Short videos have become the go-to content format for most ecommerce brands looking to capture attention, reach new audiences and boost sales on social media. But creating these videos doesn’t have to be costly. 

‍

Thanks to AI tools you can create these at a much lesser cost and require you much less time. 

Step 1: Planning Your Video for Maximum Impact

Define your goals

‍

Before you start creating your videos, have a clear definition of what you want your videos to achieve. Do you want your videos to be:

‍

• Product showcases, highlighting key features and benefits of your products
• Customer Reviews/Testimonials, to build trust with new customers
• Educational clips, sharing tips and how-to content

‍

Research what works

‍

Analyze your competitors' social media and YouTube finding out what is trending and what are people liking. Make notes here. 

Create a simple script

‍

If you’re into writing or know someone who can write it for you then great. Otherwise, you can generate one using Chat GPT, Claude AI or Gemini. Here’s a prompt you can use to generate script for a 1 minute video: 

‍

“Generate a short, engaging video script under 1 minute.

Topic: [Insert topic here]
Target Audience: [Who is this for? E.g., startup founders, marketers, Gen Z, small business owners]
Tone & Style: [E.g., punchy, conversational, educational, humorous, dramatic, storytelling]
Hook (First 5 seconds): Start with an attention-grabbing statement, question, or surprising fact.
Main Message: Clearly convey the key takeaway or core message in a concise way.
Call-to-Action (CTA): End with a compelling CTA (e.g., follow for more, check out a website, comment your thoughts).
Format:

• Scene 1 (0-5 sec): Hook
• Scene 2 (5-20 sec): Main explanation or storytelling
• Scene 3 (20-45 sec): Key insights, problem/solution, or engaging elements
• Scene 4 (45-60 sec): CTA & closing statement

Additional Notes:

• Keep sentences short and impactful.
• Use engaging storytelling or relatable scenarios if possible.
• Optimize for social media formats (TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts).”

Step 2: Filming on a Budget

For filming or the A-roll footage, here are 2 ways you can do that. 

Use your smartphone (hacks)

‍

Smartphones can capture stunning videos. Here are some of the hacks you can keep in mind while shooting your videos whether it’s a product showcase or an educational video. 

‍

• Shoot in 1080p or 4K for crisp visuals.
• Use natural light.
• Use a tripod to keep your phone stable. 

Use AI Avatars 

If you don’t want to go through the hassle of shooting videos, you can always use AI avatars, who can do the talking in your place.  For creating videos with AI avatars, you can use tools like Synthesia, HeyGen, Steve AI and D-ID. 

‍

Step 3: Editing Like a Pro (Without the Pro Budget)

Use free or affordable editing tools

‍

• Capcut (online editor) - Free version comes with a lot of options for you to edit your videos. You can pretty well get the job done with the free online version. Learn how to use this editor here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHMoPh6mzm4

‍

• Kapwing - This tool has a free plan with limitations. But if you are starting out with short videos this is worth a try. It has some helpful features like inserting relevant B-roll footage automatically wherever needed.  You can learn how to edit with Kapwing here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehqwoScTXho

‍

• Filmora - This tool is not free and costs about $49.99/year, which is budget friendly. Also very easy to use. Here’s video you can watch to learn how to use filmora to create stunning videos - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjLVHHmc76Q

‍

Step 4: Optimizing for Social Media

Platform specific

Make sure to always format your videos to each social media you’d share. 

• For Instagram reels use bold text overlays and a 3-second hook
• For YouTube shorts, you can upload longer videos with clear Call to Action. 
• For every platform, add captions on screen because 75% of people watch videos on mute. 

Can You Outsource this process?

Yes you can. 

‍

While doing all the above steps will definitely save you a lot of money but it can take up a lot of your time. 

‍

This is where AdsEther helps you to get professional-looking videos made with AI without burning a hole in your pocket. 

‍

To learn more about how you can get your job done with AdsEther, book a call here. 

‍