The most effective way to cut through online noise and make an impact is through video. By quickly communicating value and forging an emotional connection, video ensures your brand is not just seen, but remembered.
If you've been putting off video creation, thinking it's too complex or time-consuming, it's time to change that. In this article, we’ll show you step by step how to create effective videos in as little as 5 minutes using Animoto’s easy promo video maker.
Let’s dive in!
TLDR: Animoto is the easiest promo video maker because it's designed to create polished, on-brand videos in minutes, not hours. Just pick a template, drag and drop your media, change the colors and font, drop in your text, choose a song, and share away. It's that easy!
Why video?
The bottom line is this: video drives sales. In one survey, 93% of consumers said they find video helpful for purchases, and 71% said they’ve purchased a product after watching a brand's video.
Video generates significantly higher conversion rates than image-based ads. Why? Video tells a story and captures attention. By incorporating motion, music, and narrative, a promo video quickly creates an emotional connection, making the product and brand more memorable.
Don't dread your next promo video! We’ll make it easy by providing you with the essential tips, ready-made templates, and the ease of our promo video maker so you can create professional videos with zero experience.
Here's a free promo video template that you can use to create your own video in minutes.
How to make a promo video in 5 steps
Animoto is the easiest promo video maker, designed to help you create polished, on-brand promotional videos in minutes—not hours. With hundreds of templates, drag and drop tools, and the option to create conversion-driven video landing pages, it has everything you need all in one place.
Here’s how to make a professional promo video, no experience needed.
1. Start fast: Pick a template
Forget starting from scratch. First, grab a ready-to-use product, sale, and event promotion templates. Everything can easily be customized, from the aspect ratio to the colors and media.
Here are some of our top promo templates, but you can always browse our full library or start from scratch if you have a specific project in mind.
2. Quickly add your media
Upload your clips and photos from your device, cloud storage platform, or phone. To gather media from your coworkers, all you have to do is share a link, and they can automatically add their photos and videos to your project.
If you’re running low, you can pull from our built-in stock library of millions of licensed photos and videos from Getty Images.
Then, just drag and drop your media right into the template to replace the placeholder media.
3. Instantly brand & customize
Make it yours in seconds by choosing your brand colors and font. You can even save your choices as a Saved Brand to apply your brand elements to future promo videos with a single click.
4. Add text and a CTA
Add your own text to tell your story.
For emphasis, you can add animated elements that highlight your text, add motion, and make your video more engaging.
Then, make sure your promo converts by adding a clear Call to Action (CTA) so viewers know what to do next.
Here are some tips for adding CTAs to your videos.
4. Add music and share
Lastly, select the perfect song from Animoto’s licensed music library or upload your own track to avoid any licensing or copyright issues. You can sort through the library by mood, genre, tempo, and more until you find the perfect fit.
If you want to make a personal connection with your audience, you can record a custom voice-over.
5. Finalize and share in a click
Ready to post? Share the finished video directly to all your social media platforms straight from Animoto.
6. Bonus: Create a video landing page
Want to track the success of your campaign and boost conversions? Make a custom video landing page!
Professional users can create ad-free custom landing pages with their brand colors and logo, custom descriptions, and CTA buttons. These pages are distraction-free so you can direct your viewers to their next step, not another random recommended video.
Here's how:
- Access the custom landing page: On the share page, click the link button and select "Edit" next to the custom play page section to access the landing page editor. (Requires a Professional or Professional Plus plan.)
- Apply your brand: Select background and text colors from your brand palette. Upload and position your logo.
- Add a CTA: Toggle on the Call to Action (CTA) button. Paste your destination link, write custom button text (e.g., "Buy Now"), and choose button colors/size. Use a UTM link to track the performance of your page.
- Add context: Write a concise, punchy Title and Description for your video.
- Thumbnail: Upload a new, high-contrast, branded thumbnail to maximize click-through rates.
- Save, copy, and share: Click "Save and apply". Navigate back to your video share page, copy the link, and share it wherever you want to turn viewers into clients.
Essential elements of a promo video
You don’t just have to sell; you have to master the art of promo video making. Luckily, our promo video templates have all of these best practices already in place.
Here are the elements that every promo video needs to convert viewers into buyers:
A strong hook:
- You need to immediately grab the viewer's attention before they click away.
- This can be a surprising visual, a bold question, or a statement that instantly relates to the audience's pain point.
- Get tips for creating strong video hooks here.
Clear focus and objective:
- The video must have one main goal (e.g., drive sign-ups, sales, increase brand awareness).
- The message should be narrow and concise.
- Here are some guidelines for adding text to videos.
Optimal and concise length:
- In most cases, shorter is better. Many successful video ads are 15-60 seconds. Longer web videos are generally kept under two minutes.
Engaging storytelling:
- The best promo videos don't just sell; they tell a mini-story that creates emotional resonance.
- Demonstrate how your product/service solves a relatable problem.
- Instead of listing product features (e.g., "It has 24/7 support"), show the benefit ("You can get help whenever you need it most").
- Use this storytelling arc:
- Problem
- Solution (Your Product)
- Transformation/Outcome
High-quality visuals:
- Use your brand and visuals to build trust and credibility.
- Your logo and brand colors should be incorporated naturally.
- Choose real, high-quality footage of your product or service.
- The background music and overall tone should match your brand and the video's message.
Clear call-to-action (CTA):
- The video must end by explicitly telling the viewer what to do next.
- Examples: "Visit our website," "Shop the sale now," "Download the guide," "Book a Demo."
- The CTA should align with the video's main objective and be visually prominent.
Promo video FAQs
Get the promo video maker that does it all
We’re on a mission to make video creation quick and easy for everyone, no matter their skill level. If you’re ready to make your next promo video faster than ever, sign up for a free Animoto account and get started today.
