SuanSupplyWhat is a video hook?
A hook is the first line, image or sound of a short video: the part that decides whether someone keeps watching or swipes away. On TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts the first seconds do most of the work. If the opening gives people no reason to stay, the rest of the video never gets seen.
Good hooks aren't random. Most use one of a small set of psychological triggers: an open question, a specific number, a mistake, a surprise. This generator is built on the 16 triggers we teach in our Hook Deck flashcards.
How do you use the hook generator?
- Pick a triggerChoose the one that fits your video. A finished product suits Result first; a price breakdown suits Price tension.
- Type your product or nicheAdd an audience and a number if you have them. They fill the matching spots in every hook.
- Copy a hook and fill the bracketsSwap every [bracket] for a real detail from your video. Specific beats clever.
- Shuffle for moreEach trigger has 8 formulas. Shuffle shows 5 at a time, or switch triggers to test a different angle.
What are the 16 hook triggers?
Each trigger suits a different kind of video. Use this table to pick one:
| Trigger | Use it when |
|---|---|
| Curiosity gap | You have a surprising result, reveal or answer that can sit at the end of the video. |
| Pattern interrupt | Your topic is ordinary and needs a jolt to earn the first second. |
| Result first | The finished product is visually striking and the process is the content. |
| Mistake callout | There's a common error in your niche and you have the fix. |
| Identity callout | You serve a clear group and the video only makes sense for them. |
| Specific number | You have a real figure: a cost, a saving, a count, a time. |
| Contrarian claim | You have a real, defensible view that goes against common advice. |
| Mid-action open | Always worth testing. Especially for process, unboxing and making-of videos. |
| Satisfying process | Your product's making or packing is tactile, clean and visually smooth. |
| Visual contradiction | Your product has a surprising property you can show, not tell. |
| Price tension | Price is surprising, or you're comparing value against a well-known alternative. |
| Before and after | Your product or service changes something visibly: a space, a look, a listing, a number. |
| Confession story | You have a real moment of failure, doubt or change behind the business. |
| Test or challenge | You can test a product, hack or claim on camera. |
| List promise | You have several quick, related tips or items. |
| Social proof | You have real reviews, reactions or demand signals to show. |
How do you make a hook work in the first seconds?
- Say it at the very start. No hello, no intro, no logo. The first word is the hook.
- Show it as well as say it. Put a short version on screen, so people watching with the sound off still get it.
- Make the first frame match the words. If the hook mentions a box, the box is in the shot.
- Be specific. A real number, a real product and a real result beat vague lines like 'this changed everything'.
- Pay it off. If the hook opens a question, answer it in the video. Viewers who feel tricked swipe faster next time.
- Keep it short. One sentence you can say in a single breath.
Practice spotting hooks: try 3 triggers free
Hook Deck is a flashcard deck for short-form video hooks. It drills the same 16 triggers with spaced repetition, using real hooks refreshed every week, and includes 16 AI prompts, one per trigger. Try the free sample in your browser, no sign-up.
Frequently asked questions
Is this hook generator free?
Yes. It's free, needs no sign-up and has no usage limit. It runs in your browser, and nothing you type is sent to us or saved.
Does the hook generator use AI?
No. Each hook comes from a hand-written formula for one of 16 hook triggers, filled in with your product, audience and number. That keeps the hooks short and on-pattern, and it keeps working even if you lose your connection after the page loads.
Does it work for TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts?
Yes. The hooks are written for any short vertical video. They also work as the first line of a carousel post or the opening of a longer YouTube video.
How long should a video hook be?
One short sentence you can say in a breath, ideally spoken and shown on screen at the same time. If it needs a second sentence to make sense, cut it down.
What are the [brackets] in the hooks?
They're the details only you know: your result, your price, your timeframe. Replace each one with something real from your video before you film. A specific detail is what makes a hook believable.
Which hook trigger is best?
There isn't one best trigger. Pick the one that matches what your video actually shows, then test two or three triggers on similar videos and keep what your own audience watches through.
Hooks are writing prompts, not guarantees: how a video performs depends on the whole video, your audience and each platform. SuanSupply is not affiliated with TikTok, Instagram, Meta or YouTube.