To stand out in the highly competitive world of gaming streamers, grabbing people’s attention from the very beginning is key. The first few seconds of a video can make or break its success. That’s why the hook is so important. In this article, we'll share some tried and tested ideas that keep your audience hooked from beginning to end.
What is a hook?
A hook is essentially a catchy bit of text (or another attention-grabbing element) at the beginning of a video on social media platforms like TikTok, aiming people to stay and keep watching. To make sure people don’t immediately skip to the next video, the opening frame needs to be exciting enough to draw people in and establish a promise that will keep viewers watching until the very end. Hooks can come in many forms, such as posing a compelling question, sharing a teaser statement, presenting an exciting preview or highlighting a common problem and promising a solution. A good hook is simple, memorable, succinct and suits the video perfectly.
Hook ideas
Here are some hook ideas you can use to improve your video content and get more viewers on platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts.
Gaming advice
Instead of doing this, do this
Things I wish I knew earlier
How to beat this boss
How to level up quickly
In-game tools you need and where to find them
Strategies to win every game
[Game name]’s best kept secret
Shortcuts you didn’t know about
No one is talking about this …
Useful tips
Did you know… (insert fun fact here)
Perfect hack
This will save you time
My go-to [...] when doing [...]
Buying advice
Instead of buying this, buy this
Essential tools for streaming
You need to have these 5 things
Save your money, don’t buy this
Free tools to save you time
Gaming reviews
I played [game] so you didn’t have to
First look at [game]
Is this the best/worst game of all time?
Games you need to try if you liked [game]
POV…
Calling out a certain group of people
Fellow [game] fans, stop scrolling!
This is for my [game] homies
[Gamer group] will know what this means
Things you only understand when you’ve played [game]
Reveals
Well… that was unexpected
Look at what I discovered
Can’t believe this worked
New nightmare (/dream/goal/etc) unlocked
Wait for it…
Plot twist…
Signs that you should …
Going against the grain
This may be controversial but …
Unpopular opinion…
Confession: …
How to add a hook to your video
Wondering how to add hooks to your videos and turn clips into perfect social media content without diving into complicated video editing tools? That's where we come in.
First, make sure you have some good clips. While viewers might create clips during your stream, don't solely rely on them. Your stream holds countless moments waiting to become engaging clips for social media. Aim for 15 to 30 curated clips per stream, using stream markers ("/marker" in your chat) for easy editing later.
To turn your horizontal clips into vertical content for social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, go to StreamLadder.com. StreamLadder is your go-to for converting your clips into social media content. You can simply add a hook by using the text feature.
And that’s it. Good luck!
Convert your gaming clips into perfect content for social media. Try StreamLadder for free.
