Hook formulas for ads

Two seconds.

That's how long you have to put someone in the feed.

If your ad during this time Does not catch, it's gone.

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A swipe. Next post. Missed an opportunity.

That's why you need one strong hook.

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An introduction that says:

“Hey — it's worth staying here for a minute. ”

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What is a hook?

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A Hook is the first impression.

What the user sees or hears in the first 2 seconds.

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For example:

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👀 First line of text

🎞️ The first frame

🎙️ The first sentence in voiceover

📢 The first CTA

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The hook decides whether someone stays on — or keeps scrolling.

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Why are hooks so important?

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Because you're in the feed Don't compete with other ads.

But with cat videos, celebrity news, recipes and memes.

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Your ad must keep up with that.

Emotionally. Direct. And straight to the point.

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The best hook formulas for social ads

Here are hook formulas that you can test right away — with examples.

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1. “Did you know that...? ”

Did you know that 80% of people cancel their ads too early?

👉 Works because it triggers curiosity.

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2nd “You're doing it wrong. ”

You're running ads — but it's no use that way.

👉 Works because it's a bit of a provocation. But honestly.

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3rd “This is what X really looks like. ”

This is what a high-performance ad really looks like.

👉 Works because it promises real knowledge.

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4th “Most people make that mistake...”

Most brands miss this moment in the funnel.

👉 Works because no one wants to make mistakes

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5th “In just 10 seconds... ”

In 10 seconds, I'll show you how to get 30% more clicks.

👉 Works because it works quickly and makes a clear promise.

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6th “What happens when...? ”

What happens if you simply omit the CTA?

👉 It works because we want to know what's next.

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7. “X versus Y”

UGC vs. Studio Ad — What's Winning?

👉 Works because people like to compare and take a stand.

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Bonus: Visual hook tricks

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🎥 Zoom in + quick movement

Make your video look “different” in the feed

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🎨 Text overlay with curiosity question

For example, “This has changed our ad game. ”

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🎭 Faces with emotion

Astonishment, laughter, anger — emotions stick.

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🧠 Visual pattern breaks

Something that doesn't fit into the feed grid. retro look, lo-fi, comic look

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Conclusion:

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Without a hook — no chance.

You can build the best ad in the world.

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If getting started is boring, no one will see them.

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The good news:

A strong hook is no accident. It is a formula.

And you can use, vary, and test them.

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So take 30 minutes

Build 3 new hook variants

and test what really appeals to your target group.

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Because if you hook, you win.

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