Short form video hooks: the first three seconds

Why the opening matters most

In a scrolling feed, people decide very quickly whether to keep watching. The opening frame and first line carry most of the weight, so they deserve most of the effort.

Hook patterns to try

Each pattern suits different products, so test rather than assume.

• Show the result first, then how
• Name a specific problem your audience has
• Open on movement or the product in use
• Ask a direct question
• Use a bold on screen caption, since many watch without sound

Test hooks, keep the rest

Keep the body of the video the same and swap only the first few seconds. That isolates the hook and makes the result easier to read.