10 Hook Formulas That Keep Viewers Watching

Hooks exist to earn the next three seconds. Use these formulas with examples and when-to-use guidance.

1. Timeline Promise: “In 7 seconds, you’ll see exactly …”
   Use for tutorials and outcomes with fast payoff.
2. Myth Breaker: “You’ve been told X. Here’s what actually works.”
   Use when audience beliefs block the result.
3. Pattern Interrupt: “Pause. Look at this.”
   Use when the visual is strong enough to stand alone.
4. Before/After: “Yesterday vs today—watch the difference.”
   Use to show transformation in one frame.
5. Challenge: “Try not to do this when …”
   Use to invite participation and comments.
6. Numbered Path: “3 steps to get [result] without [pain].”
   Use for repeatable frameworks.
7. Mistake Confession: “I wasted a year doing this wrong.”
   Use to build trust and authority quickly.
8. Show, Then Tell: result first, explanation second.
9. Counterintuitive: “Stop trying to go viral. Do this instead.”
10. Binary Choice: “Which one wins? A or B?”

Practice: write three variants per formula for your niche. Then test two per week and track hook win rate. Pair these with our title formulas and retention blueprint.