Hook generator for Shorts, Reels and TikTok
Free tool, no sign-up
A good hook says, in one line, why the viewer should keep watching. Type your topic and get opening lines built from 32 proven templates in 7 styles: curiosity, story, list, mistake, contrarian, question and how-to. No AI, no credits.
The strangest thing about deep sea creatures isn't what you think.
Deep sea creatures isn't hard. It's just explained badly.
The biggest mistake people make with deep sea creatures.
5 things I wish I knew about deep sea creatures sooner.
Give me 30 seconds and you'll understand deep sea creatures better than most people.
Why does nobody explain deep sea creatures like this?
The first time I looked into deep sea creatures, nothing made sense.
7 seconds, 3 facts, all about deep sea creatures. Ready?
TallyReel turns the topic into a full script that opens on a strong hook, then voices and edits it.
Make the video from thisHow to use a hook
- Type the topic of your video as a thing: "deep sea creatures", "budget travel in Japan", "the Roman Empire".
- Pick a style, or leave the mix to see one of each. Press More hooks for a fresh set.
- Say the hook in the first two seconds, and put it on screen as text too, for people watching with the sound off.
- Pay it off. If the hook promises three facts, give three facts. A hook the video does not keep loses viewers for the next one.
The 7 hook styles
- Curiosity gap: Opens a question the viewer has to stay to close.
- Story opener: Drops the viewer into a moment, so they want to know what happened.
- Numbered list: Promises a set number of points, so the viewer knows the payoff is close.
- Mistake: Speaks to something the viewer may be doing wrong right now.
- Contrarian: Pushes back on what most people believe, which makes them want to argue or agree.
- Direct question: Asks the viewer something they can answer in their head in a second.
- How-to promise: Says exactly what the viewer will be able to do by the end.
Questions
What is a hook in a short video?
The first line, said in the first two or three seconds. It tells the viewer why they should keep watching, before they scroll past.
Does this use AI?
No. The hooks come from a bank of 32 templates we wrote by hand, in 7 styles, filled with your topic. It is free to run as often as you like.
Which hook style works best?
It depends on the video. Story openers suit narrated stories, numbered lists suit facts, mistakes suit how-to content. Try two styles on the same video and keep the one your viewers stay for.
Can I use these hooks on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram?
Yes. They are opening lines, not network features, so they work on Shorts, Reels, TikTok and the first seconds of a longer video.
Why does a hook sound odd for my topic?
The templates expect a topic written as a thing, like "deep sea creatures" or "the Roman Empire". If yours is an action, try rewording it as a thing, or edit the line before you use it.
More free tools
From an idea to a finished video.
TallyReel writes the script, reads it in a natural voice, adds footage, captions and music, then posts it to every network.