Hooks · Instagram Reels

How to Write a Hook for
Reels

You have 1.5 seconds to stop the scroll. This is how you do it.

Your Script0 words
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Your script score will appear here. Drop your content above and find out where you're bleeding viewers.

HOOK RULES THAT WORK
  • Start with tension, not context. Context tells viewers what's coming. Tension makes them feel like they'll miss something if they stop watching. Tension always wins.
  • Use specific numbers or bold claims in the first sentence. 'I saved money' is ignorable. 'I saved $400 in 3 months doing one thing differently' is not. Specificity is credibility.
  • The curiosity gap is your most powerful tool. Create a gap between what the viewer knows and what they want to know — then don't close it until the end.
  • Make the viewer feel seen in the first line. 'If you post consistently but get no views' speaks directly to a specific person. That person stops scrolling because you're talking to them.
  • Test your hook out loud. Read your first line aloud. If it doesn't sound urgent, interesting, or surprising when spoken, it won't work on screen.
EXAMPLE FIX
BEFORE
So today I want to share some tips about Instagram growth...
AFTER
Nobody tells beginners this — and it's why most reels never get past 500 views.
This creates curiosity and improves retention instantly.