The first three seconds decide everything
Here is what happens in the first three seconds of your reel: the viewer decides if it is worth their time. Not at second five. Not when you finally get to the point.
The most common mistake is the warm-up. "Hey guys, so today I wanted to talk about..." That line is dead weight. The viewer does not wait for you to arrive.
A strong hook does one of three things:
1. Opens a question the viewer needs answered.
2. Makes a promise that is specific, not vague.
3. Puts a stake on the table, so staying costs them nothing and leaving feels like missing out.
The 8 million view reel in our community started with "you can choose 2 free trips, which two?" on screen. No intro, no context. The viewer was already in the game before they could scroll.
Why it works: a hook is not a clever line. It is a reason to stay for the next three seconds. Then the next three.
Try this today: take your last reel, cut everything before the first real sentence, and write that sentence as on-screen text in the first frame. Post it as a Trial Reel and compare the skip rate.
Honest, not nice: if your first frame needs an explanation, it is not a hook yet. 🥥
