Hook Writing Cheat Sheet
Five proven hook structures for Reels, Shorts, and TikTok — with the rules that make them land
Hook Writing Cheat Sheet
Five proven hook structures for Reels, Shorts, and TikTok — with the rules that make them land
The First Two Seconds Decide Everything
Every platform distributes based on retention, and retention is decided in the first two seconds. A great video with a weak hook gets buried. An average video with a strong hook gets reach.
If the hook fails, nothing else gets seen. Write the hook first — then build the video around it.
“Nobody rewinds a boring opening. Write the hook first, then the video.”
Five Hooks That Earn the Next Second
The Contrarian
'Stop doing X — here's why.' Challenges what the viewer believes. The pattern interrupt forces a second look.
The Result-First
Show the outcome before the path. 'We took this restaurant from 200 to 20K followers' — then explain how.
The Open Loop
'The third one surprised me.' Creates a gap the brain needs to close. Works on lists and breakdowns.
The Direct Question
Ask the exact question your audience already types into Google. Instant relevance, zero warm-up.
The Mistake Frame
'This mistake costs businesses $X every year.' Stakes plus specificity is the strongest retention combo.
Something must move or change in the very first frame.
The first sentence is the hook. No intros, no logos, no 'hey guys.'
On-screen text mirrors the spoken hook for sound-off viewers.
Reels / TikTok / Shorts
Spoken in the first 2 seconds, on screen by frame one.
Carousel Covers
The hook is the cover slide — it earns the swipe.
YouTube Titles
Same structures, written as titles and thumbnails.
Email Subject Lines
Open loops and direct questions drive opens.
Ad Creative
Paid distribution amplifies hooks — it doesn't fix them.
Book a strategy call
gridz.agency • Vancouver, BC