Everything about short video, in one place.
An effective short promo video opens with a hook that reads in the first second, keeps every line on screen long enough to read, cuts on the bars of the music and ends with a single call to action. These guides explain each step with measurable rules and real platform data.
Basics
The structure of a short promo video: the hook, reading time, flow and call to action.
How to make a promo video: 7 steps to a short video that hits the beat
The 7 steps to a promo video for Reels, TikTok and Shorts: goal, one message, hook, script, music, reading time, safe zones and publishing.
How to write a video hook: 8 patterns that stop the scroll in one second
Opening lines that stop the scroll on Reels and TikTok: 8 proven hook patterns, examples, word limits and the openings to avoid.
The on-screen reading-time rule: how many seconds should text stay in a video?
On-screen text should stay for at least max(1.2 s, 0.35 s × words + 0.5 s). A table of seconds and bars by word count, plus line and list limits.
Platforms
Sizes, safe zones and durations on Reels, TikTok, Shorts and more.
Instagram Reels size and safe zones: a pixel-by-pixel guide
Reels are 1080×1920 (9:16). Keep text 285 px from the top, 380 px from the bottom, 60 px left and 120 px right. Story, feed and ad sizes in tables.
Social media video sizes 2026: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, X
Video size, aspect ratio, recommended and maximum length, frame rate and safe zone for every platform in one table: Reels, Stories, TikTok, Shorts, LinkedIn, Facebook, X.
How to make a TikTok ad: a short video that feels native and sells
TikTok ad video: 1080×1920, 15–35 s, a hook in the first 2 seconds. Safe zone for the 480 px caption block and a script template.
YouTube Shorts promo video: size, length and the loop tactic
YouTube Shorts promo video: 1080×1920, 15–35 s recommended, 180 s maximum. Safe zone, bitrate and loudness settings.
Sound & music
Editing to the beat, choosing a tempo and music without copyright trouble.
Editing video to the beat: landing every cut with BPM and bars
The maths of cutting to music: 1 bar = 4 × 60 / BPM seconds. Bar lengths by BPM, how many bars fit in 15 and 30 seconds, and tempo by industry.
Royalty-free music for promo videos: licence types and original scores
Which music can you use in an ad or promo video? The difference between CC0, CC BY, NC, ND and SA licences, the sync rule and why an original score is safest.
Brand & design
Brand colours, typography and readability.
Industry playbooks
Colors, fonts, tempo and hooks for 31 industries.
Platform sizes
Pixel-exact safe zones and durations.
Video report
Original data by industry and platform.
Reading is good. Trying is better.
Make your first video free in the studio that applies all of these rules for you.