How to write a winning AI video prompt

Crafting a prompt is the essential first step when creating with generative AI. And just like in more traditional workflows, your inputs can significantly impact output.

Think about the typical brief process as an example. If you give your team a strong brief, you’ll be happier with the results. If the original brief is hard to use or too complicated to deliver on, you might have a harder time nailing the creative.

The same logic applies to generative AI tools like video generators. If you put some care into your prompts upfront, you’ll get better results. Our team developed this guide to help you write video prompts that deliver on your goals and style. Read on to learn about different prompt types, the questions you should consider and tips for effective prompts.   

What’s an AI writing prompt?

When you use AI tools, you might see a box labeled “prompt.” Prompts are different from scripts or other types of writing deliverables. They’re specific to generative AI tools, which use your prompt to generate custom output.

Think of your prompt as instructions for the AI tool to help you create what you need. Depending on what you’re making, you might enter different kinds of information. For example, if you’re using an AI video generator, you’d use the prompt to describe your video’s topic, tone and general style. If you’re creating blog content, you might enter more information about writing style and tone.

Because generators respond to your specific prompts, it’s easy to customize the outputs. This guide focuses specifically on tips for AI video generation, as that’s our specialty.

How to write a prompt for AI video generators

To get the best results, you need to learn how to write prompts that are descriptive, clear, and contextualized. The more you know your needs, the better your prompt will be. Here are a few considerations to optimize your prompts upfront. 

What’s my goal for this video? 

Prompt with your ideal outcome in mind. First, decide what your content’s purpose is, as sharing that context with your AI tool can help it adjust messaging to fit your intent. For instance, tell the tool whether you want to sell a product, encourage new subscriptions, or start a conversation with existing followers. If you’re trying to generate something more substantial, you might need to provide a full outline to get the results you’re looking for.

You can also reference specific business goals or content metrics to guide the AI tool further. For instance, if you’re making a video to build TikTok engagement, you can mention that in your prompt. Give the generator helpful clues to understand what kind of impact you want to achieve.

Who’s the audience? 

The best way to create content your viewers will enjoy is through deep audience understanding. As you post more on social media, you’ll start to get a sense of what resonates best for your particular audience. You can also learn more about your audience’s interests and behaviors in the analytics sections of most popular social media platforms. These tools can help you understand more about who watches your videos and what they care about. 

Then, include details about your audience in your video prompts. This helps the generator understand who you’re trying to reach, which can impact elements like tone and style.  

What format and style do you need?  

AI can customize its responses to your ideal format, so tell it specifically what you're trying to create. Specify the platform you’re posting on and any specific criteria you need the video to include. No matter what you’re creating, including this structure in your prompt will give you the best results. 

5 tips for great video prompts  

1. Be specific 

When putting together an AI prompt, be as clear and specific as possible so the AI can understand your needs and generate the response you’re looking for.  

Example: “Draft an informational 60-second YouTube Short. The video explains the top five winter hikes in Oregon. Target expert hikers in their 20s who live within a four-hour drive of each hike. Open with a strong hook about why winter hiking in Oregon is underrated. For each hike, include the location, elevation gain and something that makes it unique.” 

2. Organize the task into steps 

When asking AI tools to complete complex tasks, breaking them down into smaller steps can lead to more accurate results. By focusing on one thing at a time, the AI can deliver more precise responses that don’t overlook part of your message. Plus, if the platform doesn’t give you exactly what you’re looking for, it’s easier to tweak a single step rather than rewrite the entire prompt.

Example: “I need a YouTube video for a 2-minute tutorial that teaches total beginners how to use oil paints. Start with an introduction and include details about the origins of oil paint. Then, describe which art supplies people need to get started. Finally, walk through the steps of sketching and painting a landscape scene of a mountain in the forest.” 

3. Share your style

To get AI to generate outputs in your voice, share information about your usual tone or style. This helps the AI produce output that sounds like it really comes from you or your team. Try to include these details in each prompt so the AI’s outputs have a consistent tone—this gives you a clear brand identity and helps viewers recognize your content. 

Example: "I’m a travel vlogger, and I’ve been to 54 countries. I usually post short-form videos on Instagram Reels and TikTok."

4. Set the scene

Your AI video generator will provide better results if you share your vision for how the video should look and feel. Include details that help create the world you want, like lighting, color or even sound. 

Example: “Use a soft color palette with ambient lighting.”

5. Try different versions 

Finding the prompts that give you the best results will take a bit of practice, so don’t be afraid to experiment. Try writing the same request in different styles to see which response best matches your ideas and content style. Once you find the best prompt for your content, turn it into a reusable template.

Example: “Make a TikTok about quick dinner recipes” vs. “Create a two-minute video for a TikTok about five quick dinner recipes: Chickpea curry, Caprese salad, beef stir fry, spaghetti, and one-pan chicken.”   

Turn prompts into videos with Captions  

With Captions, prompts get you from zero to video, fast. You can use prompts to generate new videos on your phone or a computer, then use the chat-based editor to apply any other changes you want to see. All you need to start is a video idea, and Captions guides you through the rest. You can also use Captions to generate video scripts for future projects. Just type your topic and goal, and Captions will generate an original script for you to use.