POV put them in the scene
"POV: you finally post every single day". It works because the viewer reads themselves into the line.
Use the POV templateReels hook text that stops the scroll
Reels hook text is the line on screen in the first second of a Reel. It tells people what the video is before they decide to scroll. The sound might be off and the first frame might be you mid-sentence, so the text does the job alone.
Quick answer
Keep it to one idea in two short lines, put it in the top half of the frame, and keep it on screen for the first few seconds. White stacked pills (the Classic style) are the most readable look over busy footage.
Hook formats that work
Number say what they get
"3 mistakes every new creator makes". A number promises an end point, so people stay to count.
Use the list template
Tease open a loop
"The question that changed my business". Name the moment, hold back the answer.
Use the podcast template
Storytime promise a story
"Storytime: the day I almost quit". People stay for the turn in the story.
Use the storytime templateMaking it readable
- Two lines, not four. If it doesn't fit in two short lines, it's two ideas. Cut one.
- Top half of the frame. The caption, username and buttons cover the bottom of a Reel, so text there gets hidden.
- Clear of the face. Put the card above the speaker's head or across the chest, never over the mouth.
- A background when the footage is busy. Pills or a block keep the text readable over any shot. Bare text needs a calm, dark background.
- Same look every time. One style and one colour pair across your Reels makes your videos recognisable in the feed. Save it once in the maker and reuse it.
Questions
What is hook text on Reels?
The short line on screen at the start of a Reel that tells viewers what the video is about, so they decide to keep watching. It works even with the sound off.
Where should I put text on a Reel?
In the top half of the frame. The caption, username and buttons cover the bottom of the screen, so text placed there gets hidden.
How long should Reels hook text be?
One idea in about two short lines. If it needs more than that, it is usually two ideas and one of them can go.
Can I make Reels hook text on my computer?
Yes. The free maker on this site makes the same stacked-pill text as the Instagram app and exports it as a transparent PNG for any video editor.
Make yours now
Free, no sign-up, nothing to install. Type your line, pick a style, download a transparent PNG.
Open the maker