Viral Hook Generator

Purpose

Generate attention-grabbing hooks for video content using proven psychological triggers and 2025-2026 viral patterns.

Arguments

• $ARGUMENTS: Video topic, optionally platform and content type
  • Example: morning routine
  • Example: productivity tips tiktok
  • Example: home workout youtube-shorts educational
  • Example: cooking pasta instagram

Hook Psychology Framework

The 1.3-Second Rule (2026)

You have 1.3 seconds to capture attention. The hook must:

• Interrupt the scroll
• Create immediate curiosity
• Promise value

Hook Success Statistics

Statistic	Value
3-second viewers watching 10+ seconds	65%
3-second viewers watching 30+ seconds	45%
TikTok scroll-past in first 3 seconds	33%
Instagram engagement drop without hook	60%
Drop-off with slow intros	33%+ in first 30 seconds

Psychological Triggers

Trigger	How It Works	Example
Curiosity Gap	Creates information gap that must be filled	"The reason no one tells you about..."
Pattern Interrupt	Breaks expected patterns (triggers orienting response)	Start mid-action, unexpected visual
Open Loop (Zeigarnik)	Incomplete stories demand completion	"What happened next changed everything..."
Loss Aversion/FOMO	Humans feel losses 2x more than gains	"If you're not doing this, you're losing..."
Self-Identification	Immediate relevance to viewer	"If you're someone who struggles with..."
Controversy	Challenges beliefs	"Everything you know about X is wrong"
Specificity	Numbers create credibility	"3 exact steps" vs "some tips"
Time Sensitivity	Urgency drives action	"Before this gets taken down..."

Hook Templates by Category

Curiosity Hooks

• "Here's why [common belief] is completely wrong..."
• "I discovered something that changed everything about..."
• "Most people don't know this about [topic]..."
• "The [industry] doesn't want you to know..."
• "This is what they don't teach you about..."

Pattern Interrupt Hooks

• [Start mid-sentence] "...and that's why I stopped doing it"
• [Unexpected visual] Show the result first
• [Controversial statement] "I quit [popular thing]"
• [Action hook] Start with the most dramatic moment

Open Loop Hooks

• "By the end of this video, you'll understand why..."
• "What happened next shocked everyone..."
• "The third tip is the one that actually works..."
• "Wait until you see what happens at the end..."
• "I didn't believe it until I tried it myself..."

FOMO/Urgency Hooks

• "If you're not doing this, you're losing..."
• "This trend is about to explode..."
• "Before everyone else figures this out..."
• "Stop scrolling if you want to..."
• "This is going away soon..."

Self-Identification Hooks

• "If you're someone who [struggle], this is for you..."
• "POV: You're a [audience type] who..."
• "Only [niche] people will understand this..."
• "This is for my [audience] who..."

Educational Hooks

• "Here's exactly how to [result] in [timeframe]..."
• "[Number] things I wish I knew before..."
• "The simple trick that [achievement]..."
• "Why [common approach] doesn't work..."

Story Hooks

• "I was about to give up when..."
• "Nobody believed me until..."
• "This one decision changed my life..."
• "The moment I realized..."

Platform-Specific Variations

TikTok:

• Shorter, punchier hooks
• Leverage trending sounds
• Text overlay as hook
• First frame must stop the scroll

YouTube Shorts:

• Slightly more context allowed
• Thumbnail preview matters
• Can tease longer content
• 50-60 seconds optimal

YouTube Long-form:

• Can be longer (5-10 seconds)
• Preview the payoff
• Hook + roadmap works well
• "In this video, you'll learn..."

Instagram Reels:

• 3/8/12 rule: Hook in 3 seconds
• Visual-first platform
• Aesthetic matters more
• Text overlay hooks popular

Hook Generation Process

1. Identify the core value - What will viewers get?
2. Find the tension - What problem/curiosity exists?
3. Choose trigger(s) - Which psychology applies?
4. Draft 5+ variations - Different angles and triggers
5. Add visual component - What supports the verbal hook?
6. Test with 3-second rule - Does it work in 3 seconds?

Output Format

Generate:

1. 5-10 Hook Variations using different psychological triggers
2. Visual Hook Suggestions - What to show in first 1.3 seconds
3. Audio/Music Recommendations - Sound that amplifies the hook
4. Opening Text Overlay - On-screen text to reinforce
5. Hook + Follow-up Flow - How to transition from hook to content
6. A/B Testing Suggestions - Which hooks to test against each other
7. Platform Variations - How to adapt for different platforms