One of the hardest parts of creating content is the first three seconds. If you don’t hook your audience, they scroll right past you.
Today we’re going to talk about hook stacking, a strategy I picked up from Julia Broome‘s video.
Hook stacking immediately grabs your audience’s attention because you’re layering two different types of hooks:
- Verbal hook: What you say
- Visual (subliminal) hook: What you show
When you use both at once, you’re tapping into multiple sensory levels, which makes it almost impossible for your audience to ignore.
You can even pair pattern interrupt hooks (something surprising or unexpected in what you say) with subliminal hooks (something intriguing to watch). This combination keeps people glued to your video.
Examples of subliminal hooks:
- Holding the cord of your headphones
- Filming with a green screen behind you
- Holding a pen while talking
- Eating food or sipping coffee
- Putting on lip liner mid-sentence
- Holding a glass
- Closing a laptop right as you start talking
Now, let’s break down six proven verbal hooks you can stack with these visuals and how to make them work for real estate.
1. “I was dumb, so you don’t have to be…”
Everyone loves a story where you admit you messed up. It makes you relatable and teaches your audience something.
Real estate spin:
“I was dumb, so you don’t have to be… when I bought my first house, I waived the home inspection because I was in love with the kitchen. Six months later? $12,000 in plumbing repairs.”
Stack it with: Close your laptop as you say it or sip coffee for dramatic effect.
2. “If this offends you, it was meant for you…”
This hook is bold, which means people will stop scrolling just to see what the controversial take is.
Real estate spin:
“If this offends you, it was meant for you… Stop lowballing sellers by $50k in this market. You’re not getting a deal, you’re getting ignored.”
Stack it with: Hold the cord of your headphones while you deliver the line. People will subconsciously focus harder.
3. “Respectfully but also disrespectfully…”
This hook tells your audience you’re about to say something spicy. They’ll stick around because they know it’s going to sting a little.
Real estate spin:
“Respectfully but also disrespectfully… your Zestimate is not the gospel.”
Show a real example. For instance, maybe Zillow estimated your client’s home at $400k, but you sold it for $450k. Overlay the Zestimate screenshot next to your listing photos and the actual sale price to show exactly how much money your client would’ve left on the table if they trusted Zillow.
Stack it with: Green screen your example behind you while you’re talking for a pattern interrupt and visual proof.
4. “Brace yourself because this is probably a little too honest…”
This hook sets the stage for tough love. Perfect for cutting through the noise and showing you care about long-term success and not just closing deals.
Real estate spin:
“Brace yourself because this is probably a little too honest… but buying a house before you’re financially ready is the fastest way to turn your dream into a nightmare.”
You could also use Theoni Rapo‘s line:
“Everyone deserves a house, but not everyone deserves a mortgage.”
Stack it with: Apply lip liner while you’re talking. It’s casual, it feels unfiltered, and it makes the message land harder.
5. “This is me calling you out in real time but…”
This hook feels personal, like you’re speaking directly to your viewer.
Real estate spin:
“This is me calling you out in real time but… if you’ve been saying you’ll buy when rates drop, you’ve already missed out on thousands in equity.”
Overlay Chris Smith‘s post:
“If rates drop, prices rise. If rates rise, payments rise. There’s no waiting it out without paying for it.”
Stack it with: Hold a pen and point it as if you’re literally calling the viewer out.
6. “Bad news for me but good news for you…”
This hook plays on curiosity. People want to know what the bad news is.
Real estate spin:
“Bad news for me but good news for you… that dream listing you’ve been eyeing just had a price drop.”
Stack it with: Hold a glass and take a sip mid-sentence. It makes the line land like casual inside info.
Hooks aren’t just catchy phrases. They’re the reason people stop scrolling long enough to actually hear your message. When you stack verbal hooks with subliminal visuals, you instantly multiply your impact.
The more intentional you are with the first three seconds, the better your chances of building trust, staying top of mind, and eventually converting followers into clients.
