How to Write Better Prompts for AI Video Tools: A Simple Guide for Marketers and Creators
TL;DR:
If you’re using AI to generate videos, the quality of your prompt makes all the difference. A vague or messy prompt will give you a confusing video. A clear, specific one will give you something surprisingly good. In this post, we break down the key ingredients for writing better prompts, using Google’s Veo 3 as an example.
The Power of a Good Prompt
We’ve all heard the saying “garbage in, garbage out”. With AI video tools, that couldn’t be more true. Whether you’re making social content, explainer videos or creative concepts, the prompt you write acts like a director’s brief for the AI.
At BearJam, we’ve been exploring how to use tools like Veo 3, which turns simple text into short, sound-filled video clips. The results are only as good as the instructions you give it. So if you’re starting to experiment, here’s how to prompt like a pro.
First Things First: Be Clear
This isn’t the time to waffle. You’re not writing a creative brief for a colleague. You’re giving instructions to a machine that will do exactly what you ask - or something entirely unexpected if you’re vague.
Avoid things like:
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“Maybe something like a person walking in a park?”
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“Thinking of a moody scene, not sure, maybe morning?”
Instead, be direct and descriptive:
The difference is night and day.
The Six Elements of a Great Prompt
When we’re writing prompts for Veo 3, we focus on six key ingredients:
1. Subject
Who or what is in the scene? Be specific. Don’t just say “a person”. Say “a teenage girl with curly hair wearing a denim jacket”.
2. Action
What are they doing? “Standing” is fine, but “skimming stones across a lake” is better. Give the action purpose or emotion.
3. Scene
Where is it happening? What time of day? What’s the setting? Add a bit of atmosphere. “A sunlit kitchen with light wood cabinets during a quiet morning” tells the AI exactly what to build.
4. Camera Angle
Are you showing a wide shot, a close-up, or a point-of-view? Each option gives a different emotional feel to the scene.
5. Camera Movement
Add dynamism. Maybe it’s a slow pan to the right, a drone shot overhead, or a handheld track behind the character. These touches bring the scene to life.
6. Audio
With Veo 3, you can add sound. Want background chatter in a café? City traffic? Or a character saying a line of dialogue? You can include all of that in the prompt.
A Before & After Example
Here’s a quick look at how much difference a better prompt can make:
Basic Prompt:
“A bird flying near a flower.”
Result:
A random bird. A random flower. Not much emotion.
Improved Prompt:
“A hummingbird hovers near a red hibiscus flower in a lush garden, its wings a blur. Morning light shines through the leaves, and soft birdsong plays in the background.”
Result:
A beautiful, detailed shot with movement, mood, and clear focus.
Why This Matters for Brands
If you’re using AI video for marketing, good prompts help you:
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Stay on brand visually
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Make better content faster
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Test multiple variations for different audiences
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Avoid wasting time on unusable outputs
Whether you’re generating full scenes or building moodboards and concepts, good prompting saves time and improves results.
How We Help at BearJam
We don’t just generate content for the sake of it. We use AI as part of a creative process that starts with strategy and ends in storytelling. When we use tools like Veo 3, we:
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Build prompts based on creative objectives
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Storyboard first, then generate scene-by-scene
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Combine AI and traditional video when needed
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Help clients test, refine and scale content with confidence
If you’re curious but not sure where to start, we’d be happy to help.
Final Thought
You don’t need to be a filmmaker to use AI video tools - but a little structure goes a long way. Mastering prompts is one of the easiest ways to stand out as more brands start experimenting with generative video.
And once you’ve got the hang of it, it’s actually quite fun.
