Hooks

TikTok hook examples

Updated October 23, 2026 · 6 min read

A hook is the first line or image of your video. These examples are grouped by style, written as templates so you can swap in your own topic. Pick one style per video and make the first second match it.

Result first

• "This is what my [thing] looked like after 30 days of [habit]."
• "I went from [before] to [after]. Here is the one change."
• "This took me 10 minutes and it saved me [result]."
• "Here is the finished [thing]. Now watch how I made it."
• "[Result] for under $[price]. Here is how."

Mistake

• "Stop doing this if you want [goal]."
• "You are probably [doing thing] wrong."
• "The [topic] mistake I made for years."
• "If your [thing] keeps [problem], this is why."
• "Do not buy [product] until you see this."

Curiosity

• "Nobody talks about this part of [topic]."
• "I tried [thing] so you do not have to."
• "Wait for the last one."
• "This changed how I [do thing] forever."
• "I did not expect this to work."

List

• "3 [topic] tips I wish I knew sooner."
• "5 things every [audience] should know about [topic]."
• "3 signs your [thing] needs [fix]."
• "The only 3 [items] you need for [goal]."
• "2 ways to [goal], and one is free."

Story

• "So this happened at [place] today."
• "I almost quit [thing] last week."
• "My [person] said I could not do this."
• "The day I realized [lesson]."
• "POV: you finally [achievement]."

Contrarian

• "Unpopular opinion: [common advice] is wrong."
• "You do not need [expensive thing] for [goal]."
• "Everyone says [advice]. Here is why I stopped."
• "[Popular thing] is overrated, and here is what I use instead."
• "The worst advice I got about [topic]."

Direct question

• "Why does nobody tell you this about [topic]?"
• "Are you making this [topic] mistake?"
• "What would you do with [situation]?"
• "Is [thing] actually worth it?"
• "Can you guess [thing] before the end?"

Visual hooks (no words needed)

• Start on the finished result, then cut to the start.
• Open mid-action, with motion in the first frame.
• Show the "before" next to the "after".
• A close-up of something unusual, then pull back.
• Text on screen that asks a question the video answers.

How to test a hook

Film two openings for the same video and check both in Viral IQ. Each version gets a hook score from 0 to 100 and notes on what to change. Post the stronger one, then compare its retention in TikTok analytics with your usual videos.

Need more ideas for your topic? Try the free TikTok hook generator.

Questions