Hello — I’m the creator behind Salazar Digital – Marketing & Web Design. In this guide I’ll walk you through the exact process I use to create short, effective video scripts with AI. Video is being consumed more every day, and when done right it educates prospects, helps employees learn visually, and acts as powerful marketing for your business. Below I break the workflow into simple steps so you can replicate it for your own local marketing videos.
Overview: The 3-step Workflow
- Choose your topics
- Decide video length and calculate word count
- Build a precise AI prompt and iterate
Why focus on video and AI?
People prefer watching short, informative videos over reading long text. Using AI (like ChatGPT) speeds up brainstorming and script drafting, letting you focus on messaging and visuals. For small, local businesses, short videos can communicate trust, explain services, and drive leads.
Step 1 — Choose Your Topics
Start with a clear list of topics you want to cover. Use AI to generate topic lists or run keyword research to discover the questions and services your audience searches for.
- Be specific about your audience — e.g., “San Jose small businesses” vs. large corporations.
- Tell the AI the service type: SEO, Google Ads, web design, local marketing, etc.
- Simplify AI-generated titles. Long, keyword-stuffed titles are useful for ideas but trim them for clarity.
Example prompt to generate topics: “Create a list of local marketing video topic ideas for small businesses in San Jose, California, focusing on SEO, Google Ads, and web design.”
Step 2 — Decide Video Length (and Word Count)
Estimate script length using a speaking rate. A good rule of thumb is 120–150 words per minute. If you want a video under 60 seconds, target about 120–150 words.
- 30 seconds ≈ 60–75 words
- 60 seconds ≈ 120–150 words
- 90 seconds ≈ 180–225 words
Knowing the target word count before you prompt the AI helps keep scripts short, focused, and suitable for social platforms or YouTube Shorts.
Step 3 — Build a Precise AI Prompt
Writing a clear prompt is the most important step. Tell the AI the topic, the desired length (word count), tone (informative or promotional), and any visual direction you want included for the editor.
Example prompt for a short, informative script:
“Create a 60‑second video script (approx. 150 words) for small business owners in San Jose about choosing the right marketing agency. Use an informative tone. Include a short opening scene description, 3 key points, suggested on-screen visuals, and a brief call-to-action.”
You can also ask the AI to produce multiple tone options — e.g., one promotional and one purely informational — then pick the version that matches your goals.
What to include in the prompt
- Exact topic in quotes for precision.
- Maximum word count or target duration.
- Tone: helpful, promotional, controversial, casual, etc.
- Visual cues for the editor: B-roll ideas, on-screen text, logos, or shots of happy customers/team.
- A clear call-to-action (CTA): contact, visit website, book a consultation.
How AI Scripts Look and How to Refine Them
When AI generates a script you’ll often get narration lines plus suggested visuals. Read through the output and decide what to keep, edit, or remove. For example, you may prefer a less promotional and more informative version — simply tell the AI to change the tone and regenerate.
“Running a local business in San Jose? Choosing the right digital marketing agency can make or break your growth.”
That kind of opening line can be tightened, softened, or made more direct depending on your audience.
Visual Direction for Editors
AI can include suggestions for visuals; use them to guide your editor or video-maker:
- Opening shot: stressed business owner at laptop
- B-roll: storefront, team planning, customers interacting
- On-screen text: key benefits, contact info, and short statistics
- End card: logo, short CTA, and website or phone number
Final Tips and Workflow
- Iterate: run multiple prompts, compare tones (promotional vs. educational), and pick the best draft.
- Time the script with a read-through to confirm pacing.
- Consider using a human voiceover or high-quality AI voice for delivery.
- Optimize the title and description with local keywords (e.g., “San Jose marketing agency for small businesses”).
- Always include a clear next step for viewers: contact, book, or learn more.
Conclusion
Creating short video scripts with AI is fast and scalable. Focus on three things: pick the right topics, set a target duration (and word count), and craft a precise prompt that includes tone and visual cues. With a little iteration you’ll have concise, on-brand scripts ready for editing and publishing.
If you want a template to start from, try the example prompt above and adapt it to your local market and services. Good luck — and don’t forget to test different tones to see what resonates with your audience.
