Hooks That Actually Hook - & Stop The Scroll

You’re staring at your phone, wondering why your last post got 3 likes, no comments, and zero clicks.

You thought it was helpful. You did your hair and used a trending audio.

You posted at the right time and took 20 minutes to pick out your hashtags.

But… crickets.

Let me save you some guesswork:

• It’s not your video skills.

• It’s not your story.

• It’s not your offer.

• It’s not YOU.

❌ It’s your hook.

That very first line?

It’s everything.

If it doesn’t stop the scroll, no one reads the rest.

And if they don’t read the rest, they’re not opting in, buying, or even following you.

So let’s fix it — with my CAF Formula!

This is my simple 3-part test for writing hooks that get clicks.

What is a hook, anyway?

It’s the first line of your post…

Your email subject line…

The text on the screen of your video…

that grabs attention fast and makes people need to know more.

(It could be a visual hook on a video, too, but we’re talking about the WORDS today)

A good hook creates curiosity, FOMO, or strong emotion.
It speaks directly to the person you’re trying to reach.

It’s not:

❌ “Happy Monday!”
❌ “Just popping in to say…”
❌ “New reel!”

(We’ll come back to these flops in a minute.)

The CAF Test: Your New Scroll-Stopping Secret

Let’s make this simple: if your hook doesn’t pass the CAF Test, it’s not strong enough to survive the feed.

CAF stands for:

☕️ C — Curiosity

Make them wonder: What happened? How? Why?
This is the “wait, WHAT?!” factor that keeps them reading.

→ “I had $84 in my bank account when I launched my course.”

☕️ A — Alignment

Speak to what your audience actually cares about — their problem, desire, or lived experience.
If they don’t feel like it’s for them, they’re gone.

→ “If you’ve got 100 followers and no sales, this is for you.”

☕️ F — FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)

Make them feel like they’ll miss something big if they scroll past.
Urgency. Emotion. Desire to be inside, to know.

→ “Most people skip this one step — and it’s costing them $1k/month.”

Every strong hook hits at least 2 out of 3.
If it hits all 3? That’s when the magic happens. 💫

And if it doesn’t pass the CAF Test?
It’s probably just... decaf. ☕️😴

Hooks That Flop (Don’t Be This Person)

Not all hooks are created equal. And some are invisible to your ideal clients. 🫥

Here are 3 common hooks that sound okay but will tank your engagement:

❌ 1. The “Polite Intro” Hook

“Hey, just wanted to hop on…” or “Happy Friday!”

It’s nice. It’s friendly. And it kills the scroll. 🔪

People aren’t here to watch you warm up — they want to be dropped right into the action.

❌ 2. The “Announcement Only” Hook

“Exciting news!” or “New reel up!”

Okay cool, but why should they care?

This isn’t a megaphone. It’s a conversation. Lead with the problem you’re solving, not the thing you’re promoting.

❌ 3. The “Too Vague to Matter” Hook

“This changed everything for me.”

You think you’re being mysterious. 🔮 You’re actually being forgettable.

This hook could apply to ANYTHING - marriage, kids, mental health, getting out of debt, cars, clothes, business, menopause. They have NO CLUE if it applies to THEIR situation - which is alllll they care about.

Tell them what changed and why it matters to them.

Why This Matters (a lot)

If no one reads your content, they’re not clicking your links.
If they’re not watching your Tiktoks or Reels past 3 seconds, they’re not hearing your offer.
And if your hook doesn’t hit — none of your effort converts.

Good hooks = more eyeballs = more sales.

👉🏽 This is one of the fastest ways to improve your content without changing anything else.

Try This Today

Go back to your last 3 posts and ask yourself:

→ Does this hook pass the CAF Test?

If not, tweak it — then watch what happens to your reach and engagement.

(You can repost the same content, just change the hook).

You don’t need better hashtags.

You need a better hook.

Cheering for you!

Kari 🩷