Reel hooks that stop the scroll
Curiosity, value and story hook formulas for Reels, Shorts and TikTok, with tips for delivering them in the first three seconds.
Key takeaways
- Hook in under 3 seconds.
- Say it and show it on screen.
- Rotate three styles.
- Pay off the promise.
Why hooks matter
Retention in the first seconds decides how widely a video is shown.
Three styles
Curiosity opens a loop, value promises a specific payoff, story drops viewers mid-action.
Generate hooks
Use the free Reel hook generator for 10 hooks in English or Hinglish.
Delivering the hook
Say it immediately — no ‘Hey guys’. Put it on screen as text for silent viewers, and pair it with movement in the first second. Then pay off the promise, or viewers drop and the algorithm notices.
The hook swap trick
When a video flops, reshoot only the first three seconds and post again. This hook swap regularly doubles reach for five minutes of work. Your retention graph shows exactly where the old hook failed.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a hook be?+
Under 12 words.
Do hooks work as captions?+
Yes — a hook is a perfect first caption line, before the ‘…more’ cut.
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