Hook Study

Watch the openings of up to four videos side by side, to see how the ones that hold viewers begin.

The videos

2 to 4: YouTube, Shorts, TikTok or Vimeo
How much of each opening

The openings, side by side

Paste at least 2 video links, one per line.

How it works

  1. 1

    Paste the links

    Two to four videos, one per line: YouTube, Shorts, TikTok or Vimeo.

  2. 2

    Pick a length

    3, 5, 8 or 15 seconds from the start of each.

  3. 3

    Watch them together

    One press plays every opening at once. Slow them down, or flip between them.

What to look for in an opening

  • The first frame

    What is on screen before anything moves: a face, the result, a question, the place.

  • The first words

    Whether the opening line names the payoff, asks something, or starts mid-action.

  • The promise

    What the viewer is told they will get, and how soon it is said.

  • The first cut

    How long the first shot lasts before the picture changes.

  • Text on screen

    Whether words appear in the first seconds, and whether they repeat the voice or add to it.

  • Sound

    Music, silence or a voice first, and where the first loud moment lands.

Questions

What is a video hook?

The first few seconds of a video, the part meant to make a viewer stay. Creators usually mean the first one to three seconds on Shorts, Reels and TikTok, and the first fifteen to thirty on a long YouTube video.

Why watch openings side by side?

Differences that are hard to notice one video at a time stand out together: who shows the result first, who talks first, who cuts sooner. Watching the real openings shows what those creators did, which no list of hook templates can.

How long should I look at?

Three or five seconds for Shorts, Reels and TikTok, which are short to begin with. Eight or fifteen for longer videos, where an opening usually takes longer to set up its promise.

Can I mix Shorts, TikToks and long videos?

Yes. Compare plays YouTube, TikTok and Vimeo videos, each in its own platform's player, up to four at a time.

Does this download the videos?

No. Nothing is downloaded, copied or rendered. Each video plays in its own platform's player, and the comparison is only a link.

Can I save or send the comparison?

Copy its link to send it as it is. In Compare you can also save it to your profile with a title and a note, if you have an account.

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