Podcast Summary: Build Your Tribe | Grow Your Business with Social Media
Episode: How to Create Viral Hooks That ACTUALLY Get Views - 843
Release Date: July 24, 2025
Hosts: Brock Johnson & Chalene Johnson
Introduction to Viral Hooks
In this episode, Brock Johnson delves deep into the art of creating viral hooks for short-form videos on platforms like Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikTok. He emphasizes the critical role that hooks play in capturing audience attention within the first few seconds, setting the stage for the video's success.
"[...] the first few seconds are absolutely key. It doesn't matter if the rest of your video has a great story or a super educational tip... if those first few seconds aren't powerful enough to grab someone's attention, the rest of your video is a waste of time."
— Brock Johnson [00:45]
The Hook Swap Strategy
Before diving into the seven actionable tips, Brock introduces the Hook Swap Strategy. This method involves revisiting previously posted content that didn't perform as expected and enhancing it by either replacing the original hook with a stronger one or adding a new, compelling hook at the beginning.
"Take the content that you've already posted... and either replace the existing hook with one of the stronger hooks that you're going to learn in today's episode."
— Brock Johnson [05:30]
Seven Tips for Creating Better Hooks
1. Empathize with Your Audience
Understanding your target audience is foundational. By comprehending their pain points, dreams, and interests, you can craft hooks that resonate deeply.
"The foundation for growing a following... is to know your niche, to know your market, to know exactly who it is that you're trying to reach."
— Brock Johnson [08:20]
2. Optimal Hook Length: 5-8 Words
Research from Insta Club Hub shows that hooks between five and eight words tend to perform best in terms of views and engagement.
"The ones that consistently performed the best and got the most views were between five and eight words long."
— Brock Johnson [12:10]
3. Keep It Simple
Use language that is easily understandable, ideally below a fifth-grade reading level, to cater to a distracted audience.
"Dumb it down, keep it simple... more people will understand your content, more people will consume it, more people will engage."
— Brock Johnson [16:45]
4. Incorporate Negative Words
Using negative language can grab attention more effectively due to inherent human tendencies to focus on potential threats or problems.
"Simply by using a negative word like don't stop, avoid, stay away from... those sorts of things are going to grab people's attention more than their positive counterparts."
— Brock Johnson [20:30]
5. Enhance Visual Appeal
Bright, vibrant visuals with clear human faces and relevant props can significantly increase viewer retention.
"Having a person's face and especially their eyes on the screen within the first second really improves retention."
— Brock Johnson [25:00]
6. Prioritize Audio Quality
High-quality audio is essential. Ensure balanced sound levels, consider using an external microphone, and thoughtfully select background music or sound effects.
"Audio is half of video... make sure that your audio levels are equal... get yourself an external microphone."
— Brock Johnson [30:15]
7. Create a Curiosity Gap
Striking the right balance in the curiosity gap encourages viewers to continue watching without feeling overwhelmed or underinformed.
"We gotta find that Goldilocks zone... where the curiosity gap is interesting people, and they want to continue watching to hear what else you have to say."
— Brock Johnson [35:50]
Bonus Tip: Success Leaves Clues
Brock advises listeners to analyze successful content on social media to understand effective hook strategies. By observing what captures their attention, creators can glean ideas to incorporate into their own content.
"Just pay attention to why was there a word in the hook? Was there something they did?... you'll start to pick up on little hooks and little ideas that you can incorporate and apply to your own content."
— Brock Johnson [40:05]
Seven Proven Hook Ideas
Brock shares seven versatile hook ideas that can be adapted to almost any niche:
-
Problem Hooks
Identifying a specific pain point your audience faces."If you're working out five days a week but not seeing results, watch this."
— Brock Johnson [42:30] -
Hot Take Hooks
Presenting an unpopular or controversial opinion to spark interest."Counting calories is the reason you're not losing weight."
— Brock Johnson [43:10] -
Curiosity Gap Hooks
Creating intrigue without revealing too much."I bet I can get your lazy ass to stop procrastinating in less than two minutes with this easy trick."
— Brock Johnson [43:50] -
Shocking Stat Hooks
Leading with surprising statistics to provoke thought."Did you know missing just 30 minutes of sleep reduces your productivity by 30%?"
— Brock Johnson [45:20] -
Call Out Hooks
Directly addressing a specific group within your audience."If you're a teacher who's planning their lessons on the night before, watch this."
— Brock Johnson [46:10] -
Transformation Hooks
Showcasing a before-and-after scenario to highlight change."I used to be embarrassed to go out in public, but now my skin is totally clear in less than one month."
— Brock Johnson [47:35]
Evaluating Hook Performance
Brock explains how to assess the effectiveness of your hooks using Instagram's "View Rate past First three Seconds" metric. Monitoring this statistic helps determine if your hooks are successfully retaining viewer attention beyond the initial moments.
"If it's right at the tick mark, that means that your average viewer is watching for three seconds. And if it's less than the tick mark, then that means we really need to improve our hooks."
— Brock Johnson [50:00]
Conclusion and Additional Resources
Brock concludes by offering listeners a free list of 25 viral hook ideas, accessible through the show notes. He encourages continual learning and adaptation by observing successful hooks across social media platforms.
"If there’s a video that really grabs your attention... you'll start to pick up on little hooks and little ideas that you can incorporate and apply to your own content."
— Brock Johnson [52:15]
Key Takeaways
- Prioritize the Hook: Invest significant effort in crafting the first few seconds of your video.
- Understand Your Audience: Deep empathy for your target demographic leads to more effective hooks.
- Simplicity and Clarity: Use straightforward language and visually appealing elements.
- Balanced Engagement: Utilize negative language and curiosity gaps without overdoing either.
- Continuous Improvement: Regularly assess hook performance and iterate based on data.
By implementing these strategies, content creators can significantly enhance their video engagement and increase the likelihood of their content going viral.
Stay Connected:
For more insights and strategies on growing your business with social media, subscribe to Build Your Tribe and join Brock and Chalene every Thursday for actionable tips and expert interviews.