I've edited hundreds of short-form videos and the #1 mistake I see creators make is burying the hook.

The algorithm decides your fate in the first 3 seconds. Not 5. Not 10. Three.

Here's what works:

Start with movement. A static frame = instant scroll. Open with a zoom, a cut, or something physically happening. Motion triggers curiosity.

Text on screen immediately. Don't wait for the voiceover to kick in. Slap the hook as text in frame 1. "I made $10K from a 15-second video" hits different when you can READ it while also hearing it.

Pattern interrupt at 0:00. The viewer's thumb is already mid-scroll. You need to break the pattern. A loud sound effect, a visual glitch, a face close to the camera — anything unexpected.

Most creators film great content but lose viewers before the value even starts. The edit IS the difference between 500 views and 500K.

At EditHQ, we edit your Shorts and TikToks on a performance basis — $1 per 1,000 views. If the video doesn't perform, you barely pay. If it blows up, we both win.

That's how confident we are in our edits.