Auto-Generate Short-Form Videos

Automatically create short-form YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram videos with code and no-code tools. Make hundreds of Shorts, Stories, and Reels using a spreadsheet, Zapier workflow, or programmatically using the API. Combine video automation with AI, such as GPT-4 or ChatGPT, to create entertaining videos with facts, quotes, explanations, and more.

Create short-form videos in bulk
Create short-form videos using no-code tools
Create short-form videos by API

How To Automate Short-Form Video Content?

Video automation simplifies the process of creating short-form videos by using templates and dynamic data. With just a single design, you can generate countless unique Shorts, Stories, or Reels. Simply connect a data source, such as a spreadsheet, Zapier workflow, or API integration to change text, photos, video clips, and other elements. Here's a brief overview of how this works.

1
Start with a video template

First, you need to create a template that will serve as the foundation for your videos. This template consists of placeholder elements, such as text and media, which can be populated with data from your automated workflow.

Whether you're making videos for YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram, it is best to keep the duration between 15 and 60 seconds and the aspect ratio at 9:16. There are several ready-made templates available, but you'll likely want to design your own. You can do this in the online template editor, which has lots of customization options for animations and text styles.

01	Spring Sale	Image 1	#4980f1
02	Summer Sale	Image 2	#4980f1
03	Autumn Sale	Image 3	#4980f1
…	…	…	…
99	Holiday Sale	Image 99	#4980f1

99 videos generated

2
Set up an automated workflow

Once you have your template in place, choose one of the following three automation methods:

The easiest way is to use a spreadsheet. This approach lets you generate short-form video content by importing text, photos, and video clips from various data sources. This can be a product catalog, CSV file, or a document generated by ChatGPT. It is the ideal solution for creating videos in bulk, for instance, to prepare content for an entire month in advance. Check out this 7-minute tutorial for a quick start.
Another option is to use a no-code automation platform like Zapier. With this platform, you can create customized automation workflows by connecting over 5,000 apps, including Creatomate. For instance, you can auto-generate and post YouTube Shorts whenever new data is added to Airtable. This 7-minute tutorial shows you how to create such a workflow.
Alternatively, the most flexible way to auto-generate videos is by using the API. If you or someone on your team is a developer, you can generate tons of videos directly from your software applications using JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, or Python. Check out this guide to get started.

3
Automatically create short-form videos

No matter what kind of short-form video content you want to create, making YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and TikTok videos has never been easier. All you need to do is create a video design, and then choose the automation method that best suits your needs. If you're not sure which approach to choose, we recommend starting with the spreadsheet method.

You can take it a step further by using AI to generate your video's content. Using GPT-4 or ChatGPT, you can generate facts, quotes, or quizzes about a given topic. For step-by-step instructions, check out this spreadsheet tutorial, this Zapier tutorial, or this code tutorial.

Want to try it yourself? Get started for free in minutes:

Frequently asked questions

How can I automate short-form video content?

To efficiently create many short-form videos, you can use video automation software like Creatomate. The process is straightforward: start by creating a reusable video design, and then use a spreadsheet, Zapier workflow, or API integration to insert text, photos, video clips, and more.

What kind of videos can I automate?

As long as the design fits within a template, you can automate any type of short-form video content. Mostly, it's used to create YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and TikTok videos. Think of entertaining quiz videos, funny fact stories, educational content, and so much more. It is even possible to use AI to generate content for your videos.

Can I use AI to auto-generate short-form videos?

Yes, you can use AI technology in your automated workflows to generate video content. For instance, you can use GPT-4 or ChatGPT to generate facts, quotes, quizzes, and so on.

How long does it take to set up?

All three automation methods can be set up within just 10 minutes. You can start by following any of the practical step-by-step tutorials.

What's the best tool to automate shorts?

We believe Creatomate is the best tool for auto-generating short-form video content. With its online video editor, you can create video designs that perfectly match your style and needs. Furthermore, its user-friendly automation features make it a highly adaptable product for both marketers and developers. Check out this article for a more detailed comparison with other video generation tools.