Seven hooks that stop the scroll in the first two seconds
Key takeaways
- Decide the hook before you edit anything else.
- Show the pay-off or the problem in the first frame, not after an intro.
- Put the hook on screen as text so it works with the sound off.
- Test two or three openings on the same video.
On short-form platforms, viewers decide in a moment whether to keep watching. The platform notices that decision, so the first two seconds shape how far a video travels. Most of our editing time on a Reel goes into those seconds.
Why the first frame matters more than the edit
A beautiful edit can't save a slow start. If the opening gives people no reason to stay, they never see the part you worked hardest on. That's why we pick the hook first, then build the rest of the cut backwards from it.
The seven hooks we use most
1. The result first
Open on the finished outcome: the transformed room, the plated dish, the growth chart. Then show how you got there.
2. The bold claim
A short, specific statement the viewer wants to check. "You're lighting your face wrong" works better than "Some lighting tips".
3. The question
Ask the thing your viewer is already wondering. Keep it under ten words and put it on screen.
4. The mistake
Show the common error before the fix. People stop to find out whether they're making it.
5. The pattern interrupt
An unexpected movement, sound or cut in frame one: a whip pan, an object dropping into shot, a hard zoom.
6. The list promise
"Three edits that…" tells the viewer exactly what they'll get and how long it will take.
7. The story drop-in
Start in the middle of the action: "So the client called at midnight…". The context can come later.
How to cut a hook
- Trim every breath and pause before the first word.
- Put the key line on screen as large text, inside the app's safe zone.
- Land the first cut on a beat or sound effect so the opening has energy.
- Keep the hook under two seconds. The second line should already move the story on.
Want a second pair of eyes on your openings? Book a free call and send us a clip. We'll show you where viewers are likely to drop off.
Want videos that do this without the homework?
Send us one clip. We'll edit a free sample using everything in this article, and you decide if it's worth it.
