50 video ad hooks by industry (English + French)

What makes a video ad hook work

A hook works when three things deliver the same message at the same moment: the visual (motion, a face, a result), the on-screen text (about 5–8 words, readable with the sound off) and the first spoken line. If any of the three is vague or contradicts the others, viewers swipe. Almost every hook below uses one of six patterns, so you can write new ones once a template stops performing.

• Callout: name the viewer (“Busy parent?”, “First-time buyer?”).
• Problem or mistake: point at a pain they recognise (“The mistake ruining your sleep”).
• Curiosity: open a question the ad answers (“Why is everyone buying this?”).
• Proof: before/after, a test or a demo (“I tested it for 30 days”).
• Speed or ease: a number plus a short time frame (“Dinner sorted in 15 minutes”).
• POV or scene: drop the viewer into a moment (“Wake up to this view”).

50 hooks by industry

Replace the [brackets] with your own details. Only use numbers, prices, time frames and results you can actually back up. The French versions are adapted, not literal, and use “vous”; switch to “tu” for TikTok and younger audiences.

E-commerce and DTC brands (1–5)

Beauty and skincare (6–10)

Food and restaurants (11–15)

Fitness and wellness (16–20)

SaaS and apps (21–25)

Real estate (26–30)

Education and online courses (31–35)

Local and home services (36–40)

Finance and insurance (41–45)

Travel and hospitality (46–50)

How to adapt hooks for French audiences

• French usually runs about 15–25% longer than English. Cut words instead of shrinking the text.
• Pick “tu” or “vous” and keep it for the whole ad. “Tu” suits TikTok, “vous” suits finance, real estate and B2B.
• Anglicisms like “POV”, “scroller” or “rooftop” are fine on TikTok and Reels but sound off in serious categories.
• Use local formats: “29 €”, “15 min”, a space before “?” and “:”.
• Record a French voice-over instead of only translating the captions. AdHub, for example, generates voice-over and on-screen text in 29 languages, French included, with word-by-word captions.

How to test hooks without remaking the ad

1. Build one ad body: the product, one proof point and one call to action.
2. Make 3–5 versions that differ only in the first 2–3 seconds (visual, text and first line).
3. Run them to the same audience, budget and placement.
4. Once each version has enough delivery (usually at least a few thousand impressions), compare the 3-second view rate and hold rate first, then click-through rate and cost per result.
5. Keep the winner and write new challengers using the same pattern.

With an AI video ad generator such as AdHub, you describe the ad once and then use Quick edits to swap only the opening line or scene. It re-renders the picture, keeps the sound, and quick edits are free. If you film yourself, AdHub's Creator edit adds a hook title, captions and zooms to your own clip. CapCut, Canva or a freelance editor work too. For formats and lengths, see our guide on video ad sizes. For platform-specific advice, read how to make a TikTok ad and Instagram Reels ads: what works.

Before/after, weight-loss, health and financial-results hooks are restricted on Meta, TikTok and Google. Keep every claim true and verifiable, and avoid promising specific outcomes, or the ad may be rejected.