If you’ve been putting off video production because you’re not sure how to start, we know the struggle.
But according to a recent survey, 92% of marketers see positive ROI from their video content, including more leads, traffic, and sales. So there’s no better time to roll up your sleeves and start experimenting — and creating a great script is the first step.
It may feel daunting or downright exhausting to create a video script from scratch. Scenes, imagery, action, voiceover, dialogue … it’s a lot. Thankfully, AI can help streamline your script writing process.
In this article, we’ll share how easy it is to write a compelling video script using AI and create professional-looking videos in just one take.
How to write a video script with AI
No matter what you’re tackling, approaching things step-by-step is the way to stay organized and create high-quality work. Writing video scripts with Vimeo AI boils down to a few basic steps:
- Briefing
- Brainstorming
- Choosing an AI script writer
- Creating a prompt
- Recording your video
- Proofing & editing
Step 1: Set your direction with a brief
A video script brief doesn’t have to be novel-length to be effective. A sheet that answers basic questions will do the trick here, since the aim is just to give your video a clear direction. But the brief is still important. Without it, you might find yourself late in the video creation process before you realize you’ve missed an important element. No one wants that!
To keep things bump-free, make sure you address the following things in your video script brief:
Identify your target audience
Start by identifying the audience. Consider classic demographic slices like age and gender, but don’t forget to explore other angles, like your viewers’ areas of expertise, role, industry, and level of sophistication.
For anyone — marketers, professionals, executives, and creatives alike — the way to make heart-winning videos is to know your audience and to create relatable videos built on empathy.
Decide on your message and key takeaways
While your video can do more than one thing, it’s important to be clear about the #1 thing you want your viewer to take away.
Ask yourself: what’s the one thing you want your viewers to remember? This can be a simple CTA, new product messaging, or even a tagline.
Video is a great opportunity to communicate who you are and highlight what makes your brand special. For marketers in particular, it’s also crucial that you identify what brand message you want your viewers to glean. What’s the aspect of your brand or creative personality you want to be immediately obvious in your project? Make sure to prioritize that from the get-go.
Consider the tone
Once you have your message and key takeaways that you want to convey to your audience, you may want to think about how you want to deliver your message.
Do you want to sound confident with an authoritative tone? Maybe you want to share a vision that resonates deeply and inspires the people you want to connect with. Think about how you want your video to sound as you plan out the scripting.
Build out your goals
If you’re a marketer or HR professional creating a video, you’ll want to think about how you want your video to serve your goals. Where will your video live? What segment of your audience will the video speak to? What clear action item do you want your video to pose?
Below, we’ve included some guidance to help you ask the right questions and drill down to your video goals:
- Where will your video live? Are you crafting a multi-slide IG story? A video to boost your upcoming product launch? Sharing an internal update? Specify exactly where you’ll want your video to go right up front: this will dictate how you shoot your video, how long you’ll need it to run, and more.
- What action step do you want your viewer to take? A clear call to action, or CTA, tells your viewers what you want them to do. Want them to share your video or buy from you? Tell them.
- Where does the video fall in your marketing funnel? Remember when you outlined your video’s demographic? This is the other (super important) part of considering your audience. If you’re crafting a video to send directly to existing customers, you’ll want the specific language of your video script to be familiar, and presuppose a certain level of familiarity with you and your brand.
If you’re creating a product video that will live on your site or socials, you’ll want to make sure your video speaks to the largest number of people possible and does the legwork to introduce your brand.
Step 2: Define your approach with a brainstorming session
Now that you’re clear on what you want your video to do, it’s time to figure out how you’d like your video to accomplish those goals.
Write down every idea
We’re pretty big fans of a free-wheeling brainstorming session, so don’t be afraid to put pen to paper (or cursor to Google Doc) and write down all the ideas that come to you.
Try not to limit yourself during this process. Don’t filter out a video idea because you think it’s out of budget or your technical ability. Write it down — you’ll revisit it after the brain dump to assess if it’s practical.
Pro Tip: If you’re getting stuck at the conceptual stage, try jumping onto ChatGPT and asking for video ideas to get you started. Plug your audience, goals, and takeaways into your prompt.
For example, here’s a prompt you can use to generate video ideas with AI:
“Share 3 video ideas that showcase note-taking software in a creative and fun way. Our target audience is college students ranging in age from 18 to 35, and we will be sharing this video on Instagram. We want viewers to remember that this software can be accessed from multiple devices, so they never have to worry about carrying a notebook with them again. After watching the video, we want viewers to be inspired to check out our website for more details.”
Narrow down your options
Review your ideas, then pick two or three that stand out to you. Once you’ve got your faves, get frank about each idea’s feasibility. Be clear about your budget (even if it’s $0), and scale your ideas from there. It’s during this process that the best idea usually makes itself clear, but don’t worry if it still requires some tweaking to get just right. A little adjustment is normal!
Step 3: Select your AI tool stack
With all the AI tools out there, it’s tough to know which ones are right for you. And yes, experimenting is fun — but most of us can’t sink hours into research. We’ve rounded up our favorite AI tools by use case, so you can pick the best one for your script:
- Vimeo: Vimeo’s end-to-end AI video creation tools will allow anyone to automatically generate scripts using AI, record video with a built-in teleprompter, and edit footage easily with a text-based video editor.
- Jasper: If your script is for a marketing or business project, try Jasper. Jasper has useful integrations, like SEO tools, and it’s easy to create longer copy, like scripts, that adheres to a customizable brand voice.
- Wordtune: If phrasing is tripping you up, Wordtune can help you rework parts of your script to sound exactly how you like it. Use Wordtune to adjust your tone, refine your language, and even add a few relevant jokes or stats.
- Writer: If your main priority is creating a script that sounds like your brand, try Writer. This tool shines when you need to create content that sticks to a company style guide.
Step 4: Create a script prompt for AI
Have an idea that you’re ready to run with? Awesome! Give yourself a pat on the back (or grab a coffee to celebrate). You may not see it just yet, but you’ve already covered a lot of ground. Now it’s time to let AI do the heavy lifting.
Don’t worry if you’re struggling with writer’s block. Instead of drafting a script from scratch, you’ll soon be able to use Vimeo’s AI powered tools to generate a script and get those creative juices flowing. The key is to provide all the context for your script using a clear prompt. To create a video script prompt for AI, remember to include:
- A brief description of the speaker(s)
- A description of the type of script (ex. presentation, greeting, update, scene)
- Any specific content, key takeaways, or calls to action
- Details about your target audience
- The video length
- The tone and style of language
For example, if you plan to create a script for a product announcement, you can use this prompt structure:
You are a marketing team lead at a SaaS Company. Write a verbal presentation about an awesome product launch, an AI script generator and teleprompter to help you record amazing videos in one take.
Don’t forget: Jot down any visual and audio cues
A video is a lot more than just text, dialogue, or voiceover. It’s visual elements, sound effects or music, too. That’s why the next step is to sketch out the visual and audio cues you’ll want to accompany your video’s copy. Think about what visuals you’d like to accompany your script and sketch those out too, keeping in mind budget, time, and bandwidth. And don’t worry if you’re in a rush! You can include directions in your prompt to have AI include ideas for cues.
Step 5: Record your video
Now that you’ve finalized your script, it’s time for lights, camera, and action. If you find yourself feeling a little camera shy, focus on having fun with the process. Experiment with a few tips below and check out how to be more confident on camera to get the most out of your filming session:
- Take a look around. Before you hit record, make sure your environment is clean and free of distractions (that means putting your cell on silent!).
- Check your lighting. Film in a well-lit area, ideally with more than one source of light pointing toward you. Avoid standing in front of any light sources, like a bright window, unless you’re going for a silhouette vibe.
- Test your framing. Try out a few filming angles until you find one that you like. Avoid positioning the camera significantly higher or lower than eye level. If you’re planning for multiple shots, it’s helpful to put a piece of colorful tape on the floor to mark where you’ve been standing.
- Film a test clip. Take a few minutes to make sure all your visuals (and audio!) are on point before you start creating content.
- Pay attention to tone. Try to talk to the camera like you’re speaking with a friend.
- Mind your body language. You know the drill — stand up straight with your shoulders back and head held high. If you find yourself fidgeting, or use a prop like a coffee mug to keep your hands busy. Don’t forget to breathe!
- Project your voice. Place one hand on your chest, and one hand on your belly. Take a deep breath in, and try to breathe so that your belly rises and falls more than your chest. When you speak, try to project your voice from this same place by engaging your core and standing up straight.
- Slow your roll. When we’re nervous (or in a rush to get something done), we tend to talk fast — so try slowing down your speaking pace slightly. It may feel silly at first, but it helps you appear calm and collected on camera.
Then, once you’re ready to record, Vimeo’s new teleprompter feature will help you nail your very first take. Add your script to the teleprompter, which displays your script at your desired size and pace while you record. With no cue cards or papers to shuffle around, you can focus on letting your personality shine.
Step 6: Proof and finalize your video
Once you’ve recorded your video using your AI script, you’ll want to make sure everything looks perfect post-production. This is a great time to watch your video and review the text-based transcript and identify any gaps, filler words, grammatical oversight, or tonal issues.
Here’s a quick checklist to make editing a breeze:
✔ Cut the fluff. Ask yourself: can my script do without this line, dialogue, or paragraph? If so, use AI to automatically get rid of it.
✔ If you can, share with a teammate or collaborator for feedback. Sometimes a fresh set of eyes makes all the difference.
✔ Check your script against the brief from step 1. Is your script meeting the objectives you outlined in the video brief? Does it resonate with your target audience? Does it have a clear CTA? If you answered yes to all three questions, you’re in great shape!
If you’re using Vimeo to edit your recording, you can use text-based editing to simplify your workflow. To start editing, jump into your video editor, click your transcript, and select words or phrases to keep or delete. The editor removes unnecessary words and selections you don’t want and keeps the ones you like. Our AI will also remove filler words like “uh” and “um” automatically and trim out gaps in speech.
Script-writing FAQs
Maybe you’re almost ready to write a script, but you still have some lingering questions. We’ve got you covered! Let’s dive into common script-writing questions.
How can I write a compelling video script?
The main thing to keep in mind as you write is your viewer’s experience. How would you speak to them in real life? Write or generate your script the same way, keeping your tone as conversational as possible.
Aim for no more than three sentences per scene. Speaking often takes longer than expected, and you don’t want to rush through your points as you move from scene to scene.
Finally, be sure to mix up your visuals with b-roll (secondary footage that offers context for the main video), text, transitions, and graphics to keep things visually interesting.
What should be included in a video script?
Three elements should be included in every video: a hook, content tailored to your audience, and a CTA or final thoughts at the end of the video.
A hook should open your video and draw the viewer in — try an interesting thought or rhetorical question.
The middle of your video should focus on what you want to showcase, and it should be tailored to your audience. Consider the target demographics we mentioned in step 1 as you write.
Finally, your CTA should ask your viewer to take the next step, like clicking a link or booking a call.
How do I lay out a video script?
Regardless of whether you’re outlining a video for social media or a classic three-act screenplay, an outline for every type of video should include:
- A full list of all story beats
- Descriptions of imagery or scenes
- A rough sketch of dialogue or voiceover
- A clear sense of a beginning, middle, and end
How long should a video script be?
How long your script should be depends on your video length, so there aren’t any strict rules. A 1-minute video script usually contains about 150 words.
Plan how long you want your video to be, then use that as a guideline for your script. So if you want a 5-minute video, for example, you can expect to write about 750 words.
How do I write an engaging video script?
An engaging video script will include two main elements:
- Language that speaks directly to its intended audience (Keep it relatable!)
- A clear purpose or message. When in doubt, edit it out — sometimes less is more.
Should you always write a script before making a marketing video?
Technically, you don’t have to write a script — it’s your video-making party! But without a script, creating a clear, focused video that accomplishes your goals is difficult.
We recommend always creating a script and sticking to it. And with our AI script generator, the script-writing is done for you in a matter of seconds!
Bonus: Free video creation templates to make your video
Now that you know how to create a good video script with AI, let’s make it even easier to create a final video. Vimeo’s Video Creator offers hundreds of fully-fleshed out video templates, complete with existing video scripts and pre-loaded visuals.
If you’re still getting comfortable with the video production process or just need to iterate quickly, we love utilizing customizable templates as trusty frameworks for new videos. Simply customize the text and drop in any assets and brand imagery to make it your own — you can even lean on AI tools like ChatGPT to help you brainstorm along the way.
Here are some of our favorite video templates you can use, for all kinds of different video use cases:
1. Informational videos
One of the best ways you can provide value to anyone watching your video is to give them actionable information. Informational videos are a great way to build your brand and increase your chance of your content being shared. But while providing value to the viewer should be your target, don’t overload them with too much information. Select 1-3 valuable points to discuss in your video (like in the video template above!) and you’ll hit the bullseye.
2. Product videos
Product videos highlight your product’s special features and can do everything from demo a new offering, preview an upcoming initiative, or dive into a whole line of items to give users a better sense of your brand. When formulating your product video script, remember to keep the focus on the product’s value, taking care to highlight exactly why the product (and your brand) is so unique. Bonus points if you include things like sizing options, prices, and more right in the video itself.
3. Testimonial videos
Customers have been shown to spend 31% more on a brand that has good reviews. Consider making a video that displays social proof of your brand or agency to build trust and boost customer interest. Consider interviewing a customer about their experience with your business, or curate a few of your favorite written testimonials into a new video.
4. How-to videos
What about taking an educational approach to grab your audience’s attention? If you’re a subject matter expert in your field, how-to videos can be some of the easiest videos to script, especially if you’re using a video template. How-to videos are a great way to position yourself as an authoritative voice in your field, and also helps provide additional value to your user.
5. Thought leadership videos
Another great way to expand your reach and build brand authority is to create thought leadership video content. This can be anything from a lengthy video podcast to super-shareable inspirational content, and can involve both your personal insight and expertise as well as fellow thought leaders in your space.
Ready to create video scripts?
Now that you know how to write a script for a video (and how to make the process easier with AI), we hope you’re feeling fired up to dig into your next video project. Just keep in mind all the above tips (and keep those Vimeo Video Creator templates handy) to make your next project seamless, fun, and oh-so put together.
Go from idea to script in seconds with Vimeo
