Creating videos with AI: Insights

KI Erfahrung von Stephan Czaja (Co-Owner)

Last week, I published the big flagship article on AI in marketing. Today I’m focusing on AI videos and giving you an example project from our agency.

First of all: AI videos need planning, just like “normal” videos that you would shoot for Insta, TikTok, YouTube and co.K

The important thing is: AI videos also need planning. Just because the tools open up new possibilities doesn’t mean that strategy and structure are superfluous. On the contrary: the clearer you know your goal, the better the result will be. Just like with “normal” productions for Instagram, TikTok or YouTube: think first, then shoot – only digitally.

• Planning remains crucial
• AI is no substitute for strategy
• Clearly define goals

Important: You can see my own projects here, which I can talk and write about freely.

Video planning: What are you planning?

Was willst du kommunizieren und wie?

Before you start, you need to know what you actually want to produce. Are you looking for short, funny clips that will go viral or complex explanatory videos with added value? Do you want to work with an AI avatar, a voiceover or use yourself as the avatar? This decision determines the direction. AI is versatile, but the goal determines which tools you choose. It’s like cooking: You can have the best ingredients, but without a recipe, the result will be random.

An editorial plan and a keyword plan are also recommended. The keyword plan ensures that your videos are found for the right search queries – particularly important on YouTube. The editorial plan ensures that you publish regularly and link your videos together. This allows you to build up your reach over time, as viewers jump between clips instead of dropping out after a single viewing. Ideally, you should link the whole thing to your website or e-commerce for active link building.

• Keyword plan for visibility
• Editorial plan for consistency
• Crosslinks for reach

Create shorts & reels

For short formats such as reels or shorts, the combination of the right tools is crucial. ChatGPT for scripts, Midjourney for images, Freepik for design, HeyGen for avatars or Google Veo for videos – the landscape is constantly changing. Every month there are new models, updates, new players.

It is worth regularly testing which tools currently deliver the best results. Those who remain active here have a clear competitive advantage.

The best tools for reels and videos?

Instead of complicated productions, scenes are created with movement, light and realistic animations. For companies, this means faster content, lower costs and new creative possibilities… but what are the best tools for reels and videos?

Our current recommendations:

1. Google Veo 3
2. OpenAI Sora
3. Runway @ Freepik

Remember: Keyword and editorial plan

With good planning – i.e. keyword and editorial plans – scripts and visual processes can be perfectly prepared. Who speaks what? Which scenes will be shown? Which additional elements, such as titles or superimposed texts, increase attention? You can define all of this today before the actual production.

The end result is a video that is not simply “AI content”, but is tailored to your brand. Our own test videos have already generated tens of thousands of views on YouTube in the beta model – not because AI is magical, but because we put 80% of the work into planning before we fired up the tools.

• Combining the right tools
• Plan visual processes in advance
• Quality comes from preparation

Example: Short explainer video with 20k views

Example: Explain infographics

Example: Info-Tainment “Before and after effect”

Explainer videos and long formats

Many people think that AI is only suitable for short clips. The opposite is true. Long formats such as explanatory videos can also be produced entirely with AI. For example, we created a video that explains the function of a slimming syringe – complex, but implemented with AI in such a way that the information is understandable and visually attractive. Another example is a video that explains how to navigate a website. In the past, tutorials like this would have been a major project that took several days to produce. Today, you can implement them in a fraction of the time – and improve them at any time or create variants for other target groups.

• AI is also suitable for long videos
• Less production effort
• High content density possible

Example 1: Infographic (from above) also available as a long version for more information.

Example 2: Video for website, explanation of the main menu.

Video planning for 1 year

In the past, you would probably have needed a whole month of production for a year’s worth of videos. Studio, videographers, editors, protagonists – everything had to be coordinated. Today, with AI, you can implement a complete annual plan in much less time. Especially if you already have experience, it’s extremely fast. After more than ten years of brand development and content production at the agency, we know which processes are important – and that’s exactly what AI accelerates. Experience multiplies with technology. The end result is an output that would have previously consumed many times more resources.

• Month production vs. days with AI
• Experience + AI = speed
• Scalable annual plan possible

Content nach Keyword Plan (YouTube SEO)

Own video avatars: That’s me!

AI avatars are an exciting experiment. Yes, that’s me – in digital form. We have launched a test project to show how detailed you can create videos in the field of real estate investment or marketing with your own avatar. The result is amazingly close to reality. Voice, gestures, expression – everything looks authentic. You can see it here in Vibe Coding and further down, here in the post!

Of course, this saves time because I don’t have to invest an hour of production every time. An avatar can be created once and then used as often as you like.

Of course, this technology also has its limits. Video editing remains manual work, AI doesn’t do that yet. But if you have little time or want to create additional content, avatars are a great option.

And very important: recycle content

It gets particularly exciting when you recycle existing content: a blog post or SEO article can be cast in video form without you having to step in front of the camera yourself. This opens new doors for anyone who has previously worked more text-based and now wants to conquer video as a channel.

• Avatar saves production time
• Can be used multiple times
• Ideal for content recycling

Here is an example of mine:

AI videos as a game changer? Yes. Yes. And yes!

AI videos are more than just a short-term trend. They are changing how we think and implement content. Shorts and reels for quick attention, explainer videos for more in-depth content, avatars for efficiency and brand building – anything is possible. The key is not in the tool itself, but in the way you use it. Good planning, clear goals, well thought-out editorial and keyword strategies make all the difference. Then AI won’t become a toy, but a real game changer for your marketing.

• Short formats for reach
• Explanatory videos for depth
• Avatars for efficiency

Insight! Vibe coding with AI

Vibe coding with AI – There is now a term for what I do: vibe coding. It describes the way you work with AI tools without having to do any hardcore programming yourself. AI in coding opens up completely new possibilities – from web development to apps, games and marketing calculators. Today I’ll show you what vibe coding means, what problems it solves and how I’ve implemented over 100 of my own tools in the last few months – from real estate apps to fashion brand quizzes. Let’s go!

• Vibe coding with AI

Veo 3: Recommendations from the video

The video shows step by step how to produce short, viral clips with Google Veo 3. The focus is on a clear prompt structure, targeted use for social media and a conscious approach to costs. Below you will find the most important points in compact paragraphs and short bullet points for quick implementation.

Prompt structure: Three parts

Divide your prompt into character, camera and language/emotion. First describe appearance, clothing, posture and hand actions. Then define camera angle and movement, such as selfie, tracking or static. Finish with literal speech and mood to control expression and dynamics.

• Character: Details
• Camera: Angle/Move
• Language: Quote + sound
• Tip: Save credits

Viral characters & social media

Recognizable characters are suitable for short clips in portrait format. Use them as a hook in the first few seconds, combine clear facial expressions and simple sentences. Use different emotions to increase attention and vary settings for more dynamics.

• YouTube Shorts
• TikTok & Reels
• Strong hook
• Varying emotions

Access & Platforms

Access is primarily via Google Gemini. If Veo 3 is not yet available there, alternatives are available. Test several providers to compare availability, operation and price structures and find the right workflow for you.

• Google Gemini
• Leonardo.ai
• Craya.ai
• Hedra.com

Keeping an eye on costs

Veo 3 is in the premium segment. Therefore, optimize your prompts to reduce failed attempts. Plan scenes in blocks, re-render only specific parts and use variants sparingly. This way you get more output per budget.

• Plan ahead promptly
• Targeted variants
• Render blocks
• Budget tracking

Prompt help & automation

Use prompt templates or a dedicated prompt generator to achieve consistent quality. Have building blocks ready for characters, cameras and dialog. This allows you to build serial formats faster and reduce scatter in the results.

• Use templates
• Maintain modules
• Custom GPTs
• Ensure consistency

Concrete marketing use

Use Veo 3 for high-performance short formats and tests. Create A/B variants for hooks, camera and quotes. Develop shorts, ads and product intros that you can play out in a channel-specific way. Build up a small library of recurring characters and scenes.

• Test A/B hooks
• Product intros
• Ad variants
• Figure library

In short…

Clear prompt structure, recognizable characters and targeted variants are the leverage for reach. Manage costs through planning and lean iterations. Use Veo 3 where short, concise clips have the greatest impact.

• Structure = Quality
• Characters = Hook
• Variants = learning
• Budget = Focus

Google Veo 3: AI videos for marketing in a new quality

AI videos are no longer an experiment – with Google Veo 3, the technology is becoming a real game changer for marketing and content production. What can Google Veo 3 do? How can you use Veo 3 to produce reels for Instagram, TikTok or YouTube? Here is an insight into one of the most powerful AI video tools alongside Sora or Runway.

• Google Veo 3
• Also interesting: Create AI videos

YouTube charts and hype feature

Neues mit Stephan Czaja (Co-Owner)

The classic trending tab is a thing of the past. Instead, YouTube is introducing the new “Charts“, which are divided into categories such as music videos, podcasts or films. This makes discovery and trend tracking more targeted. For creators, there is also a new Inspiration tab in the Studio that provides suggestions for content. With the Hype feature, viewers can actively push new videos and directly increase their reach.

• Categories instead of global trending
• Inspiration tab for content ideas
• Hype for range boosters

Looking for a good YouTube agency for your brand? Write to us or give us a call: Contact.

AI overviews and conversational search

With AI Overviews, YouTube is testing a new search feature: short summaries are displayed for certain topics to give users an overview before they decide on a video. This is supplemented by a conversational search (you ask a question, AI gives video suggestions), where questions are answered in a chat-style and suitable videos are suggested. YouTube is thus developing into a hybrid platform of search engine and video portal.

• Video summaries in the search results
• Chat-like search with video recommendations

Age verification via AI

An exciting but also controversial update concerns the protection of minors. YouTube is testing an AI system that estimates the age of users based on their viewing habits. Under-18s are to be better protected automatically, for example through restrictions on advertising or special wellbeing tools. If the age is misclassified, users can confirm it with an ID, credit card or selfie scan.

• Automatic detection of minors
• More protection through advertising restrictions
• Manual verification possible

Daily discovery on YouTube Music

YouTube Music is also getting an update: “Your Daily Discovery” is a daily updated carousel of songs that is even more tailored to personal listening habits. Instead of a weekly mix, there are now daily recommendations that can be started directly as a play-all with one click. This makes YouTube Music more of a competitor to Spotify.

• Daily song discoveries
• Personalized recommendations in the carousel

AI shorts with Veo model

Creatives can now create shorts directly from text prompts. This is made possible by the Veo model, which generates 8-second clips. This content is provided with a visible SynthID watermark to ensure transparency about the use of AI. The approach is reminiscent of TikTok, where AI-based video toolshave been tested for some time, although YouTube is more focused on short video formats such as shorts.

• Generate shorts from text input
• 6-second clips for quick content
• SynthID watermark for transparency

New creator tools and monetization

The entry hurdles for the partner program have been lowered: instead of 1,000 subscribers, 500 are now sufficient, and the required watchtime hours have also been halved. Shorts can be monetized from 3 million views in 90 days. In addition, YouTube has introduced a thumbnail test feature that allows up to three thumbnails to be tested against each other – something I also really like.

Vertical live streams, 3-minute shorts and automatic dubbing in several languages were also added. The new Advanced Mode in Studio makes managing and analyzing content easier and clearer. Interesting: With these features, YouTube is moving closer to Instagram Reels, but is focusing more on international scaling through dubbing and monetization.

• Monetization from 500 subscriptions
• Thumbnail tests in the studio
• Vertical streams and auto-dubbing

Opportunities for your YouTube marketing?

The new functions open up many possibilities for your YouTube marketing. With the charts and the hype feature, you can capitalize on trends faster and build reach. AI Overviews help to make content more visible and make even greater use of the YouTube search engine. AI shorts and dubbing enable international reach with minimal effort. Thanks to the lowered monetization hurdles, YouTube is now also worthwhile for smaller creators and brands that want to get started faster. Those who use the new tools skillfully can expand their reach and community more dynamically and sustainably.

• Faster reach through charts and hype
• Better visibility thanks to AI features
• Easy entry into the partner program

What’s new with Instagram and TikTok?

TikTok and Instagram continue to focus strongly on creator interaction and community building. Instagram is introducing new approaches with the Friends tab, Quiet Posting and interactive stories, while TikTok is building on its strengths in trending formats, AI effects and viral sounds. Both platforms play to their strengths in short, creative formats, but differ in terms of reach and community focus.

• Instagram new features
• TikTok new functions

Read more about our YouTube agency, Instagram agency and TikTok agency – One, your marketing agency for performance!

Thumbnails and blog visuals

KI Update mit Stephan Czaja (Co-Owner)

Blog articles and YouTube videos thrive on strong thumbnails. Midjourney delivers creative, click-worthy visuals that generate attention in just a few seconds. This creates consistent styles for blogs, thumbnails or content series.

• Clickable thumbnails
• Uniform blog graphics
• Fast series production
• Click here to go to Midjourney

Oh yes, and for all those who have been trapped on stock photo platforms for years:

AI image generation is the best thing that could happen in this aspect! 1) Absolute creative freedom + 2) No more warnings with constant license search and time expenditure

Let’s move on!

Product images for stores

E-commerce benefits directly from Midjourney. Products can be inserted into different scenes and environments without having to organize a photo shoot every time. This saves costs and opens up new possibilities for creative product presentations.

• Creative product staging
• New scenarios for products
• No photo shoots necessary

Tip! Read more about AI product images with tips on generation and my current favorite tool (which even has models) here.

Taking product photos for an online store? Instructions

Generated here with just a single prompt in 3 steps:

1. Open Midjourney
2. Select product photos
3. Send promptly

Open Midjourney

KI Produktfotos mit Midjourney: Schritt 1

Select product photos

KI Produktfotos mit Midjourney: Schritt 2 von CM Couture

Send promptly

KI Produktfotos mit Midjourney: Schritt 3

AI product photos Result: 2 examples

KI Produktfotos mit Midjourney: Ergebnis

KI Produktfotos mit Midjourney: Ergebnis

Content for social media

Whether Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn or X: visual content determines reach. Midjourney allows you to create posts with unique styles and visual languages. This strengthens brand perception and ensures varied content in the feed.

• Instagram Posts & Reels
• LinkedIn campaign visuals
• Graphics for X / Twitter

What can Midjourney do in conjunction with Runway?

Visual storytelling for brands

Midjourney makes it possible to translate complex ideas or moods into images. Recognizable styles can be developed for branding campaigns or corporate design that are used consistently across different channels.

• Strong brand images
• Consistent image style
• Storytelling via visuals

Is Midjourney better than Veo 3?

Is Midjourney better than Veo 3?

Implement marketing campaigns efficiently

Midjourney also supports testing and the rapid variation of content. This allows marketers to generate different visuals for A/B tests, address target groups variably and optimize campaigns more quickly.

• Fast A/B tests
• Variations of visuals
• React flexibly to trends

Technology and development

Midjourney has been constantly evolving since 2022. The current version 7 offers even more realistic imagery. In addition to Discord use, there is now also a web interface that makes operation much easier.

• Version 7 available
• Discord & Web Interface
• Niji model for anime

Learn Midjourney? Good video tutorial

You want to learn Midjourney? Here is a good video tutorial.

More functions in planning

Midjourney is working on new features such as video, 3D generation and advanced personalization. This will allow the tool to be used even more widely in marketing in future – from classic visuals to interactive content.

• Video function in tests
• 3D models in planning
• More personalization

Midjourney in the marketing mix

Midjourney is more than just a creative tool for companies: It is becoming a fixed pillar in content marketing. Thumbnails, social visuals, product images and campaign content can be produced faster and in high quality. Those who integrate Midjourney now will gain a clear advantage.

• Fast content production
• Broad use in marketing
• Competitive advantage for brands

Fancy designing something? Click here to go to Midjourney.