The UGCHooks field guide

Source video preparation

Prepare one clear source video before making multiple openings.

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Choose a source video for hook testing

The body of the video should already explain a product or task clearly.

Empty setup time can obscure the difference between openings.

A vertical crop should preserve the hands, object, and result.

A close-up should reveal a detail that changes understanding.

The opening frame needs an identifiable subject before movement or captions add detail.

A lighting change at the edit can make two clips feel unrelated.

Abrupt volume changes can disrupt an otherwise coherent variant.

Background movement and clutter can compete with the action the opening promises.

Size is easier to understand with a relevant reference than with an isolated close-up.

A finished action gives the opening a payoff.

Supporting shots should answer a question or connect two actions.

A checklist reduces preventable reshoots by focusing on the scenes the test needs.

Hook results are difficult to interpret when the underlying source changes silently.