Pacing
How long should a marketing video be?
Length is a decision about attention, not about how much you have to say.
Match length to purpose: about 30 seconds for social, 60 to 90 seconds on a landing page, and up to two minutes for onboarding or training. Beyond that, split it into two videos.
The detail, in plain English
Every extra 15 seconds costs you viewers. A tighter cut of the same message almost always performs better than the long version.
Because a presenter video is produced from a script rather than filmed, making a shorter cut costs a rewrite and a few minutes, not another shoot.
What to do, step by step
- 1Name the purposeAwareness, explanation or instruction. Each has a natural ceiling.
- 2Set the word budgetWork backwards at about 140 words a minute and write to that number.
- 3Cut the last 10%The final lines are usually a summary the viewer does not need.
The short version in a table
| Placement | Target length | Word budget |
|---|---|---|
| Social feed | 20–30 seconds | 45–70 words |
| Landing page | 60–90 seconds | 140–210 words |
| Sales email | 45–60 seconds | 105–140 words |
| Onboarding | up to 2 minutes | up to 280 words |
A worked example
Worked example (illustration). An events team cuts a 3-minute conference invitation into a 50-second version for email and a 25-second version for social, using the same script trimmed twice.
What to watch out for
- Speeding up delivery to fit a limit sounds rushed — cut words instead.
- A two-minute video with three messages is really three videos.
- Long silences at the end look like a fault; finish on the last word.
How AutoPersonify does it
AutoPersonify gives you 143 real presenters, scripts in 42 languages and a free tier with no card, so you can make a finished video before you decide on a plan. Paid plans are Starter £49, Growth £149 and Scale £499 a month, all measured in finished video minutes.
Questions people ask
Do I need any video experience?
No. Length is decided by your word count, so the control is entirely in the script rather than in an editor.
How much does it cost?
Plans are measured in finished video minutes, so shorter videos stretch your allowance further. Starter £49 covers a healthy monthly run of short pieces.
Can I edit it afterwards?
Yes, and shortening is the most common edit. Trim the script, produce again, and keep both cuts for different placements.
Next step
Read the AI presenter video hub for the full picture, or start free and make one. Last updated 14 September 2026.
Start free, no card required
Pick one of 143 presenters, paste a short script, and make a real video before you pay anything.
Also useful: plans and prices and the agency revenue hub. Last updated 14 September 2026.