How to make a short promo video with CapCut

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A promo video does not need a studio. For most small businesses, a few clean clips, a clear voice and readable captions are enough. CapCut bundles an editor, AI text-to-speech and automatic captions in one place, which is why it shows up in so many freelancer toolkits.

The steps below follow the editing flow that CapCut itself describes in its own how-to pages. Menu names can differ slightly between the desktop app, the web editor and the phone app, and CapCut notes that availability varies by platform, so treat the labels as a map rather than a script.

Step by step

1. Write the script first

   Keep it short. A simple structure that works for most small businesses: one line that names who the video is for, one line about the problem, one line about what you do about it, and one clear next step.

   Only say things you can stand behind. A claim like 'trusted by hundreds of clients' belongs in a video only if it is true and you can show it. If you want help drafting, CapCut's text tool includes an AI writer, but you still decide what is accurate.

2. Create a project and import your clips

   In the desktop app, choose Create project, then Import, and drag your clips into the timeline. Film vertical (9:16) if the video is meant for Reels, TikTok or Shorts. If you already have wide footage, CapCut's Auto reframe option (under Video, then Basic) can crop it to another aspect ratio and keep the main subject in view. Check the result yourself.

3. Cut the clips to the script

   Select a clip, move the playhead to where you want a cut and use the Split icon. Delete what you do not need. Short shots, a few seconds each, keep a promo moving. Add a transition only where it helps; most cuts do not need one.

4. Add the voice-over

   Open Text, then Add text, and paste your script into the editor. Choose Text to speech, pick a voice and click Generate speech. CapCut describes this as AI narration that lands on your timeline as an audio track. Listen to the whole thing once. If a name or number is mispronounced, re-spell it phonetically in the script and generate again.

   Prefer your own voice? Record it instead. A real voice is often the more trustworthy choice for a personal brand.

   Check the licenceCapCut's text-to-speech page says generated audio can be used commercially, subject to its terms of use and platform guidelines. Read those terms before you use a generated voice, music or a template in paid advertising.

5. Generate auto captions

   Most people watch short videos without sound, so captions are not optional. Go to Captions, then Auto captions, choose the spoken language and click Generate. CapCut's help page says the feature uses AI speech-to-text and that availability and functionality vary by platform, and it advises you to review the generated subtitles and correct them by hand. Do that: fix the text and timing in the timeline, then style the captions so they stay readable on a phone.

6. Add music and check the balance

   Under Audio, then Music, you can add a background track. Keep it clearly below the voice. If the licence of a track is unclear for business use, choose a different one.

7. Export and test on a phone

   Click Export, then set resolution, frame rate, codec and bitrate. For social media, the defaults are usually fine. Click Export again to save the file. Watch the finished video on a phone with the sound off, then with the sound on, before you post it.

What you still have to do yourself

The AI parts of this workflow save typing and manual caption work. They do not decide what is worth saying. Spend your time on the script, the first three seconds and a clear next step. A call to action such as 'send us a message' works better than three.

Where to get it

CapCut's own how-to page calls the editor free to use, with an optional paid version, CapCut Pro+, for more advanced features. What each plan includes can change, and we did not find a price we could verify, so check inside the app before you rely on a feature. You can open CapCut here: CapCut (affiliate link, see the note above).

Keep going

1. 01How to create an AI voice-over with ElevenLabsAudioWrite a script for the ear, choose a voice and model, tune the settings, then generate and download a voice-over with ElevenLabs. Includes licence checks.
2. 02How to write client emails faster with AIEmailA practical six-step workflow for freelancers and small businesses: write a voice note, use a five-part prompt, check facts and save templates to reuse.