How to Create a Killer Video Strategy with AI

This Week

• Long Read: How to Create a Killer Video Strategy with AI

• 8 AI Tools for Video Production

• Around the Web: Loom’s Success, Startup Growth

• Cheat: Scriptwriting Prompt

• Invest: Midjourney hits $200M ARR

• Folks to Follow

How to Create a Killer Video Strategy with AI

When excitement around generative artificial intelligence started I noticed a myriad of platforms and tools popping up by the minute. They promised the AI Holy Grail. Video production at the press of a button, on brand content, better engagement, a waterfall of leads.

I’ve yet to see most of that happen, but my early experiments have proven useful. I’ve watched AI transform video production from a resource-hungry beast into a (slightly more) efficient process that any marketer can wield. Today, AI can arm you with the functionality to craft video content that’s high-caliber, time-efficient, and cost-effective.

So how do you get started?

If you want to find out, read the full article on my Medium channel.

The 8 Best AI Video Platforms Available Today

1. Vidyard — Video Hosting and Analytics

Description: Vidyard is a personalized video creator for your sales development team. It gives you a detailed breakdown of when and how viewers interact with their videos.

Best Feature: The AI-enhanced analytics with engagement heat maps provide a visual representation of viewer behavior.

Cost: Offers a free version; Pro versions start at $15/month.

G2 Rating: 4.5 out of 5

2. Lumen5 — AI-powered Video Creation

Description: Lumen5 is an AI-centric tool that turns blog posts and narratives into social media-friendly videos. It suggests the best visuals and formats.

Best Feature: AI-driven content suggestions and layout designs streamline your video creation process.

Cost: Free plan available; paid plans start at $19/month.

G2 Rating: 4.5 out of 5

3. Synthesia — Custom AI Videos

Description: Synthesia is an AI video creation platform that crafts videos from text using lifelike virtual avatars.

Best Feature: Generation of realistic AI avatars and translation capabilities.

Cost: Plans start at $30/month.

G2 Rating: 4.7 out of 5

4. Descript — All-in-One Video Editing

Description: Descript transcribes your video content and allows you to make edits to the video via a text edit function.

Best Feature: The ‘Overdub’ AI voice cloning for easy audio edits and updates.

Cost: Free version available; subscription plans start at $12/user/month.

G2 Rating: 4.5 out of 5

5. Pictory — Text to Video with AI

Description: Pictory transforms lengthy scripts into concise social-ready videos. The AI highlights the most impactful points likely to drive engagement.

Best Feature: Script-to-video AI technology that condenses and highlights key content.

Cost: Plans start at $19/month.

G2 Rating: 4.7 out of 5

6. InVideo — Online Video Editor

Description: InVideo is an online editor with a comprehensive template library and automated editing features.

Best Feature: AI-assisted video creation with a decent selection of templates for rapid video production.

Cost: Free plan available; Business plan at $30/month and Unlimited at $60/month.

G2 Rating: 4.6 out of 5

7. Wave.video — Video Marketing Platform

Description: Wave.video streamlines your video repurposing process so it fits each platform perfectly.

Best Feature: The automatic video adaptation for optimizing content across social media platforms.

Cost: Free plan available; Pro plans start at $24/month.

G2 Rating: 4.6 out of 5

8. Runway: Simplifying Video Editing with AI

Description: Runway is aimed at the arts and entertainment industries and offers tools that allow you to create simple cuts to 3D model generation.

Best Feature: The Green Screen AI feature allows you to remove backgrounds without a physical green screen

Cost: Free or $12/month.

G2 Rating: 4.5 out of 5

With the strategies and tools I’ve outlined, you’re now armed with the knowledge and access to produce high-quality content faster and more affordably than you can without AI.

Script Writing Prompt Guide

Casey Carey, CMO at Quantive, has a handy prompt for developing a video script. Here it is:

In a minute, I’ll provide you with specific information about a product. I’d like you to generate a high-quality explainer video script using the following information. Do you understand?

- Purpose:
- Audience:
- Key messages: (Problem, solution, how it works, closing statement)
- Call to action:
- Tone:
- Talent:
- Strategic Narrative & Context:
- Length:
- Type:

Great. Also, please structure the script as follows:

1. Introduction (engaging the audience and setting the stage)
2. Problem
3. Solution
4. How it works
5. Closing statement
6. Conclusion (including the call to action)

Here is the information about the product. Please write the script and put the results in a table with the following columns:

• Section Name

• Talk track

• Suggested visuals

Getting to Unicorn

How Loom Got Acquired For $975 Million: 4 Key Lessons from Dave Schools

• Pivot until you reach success

• Know your position

• Build community

• Go with product led growth

You can read the full article here.

The 3 Stages of Startup Growth

Pierre Herubel, a growth advisor for startups, outlines the three stages of growth for a startup. 

In his recent article, he answers four questions:

• What are the 3 stages of growth of a startup?

• How can you know which stage you are in?

• What channels and tactics should be used depending on the stage?

• What should be the primary objectives depending on the stage?

You can get the answers over here. 

Midjourney Hits $200M ARR

According to CB Insights, one of the biggest and most well-known players in the genAI image generation space is Midjourney — and it is choosing not to raise capital. That’s because it doesn’t need to. The company has reportedly hit $200M in annual recurring revenue (ARR) with a team of fewer than 100 employees. They say a 50x multiple is likely — giving it a $10B valuation. 

You can read the full report at CB Insights.

Not Winning the Spelling Bee

Folks to Follow

• Pierre Herubel for marketing and growth tactics

• Max for cinema-quality video advice

• Sofia Shockman for Interactive & AI Video Tools at Vimeo