Since you’re here, you already know what a video hook is. Therefore, in this guide I’ll show you:
- A curated list of the best 14 hooks for TikTok
- (which I spent 12 days collecting)
- So you can boost your TikTok’s engagement
TOP 14 Hooks for TikTok Videos
The best TikTok hook right now is “You won’t believe this…”
It’s especially great for vloggers who don’t need much editing after the hook.
Let’s begin this.
1. “If you’re seeing this…”
This hook grabs attention by addressing viewers who have a specific interest or habit, promising something relevant and valuable.
Example: Makes you wonder why you need to stop and see this.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Directly targets a specific audience. | Needs to deliver strong, relevant content. |
| Creates a sense of importance. | Might not appeal to a broad audience. |
| Encourages viewers to stay engaged. | Can feel too niche if not executed well. |
5 Similar Variations:
- “If You Love [Topic], Watch This…”
- “For Anyone Who [Action]…”
- “If You’re Into [Topic], Don’t Miss This…”
- “If You Care About [Topic], You Need to Know…”
- “This Is Essential for [Action] Fans…”
2. “You Won’t Believe…”
This hook grabs attention by promising something surprising or unbelievable, drawing viewers in out of curiosity.
Example: Makes you wonder what he found over there.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Instantly hooks viewers. | Can come off as clickbait if not delivered well. |
| Great for shocking or amazing content. | Requires a big reveal to satisfy. |
| Universal appeal across topics. | Overuse can diminish impact. |
5 Similar Variations:
- “This Will Blow Your Mind…”
- “Unbelievable, But True…”
- “You’ve Never Seen Anything Like This…”
- “Wait Until You See This…”
- “This Is Unreal…”
3. “How I Did This In [Short Time]”
This hook showcases quick results or achievements, appealing to viewers interested in efficiency or shortcuts.
Example: Gets people curious on what he did to repair it.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Appeals to viewers seeking quick solutions. | Requires proof of claim, or it might disappoint. |
| Sets clear expectations. | May not work for more complex topics. |
| Easy to adapt for different niches. | Risk of oversimplifying the process. |
5 Similar Variations:
- “How I Made This in 5 Minutes…”
- “Quickest Way to [Action]…”
- “How to Get [Result] Fast…”
- “In Just 10 Seconds, I Did This…”
- “How I Achieved [Result] in No Time…”
4. “Here’s Why…”
This hook introduces a compelling reason or explanation, drawing in viewers who want to understand more about the topic.
Example: Intrigues people on why rugby players use that specific type of sand.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Sparks curiosity about the reason. | Needs a strong rationale to keep viewers engaged. |
| Great for educational or informative content. | Can feel too formal for some audiences. |
| Easily applicable to various subjects. | Might require more in-depth content. |
5 Similar Variations:
- “The Reason Behind [Topic]…”
- “Why [Topic] Matters…”
- “This Is Why [Action] Works…”
- “The Truth About [Topic]…”
- “Here’s What You Need to Know About [Topic]…”
5. “Things You Didn’t Know About…”
This hook promises interesting and lesser-known facts, intriguing viewers to learn something new.
Example: Even if you don’t care about this car model in particular, the beginning makes you wonder what makes it so special that people are making videos about it.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Appeals to curiosity and learning. | Requires genuinely surprising information. |
| Great for sharing niche knowledge. | Can become predictable if overused. |
| Easy to structure content around. | Might not fit all content types. |
5 Similar Variations:
- “Little-Known Facts About [Topic]…”
- “Surprising Things About [Topic]…”
- “Did You Know These 3 Things About [Topic]?”
- “3 Secrets of [Topic]…”
- “3 Unbelievable Facts About [Topic]…”
6. “What Happens If You…”
This hook presents a scenario or challenge, enticing viewers to see the outcome.
Example: Not doing a simple/must-do thing might have crazy side-effects. That’s exactly what this trying to get you hooked on.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Engages curiosity about the result. | Requires a compelling or interesting outcome. |
| Works well with experiments or challenges. | Might feel gimmicky if not well-executed. |
| Appeals to a broad audience. | Can be hard to sustain interest if the outcome is weak. |
5 Similar Variations:
- “What Would Happen If You [Action]…”
- “This Is What Happens When You [Action]…”
- “See What Happens If You Try This…”
- “What Occurs When You [Action]…”
- “Ever Wondered What Happens If You [Action]?”
7. “Before You [Action], Watch This”
This hook offers crucial advice or warnings, encouraging viewers to get informed before taking action.
Example: Hook + Video Description might make you wonder why you should avoid Birkenstocks.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Creates urgency to watch. | Needs valuable advice to avoid disappointing viewers. |
| Suitable for educational content. | Can feel restrictive or negative. |
| Encourages full video watch. | Might not apply to all content types. |
5 Similar Variations:
- “Don’t [Action] Until You See This…”
- “Watch This Before You Decide…”
- “Essential Tips Before You [Action]…”
- “Must-See Info Before You [Action]…”
- “Don’t Make This Mistake When You [Action]…”
8. “Here’s a Secret…”
This hook promises to reveal insider information or hidden knowledge, drawing viewers in with intrigue.
Example: This hook + a short pause after raises curiosity almost like no other. Though, you really have to deliver after this one.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Instantly grabs attention. | Requires a compelling secret to satisfy viewers. |
| Appeals to curiosity and exclusivity. | Overuse can lead to viewer fatigue. |
| Works across many topics. | Risk of underdelivering on the promise. |
5 Similar Variations:
- “The Secret to [Action]…”
- “Insider Tip for [Topic]…”
- “A Little-Known Trick for [Action]…”
- “Want to Know a Secret?…”
- “Here’s What They Don’t Tell You About [Topic]…”
9. “Only 1% of People Know…”
This hook appeals to exclusivity, making viewers feel like they’re about to learn something rare or unique.
Example: Simple, yet an effective sentence to raise curiosity.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Creates a sense of exclusivity. | Can feel exaggerated or misleading. |
| Engages curiosity and interest. | Requires genuinely rare information to satisfy. |
| Works well for trivia or niche content. | Overuse can make it less effective. |
5 Similar Variations:
- “Few People Know This…”
- “This Is Something Most People Don’t Know…”
- “Hardly Anyone Knows About This…”
- “Only a Small Percentage of People Understand This…”
- “This Is a Well-Kept Secret…”
10. “Let Me Show You How To…”
This hook offers to teach or demonstrate something, appealing to viewers eager to learn or see a process in action.
Example: Simple “how-to” video on a hard thing to do — moving out of your home country.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Appeals to viewers looking for guidance. | Requires clear and useful instructions. |
| Great for tutorials and demonstrations. | Might not fit all content types. |
| Easy to adapt across topics. | Risk of oversimplifying complex processes. |
5 Similar Variations:
- “I’ll Show You How to [Action]…”
- “Here’s How to Do [Action]…”
- “Let Me Walk You Through This…”
- “Step-by-Step Guide to [Action]…”
- “Here’s How It’s Done…”
11. “Check Out This Transformation”
This hook promises a dramatic change or improvement, enticing viewers to see the before-and-after results.
Example: While this isn’t verbally spoken, the images moving quickly from ‘before’ and ‘after’ really catches people’s attention.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Visually engaging and satisfying. | Requires a strong transformation to impress. |
| Appeals to curiosity and anticipation. | Can be time-consuming to produce. |
| Works well with various content types. | Might not fit all topics. |
5 Similar Variations:
- “Watch This Incredible Transformation…”
- “From Start to Finish…”
- “See How This Changed…”
- “Before and After…”
- “Look at This Amazing Change…”
12. “Here’s What Happened When…”
This hook sets up a story or experiment, drawing viewers in to see the outcome of a specific event or action.
Example: Works great because they’re talking about doing a hard thing (losing weight).
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Engages curiosity about the result. | Requires an interesting or unexpected outcome. |
| Great for storytelling and experiments. | Might not fit all content types. |
| Easy to structure content around. | Can be hard to sustain interest if the outcome is weak. |
5 Similar Variations:
- “This Is What Happened When I [Action]…”
- “Here’s the Result of [Action]…”
- “What Happened After I Tried [Action]…”
- “I Did [Action], Here’s What Happened…”
- “The Outcome of [Action] Was Surprising…”
13. “Guess What Happened Next?”
This hook engages viewers by inviting them to predict the outcome, making them more invested in watching to the end.
Example: Super random video, but it succeeded because it got people waiting for whatever was going to happen.
(spoiler, nothing happened)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Creates engagement by involving viewers. | Needs a surprising or unpredictable outcome. |
| Works well with unexpected events or surprises. | Can be hard to deliver a satisfying conclusion. |
| Encourages full video watch. | Might not work for more straightforward content. |
5 Similar Variations:
- “Can You Guess What Happens Next?”
- “What Do You Think Happened?”
- “Predict the Outcome of This…”
- “What Happened Next Will Surprise You…”
- “Guess the Ending…”
14. “This Is What You’ve Been Doing Wrong…”
This hook highlights a common mistake, offering viewers valuable insight or correction they may not be aware of.
Example: Works super great especially in the fitness industry. Extra points if the teacher in the video looks impressive.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Appeals to viewers seeking self-improvement. | Can feel negative if not framed well. |
| Provides immediate value by correcting mistakes. | Needs to address a common issue to be effective. |
| Great for educational or how-to content. | Might not apply to all topics. |
5 Similar Variations:
- “Stop Doing This Wrong…”
- “Common Mistakes People Make with [Topic]…”
- “Here’s What You’ve Been Missing…”
- “The Right Way to [Action]…”
- “Most People Get This Wrong…”
FAQ
1. What is a hook on TikTok?
A hook on TikTok is the first few seconds of a video designed to grab the viewer’s attention and encourage them to keep watching. It’s a crucial element for retaining viewers and boosting engagement.
2. What is a good hook for a TikTok video?
“Stop scrolling!” is definitely a good hook for a TikTok video.
It is a straight-forward video starter that instantly gets people’s attention.
3. How to make a hook for TikTok?
To make a hook for TikTok, start with something that grabs attention immediately, like a surprising statement, a question, or a bold visual. Keep it engaging and relevant to your content to encourage viewers to watch the entire video.
Thanks a lot for reading this,
David Ch
Head of the Editing Team at SendShort
