Video editing

How to make a promo video

Updated September 10, 2024
Written by Andy Summons

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In image of the Clipchamp promo video thumbnail.

Want to capture your audience's attention or boost sales? Create eye-catching promo videos to announce a new product, promote an event, or increase brand awareness. Our professional video promo templates can help you get started quickly if you’re new to editing or short on time. Royalty-free stock media and intuitive video editing tools give you an easier way to create promo videos.

Read on to learn how to make promo videos with Clipchamp.

Elements of a good promo video

  • An engaging hook: capturing your audience’s attention quickly is crucial to ensuring your message is seen and heard. Write a short, catchy headline to make your video stand out or use stickers to draw people in. 

  • Clear and concise messaging: keep your messaging succinct and place any critical details near the start of the video so people see the most important information even if they don’t watch to the end. 

  • Consistent branding: the key to making your video promo more professional is ensuring the visual assets are consistent and on-brand. Use brand kit to add your brand’s color palette, logo, and fonts.

  • High quality production: ensure you’re using good quality video and audio, and add visual effects like transitions for a professional finish.

  • Make it accessible: ensure more people can understand your promo video message by adding subtitles and voiceovers. Subtitles help people with hearing difficulties or anyone listening to the video on mute, and voiceovers help people who are visually impaired. 

  • Animation and video effects: use movement to catch and hold people’s attention and pull focus in your video. From animated text and design elements to transitions and fades, video effects can help make your promo video more engaging. 

  • Background music and sound effects: pair up-beat music and sound effects with a fast-paced video to make your promo stand out. 

How to make a promo video for free

Step 1. Import videos, select stock footage or start with a template

To import your own videos, photos, and audio, click on the import media button in the your media tab on the toolbar to browse your computer files, or connect your OneDrive.  

An image of a user importing media.

If you would like to create a promo video using stock media , check out our royalty-free videos, audio, and images in the content library. Click on the content library tab on the toolbar and click on the visuals drop down arrow. Here, you can select videos, images, or backgrounds, and more. Search through different stock categories using the search bar as well.

An image of a user finding a stock video in Clipchamp.

Drag and drop your video onto the timeline to get started.

Image of a user adding a video to the timeline.

Step 2. Edit the size of your promo video

Edit the aspect ratio of your video to suit your social media platform. Click on the 16:9 button, then select a new aspect ratio as required.

An image of a user changing the aspect ratio of their video.

Don’t want to make a promo video from scratch? Use a professional video promo template instead. Click on the templates tab on the toolbar to browse related categories like social media ads or sales ads. Hover your cursor over a template to preview it. When you find a template you like, click to add it to the timeline.

An image of a user using a video template in Clipchamp.

Step 3. Customize your promo video template

Please note: for this tutorial we will be personalizing a free promo video template.

To customize text, click on the text box on the timeline, then click on the text tab on the property panel. Here, you can personalize the content of your text, change the font, color, size, position, and more.

An image of a user editing text overlay in a video.

To change the background music, click on the content library tab on the toolbar, then audio and finally click on the music category to browse through the royalty-free music options.

Image of a user browsing royalty-free music.

Find a track you like then drag and drop it on top of the existing audio track on the timeline to replace it. 

Image of a user adding music to the timeline.

Swap out stock videos with your own media by dragging and dropping a video onto the timeline directly over the stock asset. Your video will automatically snap into place and timeframe. 

Image of a user swapping out stock media with their own video in Clipchamp.

Add branding to your promo video using the brand kit tool. Click on the brand kit tab on the property panel to locate your brand assets like logos, fonts, and color palettes. Drag and drop a logo onto the timeline above your video and text assets to create an overlay. You can also adjust the transparency of your logo to turn it into a watermark

An image of a user adding a watermark to a video in Clipchamp.

Step 4. Preview and save your video

Before saving your video, make sure to preview by clicking on the play button. When you’re ready to save, click on the export button and select a video resolution. 

An image of a user saving a video.

For more help creating a video promo for social media, check out our YouTube tutorial. 

6 promo video ideas with ready-to-use templates

Social media sales ad template

Promote your next sale with a professional social media ad. Use this template for a quick and easy way to increase engagement, video views, and boost conversion rates for your next sale. 

Fitness promo video template 

Promote your latest class or membership offer with a promo video ad. If your small business has launched a new offering, tell potential customers with a short promo video. Showcase your business using stock footage, add some text and audio. 

Restaurant video promo template 

Tell a story and show off your restaurant’s atmosphere with your promo video. Use stock video to create a vibe and set expectations for your customers. You don’t have to travel the world to capture professional and unique content, stock footage is all you need. 

Event promotional video template

Make a promo video for an event to maximize awareness and attendance. Use stock video footage and royalty-free music to create hype for your upcoming event. 

Sale video ad template 

Boost traffic to your site for your next sale with a promo video. From themed sales to special offers and holiday sale events, make a professional promo video using sale video templates, stock video, and royalty-free music. 

Holiday promo video template 

Stand out during the holiday sales rush with an eye-catching promo video. Get a head start by using a video template and make the most of the royalty-free stock media to create a impactful video promos.

For more ideas and inspiration, browse our free video templates

Frequently asked questions

How much should I pay for a promo video?

You can make promo videos for free with Clipchamp. The Clipchamp promo video maker includes video promo templates and royalty-free media so you can get started right away at no cost.

Where can I post my promotional videos?

Export promo videos directly to social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok in just a few clicks. Simply, export your video at up to 1080p and upload directly from Clipchamp or download your video and post it where you need.

How long should my video promo be?

Video promos should be as short as you can make them while covering all the important details. For most social media platforms, like TikTok, Instagram, and X, 15 to 30 seconds is best. Generally, promo videos on YouTube, Facebook, or LinkedIn can be longer because people are more inclined to watch longer videos on these platforms.

If you want a faster way to make a promo video, create a video using the Clipchamp AI video editor. Find more promo video ideas for your business or dive deeper into video marketing and learn how to use video in your sales funnel.

Start creating today with Clipchamp for free or download the Clipchamp Windows app.

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