No photos? How to make a promo video with words alone
You don't need photos or footage to post a promo video. In a text-only video, your words are the picture: set big, in your colors, moving on the beat. For a lot of posts, that's not a compromise. It's the clearest way to say it.
When words alone beat photos
- Announcements. Holiday hours, a new location, openings today, "we're hiring". The message is the words; a photo would only get in the way.
- Offers with a number. "20% off", "$5 tacos", "2 pm and 4:30". Numbers set big are hard to scroll past.
- Work that's hard to photograph. Plumbing, tax prep, insurance, cleaning, tutoring. A photo of a pipe sells nothing, and the promise does.
- A brand-new business. No photos yet? You can still announce the opening today.
- Real reviews. A client's own words, word for word, set big enough to read.
Write words that carry the whole video
With no photos, the words do everything, so each one has to earn its place:
- One idea per line. If a line has an "and" in it, it's probably two lines.
- Lead with the news. "Openings today" first; your name can go on the closing frame.
- Use numbers. Prices, times, dates and percentages are the most visual thing you can write.
- Keep it short. About five words a line, and four or five lines for 15 seconds. (See how long a promo video should be.)
- End with the action: "Call today", "Book online", "Apply in person".
Make it look like you
Your colors and your logo are what make a text video yours rather than a generic graphic. Pick two or three brand colors with strong contrast, light words on a dark ground or the other way round, and use them in every post. After a few weeks, people will know it's you before they read a word.
Five scripts to start from
We're hiring. Several states require a pay range in job postings, so put it in. It also helps the right people apply.
- We're hiring
- Line cooks, evenings
- $20 to $24 an hour
- Apply in person
Now serving a new area, for home and local services.
- Now serving Chula Vista
- Same-day repairs
- Call for a free quote
Openings today.
- Two openings today
- 2:00 and 4:30
- Book online
A sale with a deadline.
- Weekend sale
- 20% off everything
- Ends Sunday at 6
We've moved.
- We've moved
- Same team, new home
- 412 Fifth Avenue
Text-only styles in Kinetix Promo
In Kinetix Promo, choose "Text only" and your video comes in four styles made for words:
- Living Words: every key word acts out what it means. Hot steams, fresh sparkles, sale gets sliced.
- Drone Show: a fleet of glowing drones flies into formation to spell your lines in the night sky.
- Cymatics: the music shakes sand on a metal plate into patterns, then into your words.
- Sweet Spot: shards float in space until the camera finds the one angle where they spell your words.
Every one is set in your colors, with your logo, on the beat of original music. Any of our templates works text only, too.
We're hiring
Find your next great hire.
- We're hiring.
- Line cooks and servers.
- Full and part time. Free family meal.
- Apply at your business name.
Now serving
Announce a new service area.
- Now serving Chula Vista.
- Licensed plumbers, same-day service.
- Upfront pricing. No surprises.
- your business name.