ai-marketing-videos

name	ai-marketing-videos
description	AI marketing video production — script structure, hook/body/CTA, pacing, music, platform formats.

AI Marketing Video Production Guide

Core Principle

Every marketing video answers one question for the viewer: "Why should I care?" Structure everything around that answer.

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Script Architecture

The 3-Part Framework

HOOK (0–3 sec)   → Stop the scroll
BODY (4–45 sec)  → Deliver the value
CTA (last 3 sec) → Tell them what to do next

Hook Types (choose one per video)

• Pain hook: "Still spending 3 hours editing videos manually?"
• Curiosity hook: "Most marketers get this completely wrong."
• Result hook: "We grew to 50k subscribers in 90 days. Here's how."
• Bold claim hook: "Cold email is not dead — you're just doing it wrong."
• Visual hook: Unexpected visual with no text for 1.5 sec, then reveal

Body Structure Options

Problem → Agitate → Solve (PAS)

1. Name the specific problem (5 sec)
2. Make it worse — describe the real cost (10 sec)
3. Introduce the solution naturally (20 sec)
4. Show proof or demo (10 sec)

Before → After → Bridge (BAB)

1. Describe where the audience is now (before)
2. Paint the picture of the desired outcome (after)
3. Your product/service is the bridge

Story Arc

1. Character faces a familiar struggle
2. Discovery or turning point
3. Transformation with your solution

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Pacing Guidelines

Platform	Ideal Pace	Cut Frequency
TikTok	Very fast	Every 1–2 sec
Reels	Fast	Every 2–3 sec
YouTube Shorts	Fast	Every 2–4 sec
YouTube (long)	Moderate	Every 5–10 sec
LinkedIn	Moderate-slow	Every 4–8 sec

Pacing rules:

• Remove every second of dead air — no pause longer than 1.5 sec in short-form
• Use jump cuts aggressively in talking-head content
• Change visual (B-roll, text overlay, zoom) every 3 sec minimum for retention
• End sentences before cutting — avoid cutting mid-breath

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Music Selection Framework

Mood-to-Message Matching

Video Tone	Music Character	BPM Range
Inspirational	Uplifting, swelling	90–110
Urgent/promo	Driving, percussive	120–140
Trust/brand	Clean, minimal piano/acoustic	70–90
Tech/product	Electronic, clean synth	100–120
Playful	Bouncy, fun, staccato	110–130

Volume Mixing

• Music sits at -18 to -22 dB under voiceover
• Music fades to -25 dB during key spoken moments
• No music during CTA — let the voice carry it alone
• Fade out music 0.5 sec before video ends, not at the same time

Licensing Checklist

• Royalty-free source confirmed (Artlist, Epidemic Sound, Pixabay)
• Commercial license covers platform distribution
• No ContentID flag risk for YouTube

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Platform-Specific Formats

TikTok

• Aspect ratio: 9:16 (1080×1920)
• Duration: 15–60 sec optimal; 3-min max
• Safe zones: Keep text 150px from top and bottom edges
• Caption style: Large font, high contrast, center-positioned
• Hook rule: First frame must work as a still image thumbnail
• Trend hooks: Mirror native TikTok audio trends when relevant

Instagram Reels

• Aspect ratio: 9:16 (1080×1920)
• Duration: 15–90 sec sweet spot
• Safe zones: 250px from bottom (button overlay), 150px from top
• Cover frame: First frame doubles as grid thumbnail — brand it
• Caption: Subtitles mandatory (85% watch on mute)

YouTube (standard)

• Aspect ratio: 16:9 (1920×1080)
• Duration: 8–15 min for ads/educational; 60–90 sec for shorts-style
• Thumbnail: Custom — 1280×720, <2 MB, max contrast faces + text
• Hook rule: Deliver on your title promise within the first 30 sec
• End screens: Reserve last 20 sec for YouTube end screen elements

YouTube Shorts

• Aspect ratio: 9:16 (1080×1920)
• Duration: Under 60 sec
• Loop potential: Write scripts that benefit from replaying

LinkedIn Video

• Aspect ratio: 16:9 or 1:1 (square performs well in feed)
• Duration: 30–90 sec for awareness; up to 10 min for thought leadership
• Subtitles: Mandatory — auto-captions or baked-in
• Tone: Professional but not stiff — conversational authority
• CTA style: Direct and specific ("Comment 'GUIDE' to get the template")

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CTA Best Practices

CTA Formula

[Action verb] + [specific object] + [reason/benefit]

Examples:

• "Download the free template below to cut your editing time in half."
• "Comment 'YES' and I'll send you the full script."
• "Follow for Part 2 — dropping Friday."

CTA Placement Rules

• Short-form: CTA at the very end (last 3–5 sec)
• Long-form YouTube: Soft CTA at 30% mark + hard CTA at end
• Never put CTA before delivering value
• One CTA per video — do not stack actions

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Pre-Production Checklist

• Target audience defined (1 specific person, not a demographic)
• Single core message identified (one sentence)
• Hook tested — would YOU stop scrolling?
• Script read aloud and timed
• B-roll list prepared to match script beats
• Music licensed and pre-selected
• Platform format confirmed before filming

Post-Production Checklist

• Captions/subtitles added
• Color graded consistently
• Audio levels normalized (-14 LUFS for online)
• Safe zones verified per platform
• CTA visible and readable on mobile
• First 3 sec work without audio
• Exported at correct resolution and codec (H.264, AAC)