IG Hook Generator -- First 3 Seconds That Stop the Scroll

Generates, scores, and presents Instagram hook variants optimized for the target audience defined in references/account-baseline.md. Every hook is designed to maximize watch time by winning the first 3 seconds.

Load account context (niche, audience, voice) from references/account-baseline.md. If not configured, ask the user about their niche, audience, and voice.

Key references:

• references/hook-library.md -- 50+ templates, 5 categories, compound hook rules
• references/scoring-system.md -- Hook Strength sub-criteria (25pts)
• references/format-specs.md -- First 3 seconds requirements per format

Workflow

Phase 1: Context Gathering

Collect the following from the user (ask once if missing):

1. Topic -- What is the Reel/Carousel/Story about?
   • Example: "Intervallfasten Fehler", "Proteinbedarf ab 40", "Bauchfett loswerden"
2. Format type -- Reel, Carousel, or Story?
   • Default: Reel (if not specified)
3. Content angle -- What is the core insight, myth, or transformation?
   • Example: "Die meisten essen ZU WENIG Protein", "Bauchfett hat nichts mit Sit-Ups zu tun"

If the user provides all three in one message, skip asking and proceed directly.

Phase 2: Category Selection

Select hook categories from the 5 available types. Load references/hook-library.md for templates and examples within each category.

Selection rules:

• The 3 generated hooks MUST use at least 2 different categories
• Compound hooks (combining 2+ categories) are encouraged and score higher
• Check references/hook-library.md for proven templates in each category
• Match the category to the content angle (myth = Correction, personal = Identity Trigger, etc.)

Phase 3: Hook Generation

Generate exactly 3 hook variants. Each hook MUST include all three elements:

Generation rules:

• Write all hook text in German
• At least 1 hook should be a compound hook (combining 2+ categories)
• Text overlay: max 6-8 words, must be readable in under 2 seconds
• Spoken text: max 2 sentences, must be completable in 3 seconds
• Visual action: must create movement or contrast that stops the scroll
• Every hook must work independently (no context from the rest of the Reel needed)
• Tag each hook with its category (or categories for compound hooks)

Output format per hook:

### Hook [A/B/C]: [Category] (+ [Category] if compound)

**Text Overlay:** [bold on-screen text]
**Spoken Text:** "[what the creator says]"
**Visual Action:** [what the viewer sees]

Phase 4: Hook Scoring

Score each of the 3 hooks using the Hook Strength rubric (25 points max). Load references/scoring-system.md for detailed sub-criteria.

Scoring rules:

• Score each sub-criterion with a whole number (0-5)
• Single-category hooks can score max 3/5 on Compound Mechanics
• Compound hooks that cleanly integrate 2+ categories score 4-5 on Compound Mechanics
• Forced or awkward category combinations score lower than clean single-category hooks
• Reference references/scoring-system.md for per-point thresholds within each sub-criterion

Score each hook in a table:

| Sub-criterion | Hook A | Hook B | Hook C |
|---------------|--------|--------|--------|
| Curiosity Gap | X/5 | X/5 | X/5 |
| Pattern Interrupt | X/5 | X/5 | X/5 |
| Identity Trigger | X/5 | X/5 | X/5 |
| First-3s Clarity | X/5 | X/5 | X/5 |
| Compound Mechanics | X/5 | X/5 | X/5 |
| **Total** | **X/25** | **X/25** | **X/25** |

Phase 5: A/B Variant Output

Present the top 2 scoring hooks as the final A/B variants.

For each of the 2 selected hooks, output:

1. The full hook (text overlay, spoken text, visual action) from Phase 3
2. The score breakdown from Phase 4
3. A 2-3 sentence explanation of WHY this hook works, referencing the specific mechanisms that drive its score (e.g., "The identity trigger 'Frauen ab 40' immediately filters for the target audience, while the correction 'das stimmt nicht' creates a curiosity gap the viewer needs to resolve.")

Output format:

## A/B Hook Variants for: [Topic]

### Variant A: [Category] -- [Score]/25
**Text Overlay:** [text]
**Spoken Text:** "[text]"
**Visual Action:** [description]

**Why this works:** [2-3 sentences explaining the mechanisms]

---

### Variant B: [Category] -- [Score]/25
**Text Overlay:** [text]
**Spoken Text:** "[text]"
**Visual Action:** [description]

**Why this works:** [2-3 sentences explaining the mechanisms]

---

### Recommendation
[1-2 sentences on which variant to test first and why, or when to use each]

Tie-breaking: If two hooks have the same total score, prefer the one with the higher Curiosity Gap score. If still tied, prefer the compound hook.

Quality Gates

These gates are inherited from the parent ig skill. A hook that violates any gate MUST NOT be delivered.

Anti-Patterns