Free Tool
21 hook formulas for UGC short-form video
Proven caption templates organized by angle. Each formula uses swappable word slots so you can generate dozens of hook variations from a single clip. Copy a template, fill slots, and test them in the hook editor.
Curiosity
Open a loop the viewer has to close. Curiosity hooks earn watch time because the payoff lives later in the video.
Nobody talks about {hidden factor} when it comes to {topic}.
Example fill
Nobody talks about the timing when it comes to UGC ads.
Opens an information gap. Viewers stay to learn the thing nobody mentions.
What happens when you {new action} instead of {old action}?
Example fill
What happens when you batch export hooks instead of post the same ad?
Frames the payoff as a comparison. Viewers imagine both outcomes and watch to see which wins.
The real reason {tactic} works is {insight}.
Example fill
The real reason hook testing works is not what you think.
Promises insider knowledge. The vague payoff slot keeps the loop open.
I found {discovery} that changed how I {activity}.
Example fill
I found a workflow that changed how I test hooks.
Personal discovery framing. Viewers trust a first-person "I found" more than a generic tip.
Pain Point
Name the frustration your audience already feels. Pain-point hooks build instant relevance and stop the scroll.
Stop {painful action} every time you need {desired outcome}.
Example fill
Stop re-editing every time you need a new hook.
Names the exact friction the audience experiences. The command "stop" triggers loss aversion.
Tired of {frustration}? Here is how I {alternative} instead.
Example fill
Tired of reshooting the same clip? Here is how I batch 20 hooks in minutes instead.
Validates the pain first, then pivots to a solution. The personal "I" makes it credible.
If you are still {outdated approach}, you are {consequence}.
Example fill
If you are still editing one hook at a time, you are leaving money on the table.
Implies the viewer might be wrong. That tension pulls them in to check whether it applies to them.
Most {audience} struggle with {problem} because they skip {missed step}.
Example fill
Most UGC creators struggle with hook performance because they skip variation testing.
Three-slot formula creates a specific claim. The "because they skip" frames the solution as obvious in hindsight.
Before / After
Show a transformation. Before/after hooks promise a visible change and reward viewers who stay to see it.
Before: {before state}. After: {after state}.
Example fill
Before: one hook per video. After: 20 hooks from one clip.
Minimal structure, maximum contrast. The before/after frame instantly communicates transformation.
I used to {old way}. Now I {new way} and {result}.
Example fill
I used to reshoot for every caption. Now I generate 30 variations and my CPAs dropped.
Three acts in one sentence: struggle, change, payoff. The personal arc builds trust fast.
A week ago I was {past struggle}. Now I {current win}.
Example fill
A week ago I was editing hooks one at a time. Now I exporting 50 hooks before lunch.
Short time frame makes the change feel achievable. "A week" is relatable and low-commitment.
Direct Benefit
State the outcome upfront. Direct benefit hooks trade mystery for clarity and attract high-intent viewers.
How to {desired outcome} without {objection removed}.
Example fill
How to test 20 hook angles without reshooting.
Classic how-to with a built-in objection handler. Viewers click when the "without" removes their biggest blocker.
The fastest way to {goal} is {method}.
Example fill
The fastest way to find a winning hook is word-slot variations.
Speed is the benefit. This formula works when the audience already knows what they want and just needs a faster path.
The one thing that helped me {outcome} was {tactic}.
Example fill
The one thing that helped me triple my hook output was batch caption variations.
Narrows to a single takeaway. Viewers trust specificity over a list of tips.
Do this to {outcome}: {instruction}.
Example fill
Do this to double your hook volume: use word slots instead of manual swaps.
Command + benefit. The colon promises immediate, actionable advice.
Urgency
Create a reason to act now instead of scrolling past. Urgency hooks convert best when the scarcity is genuine.
Do this before your next {event} or you will {consequence}.
Example fill
Do this before your next ad launch or you will waste budget on untested hooks.
Ties action to a real deadline. The consequence slot adds stakes without being clickbait.
If you are not {action} yet, your {rivals} are already {advantage}.
Example fill
If you are not batch testing hooks yet, your competitors are already ahead of you.
Competitive urgency. The implied gap between the viewer and their peers creates immediate tension.
I wish I had started {practice} sooner. Here is why {reason}.
Example fill
I wish I had started hook testing sooner. Here is why it changed my results.
Regret framing. The viewer imagines their own delay and wants to avoid the same mistake.
Use these formulas in the Hook Editor
Upload a clip, paste a template into the caption field, fill word slots, and export every variation as a batch. No account required for local editing.
How to pick the right formula
Start with your goal. If you need watch time, use curiosity hooks that open a loop. If you want clicks from high-intent viewers, try direct benefit formulas that state the outcome upfront.
Test one formula against another on the same footage. The hook testing guide covers how to read early results and decide which angles deserve a second round. Learn more about the overall approach in what is hook repurposing.
Each formula here maps directly to word slots in repli.ac. You fill in the blanks, the editor generates every unique combination, and you export the batch as individual videos. Pair them with premade outros in Stitcher for a complete test set.
All formulas work with the free hook editor. The hook generator writes a fresh line for you on the spot. Premium adds 1 GB cloud backup, library sync, and extra posting usage.
Social Proof
Reference what others do, think, or have tried. Social proof hooks borrow credibility from group behavior.
{group size} creators already use {method} to {result}.
Example fill
Thousands of creators already use hook variations to test faster.
Implies the viewer is behind. Group behavior hooks leverage FOMO without being aggressive.
I learned this from {authority} who {achievement}.
Example fill
I learned this from a seven-figure media buyer who scaled past $1M in spend.
Borrows credibility from an unnamed authority. Viewers watch to see if the tip is worth stealing.
Every {peer group} I know has switched to {new approach}.
Example fill
Every agency I know has switched to batch hook testing.
Universal claim about peers. The implied consensus makes the viewer wonder what they are missing.