Have you ever found yourself watching a random video and thought, “Why am I even watching this?”
The craziest thing about attention grabbing videos is how effortlessly they reel you in.
One second, you’re scrolling mindlessly; the next, you’re hooked. And you can’t quite put your finger on why.
It could be the opening line, the visuals, the sound or maybe something you can’t even explain. Whatever it is, it worked.
And here’s the thing: that “magic” isn’t an accident.
The best video hooks are built on principles designed to grab your attention, hold it hostage, and keep you watching.
They work so well that even when you know what’s happening, you can’t stop yourself.
So, what’s the secret?
What makes one video stand out while the rest get scrolled past faster than a boring PowerPoint presentation?
In this blog, we’re going to break it all down.
You’ll learn exactly what makes a killer hook and, more importantly, how you can use those same techniques to create attention-grabbing content for your own business.
Let’s get into it.
First, let’s clear up a common misconception: not all attention is created equal.
There are two main types of attention you need to understand, active attention and passive attention.
Active Attention happens when someone is fully focused and engaged. It’s deliberate.
They’re choosing to watch your video, read your post, or listen to your podcast because they’re genuinely interested.
But let’s be honest. Most people on social media aren’t actively looking for your content.
They’re scrolling. They’re distracted. They’re bored.
That’s where Passive Attention comes in.
Passive Attention is the kind you’re fighting for on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
It’s fleeting, instinctive, and reactive.
Your audience isn’t searching for you, they’re scrolling, half-paying attention, and you have maybe three seconds to stop them in their tracks.
So how do you grab Passive Attention? You need to tap into what the brain naturally pays attention to.
Your brain is a survival machine. Its #1 job is to keep you alive. So, it’s constantly scanning the environment for two things:
Everything else? It’s background noise.
This is why your brain immediately notices certain things while ignoring others. For example:
To nail your video hook, you need to hack this system.
You’ve got to create content that the brain instinctively sees as worth paying attention to.
The brain is always looking for patterns.
It’s how we navigate the world without overthinking every little thing.
But when a pattern breaks, the brain snaps to attention because it senses something unusual—maybe even dangerous.
Pattern interruptions signal to your brain: “This is new. Pay attention.”
It’s the same reason why your heart skips a beat when your phone vibrates unexpectedly in a quiet room.
The break in the usual flow forces your brain to investigate what’s happening.
Humans are hardwired to notice movement.
It’s a survival instinct going back to when we needed to spot predators in the bushes or prey on the horizon.
Motion draws your eye before you even have time to process what’s happening.
Movement triggers the part of your brain responsible for tracking danger or opportunities.
It screams, “Something is happening—look here!” That’s why a sudden motion catches your eye more than a static image ever could.
We’re drawn to things that stand out visually, especially objects that reflect light or have vibrant colours.
This instinct probably evolved to help us spot water or ripe fruit in nature.
Bright, shiny, or bold things stimulate the visual cortex in your brain.
They create a stark contrast with the environment, making it impossible for your brain to ignore them.
It’s the same reason your eyes go straight to a disco ball in a dark room.
The brain notices things that are either much bigger or much smaller than expected.
This contrast makes us stop and think, “Wait, that doesn’t look right.”
Unusual sizes create a sense of wonder or curiosity because they break your brain’s expectations.
Whether it’s a massive balloon towering over a crowd or a tiny, adorable teacup pig, your mind immediately wants to figure out why it looks so different.
(This one is very fun to play around with lol)
The brain hates not knowing.
When something doesn’t make sense, your mind gets hooked trying to figure it out.
Curiosity is like an itch your brain needs to scratch.
If you see a magician levitating a card, your brain can’t help but wonder, “How is that possible?” This desire to resolve the mystery keeps you glued.
Humans are natural storytellers, and at the heart of every great story is conflict.
Whether it’s a hero facing a challenge or two people in a heated argument, tension pulls you in.
Conflict taps into our emotions, and emotions are what your brain uses to decide what’s worth remembering.
It feels like something important is at stake, which makes it impossible to look away until you know how it’s resolved.
This is also exactly why hundreds of millions of people tune in whenever it’s election year in the US.
And why professional fighters talk a lot of smack to their opponents.
Beautiful things, whether it’s a stunning landscape, a gorgeous face, or a perfectly plated dish, capture attention because they’re naturally pleasing to the eye.
Beauty triggers a sense of reward in the brain.
It activates the “feel-good” chemicals like dopamine, which make you want to keep looking.
Beautiful visuals signal something positive and worth paying attention to.
When something mirrors your own life, it feels personal. You immediately think, “This is about me.”
The brain is always scanning for things that relate to your memories or experiences because they help you make sense of the world.
If you see a video of someone struggling to parallel park and you’ve been there yourself, your brain instantly connects.
Take a look at the video below.
This viral hook is an example of Pattern Interrupt (unexpected ball flying toward you), Movement (fast action grabs your attention), and threat.
OR THIS OVERSIZED TEXT
Then the tiny text that your eyes follow straight after.
Your brain doesn’t stand a chance—it’s fully hooked.
And if you understand these triggers and why they’re so effective, you can build hooks that grab people’s attention and refuse to let go.
Well, this was a fun topic to break down.
And with this, you’re already ahead of the vast majority of the human population.
Most people consume content without ever stopping to think about why something grabs their attention.
And you’re not like most people.
You’re a business owner, a marketer, a mover—the kind of person who doesn’t just mindlessly scroll but uses a key part of human nature to your advantage.
Understanding the psychology behind hooks puts you in the top 1% of people who truly get how attention works.
And as someone who’s now equipped with this knowledge, you’re already ahead of the game.
While others are stuck wondering why their content falls flat, you’ll be crafting scroll-stopping hooks that not only grab attention but drive real results.
The next step is putting it all into action.
Our team specialises in putting these principles into high-performing campaigns for businesses.
If you want to work together with our team, you can contact us via the link below.
