The fight for attention is brutal. With users swiping fast and algorithms favoring early engagement, your first few seconds must land hard.
Learn how our video marketing services Vancouver help brands craft scroll-stopping Reels that convert.
A solid hook isn’t just a gimmick, it’s your gateway to retention, shares, and conversions.
At Strataigize, we believe the hook is your “point of entry”, the moment where curiosity, relevance, and emotional resonance collide.
Nail it, and people lean in.
Miss it, and they swipe.
100+ Hook Ideas You Can Steal & Adapt
(Each one is a template—you’ll fill in your niche, your tone, your voice.)
Hook Templates
Hook Templates
Hook Template → Use Case / Variation
| # |
Hook Template |
Use Case / Variation |
| 1 | What if I told you… | Reveal a counterintuitive tip |
| 2 | You won’t believe this… | Tease an unexpected outcome |
| 3 | Here’s what nobody’s telling you… | Surface a hidden truth |
| 4 | 3 things I wish I knew before… | Share hindsight wisdom |
| 5 | Warning: don’t do this when… | Combine curiosity + urgency |
| 6 | Stop doing this one thing if you want… | Point out a mistake |
| 7 | The secret behind… | Promise an insider peek |
| 8 | If you’re struggling with ___, watch this. | Highly relatable open |
| 9 | You may be making this mistake. | Guilt-laced nudge |
| 10 | How to fix ___ in 30 seconds. | Fast-win promise |
| 11 | The one thing I always… | Build consistency + intrigue |
| 12 | Here’s a hack for ___ | Quick fix flavor |
| 13 | Myth: ___ — Truth: ___ | Debunk & reveal |
| 14 | Why I stopped ___ | Confession-style lead |
| 15 | A little trick I learned… | Insider / soft teaser |
| 16 | You asked — here’s the answer to ___ | Question-reply hook |
| 17 | Don’t scroll past this if you want ___ | Scroll-stopper language |
| 18 | This one move changed everything | Transformative claim |
| 19 | What your ___ says about you | Psychological lead |
| 20 | Here’s how I turned ___ into ___ | Before → after narrative |
| 21 | Quick: name a better ___ | Challenge / dare format |
| 22 | I tried ____, and here’s what happened | Experiment / story |
| 23 | This is your permission to ____ | Empowering lead |
| 24 | Secret weapon for ___ | Position your tool/idea as special |
| 25 | You’re doing ___ wrong (and here’s why) | Confront + teach |
| 26 | 3 things that ruined ___ for me | Vulnerability + lesson |
| 27 | If you’ve ever felt ___, this is for you | Empathy-powered hook |
| 28 | An underrated trick for ___ | Position it as hidden value |
| 29 | Let me show you how to… | Instructional opener |
| 30 | What’s the deal with ___? | Question + curiosity combo |
| 31 | Fact: ___ (but few know ___) | Stat + kicker |
| 32 | Here’s what I would do if I were starting over | Reflective / advisory |
| 33 | The fastest way to ___ | Emphasize speed |
| 34 | Don’t make this mistake when ___ | Preventive lead |
| 35 | What to expect when you ___ | Manage anticipation |
| 36 | The #1 reason people fail at ___ | Problem-centered hook |
| 37 | You need to stop comparing yourself to ___ | Motivational |
| 38 | This little tweak can double your ___ | Promote improvement |
| 39 | The hack nobody talks about | Position as under-the-radar |
| 40 | Here’s what changed after I ___ | Show evolution |
| 41 | Are you making this mistake in ___? | Self-checking prompt |
| 42 | My biggest regret about ___ | Confession + lesson |
| 43 | What they don’t tell you about ___ | Implied secrecy |
| 44 | Let me guess — you want ___? | Mirror their desire |
| 45 | This is your wake-up call for ___ | Urgent / emotional |
| 46 | Do you believe in ___? | Philosophical question |
| 47 | I was shocked when ___ | Surprise narrative |
| 48 | You’ll never look at ___ the same again | Shift perspective |
| 49 | Let me break this down for you | Educational tone |
| 50 | Here’s how to do ___ properly | Corrective / tutorial |
| 51 | Here’s what actually works for ___ | Reveal tested truth |
| 52 | I made this mistake so you don’t have to. | Relatable + instructive |
| 53 | Everyone says ___, but that’s wrong. | Contrarian opener |
| 54 | You’ve been doing ___ the hard way. | Simplicity-driven reveal |
| 55 | Let me save you hours on ___. | Time-saving promise |
| 56 | This is why your ___ isn’t working. | Problem-solving hook |
| 57 | I just found out about ___ and it’s a game changer. | Discovery angle |
| 58 | Here’s what I wish someone told me about ___. | Reflective tone |
| 59 | Why nobody talks about ___. | Curiosity + exclusivity |
| 60 | Here’s why I’ll never ___ again. | Shock + reflection |
| 61 | Don’t waste another minute doing ___. | Urgency + advice |
| 62 | I tested every ___ so you don’t have to. | Research-based authority |
| 63 | This simple habit changed my ___. | Lifestyle / habit hook |
| 64 | Most people don’t realize this about ___. | Reveal a hidden truth |
| 65 | If you’re new to ___, start here. | Beginner-friendly |
| 66 | You only need to remember this one thing about ___. | Simplify the message |
| 67 | This blew my mind about ___. | Shock + interest |
| 68 | Here’s what happens when you ___ every day. | Transformation teaser |
| 69 | Let’s talk about something nobody wants to admit. | Vulnerable opener |
| 70 | Stop scrolling if you want to learn how to ___. | Scroll-stopper CTA |
| 71 | Most creators won’t tell you this. | Insider tone |
| 72 | I did ___ for 30 days — here’s the result. | Experiment-based storytelling |
| 73 | The biggest lie about ___. | Controversial edge |
| 74 | This trick made my ___ 10x better. | Quick improvement hook |
| 75 | The one mindset that changed everything for me. | Motivational |
| 76 | I bet you’ve never heard this before. | Curiosity / challenge |
| 77 | Nobody told me ___ would be this hard. | Relatable honesty |
| 78 | Here’s the biggest mistake beginners make in ___. | Educational |
| 79 | The truth about how I really ___. | Authentic confession |
| 80 | Want to learn how to ___ faster? | Problem-solver + curiosity |
| 81 | Don’t start ___ until you see this. | Warning hook |
| 82 | You’ve been lied to about ___. | Bold statement |
| 83 | Here’s what separates pros from beginners in ___. | Authority-based |
| 84 | The easiest way to start with ___. | Beginner guide |
| 85 | Stop doing this and you’ll thank me later. | Conversational advice |
| 86 | Everyone does ___, but here’s a smarter way. | Comparison opener |
| 87 | I can’t believe I used to think ___. | Reflective + relatable |
| 88 | Why your ___ strategy is failing. | Analytical angle |
| 89 | You’re overcomplicating ___. | Simplification appeal |
| 90 | Let me fix your ___ in 10 seconds. | Practical + fast action |
| 91 | Most people ignore this part of ___. | Missed detail reveal |
| 92 | Want to stand out in ___? Try this. | Growth / differentiation tip |
| 93 | I finally figured out why ___. | Curiosity resolution |
| 94 | Here’s what I learned after ___. | Reflection-based |
| 95 | This small change had a huge impact on my ___. | Micro-shift hook |
| 96 | Everyone talks about ___, but nobody mentions ___. | Gap-filling content |
| 97 | This might be unpopular, but ___. | Opinion-based hook |
| 98 | Don’t believe the hype about ___. | Contrarian viewpoint |
| 99 | Here’s a smarter way to do ___. | Efficiency-based |
| 100 | You’re not ready for this tip. | Hype-driven curiosity |
| 101 | Want more engagement? Try saying this instead. | Social media growth tip |
| 102 | I’ll show you how I gained ___ in just a week. | Social proof |
| 103 | If you only remember one thing today, let it be this. | Memorable closer |
| 104 | This is how you go viral — step by step. | Direct promise |
| 105 | I used this exact hook to get ___ views. | Proof of success |
Feel free to shuffle, remix, or merge ideas. The goal: make it feel like your voice, not a copy-paste list.
Not sure which hooks best fit your brand? Our video marketing agency can help you pair the right hook with the right visuals for maximum engagement.
What Makes a Standout Hook?
Every great hook evokes emotion and curiosity — just like a well-produced video.
Our Instagram video marketing team specializes in helping creators and brands deliver that emotional punch from the first second.
Before you absorb the list, here are three non-negotiables every hook should aim for:
- Speak to the viewer — use “you,” “your,” or a direct address.
- Deliver a spark — intrigue, surprise, provoke, or promise value.
- Keep it tight — clarity over flair; emotion over excess.
In other words, make them feel something in the first 1–3 seconds.
If you’re a small business looking to make an impact online, explore our tips for affordable digital marketing for Canadian small businesses — built for growth without breaking the bank.
How to Use These Hooks Strategically
- Match tone & topic. A playful hook for lifestyle content, a bold statement for business tips, a soft nudge for self-improvement.
- Add a visual or kinetic cue. Use a bold caption or quick visual shift in the first second to reinforce your hook.
- Don’t oversell too soon. Let the hook lead into value—not an immediate sales pitch.
- Test in batches. Try 5–10 hooks in similar videos and see which styles your audience responds to.
- Iterate and optimize. Track which hooks lead to higher watch time, engagement, or shares—and lean into those patterns.
Test your hooks within a structured social media content plan to ensure your messaging aligns with yo
ur goals and posting cadence.
Once your content starts performing organically, amplify it through a paid social media strategy. If you’re exploring Facebook ad campaigns, check out our guide on what to look for in a Facebook Ads agency.
Want to fast-track your learning curve? Our video marketing experts analyze performance data to create Reels that not only engage but also convert.
Pro Tip: Layered or Transitional Hooks
One advanced move? Stack hooks. You begin with one striking line (e.g. “You’re doing this wrong.”), then pivot into a counter-hook (e.g. “But there’s a better way.”), before diving into your content. This tension keeps curiosity high.
At Strataigize, we encourage creators to preview the payoff in the hook (e.g. “I’ll show you how in 30 seconds”) and to tie the hook directly to your core content,don’t promise a “reveal” you don’t deliver.
What's Next
In today’s fast-moving feed, your hook is everything. It’s not an afterthought, it’s your battleground for retention, interest, and conversion.
Use this arsenal of templates. Inflect them with your brand’s voice. Track performance. Then iterate relentlessly.
Over time, you’ll build a vault of hooks uniquely tuned to your audience, and that’s what turns average content into scroll-stopping, share-worthy reels.
If you’re ready to take your content to the next level, explore our video marketing services designed to help brands capture attention and convert views into real results.
Visit Strataigize to see how we can help you craft strategies that blend creativity, data, and storytelling.