Video Design for Small Businesses: Cost-Effective Strategies

TL;DR

• Videos simplify storytelling and they work well across platforms.
• Brands are actively incorporating videos into their branding and marketing strategies.
• Time to talk about tools and strategies to create a strong video workflow for a small business.

When was the last time TikTok made you buy something? If it was recently, you already understand why video is no longer optional for small businesses. Sometimes, a simple short video does what entire websites can do. It can grab attention, explain the value you are creating and drive purchase decisions in seconds. This is exactly why video design for small businesses is a topic that needs attention. 

The video design workflow a small business establishes must have a repeatable and easily manageable way to create video content that shows up consistently, fits different platforms and actually drives action without draining your budget or time. 

The problem most small businesses run into is simple. They have brilliant ideas for video content but very few strategies when it comes to executing these ideas. So today we’re talking about these strategies – the tools, resources and services that you need for a robust video design workflow for small businesses. 

How Can Small Businesses Access Video Design Easily? Strategies, Tools & Services

When your strategy relies on raw footage 

There are occasions where editing raw footage and branding it might be what you are looking for:

• Founder interviews 
• Video testimonials 
• Behind-the-scenes videos 
• Product review videos showing real people using the product

These are the kind of videos where simple animated elements and random clips will not deliver the message as accurately. So, capturing footage with decent-quality camera equipment or even a smartphone is a good starting point. When you have the footage, the following tools help you fine-tune it and create social-media-ready clips. 

CapCut 

A highly intuitive, mobile-first video editor optimized for social media content, CapCut is one of the best tools to edit short videos. It works well for:

• Mobile cuts
• Automated caption generation
• Syncing videos to trending audio for better reach on socials  
• Removal of video backgrounds 

One of the main benefits of CapCut is that it allows even people with little to no video design or editing experience patch together quick clips on the go and push them straight to Reels, Shorts or TikTok. 

Edits 

Another great mobile-first app, Edits might be a new player in the segment but it has quickly become a popular option. 

For teams with raw footage that needs to be refined before sharing on social media, this app offers the following features: 

• Frame-by-frame editing 
• AI animation 
• Zoom controls 
• Enhanced audio 
• Option to add video overlays 
• Background editing 

In addition to these, small businesses can record raw footage natively up to 10 minutes long using its advanced built-in camera controls which feature complete manual exposure overrides and an on-screen script teleprompter for flawless voiceovers.

In short, this is an app that makes video design for small businesses so much simper. 

Descript 

This is a great tool for someone looking for fast and easy AI-powered video editing driven by simple text prompts. 

Some of the notable features on Descript that make it a great option for editing footage for small businesses are: 

• Studio Sound that helps enhance audio 
• Removal of filler words 
• Eye contact 
• Green screen to alter backgrounds in videos 
• AI avatar versions of subject 
• Translations  

Descript has conveniently priced plans for creators and small businesses with diverse budgets including an option to try the tool for free. 

When you need branded marketing videos without filming 

Video design for small businesses should also accommodate design-led content in the form of: 

• Product promotions 
• Brand awareness videos 
• Offer announcements 
• Service explainer videos 

For these, you might start with a mix of static images and text. Or in some cases, you start from scratch and so having a library of templates comes in handy. 

The following tools help in such cases:

Canva 

One of the easiest video design suites for small businesses, Canva also packs a variety of AI-powered features to enhance the workflow. 

Canva’s strength lies in its Brand Kit integration and team workspace synchronization. Instead of manually matching colors and fonts for every single upload, you set your business’s custom color hex codes, vector logos, and typography styles once. When you pull up a video template, Canva instantly helps add colors and restyle the entire layout to match your brand. 

Additionally, Canva features an incredibly vast depository of premium stock footage, vector graphics, and audio tracks. So, you can begin from templates or start from scratch and use relevant stock assets, tweaking them to suit your requirements. 

Adobe Express 

Adobe’s fast, browser-based design alternative, Adobe Express, bridges the gap between simple template matching and the high-end creative control found in professional editing suites.

From bulk create features to easy translations, object replacement, easy animations and more, Adobe Express simplifies video editing and simple video design so much simpler. 

It also has a vast library of templates for inspiration and to quickly generate videos based on a specific style or aesthetic. It also lets you easily drag and drop elements to add more meaning to your videos and can resize videos for various platforms.

InVideo  

Packed with AI video generation capabilities, InVideo is also known for its pre-made transitions, high-end promo layouts, and intelligent text-matching to build video assets out of written briefs.

InVideo is a powerhouse for turning simple promotional messages into refined video ads. If you need to announce a 48-hour flash sale but have zero visual assets, you simply choose from one of their purpose-built marketing templates, paste your text script, and the software automatically cuts together a fast-paced sequence using relevant, high-resolution stock clips and synchronized audio tracks. 

Moreover, its advanced text-to-speech tools generate highly natural, human-sounding AI voiceovers to narrate your product offerings automatically. 

When you need videos that educate and inform your audience 

In addition to promotional videos and product-focused videos, sometimes there are information-focused videos that brands need. These are mostly evergreen content that help build authority and can come in the form of: 

• How-to and explainer videos 
• Industry trends and insights 
• Educational series 
• Quotes videos for engagement 
• FAQ videos 

To tackle these, the following tools are quite useful. 

Biteable 

As a premium, studio-quality automated video builder, Biteable specializes in clean, modern typography and professional information delivery.

Biteable has a wide range of templates categorized for various applications. Notably, the tool is known for its animation library with animations for all occasions. These animations add more life to your videos and make them more interactive. 

The publishing tools on Biteable make it easier to share completed videos on various platforms. Its in-build analytics tools help track the performance of your videos and monitor engagement so as to refine your strategies. 

Along with these features, Biteable includes powerful collaboration tools for teams to stay in the loop and work on their videos. 

Animoto 

A classic, reliable slideshow-style video maker that specializes in transforming static educational assets, photo assets, and voice tracks into smooth, flowing narrative sequences. 

With intuitive text effects, voiceovers and the option to add transitions and animations, Animoto is a beginner-friendly video tool. In addition to convenient video editing, the tool also includes screen recording features when you want to include demos for your digital product. 

And yes, this platform has a variety of templates to explore for inspiration, for those times when you need something quick. But the real benefit is that you can also save your templates and easily apply your brand elements when needed. 

When you want AI avatars instead of filming people 

Sometimes, you need a human touch but you do not want to appear on the screen. Or perhaps you want to create videos without on-camera presence but they also need to be engaging. This could be for videos like: 

• Training videos
• Sales videos
• Multilingual explainers
• Internal updates

These are applications where video design for small businesses benefits from tools that let you generate AI avatars and feature them in your videos. 

For such videos, the following tools are useful. 

HeyGen 

In the world of AI video generation, HeyGen has a special place for AI avatar videos. The best part is that it lets you turn simple text scripts into videos or even photos to videos. It can generate AI avatar videos by creating your AI twin based on a reference video you upload. 

It is known for AI avatar videos that look and sound natural and are fully directable. You can write natural-language directions directly into your script block, and the AI naturally sequences those gestures. 

For rapid production, its Video Agent integration allows you to generate a fully produced video directly from a single prompt within ChatGPT or Claude, combining your script, avatar, dynamic on-screen text, and contextual B-roll seamlessly. 

Synthesia 

You can either browse from the pre-built avatars on the platform or generate your own. Synthesia simplifies the process of generating and customizing avatars, their outfit and actions as well. 

Like HeyGen, Synthesia also lets you upload your photo to create a digital twin of yourself to be featured in your videos. 

The Brand Kit feature lets you save all your brand assets and apply your brand design to videos generated on the platform in a few simple steps. It also packs a bunch of analytics tools that help monitor your videos and their performance over time. 

When you want it all – unlimited design services 

Different tools serve different purposes. When you do not have the time to spare, when mastering all these tools feels overwhelming, outsourcing video design to a professional design team is the better option. 

There comes a point where managing templates, tweaking AI avatars, and fighting with timelines consumes too much of your day but you aren’t ready to take on the massive overhead of hiring a full-time, in-house video editor. If you are wondering how small businesses can access professional video design easily without the steep learning curve, unlimited design services bridge the gap.

Rather than paying traditional production agencies per project or freelancers by the hour (which makes your marketing budget incredibly unpredictable), unlimited design services operate on a flat, predictable monthly subscription model.

How the Unlimited Video Subscription Model Works for Small Businesses 

At its core, this model is simple. Instead of paying per video or per hour, you pay a flat monthly fee and submit video design requests as you need them. Think of it like having an on-demand video editor and motion designer sitting in the background of your business.

Let’s be upfront – it is not about unlimited output in the literal sense. The design output volume, the number of videos the team can design for you and the number they can edit varies from one service to another. However, you can submit unlimited requests without worrying about being charged per request or on an hourly basis. 

Additionally, you do not stop to negotiate pricing every time you want a new video. You don’t wait weeks for a quote. You just send a brief, get revisions, and move on.

Most services follow a workflow that looks something like this:

• You submit a request – for a promo or a short animated TikTok video or Reels ad or even a batch of repurposed content cut from a single long video. 
• The design team builds it – they take your footage, brand assets and script and turn it into a structured video or design animated videos from the static assets you provide them with. 
• You review and refine – you check the designed video, leave your feedback, request edits until it feels right.
• You approve the design – once you are happy with the revisions and the end results, you approve the video and export it in the formats you need along with source files. 

The unlimited video model benefits 

In the end, your decisions depend on influential factors like time, money and output. Freelance video editors on platforms like Upwork cost about $10-$60 per hour and most video requests need a few hours. The number varies depending on the experience of the editor as well. Agencies charge slightly more. 

DIY tools are priced differently depending on the features you wish to use and the number of designs you need. 

For instance, CapCut Pro costs about $9.99/month for access to all templates, effects, and transitions on the platform. Descript has plans ranging from $16-$50/month for each user. Each plan allows a limited number of hours of use per month and limited AI credits as well. 

InVideo tends to get slightly more expensive with plans ranging from $17-$900/month again depending on AI credits, stock assets and more. 

While these tools offer unique benefits, working with different tools means adding different components to your design bill, leading to your design budget getting difficult to track. 

Additionally, there is also the time spent juggling between tools, comparing them, and the learning curve. 

Not all small businesses have the time or are ready to risk working with unpredictable pricing. And that’s where unlimited video design services like KIMP come to the picture. For a flat monthly fee ranging from $1000-$2000/month you get video and graphic design support depending on the plan you choose. 

FAQs: Cost-Effective Video Design for Small Businesses 

From Tools to a Working Video Design Workflow: Get KIMP 

Video design for small businesses is no longer a luxury but rather a necessity and you know it. So, pick the right tools and get your video workflow running. 

When the video workflow becomes a burden, when videos seem to be slowing you down, it’s time for a change. It’s time to invest in an unlimited design service, like KIMP. 

Register now and start your 7-day free trial!