Three hooks you should be using in your videos

We’re all goldfish when it comes to social media. Attention spans are short, and you’ve got just a few seconds to hook someone in before they swipe on to the next thing. That’s why using a strong hook in your video is so important.

Here are three types of hooks that are simple to use and seriously effective:

1. Visual Hook

This is anything unexpected or interesting your viewer sees before you’ve even said a word. It could be a funky background, a mic clipped to a banana, or a t-shirt with a bold or cheeky slogan. It doesn’t even need to be relevant to your message, it just needs to make someone pause long enough to stay on your video.

2. Verbal Hook

The first sentence out of your mouth has to hit hard. Speak directly to a pain point your audience is experiencing and get right to the point. Avoid wasting those first few seconds with filler or awkward silence. That ‘Millennial pause’ might feel natural, but on social media, it costs you viewers.

3. Text Hook

This is the on-screen text that shows up as your video starts. It needs to be clear, punchy and compelling. Some examples:

“If you want to <solve problem>, you need to try this.”

“Nobody talks about <pain point> — but we should.”

Keep the text on screen for at least five seconds to give people enough time to read and absorb it.

Remember, grabbing attention is only the first step. Once you’ve hooked your audience, you need to deliver on what you’ve promised: whether that’s a tip, a story, or a solution. But without a strong start, most people won’t stick around long enough to find out what you have to say. So next time you hit record, try using one (or all three) of these hooks and see what a difference it makes.