AI Summary:
This step-by-step guide helps business owners and their marketing VAs create high-impact short-form videos (Reels, Stories, Shorts) to increase visibility, engagement, and conversions. It covers the why and how of video marketing, planning and editing techniques using tools like CapCut, Canva, and Descript, how to turn long-form videos into short ones, and how to optimise posts using hashtags, captions, and posting time data. You’ll also learn how to organise and delegate video content to your VA efficiently, and how to ride trending content with remixing to get more views. The blog ends with a free REEL Guide download or strategy session CTA.
Short form video isn’t just a trend, it’s your marketing multiplier. Whether you’re DIY-ing your content or guiding your marketing VA, short videos like Reels, Shorts, and Stories deliver next-level visibility, connection, and conversion without the pressure of going viral or spending big on ads.
This is your practical, step-by-step guide to creating scroll-stopping short form videos, with technical how-to’s, creative tips, editing tools, planning systems, and optimisation strategies that actually move the needle.
Why Short Form Video Matters in 2025
- Higher visibility: Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube algorithms boost short video content.
- Faster connection: In 60 seconds or less, you can build trust, share value, and show proof.
- More content from less effort: One long video = 5+ short-form clips.
- Perfect for busy buyers: People want info fast. Short-form videos serve it up simply.
If you’re not using Reels or Shorts, you’re missing out on free, high-impact reach.
Look at the Data Before You Post
Before you batch and blast:
Check your insights on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube Studio.
See what day and time your audience is most active.
Look at:
- Top-performing videos (length, style, sound)
- Engagement spikes (saves, shares, comments)
- Drop-off times (to shorten future content accordingly)
Pro Tip: Test morning, midday, and evening posts for a month. Let the numbers tell you what your audience loves.
Remixing & Riding the Trend Wave
If you want fast visibility with minimal effort, get smart with remixing.
What is Remixing?
Remixing is when you take an existing trending video or audio clip, and add your own spin. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok let you:
- Remix Reels (side-by-side commentary, reaction, or tutorial version)
- Use trending audio from someone else’s video
- Reply to a comment with a video
How to Spot Trends:
- Scroll your Reels feed: Notice repeating sounds, formats, transitions.
- Look at the music label. If it says “trending” or has thousands of uses, it’s hot.
- Watch what others in your niche are doing, especially creators with fast-growing reach.
How to Leverage It:
- Save the trending sound to your audio library.
- Create your own version within 24–72 hours.
- Adapt the format to your niche. Example:
A trending lip-sync? Make it about a client win.
A trending “day in the life”? Make it about how you manage your VA.
You don’t need to dance… just participate with relevance. Remixing keeps you in the algorithm’s good books.
Types of Short Form Video (And Where They Work Best)
Stories (Instagram & Facebook – 15 sec per slide)
- Use for: Daily updates, BTS (behind the scenes), polls, product walkthroughs
- Add: Stickers, music, captions, emoji sliders, or countdowns
Reels (Instagram & Facebook – up to 90 sec)
- Use for: Tutorials, testimonials, value bombs, B-roll with voiceovers
- Supports: Transitions, trending audio, voiceovers, stickers, and filters
Shorts (YouTube – up to 60 sec)
- Use for: Quick tips, thought leadership snippets, quotes from podcasts or YouTube videos
B-roll
- Silent footage of actions (walking, writing, typing, packing orders, sipping coffee)
- Overlay with voice, text, or trending sound
- It’s easy, without requiring face-to-camera speaking
How to Create Short Form Video: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Plan with Purpose
Each video should follow this simple structure:
- HOOK: Grab attention in 3 sec (e.g. “Still struggling to get leads?”)
- VALUE: Teach, inspire, or entertain (e.g. quick tip, quote, myth-bust) Use EATS (education, aspire, tell story, start conversation)
- Add a relevant CALL TO ACTION: “Download the REEL Guide” / “Book a strategy chat”
Use ChatGPT to generate ideas or hooks by prompting:
“Give me 5 30-second reel ideas for [your niche] with strong hooks.”
Step 2: Record on Your Phone (No Fancy Gear Needed)
- Use natural light facing a window.
- Wipe the lens and set your camera at eye level.
- Film vertically (9:16 ratio – portrait)
- Turn on Grid Lines to center your subject.
Pro tip: Add your project to an album on your phone, then edit each video on the phone to make it easy. It also makes it easier adding them in the order you wish to display them together.
You can also:
- Tap the smiley-face sticker icon ( Stickers Panel) to add:
- GIFs
- Location
- Polls
- Mentions/tags
- Hashtags
- Add on-screen text effects:
- Typewriter, Fade, Wipe, Bounce, Glitch (available inside Reels editor)
- Sync different text to appear/disappear at specific timestamps
Text Tip:
Keep on-screen text minimal. 1 bold hook or line per scene. Let your caption do the heavy lifting with details and CTA.
Step 3: Edit to Increase Engagement
On Reels (within Instagram or Facebook)
You can:
- Add trending music
- Use sound effects
- Apply voiceovers
- Play with filters and text transitions
- Insert timed captions that appear line by line
- Use templates or remix formats
On Editing Apps:
- CapCut: Transitions, AI captions, B-roll montages, green screen, and cut points
- Canva Pro: Branded video templates, logo overlays, animated text, and reusable layouts
- Descript (Desktop): Upload video → edit the text transcript → it auto-edits your video
Use CapCut’s “Auto Captions” to instantly add accurate subtitles and match font to your brand. Then export in the perfect format for Reels or Shorts. Use OBMHub.com to schedule your content.
Expand Your Reach with B-Roll
Record silent moments of:
- Your workspace
- Prepping a client package
- Zoom calls in action
- Walking outdoors
- Typing, planning, or sketching
Later, overlay these clips with:
- Narration
- Music
- Text quotes
- Hook phrases
You can reuse B-roll multiple times with different overlays = faster content creation for you or your VA.
Turn Long Videos into Short Gold
Already have:
- A podcast episode?
- Zoom replay?
- Masterclass or webinar?
Here’s how to mine short-form content from it:
- Upload to Descript or YouTube Studio and get the transcript.
- Paste the transcript into ChatGPT with the prompt:
“Give me 5 powerful quotes or moments under 30 seconds from this content.” - Locate the timestamps.
- Snip the video in Descript, CapCut or Canva.
- Add titles, captions, and music. Done.
Repurposing long videos this way = less stress, more content.
Where to Store and Share Content with Your VA
Use Google Drive, Dropbox, or Trello to organise:
- Folders by topic or month or content pillar
- Raw video clips
- Edited reels ready to publish
- Captions, hashtags, and post notes
- A content calendar spreadsheet (assets library)
Create a “VA Publishing Pack” so they can:
Grab a video
Copy the caption
Post with correct tags, music, and CTA
This keeps content flowing without micromanagement.
Hashtag + Caption Guidelines
- Use 3–15 hashtags per post (depending on where you are posting)
- 1 personal/brand (#OnlineBusinessMarketing)
- 1 niche/industry (#MarketingVA)
- 1-2 problem/solution-focused (#LeadGenTips, #NoMoreMarketingOverwhelm)
- The rest, what your audience is searching for that’s relevant to this content.
Avoid overcrowding the video with text. Let the caption do the storytelling:
- First line: attention hook
- Then Connection: tip, context, or story
- Add credibility: why you or why this
- End with: a clear CTA (e.g. “Download the REEL Guide to get started.”)
Final Tips
- Keep videos snappy (under 60 seconds).
- Show your face and voice when possible (it builds trust).
- Use emotion: humour, truth bombs, inspiration, behind-the-scenes
- Remix trending formats to stay visible
- Let your VA help… just give them the system and content!
Your Next Step: Get the REEL Guide or Book a Strategy Call
Download our REEL Guide: Here
Get 3 simple methods to create short-form video, even if you’re camera-shy.
Or if you’re ready for a personalised marketing strategy and VA implementation plan, book a time to chat and let’s build it together.
You don’t need to go viral. You just need a plan that works.
Let’s make short-form work for your long-term growth.
