Check your hook before you film.

The 8 checks

1. Gets to the point fast: How long the line takes to say at your pace. Aim for about 3 seconds.
2. No warm-up: “Hey guys”, “in this video” and other throat-clearing that gives people a reason to swipe.
3. About the viewer: Whether it speaks to them, or only about you.
4. Specific: Vague words (“tips”, “amazing”) versus a number, the exact thing, the surprising detail.
5. Makes them want something: A question, a fix or a result they’ll stay for.
6. Honest promise: Clickbait phrases, and whether the video delivers it before people leave.
7. Works on mute: On-screen text that’s short enough to read and adds something.
8. Strong first frame: Opening on the thing itself, not a logo or a wave.

They follow the hook advice in Chapter 12 of Worth Watching, which ends with a five-question check of its own. The whole chapter is in the free sample.

Common questions

Can a tool tell if my hook will go viral?

No, and be wary of any tool that says it can. These checks catch the common reasons people swipe away. Real people decide the rest, which is why the poll exists.

How does the friends poll work?

You get a link with up to 3 versions of your opening. Friends tap the one they’d stop for and can add a reason. They see vote counts; only you see the reasons. Polls delete themselves after 7 days.

Is my hook saved anywhere?

Your drafts stay on your device. If you make a poll, its versions and votes are stored for 7 days so your friends can vote, then deleted.