ContentHooksReels

26 formulas

26 Viral Hook Formulas You Can Actually Use

Copy the structure, add your idea, and make it sound like you.

A hook is the opening that gives someone a reason to keep watching. It can be what you say, what you show, or the text on screen. This guide gives you 26 ways to start, with three adaptable examples for each.

These are creative starting points, not guarantees of going viral. Your video still needs to deliver what the opening promises.

How to use this guide

1Choose a formula that fits something you can actually show or explain.

2Replace every [bracket] with your own details. Don't read the brackets aloud.

3Read the line out loud and adjust it to sound like you.

4Show the proof, demonstration, or useful answer in the video.

The examples are templates, not claims about real results. Only use personal experiences, numbers, deadlines, and comparisons you can support. If you haven't done something yourself, don't say you have.

      Your on-screen hook can be shorter than your spoken opening. For example:
      Spoken:"This used to take me [two hours]. Now it takes [20 minutes]."
      On screen:"[2 HOURS] TO [20 MINUTES]"
      Use those numbers only if they match your actual experience.
    

Cost Confession

Start with a real mistake and what it cost you. The cost can be money, time, or wasted materials.

"I lost [specific amount] because I [specific mistake]."

"I wasted [number of hours] building a website before checking [important requirement]."
"Ordering [wrong item] cost my small business [amount]. Here's what I'd check first now."
"I ruined [number of photos] because I forgot to change [camera setting]."

Deliver the promise: Explain what happened and show the check or change that could help someone avoid it. Don't inflate the cost for a stronger opening.

Negative Command

Challenge a recognizable habit and offer a useful alternative.

"Stop [specific habit]. Try [specific alternative] instead."

"Stop asking AI to 'make it better.' Tell it [specific thing you want changed]."
"Stop buying [organizing product] before you measure [space]. Do this first."
"Stop opening your presentation with [generic introduction]. Start with [audience problem] instead."

Deliver the promise: Demonstrate the alternative. Explain when your advice applies instead of making a blanket rule.

Nobody Tells You

Introduce an overlooked part of a familiar goal. You don't have to literally claim that nobody has ever mentioned it.

"The part of [goal or activity] people don't talk about enough is [overlooked reality]."

"The part of building a website people skip is [overlooked task]. Here's how you can handle it."
"Everyone shows you the finished [creative project]. Here's the [less visible work] behind it."
"Before you start [new hobby], there's one expense worth knowing about: [specific expense]."

Deliver the promise: Give a concrete example and a useful next step. Avoid presenting an ordinary tip as a secret.

The Replacement

Show how one option can take over a specific job from another.

"You can use [alternative] instead of [existing option] for [specific task]."

"You can use [AI tool] instead of [paid tool] for [specific task]. Here's the part it can handle."
"This [low-cost accessory] replaced my [expensive accessory] for [particular filming setup]."
"You can make [specific item] with [tool you already own] instead of buying [specialized gadget]."

Deliver the promise: Show the actual task and mention important limitations. Replacing one feature doesn't mean replacing an entire product.

Time Collapse

Make a measured time saving easy to understand.

"[Task] used to take me [old time]. With [change], it takes [new time]."

"Writing my first draft used to take [old time]. With this [workflow], it takes [new time]."
"Packing an order used to take us [old time]. Changing [one step] brought it down to [new time]."
"You can see the difference here: [old time] to edit this photo manually, [new time] with [method]."

Deliver the promise: Compare the same task and quality standard. Include setup or checking time when it matters.

The Receipt

Open with an experiment you ran, then show what actually happened.

"I tried [specific action] for [period]. Here's what happened to [measured result]."

"I posted [type of content] for [number of weeks]. Here's what happened to [metric]."
"I tracked every [type of expense] for [period]. This category surprised me."
"I used [study method] for [number of sessions]. Here's what changed in my [practice results]."

Deliver the promise: Show your records. Include disappointing or mixed results when that's what you found. One experiment doesn't prove everyone will get the same outcome.

Wrong Way, Right Way

Show a common execution problem next to a clearer approach.

"If your [output] looks like [problem], try changing [specific detail]."

"If your AI answers sound generic, look at [part of your prompt]. Here's a more specific version."
"If your product photos look [visual problem], move [light or object] here."
"If your slides are hard to follow, replace [crowded element] with [simpler structure]."

Deliver the promise: Show both versions and explain the difference. Teach the fix without insulting the viewer.

Insider Leak

Use genuine experience to explain something a beginner might miss.

"After [real experience] in [field], here's what I check before [decision]."

"After editing [number of videos], here's what I check before I start cutting."
"I spent [number of years] working in [industry]. Here's what I'd ask before buying [service]."
"I've reviewed [number of portfolios]. The first thing I look for is [specific detail]."

Deliver the promise: Use only experience you actually have. Share useful knowledge without revealing confidential information or pretending to have insider access.

The Steal

Offer something concrete the viewer can copy or adapt.

"Use this [template, checklist, or method] the next time you [task]."

"Copy this prompt the next time you need to [specific AI task]."
"Steal this [number]-shot list for your next [type of video]."
"Use this message when you need to ask [person] for [specific information]."

Deliver the promise: Put the useful material on screen or make it easy to access. Only share material you have the right to distribute.

If This, Then Watch

Help the right viewer recognize their exact situation.

"If you're dealing with [specific situation], here's how to [useful next step]."

"If people visit your profile but don't follow, here's what to check in your [bio or pinned posts]."
"If you only have [amount of space] for a desk, here's a layout you can try."
"If your client sent you [vague request], ask these [number] questions before you start."

Deliver the promise: Address that situation directly. Offer a check or next step rather than guaranteeing a complete fix.

Numbered With a Favourite

Promise a useful list and explain why one item deserves attention.

"Here are [number] ways to [outcome]. Number [item] is my pick for [specific reason]."

"Here are [number] prompts for [task]. Number [item] is the one I'd start with if you're [situation]."
"These [number] details make a [room or setup] easier to use. Number [item] needs no new furniture."
"Here are [number] shots to film for your [product]. Number [item] shows [important feature] most clearly."

Deliver the promise: Make every item useful. Don't invent a claim like 'nobody knows number four' just to delay the payoff.

The Objection

Start with a barrier your audience recognizes, then show a workable option.

"Think you can't [goal] because [barrier]? Try [alternative approach]."

"Don't want to show your face? You can film this [tutorial format] with just [equipment]."
"Only have [time available] to cook? Here's a [meal type] that fits that window."
"Don't know how to code? Let me walk you through building [specific simple project] with [method]."

Deliver the promise: Show the practical alternative, including any remaining requirements. If quoting a viewer, use a real question and don't invent attribution.

Before and After, On Screen

Let the visual difference lead the opening.

"Here's [original version]. Here's [changed version]. Watch what changing [detail] does."

"Same photo, different [lighting or edit]. Here's how you can get the second version."
"This is the website before [design change]. Here's the same page after it."
"Here's the drawer before [organizing method], and here's how everything fits afterward."

Deliver the promise: Show a fair comparison. If several things changed, say so rather than attributing the result to one change.

The Callout

Address a specific group with a relevant need.

"[Specific audience in a specific situation], here's something to check before you [action]."

"Creators filming in [type of space], here's how you can position your [light or camera]."
"Freelancers sending your first [project proposal], make sure the client can find [important detail]."
"Students preparing for [type of exam], try this way of reviewing [type of material]."

Deliver the promise: Make the advice specific to the people you named. Avoid a broad label followed by advice that could apply to anyone.

The Flop Record

Use unsuccessful attempts to introduce what you learned or changed.

"My first [number] attempts at [task] didn't [goal]. Here's what I changed next."

"My first [number] videos barely got [actual response]. On the next one, I tried [change]."
"I made [number] versions of this [design] before it worked for [requirement]. Here's what I kept getting wrong."
"My first [number] batches of [recipe] came out [problem]. Here's the adjustment I tested."

Deliver the promise: Show the attempts and what happened next. If you don't know why the result improved, say what you tested rather than claiming proof.

The Verbatim Question

Use the words of a real audience question as the opening.

"[Exact question]? Let me show you."

"'[Actual viewer question about choosing an AI tool]' Let me compare them on [task]."
"'[Actual viewer question about your filming setup]' Here's where I put [piece of equipment]."
"'[Actual customer question about using your product]' Here's the process from start to finish."

Deliver the promise: Answer the actual question. Don't add 'you all keep asking' unless that is true. Without a real comment, pose the question yourself instead of presenting it as a quote.

Head to Head

Compare two options on the same clearly defined task.

"[Option A] or [Option B] for [task]? Here's how they compare on [criterion]."

"[AI tool A] versus [AI tool B]. Same prompt, same task. Let's compare [result quality]."
"Your phone or [camera] for [type of shot]? Here's the footage side by side."
"[Budget product] versus [premium product] for [use case]. Here's what the extra money changes."

Deliver the promise: Use a fair comparison and show the results. It's fine to conclude that different options suit different needs.

Cold Open Demo

Start with the action or result instead of explaining the setup first.

"Watch what happens when I [visible action]."

"Watch what happens when I give [tool] this [input]."
"Look at the difference when I move this light [direction]."
"Watch this [material or object] turn into [finished result]."

Deliver the promise: Show the action immediately. If you cut out processing time, don't make the edit look like a real-time speed test.

The Deadline

Use a genuine date or cutoff that matters to the viewer.

"[Event or change] happens on [verified date]. Here's what to do before then."

"Applications for [program] close on [date]. Here's what you'll need to prepare."
"[Product or service] changes [specific term] on [date]. Check [relevant detail] before then."
"Want your [custom order] ready for [occasion]? The order deadline is [date]."

Deliver the promise: Verify the date, relevant timezone, and conditions. Don't create fake scarcity. Recheck this opening before reposting an older video.

Permission

Remove an unnecessary barrier and show a realistic way to begin.

"You don't need [assumed requirement] to start [specific activity]. You can begin with [alternative]."

"You don't need a studio to film [type of video]. Here's a setup using [equipment you already own]."
"You don't need a full website to test interest in [idea]. Start with [simple test]."
"You don't need [specialized art supply] to try [technique]. I'll show you a version using [basic material]."

Deliver the promise: Provide the alternative. Be clear about its limits rather than implying the requirement never matters.

Mid-Sentence Start

Open at the turning point of a real story, then quickly give enough context to follow it.

"...and that's when [unexpected event]."

"...and that's when I realized I'd been editing [wrong file] for [actual time]."
"...then the client asked, '[what they actually asked].' Here's why that changed the project."
"...and when I opened [package or file], [unexpected discovery] was inside."

Deliver the promise: Explain who, what, and why promptly. Only use events and dialogue that actually happened, or clearly frame the story as fictional.

Contrarian Flip

Challenge familiar advice with a specific, defensible alternative.

"For [specific situation], [common advice] can get in the way. Try [alternative]."

"For your first [project], 'buy the best equipment' is advice I'd skip. Start with [simpler setup]."
"Practice doesn't help much if you keep repeating [same error]. Here's what to check first."
"For [specific design task], less isn't always more. Sometimes you need [missing information]."

Deliver the promise: Explain where the usual advice falls short. Don't argue the opposite just to provoke comments.

The Statistic

Lead with a sourced number, then explain what it means in context.

"According to [source], [percentage or number] of [defined group] [finding]."

"In [named survey], [percentage] of [surveyed group] reported [finding]. Here's the part relevant to you."
"Of the [number] posts I reviewed, [number] used [specific opening]. Here's an example."
"[Number] out of [total] people in our [test or poll] chose [option]. Here's exactly what we asked."

Deliver the promise: Show or cite the source and date. Explain sample limitations. Don't turn a small poll into a claim about everyone, or correlation into causation.

The Reveal

Introduce something new and immediately explain why it is worth seeing.

"Here's [new thing]. It lets you [specific capability or change]."

"Here's the new [feature] in [tool]. Let me show you how it handles [task]."
"This is my new [workspace or setup]. I changed it so I could [specific purpose]."
"Here's the [product or design] I've been working on. Watch how [distinctive feature] works."

Deliver the promise: Show the thing and what changed. Verify availability before describing a product feature viewers can use.

Someone Else's Result

Explain a documented result from another person or project, with clear attribution.

"[Person or project] achieved [verified result] over [period]. Here's what their example shows."

"[Creator] shared how they made [documented project] using [method]. Here's the part you can adapt."
"In [published case study], [business] reported [result] after [change]. Here's what they actually changed."
"[Designer] turned [starting material] into [finished work]. Let's break down [visible technique]."

Deliver the promise: Credit and link to the source. Distinguish reported claims from results you independently checked. Don't promise viewers the same outcome.

The Superlative

Pick a standout option within a scope you can support.

"Of the [options] I tested, [choice] was the [best on a defined measure] for [task]."

"Of the [number] tools I tested, [tool] gave me the cleanest result for [specific task]."
"This was the quickest of the [number] methods I tried for [task]. Here's the timed comparison."
"The most useful item in my [travel or filming kit] is [item]. Here's what I use it for."

Deliver the promise: Define the comparison or make it clearly personal. 'Best of the three I tested' is a different claim from 'best tool in the world.'

No formulas match your search. Try a different keyword.

AI prompt

Turn One Idea Into Three Hooks

Copy this prompt into your AI assistant.

Help me write three different openings for a Reel about [topic].

My audience is [specific audience].
The useful result or lesson is [what viewers will get].
What I can actually show or support is [demo, experience, data, or source].
My tone is [how you naturally speak].
Here are the hook formulas I'd like to try: [paste three formulas from this guide].

For each option, give me:
- The spoken opening.
- Short on-screen text.
- The immediate next line.
- What to show so the video delivers the promise.

Make each approach meaningfully different. Use natural speech and address the viewer when it fits. Don't invent numbers, personal experiences, results, or product capabilities. Leave missing details in [brackets]. Recommend the option that best fits my evidence and explain why. Don't predict that it will go viral.

Before you film

Quick Check Before You Hit Record

Does the opening tell the right viewer why this matters?
Can you support every claim?
Does the next line move toward the answer?
Can you show something concrete?
Does it sound like something you'd actually say?
Have you replaced every bracket?

A good hook earns attention. A useful video gives people a reason to stay.