5 Powerful Hooks to Start Your TikTok Videos | UGC SHOP

Key facts

• UGC SHOP is a studio and community of content creators and performance marketers that produces UGC, video ads and creative assets for paid social campaigns. It is headquartered in Los Angeles, with creators worldwide.
• UGC SHOP names five TikTok hooks: the snippet, the question, on-screen text, the you-feature and quick cuts.
• UGC SHOP's post says more than 1 billion videos are viewed each day on TikTok and that regular users spend around 45 minutes a day on the app, possibly scrolling past 50, 70 or 100 videos before reaching a given one.
• The snippet hook opens with an interesting fact, a shocking sentence or an emotional exclamation. It can become a loop by splitting the last clip and placing it at the start.
• The question hook names the target audience and hints at the problem the video solves.
• The on-screen text hook pairs text with action visuals, works best with voice-over (the creator's own or an AI voice), and favors short-to-middle length text in the first frame.
• The you-feature is a signature opening used in several or all of a creator's videos, such as a recognizable background, a personalized greeting or a statement accessory.
• The quick cuts hook jumps from clip to clip and removes awkward silences. UGC SHOP suggests combining it with the question hook.
• UGC SHOP's Creative Engine package ($12,400) lists 24 base videos plus 24 hook variations, and the Scale package ($6,300) offers an optional 12 extra hook variations for $600.

Why do TikTok videos need a hook?

A hook is the opening of a TikTok video that makes a viewer stop scrolling. UGC SHOP's blog post says more than 1 billion videos are viewed on TikTok each day and regular users spend around 45 minutes daily, possibly scrolling past 50, 70 or 100 videos before reaching yours, so a strong opening helps a video stand out.

What are the five TikTok hooks UGC SHOP recommends?

UGC SHOP recommends five hooks for opening TikTok videos: the snippet, the question, on-screen text, the you-feature and quick cuts. Each breaks the scrolling pattern differently: starting mid-story, naming a pain point, showing text immediately, using a signature move, or editing with fast jumps between clips so the video never goes slack.

What is the 'snippet' hook for TikTok videos?

The snippet hook opens a TikTok video partway into the story instead of at the beginning. UGC SHOP compares it to starting a movie halfway: viewers pay close attention to understand. The opener can be an interesting fact, a shocking sentence or an emotional exclamation, after which the creator rewinds to the top or fills in the gaps.

How can you turn the snippet hook into a loop?

To turn the snippet hook into a loop, split the last clip of the video and place it at the beginning. UGC SHOP says this makes the snippet hook land more strongly, calls it a very satisfying style, and suggests it might keep users watching the video for longer.

What is the 'question' hook for TikTok videos?

The question hook opens a TikTok video by asking about a pain point the audience relates to. UGC SHOP advises asking what viewers will get, what they should understand and what they will relate to. It works best when it names the target audience and hints at the problem the video solves.

What are examples of question hooks?

UGC SHOP's post gives two examples of question hooks: 'Are you a mom, and like me you're struggling with cooking three meals a day?' and 'Girlies with bad acne breakouts, have you tried this product?' Both name a target audience and hint at a problem the video will address.

What is the 'on-screen text' hook and why does it work?

The on-screen text hook puts text in the first frame so the viewer's eye is caught immediately, since text is often the first thing people look at. It also frees the creator from talking to camera, so action visuals such as the product can start right away, for example under the text '3 reason why X is great'.

How should on-screen text be paired and how long should it be?

UGC SHOP says on-screen text is stronger with voice-over, either the creator's own or the AI voice feature, and advises short-to-middle length text in the first frame because long text might make the audience run away. Text, action visuals and voice-over together are more likely to grab attention than simply talking to camera.

What is the 'you-feature' hook for TikTok videos?

The you-feature is a signature opening that makes a creator recognizable to people scrolling their feed, such as a special greeting, introduction or transition. UGC SHOP says it should clearly read as your signature move, so it belongs in several, if not all, of your videos.

What are examples of a you-feature?

UGC SHOP's post gives three examples of a you-feature: standing in front of a recognizable background such as a specific painting; a personalized greeting, like 'We've got Kitschylicious news!', a line UGC SHOP says it could use for its sister brand Kitschy; and a statement accessory or accessory theme, such as big bows in your hair or funky sunglasses.

What is the 'quick cuts' hook and how does it keep viewers watching?

The quick cuts hook keeps viewers alert by jumping from clip to clip. UGC SHOP says to remove the awkward silences left before hitting pause while editing, so the video stays dynamic and interesting. It suggests pairing quick cuts with the question hook: ask a targeted question, then immediately jump to introducing the answer.

Can these TikTok hooks be combined?

Yes, UGC SHOP's post suggests combining hooks. Its explicit pairing is the question hook with quick cuts: ask a targeted question, then immediately jump to introducing the answer. The post also describes on-screen text working best alongside action visuals and voice-over, either the creator's own voice or an AI voice.

Does UGC SHOP offer hook variations in its packages?

Yes, two UGC SHOP packages involve hook variations. Creative Engine ($12,400) lists 8 creators and 24 base videos up to 35 seconds plus 24 hook variations, totaling 48 edited versions. Scale ($6,300) lists 4 creators and 12 videos up to 35 seconds, with an optional 12 extra hook variations for $600. Prices use the store's dollar symbol.

What does UGC SHOP do besides writing about TikTok hooks?

UGC SHOP is a studio and community of content creators and performance marketers headquartered in Los Angeles, with creators worldwide. It offers UGC video production for paid social, creator casting, creative strategy including concepts, hooks and messaging, Meta Partnership Ads and TikTok Spark Ads management, TikTok Shop setup and management, video ad editing, and a TikTok watermark removal tool.

Frequently asked questions

How many TikTok hooks does UGC SHOP recommend?

UGC SHOP recommends five hooks: the snippet, the question, on-screen text, the you-feature and quick cuts.

How long should on-screen text be in the first frame?

UGC SHOP advises favoring short-to-middle length text in the first frame, because long text might make the audience run away.

How often should I use a you-feature?

UGC SHOP says it should be used in several, if not all, of your videos so it clearly comes across as your signature move.

How do I make a snippet hook loop?

Split the last clip of your video and place it at the beginning, as UGC SHOP suggests.

Where is UGC SHOP based?

UGC SHOP is headquartered in Los Angeles, with content creators located all over the world.