Skip to main content

See which creatives need a new hook

Want to improve your hooks and boost performance? Here's how to identify which creatives need better hooks and what tactics work best.

Quinn Randel avatar
Written by Quinn Randel
Updated over a week ago

Why iterate on hooks?

Strong hooks drive thumb-stopping power and first-frame retention. When a creative converts well but has a weak hook, you're leaving performance on the table. Finding these opportunities lets you:

  • Boost attention-grabbing in the first 3 seconds

  • Improve overall creative performance without changing winning concepts

  • Scale creatives that are already converting by fixing the hook

Find creatives with hook opportunities

Step 1: Create a Top performing report

  • Click the plus button to create a new report

  • Select Top performing report type

  • This pulls in all your creatives for analysis

Step 2: Filter for hook opportunities

  • Filter Hook score under 60 (below average)

  • Filter Convert score over 60 (solid converters)

  • Filter Ad type to video only

  • This shows converting creatives with underperforming hooks

Step 3: Add relevant columns

  • Add Spend to see budget allocation

  • Add Hook score to see current performance

  • Add AI tag for Hook tactic to identify the current approach

  • Save this report as "Hook Opportunities" for easy access

Identify best hook tactics

Step 1: Create a comparative analysis report

  • Use AI tags to compare hook tactics across your account

  • This shows which tactics drive the best attention

Step 2: Analyze hook metrics

  • Add Spend, Thumbstop, and First frame retention as metrics

  • These are the two factors that calculate Hook score

  • Look for tactics with highest Thumbstop and first frame retention rates

Step 3: Build your best practices list

  • Identify which hook tactics consistently outperform (example: storytelling, relatability, shocking statement)

  • Use these insights for your next creative brief or iteration round

Find your best performing hooks

Step 1: Create another top performing report

  • Filter hook score above 60 (above average)

  • Optionally add convert score filter to find hooks that also convert well

  • Filter ad type to video only

Step 2: Add hook analysis columns

  • Add Hook score column

  • Add First frame retention column

  • Add Thumb stop column

  • Add AI tag for Hook tactic column

  • Save as "Best Hooks Report"

Step 3: Use winning hooks for iteration

  • Swap underperforming hooks with proven high-performers

  • Apply winning hook tactics to new creative concepts

  • Test variations of successful hook styles

Speed up the process with Motion Agent

Use Motion Agent to automate hook analysis:

  • Click the Ask me anything button in your report

  • Prompt example: "Take insights from these top-performing hooks and come up with new iteration ideas to capitalize on their performance."

  • Motion Agent analyzes your data and generates specific recommendations

  • Use these AI-generated ideas alongside your manual analysis

Key terms

  • Hook score: Motion metric measuring first frame retention and thumb stop to evaluate hook performance (60 is average)

  • Convert score: Motion metric based on your primary goal metric set in data sources

  • Thumb stop: Percentage of people who stop scrolling when they see your ad

  • First frame retention: How many viewers stay engaged in the first frame of your video

  • Hook tactic: The strategic approach used in the first 3 seconds (examples: storytelling, relatability, shocking statement)

  • AI tags: Motion's automatic categorization of creative elements including hook tactics

Related resources

Need help?

Click the chat bubble in the bottom right corner, and we'll help you identify hook opportunities and winning tactics.

Did this answer your question?