Short-Form Video: Hooks, Scripts & Strategy

Detailed reference for creating short-form video content on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.

Video Hook Library

Curiosity Hooks (Best for engagement)

The "Secret" Formula:

• "The secret to [outcome] that nobody talks about"
• "I found a feature in [product/platform] that saves me [specific time/result]"
• "I can't believe this actually works..."

The Unexpected Discovery:

• "I tried [thing] for 30 days and I was NOT expecting this"
• "This completely changed how I think about [topic]"
• "Nobody talks about this, but..."

The Question:

• "Why does nobody talk about this?"
• "Am I the only one who didn't know this?"
• "The reason [common thing] doesn't work is..."

Value Hooks (Best for saves)

The Promise:

• "How to [achieve outcome] in [specific timeframe]"
• "[Number] [things] that will [benefit]"
• "[Topic] in 60 seconds: the [N] things that matter"

The Hack/Shortcut:

• "[Outcome] hack that actually works"
• "The [adjective] way to [outcome]"
• "If you're struggling with [problem], watch this"

The Warning:

• "Stop doing [common practice]. It cost me [specific result]."
• "[Number] mistakes that are killing your [results]"
• "Why [thing you think is good] is actually hurting you"

Story Hooks (Best for watch time)

The Transformation:

• "3 months ago, I [bad state]. Today, I [good state]."
• "Here's how I went from [before] to [after]"
• "I used to think [old belief]. Then [specific event] happened."

The Failure:

• "I made a huge mistake with [topic]"
• "Here's why I stopped [common practice]"
• "I lost [something significant] because of this mistake"

The Journey:

• "So this just happened..."
• "This cut my [task] from [X] to [Y]"
• "Let me tell you about the time I [interesting situation]"

Controversial Hooks (Best for comments)

• "Unpopular opinion: [bold statement]"
• "[Common advice] is actually wrong"
• "I'm going to get hate for this, but..."
• "Most [audience] get this completely wrong"

Contrast Hooks (Best for educational content and decisions)

• "Should you [option A] or [option B]?"
• "We used to [old way]. Now everyone [new way]. Which one actually works?"
• "Most [audience] do [X]. The ones who [result] do [Y]."
• "You can cancel [thing they think they need]." (challenges a false assumption)
• "You need [common belief]. Or do you?"

Both sides of the contrast must be real options the viewer weighs, and the video has to pick one. See the ad-creative skill's hook system for when each works.

Scripting Template

## Video: [Working Title]

**Platform:** TikTok / Reels / Shorts
**Length:** XX seconds
**Format:** [Talking head / Slideshow / Demo / Screen recording]

### Hook (0-3 sec)
- Visual: [What viewer sees]
- Audio: [What they hear]
- Text overlay: [On-screen text]

### Body (3-X sec)
- [Timestamp] - [What happens/what you say]
- [Timestamp] - [Next beat]
- [Continue...]

### CTA (final 3-5 sec)
- Verbal: [What you say]
- Text: [On-screen text]
- Action: [Follow, comment, link in bio, etc.]

### Production Notes
- Music/sound: [Trending sound or music choice]
- B-roll needed: [List any clips needed]
- Graphics: [Any text animations or overlays]

Additional Video Structures

The Story Arc (45-60 sec)

[0-3s]  Hook: Tease the outcome
[3-15s] Setup: Context and stakes
[15-45s] Journey: What happened
[45-55s] Resolution: The result
[55-60s] Lesson/CTA

Best for: Personal stories, case studies, testimonials

The POV/Skit (15-30 sec)

[0-3s]  Setup: Text overlay sets the scene
[3-25s] Performance: Act out the relatable scenario
[25-30s] Punchline or twist

Best for: Relatable content, humor, niche communities

Visual Patterns

Talking Head

• Good lighting (ring light or window light)
• Eye contact with camera
• Hand gestures for emphasis
• Interesting background (bookshelf, plants, studio setup)

Slideshow/Carousel Video

• Strong visual on each slide (2-4 seconds per slide)
• Text overlays with key points
• Consistent style/branding
• Voiceover or trending sound

Screen Recording

• Zoom in on important areas
• Add cursor highlight or click animations
• Keep movements smooth and intentional
• Overlay your face in corner (optional but boosts engagement)

B-Roll Heavy

• Show don't tell
• Quick cuts (1-3 seconds per shot)
• Match cuts to voiceover beats
• Mix wide, medium, and close-up shots

Audio Strategy

When to Use Trending Sounds

• Entertainment/lifestyle content where the sound fits your message
• When the trend is still rising (check platform trending pages)
• Don't use when it distracts from your message or is already declining

When to Use Original Audio

• Educational content where you're speaking
• Storytimes and personal narratives
• Product demos and tutorials
• Building a recognizable brand voice

Voiceover Tips

• Speak slightly faster than normal conversation
• Vary your tone — avoid monotone delivery
• Pause for emphasis on key points
• Record in a quiet space, use noise removal
• AI voices work for faceless content (ElevenLabs, etc.)

Music Selection

• Match energy to content (upbeat for tips, emotional for stories)
• Avoid copyrighted music on Reels/Shorts
• Use platform music libraries for safety
• Lower music volume under voiceover (ducking)

Posting Strategy

Optimal Posting Times (test your audience)

Frequency Recommendations

Batch Creation Workflow

1. Ideate (30 min): Generate 10-20 concepts
2. Script (1 hour): Write scripts for 5-10 videos
3. Batch film (2 hours): Record all talking head content
4. Edit (2-3 hours): Edit and add captions
5. Schedule (30 min): Queue for optimal times

Analytics & Iteration

Metrics That Matter

What to Test

1. Hooks: Same content, different opening
2. Length: 15 sec vs 30 sec vs 60 sec
3. Format: Talking head vs slideshow vs demo
4. Time: Morning vs afternoon vs evening
5. CTA: Different calls to action

When to Pivot

• 5+ videos with <1% completion rate → change hooks
• High views but low follows → check CTA and content-audience fit
• High saves but low shares → content is valuable but not social
• Lots of comments but negative → lean into controversy or adjust tone