I spent 6 hours watching viral reels.
Not scrolling for fun. Studying.
I broke down 50 videos with 1M+ views each.
Different niches. Different creators. Different styles.
But every single one followed the same 5-step formula.
Here it is.
STEP 1: Hook in 0-3 Seconds
This is life or death.
If you don't stop the scroll in the first 3 seconds, you're dead.
What viral hooks look like:
"I made $10k last month doing this..."
"Nobody talks about this side hustle..."
"Here's what rich people do that broke people don't..."
"This AI tool just changed everything..."
"I tested 10 strategies. Only 1 worked..."
What makes them work:
They create a curiosity gap. They promise value fast. They use specific numbers.
What doesn't work:
"Hey guys, welcome back..." or "In today's video I'm going to show you..."
Nobody cares. Hook or die.
STEP 2: Promise Value Immediately (3-7 seconds)
Right after the hook, tell them what they're getting.
Examples:
"...and I'm going to show you the exact 3 steps."
"...here's the tool I used and how you can copy it."
"...I'll break down the entire system in 60 seconds."
This keeps them watching because now they know what's coming.
And if they scroll away, they feel like they're missing out.
STEP 3: Deliver Fast (7-50 seconds)
No fluff. No stories. Just value.
List format works best:
Step 1: [Quick explanation]
Step 2: [Quick explanation]
Step 3: [Quick explanation]
Or comparison format:
Most people do X. I do Y instead.
The faster you deliver, the higher your retention.
Retention = algorithm push = more views = more money.
STEP 4: End With Engagement (50-58 seconds)
Ask a question. Tell them to comment. Make them interact.
Examples:
"Which one are you trying first? Comment below."
"Did you know this? Let me know."
"Want me to go deeper on this? Say YES."
Engagement signals to the algorithm that your content is valuable.
More engagement = more reach = more followers = more sales.
STEP 5: Caption Hook + CTA
The video is only half the battle.
Your caption needs to do two things:
1. Reinforce the hook
Don't just say "check this out." Say something like:
"I spent 6 hours breaking down viral content so you don't have to. Here's the formula."
2. Include a CTA
Drive them somewhere:
Link in bio
Follow for more
Comment a word for a free guide
Every piece of content should move people closer to your offer.
The Formula in Action
Let me show you how this looks as a script:
[0-3s HOOK]
"I made $4,300 last month using free AI tools."
[3-7s PROMISE]
"Here are the 3 I use every single day."
[7-50s DELIVERY]
"Tool 1: ChatGPT for scripts.
Tool 2: ElevenLabs for voiceovers.
Tool 3: CapCut for editing.
I batch 10 videos every Sunday and post twice a day. That's it."
[50-58s ENGAGEMENT]
"Which one are you using first? Comment below."
[CAPTION]
"I replaced my entire content team with 3 free tools. Here's the exact stack. Follow for more AI breakdowns."
That's the formula.
Rinse and repeat.
Why Most People Fail
They know the formula.
But they don't use it.
They overthink. They want everything perfect. They post once a week.
Meanwhile, people using this formula post daily and blow past them.
Consistency beats perfection every single time.