Let’s Talk About Social Media Hooks
- Amanda Hughes
- Dec 1, 2025
- 4 min read
If you’ve spent any time on Instagram lately, you’ll know one word is everywhere: hooks.
But what actually is a hook? Why does it matter? And how do you use them in a way that attracts the right followers instead of random views that go nowhere?
In this bite-sized episode, we’re breaking it all down, in plain English, so you can feel confident creating hooks that actually stop the scroll.
Grab a cuppa and let’s get into it. Listen Now
🎧 Hit play on the podcast player at the top of this page.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode about Social Media Hooks
• What a hook really is (and where they appear across Reels, carousels, captions + Stories)
• Why hooks matter more than ever in 2025
• The simple do’s & don’ts for making your hooks readable and effective
• How using in-app text boosts your reach
• Real examples for both product-based & service-based businesses
• Two proven hook templates you can copy + adapt today
• Why ultra-specific messaging is the thing that’s working right now
This episode is ideal if you’ve been posting gorgeous content… but hearing crickets.
Why Hooks Matter Right Now
Social media is BUSY. Like, the busiest it’s ever been. We’re competing with selfies, dogs, latte art, holiday photos, and everyone else’s small business content.
Your images and videos might be beautiful, but so are the next person’s.
What cuts through? Your messaging. And your hook is the very first glimpse of that messaging.
Your hook is the thing that:
Stops the scroll
Makes your ideal client think “wait, that’s me…”
Gives context instantly
Makes someone curious enough to read, watch, and eventually follow
If your content feels like it’s disappearing into the abyss, your hook might be the missing piece.
What Counts as a Hook?
A hook is simply the headline of your content.
You’ll see them:
As bold text over the first 1–2 seconds of a Reel
On the first slide of a carousel
As the opening line of a Facebook or Instagram caption
In bold text on your Stories
If your ideal client can read it in three seconds you’re doing it right.
Keep it clear. Keep it easy. Keep it specific.
Do’s & Don’ts for Better Hooks
✅ DO
Use bold, readable text
Mention your ideal client where possible
Get hyper-specific
Use in-app text (Instagram prefers this)
Keep it short one line is perfect
❌ DON’T
Use swirly or hard-to-read fonts
Tuck the text into a corner
Write a whole paragraph
Add third-party watermarked videos
Make people guess what you're talking about
Listen Now
🎧 Hit play on the podcast player at the top of this page.
Real Examples from Product & Service Businesses
These examples are taken straight from the hooks I create weekly inside my social media mentorship community Get Seen Get Sales.
For a Kids Athletics Coach
The warm-up game that gets kids moving for weeks
For a Bakery / Cake Business
The shortbread recipe that gets the grandkids coming back for weeks to come
For a Hypnosis Practitioner
When you become the account busy mums come to for calm because your tips finally help them switch off
For an Online Crystal Shop
When you become the account ideal clients come to for crystal info because you explain energy in a way that actually makes sense
These types of hooks work because they’re clear, specific, emotional, and instantly relatable.
Hook Templates You Can Copy
Here are the two templates I promised in the episode:
1. The ___ that gets ___
Great for cause-and-effect storytelling.
The warm-up game that gets kids moving for weeks
The shortbread recipe that gets the grandkids coming back
2. When you become the ___ people come to for ___ because ___
Perfect for positioning your expertise.
When you become the account busy mums come to for calm because your tips finally help them switch off
When you become the account people come to for crystal information because you explain energy simply
Screenshot them. Try them. Adapt them for your niche.
Want Help Creating Hooks Every Week?
If you’re loving this, you’ll absolutely thrive inside Get Seen Get Sales, my mentorship for small business owners who want to grow with strategy, not stress.
Inside you get:
⭐ Weekly content packs (hooks, prompts, captions + examples)
⭐ Monthly masterclasses
⭐ Strategy support
⭐ A small business community who get it
⭐ And a space where we celebrate wins, wobbles, and everything in between
Join us in Get Seen Get Sales here Sponsor Spotlight - Heyday Digital Agency
Meet Heyday – the audience-first marketing agency helping SMEs, creatives, and fierce forces show up, stand out, and shine online. From strategy and content to copy that actually connects, Heyday tailor digital marketing support to your brand’s unique goals. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling, they’ll help you connect with your audience, grow with confidence, and step into your Heyday era.
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