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What ad video editing is
An ad video has a harder job than an organic post. It appears to people who did not choose to follow you, it competes with everything else in the feed, and it has to make an offer clear before the viewer scrolls away. Promotional editing is built around that reality: a strong opening, a clear message, and a call to action the viewer cannot miss.
The other difference is testing. Nobody can reliably predict which hook or length will perform best, so we edit several versions from the same footage. Your ad account then shows which one earns cheaper leads or sales, and future creatives build on what actually worked.
Who needs ad-ready video
- D2C brands running product ads on Instagram and Facebook.
- Real estate agencies promoting new launches and site visits to targeted audiences.
- Coaching institutes advertising admissions, demo classes and batch start dates.
- Clinics promoting consultations, health camps or specific treatments within platform policies.
- Restaurants pushing delivery offers, festive menus and table bookings.
- Manufacturers and B2B firms running YouTube ads aimed at distributors or buyers.
What you receive
- Multiple hooks: different opening lines or visuals for the first seconds of the ad.
- Several lengths: for example a short cut for stories and a longer cut for feed or YouTube.
- Clear offer and CTA: the price, benefit or next step shown on screen, not only spoken.
- Captions: so the ad works when played on mute.
- Brand elements: logo, colours and end card applied consistently across every version.
- Licensed music: tracks cleared for advertising use.
Aspect ratios and files
| Placement | Aspect ratio | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Stories and Reels | 9:16 | Full-screen vertical placements |
| Feed | 4:5 or 1:1 | Instagram and Facebook feed |
| YouTube and in-stream | 16:9 | YouTube ads and website embeds |
All versions are exported as MP4 (H.264) with clearly named files, so whoever uploads them to the ad account knows which hook, length and ratio each file is.
How the process works
- Campaign brief: offer, audience, platform, landing page and any policy restrictions.
- Footage review: we check what you have and suggest extra shots or stock if a key moment is missing.
- Variation plan: we agree which hooks, lengths and ratios to produce.
- First edits: a master version is shared for feedback before we build all variations.
- Revisions and delivery: after approval, every variation is exported and labelled.
Approving a master version first saves time: tone, captions and branding are settled once, then applied across the set.
Once results come in from your ad account, share which versions performed and which did not. That feedback shapes the next round: we keep the winning hook or structure and test new angles against it, so each batch of creatives starts from a stronger base rather than from scratch.
Tools
We cut ads in Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve and animate price tags, badges and text in After Effects. For fast social-style variations, CapCut is occasionally useful. Stock footage and music come from licensed libraries, and we keep a record of what was used.
What affects timeline and cost
- Number of variations: more hooks, lengths and ratios mean more exports and checks.
- Source material: ready footage is quicker than building an ad from stock and graphics.
- Motion graphics: animated product callouts and pricing add time.
- Script support: if hooks and copy need writing, that happens before editing.
- Refresh cycle: running campaigns usually need new creatives regularly as ads tire.
Common ad video mistakes
- Spending the first seconds on a logo instead of the benefit or the problem.
- Relying on voiceover alone when many viewers watch without sound.
- Making one version and assuming it will work everywhere.
- Putting text where platform interface elements cover it.
- Making claims that break platform advertising policies, which can get the ad rejected.
Frequently asked questions
How many variations should we test?
It depends on your budget and how many ads your account can realistically test. A few hooks across two or three placements is a sensible starting point, and we expand what works.
Can you make ads from existing footage or reels?
Yes. Existing reels, product clips and testimonials can often be re-cut into ads with a stronger hook and clearer call to action.
Do you run the ads as well?
Editing is separate, but our ads and performance marketing service can plan, run and report on campaigns using these videos.
Will the music be safe for ads?
We use music licensed for commercial and advertising use. Trending platform audio is usually not cleared for ads, so we avoid it in paid creatives.
How often should ad videos be refreshed?
When results start slipping or the same audience has seen an ad many times. Your ad account’s frequency and cost trends are the best signal. We can plan a regular refresh so new hooks and cuts are ready before older ones tire.
Talk to us about promotional & ad video editing
Short ad videos for Meta and YouTube, cut in several lengths and formats for testing.