5 Video Hooks That Get 10x More Views on TikTok, Reels & YouTube Shorts

You have exactly 1.7 seconds.

That is the average time a user spends deciding whether to watch your video or scroll past it. In the ruthless arena of short-form video, your intro—your hook—is the single most important variable.

You can have the most valuable advice, the highest production quality, and the best lighting in the world. But if your first 3 seconds are boring, nobody will see the rest. This is why mastering the 3-second rule is essential for any content creator.

At Joyspace, we've analyzed millions of data points from successful clips to identify the patterns of virality. We found that almost every high-performing video starts with one of five specific hook frameworks, similar to what we discuss in the psychology of scroll-stopping videos.

Here are the 5 hooks that will explode your engagement in 2026.

1. The "Negative" Hook (The Pattern Interrupt)

Our brains are wired to pay attention to danger and mistakes. It's evolutionary. Hooks that highlight a common error stop the scroll because the viewer subconsciously wants to know, "Am I doing this wrong?" This is a powerful pattern interrupt technique.

The Formula: "Stop [Common Action] if you want [Desired Outcome]."

Examples:

• "Stop posting to Instagram at 9 AM."
• "You are wasting your budget on LinkedIn Ads."
• "Why your cold emails are going straight to spam."

Why it works: It creates immediate tension. The viewer has to watch to resolve the tension. This is a staple in how to go viral on TikTok.

2. The "Curiosity Gap" Hook

This hook presents a statement that is incomplete or surprising, forcing the viewer to watch to fill in the missing information. It opens a "loop" in their brain that can only be closed by the rest of the video. Learn more about curiosity gap headlines and how they drive engagement.

The Formula: "I tried [X] so you don't have to." OR "The secret [Expert] uses to [Result]."

Examples:

• "I tested the top 5 AI video tools, and the winner surprised me."
• "This one setting on your iPhone changes everything."
• "Here is how a $5M agency handles client onboarding."

Why it works: Humans hate unanswered questions. We are compelled to find the answer. This triggers dopamine loops that keep viewers engaged.

3. The "Specific Outcome" Hook

In B2B marketing, specificity sells. Vague promises are ignored. Specific numbers and results build instant credibility and attract a qualified audience. This is particularly effective for LinkedIn video strategy.

The Formula: "How to get [Specific Result] in [Specific Time] without [Pain Point]."

Examples:

• "How to generate 50 leads in 7 days without spending a dollar on ads."
• "The exact workflow I use to create 30 videos in 2 hours."
• "How we reduced our churn by 15% using one email."

Why it works: It promises a tangible ROI on the viewer's time. They know exactly what they will get by watching. This is essential for video marketing for B2B and aligns perfectly with batch creating 30 days of reels using AI video tools.

4. The "Contrarian" Hook

Everyone loves a hot take. Going against the grain makes you stand out in a sea of "me too" content. It invites debate in the comments, which signals the algorithm to boost your reach. Understanding negative engagement can actually help your growth.

The Formula: "Unpopular opinion: [Common Belief] is actually [False]."

Examples:

• "SEO is dead. Here is what replaced it."
• "Why you should fire your best salesperson."
• "Don't buy a camera for YouTube. Use your phone."

Why it works: It challenges the status quo. Even if people disagree, they will watch to see your justification. This aligns with the strategy discussed in turn one video into 10 pieces about extracting controversial takes and our guide on content repurposing.

5. The "Visual" Hook (Show, Don't Just Tell)

On platforms like Instagram Reels, audio is often muted. Your hook needs to be visual. This involves a sudden movement, a strange object, or a text overlay that changes rapidly. Learn more about silent viewing optimization and text on screen psychology.

The Formula: [Visual Disruption] + [Text Overlay].

Examples:

• (Video starts with the creator throwing a pile of papers) "Stop doing your taxes like this."
• (Video shows a graph skyrocketing) "This is what happened when we switched to AI."
• (Green screen showing a competitor's website) "This marketing strategy is genius."

Why it works: It leverages the visual nature of the medium. It breaks the visual monotony of the feed. Consider also how thumbnails for shorts can enhance this effect.

How to Test Hooks with AI

The hardest part about hooks is knowing which one will work for your content.

This is where Joyspace.ai changes the game.

When you upload a long webinar or podcast to Joyspace, our AI video clip generator doesn't just cut random clips. It analyzes the transcript to find these exact hook frameworks within your content.

• Did you make a controversial statement at minute 14? Joyspace finds it.
• Did you share a specific result at minute 42? Our AI clipper extracts it automatically.

By using AI video editing to identify the hooks you already recorded, you remove the guesswork. You can test different hooks for the same core content and see which one performs best—a key tactic in multi-platform content distribution. This works whether you're repurposing webinars or automating podcast to shorts workflows.

The Golden Rule: Deliver on the Promise

A great hook is a promise. Your video must deliver on that promise immediately. If you hook them with "Stop doing this," your next sentence must explain why. This is critical for maintaining retention curves.

Don't bait and switch. Use the hook to earn attention, then use value to keep it. Understanding how to go viral on TikTok requires this balance, along with tracking the right analytics metrics.

Ready to find the viral hooks hidden in your content? Start creating engaging video clips today with AI-powered tools that identify the best moments automatically.