TL;DR
The words on screen in the first second decide if people keep watching. These 4 Claude prompts turn any topic into sharp text hooks: the right angle, exact numbers, power words, and no filler.
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Why the text hook matters most
Most people scroll with the sound off. So the line of text on your first frame does the real work. A great text hook names your topic and gives people a reason to stay, in two short lines.
The lessons below come from Kallaway's guide to text hooks (@kallawaymarketing). The prompts are mine. Paste them into Claude, one after the other, in the same chat.
Prompt 1: pick the angle
Every good hook names a subject, then adds one of three things: a pain point, a dream outcome, or a change in the future.
promptWrite 10 text hooks for a short video about [my topic]. My audience is [who they are]. Each hook names the subject, then adds one of three things: a pain point they feel, a dream outcome they want, or a change in their future. Label each hook with which one it uses.Prompt 2: swap vague words for exact numbers
"22 days" beats "a few weeks". "$2,700" beats "a couple thousand dollars". Exact numbers feel real, so people believe them.
promptRewrite each hook with one exact number: days, dollars, steps or people. Never use "a few", "a lot" or "some". Only use numbers that are true for my topic: [your real numbers].Prompt 3: find the power words in your niche
Power words are short phrases, one to three words, that grab attention fast. The best ones already show up in the top hooks in your niche.
promptHere are 20 hooks from the top videos in my niche: [paste them]. List the 1 to 3 word phrases they use again and again. Rank them by how often they show up. Then work the best ones into my 10 hooks.Prompt 4: cut the filler
Words like "but", "and" and "therefore" slow a hook down. Keep only the words that pull people in.
promptCut every filler and transition word from my hooks. No punctuation except quotes or parentheses. Two lines max. Break the line where the phrase naturally breaks, and never split two words people read as one phrase. Give me the final 5.Put the hook on screen the right way
- Use a font that's easy to read. The built-in TikTok or Instagram font works fine.
- Place the hook about a third of the way down the screen.
- Two lines max.
- Keep it off faces, so it never covers eyes or a mouth.
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Common questions
Do I need Claude Code for these prompts?
No. They work in the regular Claude app too. Claude Code helps when you want Claude to read your past posts or a folder of your best hooks.
How many hooks should I write per video?
Aim for 10, then pick the best one. The first idea is rarely the strongest.
Where do I find the top hooks in my niche for Prompt 3?
Open the most-viewed videos from 3 to 5 creators in your niche and copy their first line of on-screen text. Twenty hooks is plenty.
Can I use these hooks on YouTube Shorts too?
Yes. The same rules work on Reels, TikTok and Shorts: exact numbers, power words, two lines max.
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