mimic22 list hooks
Swap the highlighted blanks for your product. Each has a worked example.
1.Number things I’d never buy again as a role
“Three things I’d never buy again as a new dog owner” · pet products
2.Number products I actually finished this year
“Four skincare products I actually finished this year” · skincare
3.Number apps/tools I open before time
“Three apps I open before 8 a.m.” · productivity app
4.Number ways to use one product you haven’t tried
“Five ways to use a silicone baking mat you haven’t tried” · kitchen gadgets
5.Number things under price that feel expensive
“Three desk upgrades under $30 that feel expensive” · Amazon products
6.My number non-negotiables for situation
“My three non-negotiables for a long-haul flight” · travel
7.Number signs you need a new product
“Four signs you need a new pillow” · mattresses
8.Number items every person should own, and one they shouldn’t
“Three tools every first-time gardener should own, and one they shouldn’t” · gardening
9.Rating number things so you don’t have to
“Rating five protein snacks from my gym bag” · snacks
10.Number mistakes I made doing thing
“Three mistakes I made setting up my home gym” · home fitness equipment
11.Number gifts for the person who has everything
“Four gifts for the coffee person who has everything” · coffee
12.Number features I didn’t know product had
“Three things I didn’t know my noise-cancelling headphones could do” · headphones
13.Number things that made space feel bigger
“Three things that made my studio apartment feel bigger” · furniture
14.Ranking every thing I’ve tried, worst to best
“Ranking every lash glue I’ve tried, worst to best” · lashes
15.Number questions to ask before you decision
“Five questions to ask a tutor before you book” · tutoring
16.The only number items I pack for trip
“The only four layers I pack for a cold-weather hike” · outdoor gear
17.Number things my customers always ask
“Three things every customer asks before buying a plant from us” · plant care
18.Number things worth the hype and number that aren’t
“Two kitchen gadgets worth the hype and one that isn’t” · kitchen gadgets
19.Number small changes that result
“Three small changes that made my videos look less amateur” · cameras
20.Number games/books/shows if you liked thing
“Three cozy games if you liked farming sims” · mobile games
21.Number scents/flavors I keep reordering
“Three candle scents I keep reordering every fall” · candles
22.My top number things for season
“My top three bike upgrades for winter commuting” · bikes
Why it works
- A number sets a finish line. Viewers know what they’re signing up for, which lowers the cost of staying.
- Each item resets attention, like a tiny new hook every few seconds.
- People stay for the last item, especially if you hint it’s the best one.
- Lists are easy to save: viewers bookmark them to come back to.
When to use it
You have several short, parallel tips
Lists need items that each stand alone in a sentence or two.
Gift guides and seasonal roundups
Holidays, back to school, travel season. Lists are the natural shape.
Showing range in a product line
Three ways to use one product, or three products for three needs.
Comparing options without a single winner
Each item gets its moment; the viewer picks.
When it backfires
- Don’t promise ten and pad it. Three strong items beat seven with filler.
- Don’t front-load the best one with nothing after. Save a strong item for last and say so.
- Skip it when one idea needs depth. A list of one-liners can’t carry a nuanced point.
- Avoid long intros before item one. Say the number, then go straight to it.
How to film and caption it
The first two seconds
Say the number in the first word or two
“Three things…” not “So today I want to share three things…”. The number is the hook.
Hold up fingers or the products
A visual count, or all items lined up on a table, sets up the list before item one.
One shot per item
Cut to a new angle or a new product for each number. The visual change is the pacing.
Keep items roughly the same length
Uneven items feel like the list is stalling. Trim long ones.
On screen
Number cards for each item
A big “1”, “2”, “3” with the item name as a title. It shows progress and helps people who skim.
Keep a counter in a corner
“2/3” in small text keeps people watching for the end.
Title, then words
The item name stays up as a title while word-by-word captions run below it.
Place cards beside, not over, products
Item cards go above or to the side so the product and your face stay clear.
Example: a pet products video
Built on one of the lines above. What you say, and what's on screen.
- 0:00
“Three things I’d never buy again as a new dog owner.”
On screen: Holding three items on the floor, dog sniffing them. Title card: 3 things.
- 0:03
“One: the cute fabric bed. Chewed in a week.”
On screen: Card “1”. Shredded bed corner.
- 0:08
“Two: a retractable leash. I could never get him back to heel.”
On screen: Card “2”. Leash tangled around a lamppost.
- 0:13
“Three, and this one hurt: a giant bag of food before I knew if he liked it.”
On screen: Card “3”. Full bag in the cupboard, dog walking away from bowl.
- 0:19
“Start small, buy tough. Save this for your puppy shopping list.”
On screen: Dog asleep on a sturdy mat.
Mimic style for this hook
Top list
The Top list style turns each item into a title and card automatically, so the count and pacing are built in.
Questions
What’s the best number for a list hook?
Three works for most short videos. Go higher only when each item is a few seconds and genuinely different.
Should the best item go first or last?
Put a strong item first to earn the stay, and the best one last. Say “the last one is my favorite” to keep people watching.
Do list hooks work for ads?
Yes, as “3 reasons I switched to [product]” or “3 ways I use it”. Keep each reason a real, honest use.
How do I stop a list from feeling generic?
Make each item personal and specific: your own mistakes, your own reorders, your own customers’ questions.
Can I mix products from different brands in a list?
Yes, for organic content. For a paid brand deal, check what the contract allows and disclose the partnership.
Say the hook. Mimic does the rest.
Raw clip in. Captions, cuts, hook and product shots out.
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