipe Files, and Formulas
How to make your funnel addictive in 5 minutes or less.
Now that you’ve got the psychology from Part 1, it’s time to weaponize it.
Here’s your plug-and-play toolkit: real-world templates and formulas that inject open loops, cliffhangers, and curiosity into every stage of your business. These aren’t vague suggestions—they’re swipeable, tweakable, and proven to drive clicks, sales, and engagement without feeling pushy.
- Subject Line Swipe File: Open Loops That Practically Demand a Click
- “I made this $987 mistake so you don’t have to…”
- “Tomorrow I’ll reveal the tool that tripled my sales—but first…”
- “This email will self-destruct in 24 hours (but you need what’s inside).”
- “I almost gave up—until this weird strategy worked.”
Pro tip: End with ellipses or words like until, but, here’s why… to leave a mental gap. Curiosity hates being ignored.
- Sales Page Cliffhanger Formula
Use this anywhere on your offer page to keep readers scrolling past the buy button:
- “Most creators launch like this. I used to too—until I realized it was costing me thousands. Here’s what I changed…”
- “What’s inside Module 3? The shift that flipped my business from hobby to high-income. But first, let me show you how I discovered it.”
- “Before I show you the bonuses, you should know one thing: most people never make it this far—and that’s where the opportunity lies…”
Drop these before key selling points, testimonials, or pricing. You’re not just selling a product—you’re selling a reveal.
- Social Media Open Loops That Build Momentum
- “My first video flopped. My second got 34 views. My third? I’ll show you what happened—but first, here’s the mistake I fixed.”
- “I thought this platform was dead. Then I did this one thing and hit 10K views overnight. Part 2 drops tomorrow.”
- “I launched a product with no list and made 63 sales in 4 days. It wasn’t magic—it was one strategy. Here’s Part 1.”
Use these in threads, captions, carousels, or Reels/TikToks. Goal: make them need the next part.
- Email Sequence Formula: The 3-Day Curiosity Campaign
- Day 1: “Most people mess this up—I need to warn you.”
(Tease the problem. No solution yet.) - Day 2: “I almost didn’t share this…”
(Start the story. Reveal part of the fix. Hint there’s more.) - Day 3: “Here’s the full strategy (and how to avoid my mistake).”
(Deliver the reveal + product CTA.)
Bonus Day 4: “What I didn’t tell you yesterday…” → link to a second product, bonus, or upsell.
Final Fill-in-the-Blank Loop
“I used to think ___ was the answer… until I discovered ___. I’ll explain how that changed everything—soon.”
Plug it into emails, captions, sales copy, scripts, even product intros. Works everywhere.
You’re now armed with tools that make your content stickier than a midnight TikTok binge. But we’re not done…
Let’s take a look at some real-life examples.
Creators and Brands Crushing It with This Strategy…
And how to ethically steal their secrets
You’ve seen the theory. You’ve got the templates. But what does this look like in the wild?
Let’s break down how smart creators and brands are weaving the Zeigarnik Effect into their marketing—sometimes on purpose, sometimes by instinct—and how you can reverse-engineer their playbook to spike engagement, opens, and sales.
- Ali Abdaal’s YouTube Series: The Hook That Hooks You Again
Ali doesn’t just teach productivity—he builds loops that keep viewers glued.
How he does it:
- Opens mid-action: “I spent $12,000 on YouTube gear… here’s what I regret.”
- Teases across episodes: “In the next video, I’ll break down the 3 tools I wish I’d used instead.”
Why it works: Open loops turn casual viewers into binge-watchers—and subscribers into superfans.
Steal it: Frame content as Part 1—even if Part 2 doesn’t exist yet. Then create the follow-up based on audience response.
- Morning Brew’s Daily Newsletter: The Inbox Magnet
Morning Brew doesn’t just deliver business news—it delivers cliffhangers.
How they do it:
- Subject lines tease: “The $68B deal that almost didn’t happen…”
- Mid-story interruptions: “We’ll get to the why in a sec—but first…”
- Teases for tomorrow: “Big Apple vs. Big Tech—more on that in Thursday’s edition.”
Why it works: Readers don’t just open once—they open daily, trained to expect loops and payoffs.
Steal it: You don’t need a team—just the structure. Tease what’s coming in your next email, blog, or TikTok. Try:
- “Tomorrow, I’ll show you the one marketing habit that made me an extra $1,800/month.”
- “Next issue: The free tool I used to triple my CTR (no AI involved).”
Your audience should dread missing the next drop.
- Amy Porterfield’s Webinar Sequences: Masterclass in Loops
Amy’s launches are built on carefully placed cliffhangers.
How she does it:
- Pre-webinar: “There’s one mistake course creators make that kills momentum—I’ll cover it live.”
- Post-webinar: “We didn’t get to the biggest question people asked—so I’m sending a bonus training tomorrow.”
Why it works: People stay engaged because their brain demands closure.
Steal it: Don’t just promise value—promise the missing piece. Tease what’s coming next, even inside bonuses.
- Duolingo: The Owl Who Won’t Let You Quit
You finish one lesson. You think you’re done. Then the owl shows up.
How they do it:
- “You’re on a 3-day streak—don’t break it.”
- “Just one more lesson and you’ll hit your goal.”
Why it works: It’s gamified tension. Unfinished progress nags at the brain until you return.
Steal it: Apply this to digital products. Break content into parts, “unlock” modules, and follow up when users stall.
- Netflix: The Grandmaster of the Open Loop
Every episode ends on a cliffhanger. Why? Because you must know what happens next.
Why it works:
No closure, no peace. Curiosity is the best glue for attention.
Steal it:
End your content, videos, or even checkout flows with cliffhangers:
- “The best part is in the next module…”
- “I’ll reveal the final step in tomorrow’s email…”
- “You’ll see why this works after the first 3 lessons.”
Bottom Line
The best creators don’t just inform—they intrigue.
Your next move:
- Pick one of the examples above.
- Borrow the structure.
- Create your own open loop.
Because the longer your audience stays curious… the closer they are to converting.
Always, always leave them wanting more. And while you’re at it, tease them into submission with a language upgrade… Comming soon in part 6!