7 easy short video ideas for small businesses

Pick one thing you sell and explain why it exists. What problem does it solve, who is it for, and what makes it different. Keep it to 20 or 30 seconds. People scroll fast.

Prompt idea: 'A short vertical video showing our product and the one problem it solves for this type of customer.'

Take a real review, even a single sentence, and turn it into a video. Big readable subtitles on a clean background work fine. Social proof travels further than self-promotion.

Prompt idea: 'A 20 second video showcasing this customer review with bold subtitles and a calm background.'

Teach one small useful thing. A barber on how often to wash your hair. A bookkeeper on what to keep for tax. A florist on how to make tulips last. Tips travel because they help people instantly.

Prompt idea: 'A 25 second video with one practical tip about my topic, with subtitles and a clear voiceover.'

Mention your town, neighbourhood or street. Local platforms and local searchers respond well to specific places. A bakery in Hackney should say Hackney out loud.

Prompt idea: 'A 25 second video about our business in my town, aimed at neighbours who have not visited yet.'

Show how something gets made, prepared, packed or delivered. People are curious about the work that usually stays hidden, and it makes your business feel real instead of faceless.

Prompt idea: 'A 20 second behind the scenes video showing how we prepare [product or service] before a customer sees it.'

Transformations are some of the most watched short videos on every platform. A clean versus dirty job, a tidy versus messy result, an empty versus styled space all hold attention to the end.

Prompt idea: 'A 20 second before and after video showing the result a customer gets when they use our [product or service].'

Pick one question customers really do ask, then answer it on camera or in a generated video. It saves you repeating yourself and helps you show up in search when others ask the same thing.

Prompt idea: 'A 25 second video answering this common customer question: [paste question], in a clear and friendly tone.'

Show how something is made, prepared or delivered. Behind the scenes content humanises a business. It is also one of the easiest formats because it already happens every day.

Prompt idea: 'A short behind the scenes video showing how we prepare our product or service each morning.'

Tie a video to the time of year. A new menu in autumn, a summer sale, a Christmas package, or a January reset offer gives the viewer a timely reason to care.

Prompt idea: 'A 20 second vertical video announcing our seasonal offer, with energetic visuals and bold subtitles.'

Write down the five questions customers email or ask in person. Each one is a video. If customers ask you directly, other people are probably wondering too.

Prompt idea: 'A short video answering this customer question in plain English, with subtitles and one clear takeaway.'