How to Prompt AI Video Tools: 10 Techniques That Actually Work

AI video tools work best when you give them clear instructions. Whether you're generating videos from scratch or using AI assists, here's how to get better results.

The Basics: Be Specific

The biggest mistake? Being too vague.

❌ Vague: "Make a video about my product"

✅ Specific: "Create a 30-second explainer video about our project management app. Show how a user creates a task, assigns it to a teammate, and marks it complete. Use a friendly, professional tone."

10 Prompting Techniques That Work

1. Describe the Format First

Start with what type of video you want:

"Create a vertical Instagram Reel..." or "Make a 60-second explainer video..."

2. Specify Your Audience

Who is this for?

"...for small business owners who don't have time to edit videos"

3. Set the Tone

How should it feel?

• Professional and corporate
• Casual and friendly
• Energetic and exciting
• Calm and educational

4. Describe Visual Style

"Use clean, minimal graphics with blue and white colors" or "Modern, bold visuals with quick transitions"

5. Include Key Messages

What must be communicated?

"Make sure to mention: free trial available, no credit card required, works on mobile"

6. Specify Duration

Always include length:

"Keep it under 45 seconds" or "Make it exactly 60 seconds for Instagram"

7. Reference Examples

If you've seen something you like:

"Similar style to Apple product videos — clean, focused, minimal text"

8. Include Call-to-Action

What should viewers do?

"End with 'Try free at example.com' on screen for 3 seconds"

9. Specify What to Avoid

Sometimes it helps to say what you don't want:

"Don't use stock footage of people. Use graphics and screen recordings only."

10. Iterate and Refine

First generation won't be perfect. Follow up with:

"Make it faster paced" or "The intro is too long, cut it in half" or "Change the music to something more upbeat"

Prompt Template

Here's a fill-in template that works well:

Create a [duration] [format] video for [audience].

Topic: [what it's about]

Key messages: [list 2-3 things that must be included]

Tone: [professional/casual/energetic/etc]

Style: [describe visuals]

End with: [call to action]

Example: Full Prompt

Create a 45-second vertical video for Instagram Reels, targeting freelancers and small business owners.

Topic: How Ekly lets you create videos without editing skills

Key messages:
1) Describe your idea, AI creates the video
2) No editing experience needed
3) Free to try

Tone: Friendly and encouraging, not salesy

Style: Clean, modern graphics. Use our brand colors (coral and teal). Show the app interface briefly.

End with: "Try free at ekly.ai" on screen

Try It Yourself

The best way to learn prompting is to practice. Ekly lets you describe your video idea and see what AI generates — then refine from there.