Want to know the exact moment someone decides to watch your content instead of scrolling past it?
It is the split second they think that’s me.
That is the whole secret. Not a fancy trend. Not a perfectly produced video.
The content that stops the scroll is the content that holds up a mirror and makes someone see themselves in it.
In this blog post, I’m going to share one of my biggest tips that has helped hundreds of people increase their Reel views and go viral! No masterclass, no overhaul of your strategy. You just need to make 5 small tweaks to your hooks.
Why “That’s Me” Is the Only Reaction That Matters
Picture yourself at the DMV. You have been waiting all day. They finally call your number. That wave of relief and recognition you feel? That is exactly the feeling you want your hook to create in the first two seconds.
When someone sees your content and instantly thinks that is me, that is my life, that is exactly what I am going through, they stop. They watch. They follow. They buy. We are all scrolling for one thing whether we realize it or not: ourselves. We want to feel seen.
So the goal of a great hook is not to be clever. It is to be a mirror. Let’s get into the five ways to do that.
1. Add an Identifier
This is the single biggest needle mover, so start here.
An identifier is anything your audience would use to describe themselves. Type B. Girl mom. New Yorker. Empty nester. Shy creator. Corporate millennial. Girl dad. Anything that makes someone go wait, that is literally me.
Personality and age are two of the most powerful identifiers out there. I see hooks go viral all the time that open with something like if you are between the ages of 25 and 30, because everyone in that range immediately feels called out in the best way.
This is the heart of what I call the “that’s me” reel. The format is simple: POV, you are a [identifier] who wants [specific thing], and you find my account. Swap in your audience and watch what happens.
Example: A plumber could open with “homeowners in Chicago, here are three things you should never try to DIY.” Anyone whose spouse is convinced they can fix anything is going to stop dead in their tracks.
2. Include Something Recognizable
Recognition creates instant familiarity, and familiarity stops the scroll.
A recognizable element doesn’t have to be a word in your hook. It can be visual. When I’m holding a Diet Coke in a video, people comment on the Diet Coke. If I am wearing a sweatshirt from a recognizable city or shopping in a Target with the red cart in frame, that is a recognizability cue too.
Think about the brands, tools, stores, and places your people already know and love. A blogger sharing Nordstrom finds should say Nordstrom. A money coach could reference something specific like ETFs. The second someone recognizes a thing they already care about, you have earned their attention.
You can also use location here. If someone sees a hook about their city or state, they are far more likely to stop and watch.
3. Get More Descriptive
Specificity is everything, and it is one of the most overlooked pieces of a strong hook.
Vague hooks get scrolled past. Specific hooks get watched. Instead of “here is a mom hack” or “here is a budgeting tip,” you want to write something that reads almost like a text message you would send a friend.
Compare these two:
Vague: Budgeting each month can really help you out.
Specific: I wish more families in debt knew that this one app finds subscriptions you forgot about and can save you $300 a month.
See the difference? The specific version gives a real, concrete payoff. It makes someone feel like there is actual value waiting for them. Pack your hook with the specifics: the exact person, the exact thing, the exact result.
Here’s another blog post to help you with specificity: How to Write Specific Instagram Hooks That Actually Stop the Scroll
4. Tie Into Something Relevant Right Now
Paying attention to what people are already talking about is one of the easiest ways to boost a hook.
Think about what is dominating the cultural conversation at any given moment. A big awards show. A holiday coming up. A viral moment everyone is discussing. When you tie your content into something timely, you tap into a wave of attention that is already building.
The trick is to think ahead. If you know a big event is coming up this weekend, plan your content so you can ride that wave the moment it hits. And here is a bonus: you can stack this with recognizability. A creator who references a celebrity everyone recognizes AND ties it to a current event is hitting two triggers at once.
5. Make It Personal With “I” and “My”
I have been preaching this one for years, and I still have people tell me they were taught never to do it.
Here’s the truth: leading with your own experience builds instant trust. There is a world of difference between how to get your first 10,000 followers and how I got my client her first 10,000 followers in three months.
The first sounds like every generic tip on the internet. The second sounds like a real person who actually did the thing. Using “I” and “my” signals lived experience, and lived experience is exactly what people trust right now. We are all tired of recycled advice. We want to learn from a human who has been there.
Your Quick Win This Week
Here is your homework. Look back at a Reel, carousel, or post that did not perform the way you hoped this week. Then run it through these five filters:
Did it include an identifier? Was there something recognizable in it? Was it specific enough? Did it tie into anything relevant? Did it use I or my to make it personal?
You do not need all five in every hook. But adding even one or two can completely change how a piece of content performs. Tweak the hook, post it again, and see what happens.
Because at the end of the day, the strategy has not changed. Make your people feel seen. Make them think that’s me. That is what stops the scroll, every single time. ❤️
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