Video hooks are essential if you want to engage your viewers in the first five seconds. Here are 10 video hooks to try, and how an AI hook generator can help.
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In 2025, the content landscape is more competitive than ever. With over 34 million videos uploaded to Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts every day, creators are having to try extra hard to gain engagement and views.
Meanwhile, our attention spans are shrinking. This is one of the main reasons for our preference for short videos. In fact, research shows that users decide whether to watch or scroll past a video or “reel” in under 3 seconds – that’s not a lot of time to make an impression.
The takeaway? If your video doesn’t contain a “hook” in the first few seconds that captivates viewers immediately, it will get lost in a sea of content.
The opening hook is the single most important element of any short-form video. However, on increasingly crowded platforms, it can be difficult to stand out without seeming over-the-top, inauthentic or misleading. Viewers tend to see through “bait” style intros, knowing that they’re just bids for more views, so you’ll need to get creative if you want to keep people interested.
Fortunately, AI-powered hook generators can help you pinpoint the most engaging parts of your video and suggest high-performing intros. These tools also allow you to repeatedly test and optimize your content without getting burned out.
In this article, we’ll explore the 10 most effective hook types for video content, including hooks for TikTok videos, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. We’ll also show you how to use Argil’s hook generator for the best results.
Before we look at specific video hooks and the benefits of AI hook generators, it’s helpful to think about why certain openings grab attention while others get ignored.
The human brain is wired to respond to pattern interruptions, so anything that immediately jolts us out of autopilot and forces us to engage will prevent us from scrolling past. This could be an unexpected image, something colourful or visually-appealing, or a verbal cue such as a question or dramatic statement.
Other video hooks are effective because they trigger emotional responses or satiate our natural desire for curiosity – for example, “This film made me cry uncontrollably” does both.
Some videos use shock value or controversy to appeal to their audience, while others might resort to social proof that highlights their popularity and inspires FOMO – “This video got 5 million views,” for example.
These tactics are effective because they force us to stop what we’re doing and pay attention. However, the more people use them, the less they work. It’s important to remain genuine and not overdo the video hooks or you risk alienating your viewers.
All social platforms have different cultures and trends. Hooks for TikTok videos will be different from those used on YouTube or LinkedIn, for example.
If you want to grow, it’s a good idea to study the type of content that’s popular on your platform of choice, either by watching lots of it or using an AI social media monitoring tool like Omind or Hootsuite Insights.
Whichever platform you’re using, here are 10 of the most popular video hooks. You should use these hooks on rotation so you’re not posting too much of the same kind of content, and remember to A/B test your videos – an AI hook generator can help you do this.
Using shocking statistics is effective because it plays on people’s natural curiosity, as well as the element of surprise. Example: 95% of people fail this simple test.
Relatable confessions can make your videos more personal and help you build a connection to your audience. Example: I used to do this every day, until it ruined my health or I used to be a really bad boss – here’s what I got wrong.
Visual disruptions have to be used carefully, because they could just as quickly turn people off your content as engage them. Colourful or unique scenes can be great video hooks, as well as bizarre visuals that you promise to explain in the video. Example: Can you spot what’s wrong with this photo?
Questions are effective video hooks because they trigger a decision loop in the user’s mind and cause them to think about your content. Example: Would you accept $5 billion but never speak to your best friend again?
Targeted openings feel personal and relevant and make the viewer feel included in your video. Only do this if it’s relevant to your content and niche. Example: If you’re a mom in your 30s, you need to hear this.
Statements like this are effective hooks for TikTok videos in particular because they trigger doubt and curiosity. Example: You’ve been brushing your teeth wrong your entire life.
This kind of video hook creates exclusivity and makes the viewer feel like they’re being let in on a secret. Again, it’s appealing to our human instinct to be curious. Example: No one is telling you the real reason you can’t lose weight.
A well-known sales tactic, creating a sense of urgency, encourages action and instills fear of missing out. Example: Sign up before midnight for this limited, one-time offer.
This is a great way to get people to watch until the end of your video or follow you for Part 2. Either start with your “before” picture and tell viewers they must wait until the end of the video to see the “after” shot, or do it the other way around. Either way, viewers will want to witness the transformation mentioned. For example: How I completely revamped my rental on a budget in just 3 months…
This is an effective trick for encouraging viewer retention and full views. Example: This date ended in the most shocking way. Stay tuned to find out the full story.
On first glance, these video hooks might seem kind of obvious, and you’ve probably spotted them all when scrolling on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. However, coming up with great hooks consistently is hard, especially when you create a lot of content.
Many creators struggle to stay original, nurture their brand image and maintain creative momentum without burning out, especially when there are thousands of similar videos out there all competing for the same view.If you’re a content creator, AI hook generators like Argil can make your life a lot easier. Argil will analyze what’s worked across other similar videos and suggest hooks to add to your video script, tailored to your content, tone and target audience.
Unlike generic AI writing tools, hook generators are built specifically to help video creators increase their engagement and scale. With Argil, you can generate scripts, build AI avatars and auto-edit footage in minutes instead of hours. We’ll generate multiple hook options based on your video topic, and you can test them to see which performs best – no reshoots or re-editing required.
Sign up today, and let Argil unlock 5-10x more engagement with automatic video hooks, professional-grade quality and easy-to-use editing tools.
