Blog · Reference · 28 September 2026
Instagram hook formulas IG1–IG10 (and how the studio uses them)
Instagram Content Studio is built around the same hook formulas used in the Instagram marketing skill set (IG1–IG10). You pick a format, a goal, and a formula before Generate. This page explains what each formula is for so you can choose deliberately instead of rolling the dice.
Three surfaces, three hook jobs
- Caption (static or any post) — first ~125 characters before “more.”
- Carousel slide 1 — visual + text promise; earns the swipe.
- Reel — first 1–3 seconds (visual + on-screen text + spoken line).
Goals in the studio map to ranking signals people actually optimize for in 2026: saves (come back later), shares (send to a friend), comments (real replies), follows (profile conversion).
Caption-first formulas (IG1–IG4)
| Code | Name | Primary goal | Use when |
|---|---|---|---|
| IG1 | Number-First Result | Saves | You have a real, specific number and a repeatable method. Do not invent the figure. |
| IG2 | Contrarian Truth | Shares | You can defend a sharp claim against common niche advice in person. |
| IG3 | Relatable Cold-Open | Comments | You drop people into a specific shared moment (“this is me”). |
| IG4 | Mini-Story Confession | Comments / follows | Short first-person story with a real cost, then one meaning line. No fabrication. |
Carousel formulas (IG5–IG8)
| Code | Name | Primary goal | Spine in short |
|---|---|---|---|
| IG5 | Listicle Carousel | Saves | Slide 1: numbered promise + open loop. Middle: one item each. Last: saveable summary. |
| IG6 | Before/After Transformation | Saves / follows | After → before → concrete steps. Vague steps kill saves. |
| IG7 | Myth-Buster | Shares | Name real myths. Each slide: myth → reality. No straw men. |
| IG8 | Steal-This Framework | Saves | Name the framework; teach the pieces; last slide is the artifact to save. |
Practical walkthrough with API keys: carousel post ideas guide.
Reel formulas (IG9–IG10)
| Code | Name | Primary goal | Use when |
|---|---|---|---|
| IG9 | Pattern-Interrupt Reel | Shares / follows | The first seconds break the expected pattern so people stop scrolling. |
| IG10 | How-I Teardown | Saves | You show your real process, not a tip list without proof. |
Full Reel workflow: free Reel script generator guide.
How to choose inside the studio
- Pick format first (Reel, Carousel, Static, Stories). The formula list narrows to what fits.
- Pick goal next. Formulas marked as preferred for that goal are easier to spot in the UI.
- Read the formula help under the dropdown (skeleton + why it works).
- Write an idea that supplies the specifics the skeleton needs (numbers, myths, steps).
- Generate, then edit. Voice rules still apply: specific beats vague; one idea; light on corporate AI vocabulary; about one em dash per 100 words max.
Static posts and Stories
Static is one feed image + caption. The caption hook (IG1–IG4) does most of the work. Stories are multi-frame with interactive stickers for people who already follow you; treat them as relationship and highlight material, not cold reach. The studio drafts frames and prompts; you still supply media.
Hashtags (quick note)
The studio sizes toward a small set (about 3–5), not a 30-tag wall. Mix niche and mid tags; at most one broad tag. Reach in 2026 leans more on saves and sends than on hashtag feeds.