9 YouTube Hooks That Keep Viewers Watching

Your video’s first 10 seconds are its audition. If viewers do not instantly get what they will learn, feel, or gain, they click away.

Here’s the hard truth: most creators lose 20% of their viewers in the first 15 seconds. Not because the content sucks, but because the intro does.

But the good news? Great hooks aren’t magic. Watch our very own John Scott tell you why in his creative ways below:

So, if you’re wondering how to make a YouTube hook that grabs people by the brain and won’t let go, you’re in the right place. Let’s break down the nine best intro techniques the top creators use to stop scrolls and build loyal audiences.

Read More: Read our complete YouTube intro guide here.

1. The Curiosity Hook: Ask a Question That Demands an Answer

Humans hate open loops. It’s why we binge Netflix and fall down Wikipedia rabbit holes at 2am. Drop an intriguing question in your intro, and you’re hijacking your viewer’s brain.

Instead of:

“Today I’m going to show you how to grow on YouTube.”

Try:

“One video changed everything for me, but it wasn’t the one I expected.”

Now your audience has to stick around. Which video? What happened? Why?

The best hooks spark curiosity and make it specific. “Why did a video about my biggest failure get more views than my best tutorial?” That’s not just interesting, it’s impossible to ignore.

Template: “I thought I knew [topic], until I found out [surprising twist].”

2. Drop Into the Action: Cut the Buildup

Nobody has time for long-winded intros anymore. Drop your viewers into the middle of the moment like they’ve walked into a movie halfway through, and they’ll want to stay to figure out what’s happening.

“It’s 2am. I just lost 43 subscribers in one hour. I made a huge mistake.”

This produces instant intrigue. What happened at 2 am? What mistake? Why the subscriber loss? The drama doesn’t need to be huge, it just needs to matter. The key is to start where it hurts.

Template: “It’s [time]. I’m [in the middle of problem]. Here’s what I did next.”

3. The Audience-Centric Hook: It’s About Them, Not You

Viewers are self-serving for the most part. And that’s not a bad thing, but just reality. You’re not the hero of your video. They are.

“Your YouTube intros are putting people to sleep. Here’s why.”

This hits because it’s direct, a little provocative, and immediately valuable. You’re pointing out a problem they didn’t know they had, and promising to fix it.

Forget vague advice. Call out a real issue with sharp clarity:

“You’re losing 40% of viewers in the first 30 seconds because your intros are too slow.”

Now they’re listening.

Template: “You’re doing [common mistake], and it’s costing you [pain]. Let’s fix it.”

4. The Time-Promise Hook: Deliver Fast, Deliver Real

Attention is currency. And people only spend it when they know they’re getting something in return, fast.

“In the next 60 seconds, I’ll show you the thumbnail strategy that doubled my click-through rate.”

That’s not hype. That’s a contract. And if you keep that promise, you’ve earned their trust.

The best intros don’t just say “I’ll teach you something.” They say what, how fast, and how it will help.

Template: “In the next [X] minutes, you’ll learn [specific outcome] so you can [benefit].”

5. Raise the Stakes: Make It Matter

If your intro has something on the line for your viewer, they have a reason to care.

“If this video doesn’t hit 10,000 views, I’m quitting YouTube.”

Now it’s not just a video. It’s a turning point. A risk. A moment of truth.

But stakes don’t have to be extreme. Even personal stakes build investment:

“This is the advice I wish I had before wasting two years on YouTube.”

It’s real. It’s emotional. And it makes people lean in.

Template: “If you don’t fix [problem], you’ll keep [bad outcome]. Here’s the workaround.”

6. The Contrarian Hook: Say What No One Else Will

“Stop asking people to subscribe.”

Wait—what?

The best intros often flip the script. They challenge what people think they know and make them want to hear your reasoning.

Contrarian hooks work because they disrupt expectations. But they only work if you back them up with logic and proof. Find the sacred elements in your niche, and ask if they’re really helping your audience.

Template: “Stop doing [popular advice]. Do this instead, and here’s why.”

7. The Visual Hook: Show Something They Can’t Ignore

Words are optional when the visuals say it all.

A creator in a wedding dress talking business. A serious tutorial that opens with a cat in a suit. An otherwise polished YouTuber looking like they haven’t slept in a week.

A strong visual makes people stop and ask questions. It sparks curiosity before you say a word. But here’s the rule: weird is fine, but pointless is fatal. Your visual must tie into your message, or it’s just noise.

Template: “Show [unexpected visual] first, then say: ‘This happened because [reason].’”

8. Hit With a Shocking Stat

Numbers hit different. They carry weight, authority, and curiosity in one punch.

“Only 6.6% of YouTube channels ever reach 1,000 subscribers.”

Boom. Now your viewer wants to know: How do I get into that 6.6%?

Make sure the stat is relevant, surprising, and tied directly to a viewer pain point. Then immediately follow up with the why or how.

Template: “[Surprising stat]. That’s why most people fail at [goal]. Here’s the fix.”

9. The Unanswered Question: Spark Self-Reflection

Sometimes the best hook doesn’t need to give an answer. It just has to plant a thought.

“What if everything you know about success is wrong?”

“When was the last time you were actually proud of something you made?”

These intros make people pause—not just to keep watching, but to think. You’re not just making content. You’re starting a conversation inside their head.

Template: “What if [assumption] is wrong, and the real reason is [new idea]?”

Copy and Paste YouTube Hook Templates to Try (Fill in the Blanks)

1. Curiosity hook: “I thought I knew [topic], until I discovered [surprising twist].”
2. Drop into the action: “It’s [time/place]. I’m [in the middle of the problem]. Here’s what happened next.”
3. Audience callout (mistake): “If you’re doing [common mistake], you’re getting [bad result]. Let’s fix it.”
4. Time promise: “In the next [X] minutes, you’ll learn [specific outcome] so you can [benefit].”
5. Raise the stakes: “If you don’t fix [problem], you’ll keep [painful outcome]. Here’s the workaround.”
6. Contrarian: “Stop doing [popular advice]. Do this instead, and here’s why.”
7. Visual first: “[Show: surprising visual/result]. ‘This happened because [reason].’”
8. Shocking stat: “[Surprising stat]. That’s why most people struggle with [goal]. Here’s the fix.”
9. Unanswered question: “What if [common assumption] is wrong, and the real reason is [new idea]?”

How the Best YouTube Hooks Work

Here’s the secret: most of the best hooks combine multiple techniques. A stat. A story. A visual. A question. They hit from different angles, and hit fast.

Because the job of your intro isn’t just to get attention. It’s to earn investment.

So, the next time you’re prepping a video, spend as much time crafting your first 30 seconds as you do scripting the rest. Without a killer intro, nobody sticks around to see how great your content really is.

Your YouTube hook is more than an opening. It’s the handshake and the first impression. Don't be hesitant and get uploading now!