How to use the /hooks-watchlist tool (Sandcastles MCP in Claude)

Understanding Hook Patterns with /hooks-watchlist

The `/hooks-watchlist` tool within Sandcastles is designed to help video creators analyze the best-performing hooks from videos in their watchlists. This tool can identify top hook patterns, analyze individual videos, and provide insights into what makes a hook successful.

How it Works

When you use the `/hooks-watchlist` command, the tool analyzes videos from your watchlist. It identifies the best-performing hooks from the last two weeks, looking for patterns and outliers. The analysis includes:

• Top Hook Patterns: Identifies common hook structures and phrases that are performing well.
• Individual Video Analysis: Examines specific videos to understand their hook's performance.
• Format Analysis: Breaks down the visual and text elements of successful hooks.
• Links to Videos: Provides direct links to the analyzed videos for further review.

Using the /hooks-watchlist Tool

To use this tool, navigate to the Cowork section and type `/hooks-watchlist` into the prompt. The tool will then analyze videos from your watchlist. If you find videos that have not been analyzed, you can ask Claude to analyze them and then run the full hook distribution. This allows you to understand the formats, individual links, and the visual/text hook elements.

Example Analysis

Let's say you want to understand the best-performing hooks in the last two weeks from creators in your watch list. You can prompt:

`/hooks-watchlist What are the best-performing hooks in the last two weeks from all the videos that I've analyzed from creators in my watch list? If you find videos that have not been analyzed that are over a 2x outlier, let me know so we can analyze them and then run the full hook distribution. I want to understand what the formats are, as well as the individual links to the videos below so that I can open them and watch them to get the visual and text hook on my own. Let me know if there are any things that I'm missing.`

The tool will then process this request and provide an analysis. For example, it might identify:

• The dominant pattern: "Secret Reveal / Breakdown" ("We just got...")
• Specific examples of this pattern with view counts and outlier metrics.
• Other patterns like "Single-shot giant: Scenario Hypothetical" or "Receipts pattern: Case Study."

Understanding the Output

The output typically includes:

• Top Hook Patterns: Categorized hooks with descriptions and examples.
• Metrics: Views, outlier scores, and other relevant data.
• Takeaways: Summaries of key findings and common themes.
• Potential Missing Information: Areas where further analysis might be needed.

Analyzing Outliers

The tool also identifies "unanalyzed outliers" that require further attention. These are videos that have significantly higher performance than expected and may offer unique insights. The tool will list these videos with their channel, title, views, and outlier score. You can then choose to run a full analysis on these specific videos.

What You Might Be Missing

It's important to remember that the hook is only half the story. The visual hook and the text hook work together. The analysis provided by `/hooks-watchlist` is a powerful starting point, but consider the context of the entire video and the creator's overall strategy.

Key Considerations:

• Time Sensitivity: Data is often based on the last 14 days. For trend analysis, consider running the analysis on different time windows.
• Platform Specificity: Hooks that perform well on one platform (e.g., Instagram Reels) may not translate directly to others (e.g., YouTube Shorts).
• Holistic View: While hooks are crucial, they are part of a larger content strategy. Consider the overall video quality and audience engagement.

If you have any questions about using the `/hooks-watchlist` tool or interpreting its results, please reach out to support at sandcastles.ai.