Hooks: the first 3 seconds.
On reels and shorts, people decide in 1–3 seconds whether to keep watching. If the hook fails, nothing else matters. Today you'll learn hook formulas that work, with examples from many niches.
A hook has three layers
| Layer | Example |
|---|---|
| Visual | Something moving or surprising in frame 1: steam rising from haleem, a hand slamming a laptop shut |
| Text on screen | Big, short words: "Stop making this CV mistake" |
| Spoken | The first sentence: "If your CV has a photo on it, recruiters may skip it." |
The strongest hooks use all three at the same time.
8 hook formulas
Rules for hooks
- Start immediately. No "Hi guys, welcome back to my channel".
- Promise something the video truly delivers. Clickbait that doesn't deliver kills trust and watch time.
- Make it about the viewer ("you"), not about you.
- Keep text short: 3–7 words on screen.
Which opening is the strongest hook?
Starts instantly, creates curiosity, and is about the viewer.
A hook can be exciting without being false. "Doctors hate this trick" style lies may get clicks once, but they destroy trust, and for religious content, exaggeration is a serious matter.
Strong. Visual + text + spoken, clear promise.
Weak. Most people scroll away before anything happens.
A hook promises "5 tips" but the video has only 2. What's the likely effect?
Always deliver what the hook promises.
Your task (20 min)
For your next 3 video ideas, write 3 different hooks each (using different formulas). Read them aloud and choose the strongest. Bonus: post two versions of one video on different days with different hooks and compare retention.
Lesson 5 complete!
You know 8 hook formulas, how to combine visual, text and spoken hooks, and how to test them. Next: scripts and storytelling.
Next: Scripts and storytelling →