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The Madison Avenue Field GuideA field guide to marketing & advertising, by Brandon Mina

GlossaryBrand & Performance MarketingHook Rate (Thumb-Stop Rate)

Brand & Performance Marketing

Hook Rate (Thumb-Stop Rate)

The share of video ad impressions where viewers watch past the first few seconds, measuring how well the opening grabs attention.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

Hook rate, or thumb-stop rate, is the share of video ad impressions in which viewers watch past the first few seconds. It is commonly calculated as three-second views divided by impressions. The metric measures how well a video's opening grabs attention in fast-scrolling feeds, which is often decisive for overall ad performance.