Hook pattern · 18 hooks
Mistake hooks for TikTok slideshows
Mistake hooks name something the viewer is probably doing wrong: “Gym mistakes that kept me stuck for a year”. On a TikTok slideshow they work because people check themselves against each slide. Every swipe is a quick “do I do that?”, and the fix on the same slide makes the post worth saving.
What a mistake hook looks like
blank: Gym mistakes that kept me blank: stuck for a year
The slides after it
- 1.Slide 1: the hook, naming the area and what it cost you.
- 2.One mistake per slide as the headline, the fix in one line under it.
- 3.The last fix is where your app comes in.
Why mistake hooks get swipes on a slideshow
- Recognition beats promises. A mistake the viewer has made reads as their own story.
- Each slide is a small test: one mistake, one fix, then the next swipe.
- First person (“I made”) sounds like a person, not a brand telling people off.
- The app fits naturally as the easier way to avoid the last mistake.
On a slideshow the first slide is the hook: no voice, no motion, just the words and the photo, read in about two seconds. Keep it under 14 words (why).
18 mistake hook examples for app slideshows
Written for app founders, grouped by kind of app. The words in boxes are blanks: swap in your own details.
Budgeting apps
- Money mistakes I made in my blank: twenties
- blank: 3 budgeting mistakes that kept me broke for blank: years
- Stop doing this the day your blank: paycheck lands
Fitness apps
- Gym mistakes that kept me stuck for a blank: year
- blank: 4 mistakes beginners make in their first blank: month of lifting
- Running mistakes I made before my first blank: 5K
Language apps
- Mistakes that kept me from speaking blank: Italian for blank: 2 years
- Stop learning blank: Japanese like this
- blank: 3 mistakes I made in my first year of blank: German
Study apps
- Study mistakes I made all through blank: uni
- blank: 4 mistakes that make you forget everything by the blank: exam
- Stop studying like this before blank: finals
Meditation and sleep apps
- Meditation mistakes that made me quit blank: 3 times
- Stop doing this in the hour before blank: bed
- blank: 3 mistakes that make meditation feel impossible
Productivity apps
- Productivity mistakes I made for blank: years
- blank: 4 to-do list mistakes that make you feel behind
- Stop starting your blank: morning like this
Example: a mistake slideshow for a fitness app
A made-up fitness app on @yourapp. The words are ours; Reelazy laid out and drew the slides on stock photos, at 3:4, the frame TikTok shows photo posts in.
1 · The hook: the area and what it cost.
2 · Mistake one and its fix.
3 · Mistake two.
4 · Mistake three.
5 · The last fix is the app.
How to use mistake hooks in Reelazy
- 1
Pick the format
Mistake hooks open the Mistakes format: the hook, one idea per slide, your app softly at the end.
Mistakes format - 2
Or copy a slideshow that uses this hook
Found a mistake post that works? Save it with the Chrome extension or add screenshots. Reelazy copies its hook pattern, structure and look, never its words or photos.
Copy a format - 3
Get posts for your app, approve them
Reelazy writes the posts for your app in that format, with several hooks per post, keeping the strongest. You read each one, change the hook if you like, and approve it before it goes to TikTok.
Make posts
Questions
Should a mistake hook say “you” or “I”?
“I” is safer. “Mistakes I made” invites the viewer to compare; “mistakes you're making” can read as a lecture from a brand. Use “you” when the mistake is very common and harmless.
How many mistakes should the post have?
Three to five, one per slide, each with its fix on the same slide. A mistake without a fix is a complaint, and it gives nobody a reason to save the post.
Can I use these hooks as they are?
Yes, they are free to use. Change the highlighted blanks to your own details: a hook with your real numbers, places and moments reads as yours, and copies of the same line do worse.
Can Reelazy write hooks like these for my app?
Yes. Paste your app's link once, then pick a format or copy one from a TikTok slideshow you like. For each post Reelazy writes several hooks and keeps the strongest, and you can change it before you approve the post.
Related reading
- How long should the text on a TikTok slide be?
Up to 14 words for the hook, and why.
- TikTok slide text checker
Paste your hook and slides; it counts the words and flags lines that sound AI-written.
- How to make a TikTok photo carousel that sells
From the hook to the last slide, step by step.
More hook patterns
Listicle hooks18 hooks · 4 habits that gave me my evenings back
Myth vs fact hooks18 hooks · Meditation myths that made me quit
Before and after hooks18 hooks · My money before vs after a 10-minute Sunday check
POV hooks18 hooks · pov: you finally understood a whole conversation in Spanish
I wish I knew hooks18 hooks · Study tips I wish I knew before my first exam
Unpopular opinion hooks18 hooks · Unpopular opinion: you don't need to work out every day
Comparison hooks18 hooks · Cash vs card: the one that actually helped me save
How-to hooks18 hooks · How to remember new words without flashcards
Storytime hooks18 hooks · I missed every deadline for a year. Here's what changed
Make your first 2 posts free
Paste your app or store link, show Reelazy a TikTok slideshow you like, and it makes your first 2 posts in that format. Free for 2 posts on 1 TikTok account, no card. Pro is from $19 a month.