Social media videos are a powerful tool for engagement, brand awareness, and conversions. HeyGen makes it easy to create high-quality videos tailored for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Follow this step-by-step guide to streamline your video creation process.

Quick tips

Keep videos short and engaging, ideally between 15-60 seconds for maximum impact.

Make sure to use on-brand visuals. Customize templates, colors, fonts, and animations to match your brand identity.

Include captions, as many users watch videos without sound.

Optimize your tone for each platform. Facebook and Linkedin tend to be more professional and informative, while Instagram and TikTok content focuses more on entertaining, trendiness and being visually dynamic.

Step 1: Define your objective and script

Before jumping into HeyGen, clarify your video’s purpose:

1. Are you promoting a product?
2. Are you sharing a brand story?
3. Are you educating your audience?

Once your goal is set, draft a short and engaging script using HeyGen’s AI scriptwriting tools and don’t miss the section on how to generate a script with AI.

Pro Tip: Keep sentences concise, use active voice, and make language colloquial and audience-friendly.

Step 2: Choose or create your AI avatar

HeyGen offers a wide range of avatars for every occasion and options for creating custom avatars to bring your videos to life!

See this resource for step-by-step instructions on how to choose a Public Avatar from HeyGen’s extensive library of avatars with 700+ voices compatible with 170+ languages and dialects. Each Public Avatar also comes with multiple Looks, which are varying outfits, poses or backgrounds.

Want even more personalization? See our video avatar: create your digital twin guide to make your very own avatar using photos and videos from your smartphone. For the best output, see this Best Practices for creating AI avatars and voices.

Want something completely custom or out-of-the box? Try generating an avatar from text where your imagination is the only limit. Whether hyper-realistic, in an animation style of your choice, or set fully in a fictional world, generate the perfect avatar for your needs in unlimited outfits and surroundings. See our guide on how to change your avatars’ outfits and surroundings for further customization, and if you’re new to prompting, see our prompting best practices guide.

Customize avatars with outfits and backgrounds to enhance brand consistency.

Step 3: Select your video dimensions

Each social media platform has optimal video dimensions. In HeyGen, you’ll most likely want to select vertical orientation.

1. Facebook & LinkedIn: 1:1 (square) or 16:9 (landscape)
2. Instagram Feed & Reels: 4:5 (portrait) or 9:16 (vertical)
3. TikTok: 9:16 (full-screen vertical)

Step 4: Design Your Scenes & Edit Your Video

Visual storytelling is crucial for product explainer videos, and HeyGen makes it easy to design engaging scenes. To get started, see this step-by-step guide on how to create and edit videos in HeyGen. Polish your video to perfection with HeyGen’s intuitive editing tools. HeyGen uses a text-based editor to ensure your scenes, text and transitions align perfectly with your script.

Don’t miss our scripting tips which can help ensure accurate pronunciation and pauses for a natural flow.

Browse HeyGen’s extensive library of professionally designed templates or create your own to match your brand’s unique look and feel.

Upload assets such as product images, videos, animations, music, or screen recordings that illustrate your product’s key features.

If your video is designed to promote a product, check out our Product Placement guide, which walks you through how to create an avatar holding products of your choice.

Step 5: Export and share on social media

Once your video is finalized, click the ‘Generate’ button to export it in high resolution.

Platform-specific posting tips:

1. Facebook: Post engaging captions and include a CTA. Best for product explainers, announcements, and brand stories.
2. Instagram: Use hashtags and trending audio for more reach. Best for short reels, promotional content, and behind-the-scenes clips.
3. TikTok: Leverage trends, challenges, and catchy visuals. Best for viral-friendly content and product demos.
4. LinkedIn: Focus on educational, professional, or industry-related topics. Best for thought leadership, case studies, and testimonials.

Bonus tips for success

1. Test and iterate: Monitor analytics and adjust your content based on performance.
2. Stay consistent: Maintain brand visuals and messaging across all platforms.
3. Engage with your audience: Respond to comments and encourage interactions.
4. Optimize for mobile: Ensure all videos look great on smartphones.

With HeyGen, creating engaging and professional social media videos is easier than ever. Follow these steps and start crafting high-impact content today!