I actually don't write any of the titles on the pieces I do for Looper. We have a list of topics we can pick from or pitch on, but the titles are all decided ahead of time by their metrics team or some such. I try to avoid a lot of sensationalism in the actual body of my posts since the headlines often are over-the-top to generate traffic.

That being said, I think most "clickbait" titles have to have some sort of emotional connection to the reader as part of the formula. For example, I did a fairly straightforward article on rare/expensive Pokemon cards not that long ago for Looper. If I had tried to write the title, I might have come up with something like "Rare Pokemon cards that could make you a bundle," which fits that formula...the "you" as a part of the headline invites the reader to make a personal connection/reaction to the piece.

You should try to pick up a hook again and see what happens! I stopped crocheting when I was around 12, and picked it up again out of instinct when I tried a few years ago. It was like getting on a bike, the muscle memory was still there for me.