Read Time: 1 min 45 secs

Hey — Ryan To here.

In today’s edition we’ll be covering:

• How to stop the scroll in the first 3 seconds

• The 3-part framework to follow

• + Real-life examples

What if I told you that your hook was the only thing that mattered…

That every single problem you’ve had around content:

1. Views

2. Retention

3. Growth

All came down to the visual and verbal hook you’re screwing up in every video?

Lucky for you, I’m about to give a crash course on hooks so you can level up your content game

Let’s get into it: This is Hooks 101

The 3 Elements of Every Great Hook 🪝

Visual + Verbal + Curiosity

Every scroll-stopping hook needs all 3 components working together at the same time

Even if you nail 1 or 2 but miss 3 — you’re losing out big time

So let’s go through each one with real-life examples

Visual

Your visual hook does the heavy lifting in the first 0.5 seconds

Example → 943k views

paulsaladinomd

3M followers

View more on Instagram

What to consider:

• Show, don't just tell

• Break patterns

• Create visual tension

Verbal

Once you've stopped the scroll, your words need to earn their time

Example → 253k views

lukaspakter

98K followers

View more on Instagram

What to consider:

• Curiosity Gaps: Open a question without immediately resolving it.

• Contrarian takes: Challenge expectations.

• Clear Value: Tell them exactly what they'll get.

Emotion

The final piece is psychological — what makes them feel something:

Example → 8M views

_reidolson

3M followers

View more on Instagram

What to consider:

• Surprise

• Relatability

• Fear/Avoidance

Here's the final bonus tip about hooks most creators miss…

Great hooks aren't just about baiting viewers — they're about building trust.

Every hook is a promise. Every video that delivers on that promise strengthens your relationship with your audience.

Thanks for showing up this week ❤️

Ryan To

P.S. New website who dis? Blackprint killed it