Video content takes time, effort, and resources to produce. Instead of letting long-form videos sit untouched after their initial release, you can turn them into engaging ads and sponsored shorts to grow your brands and social media profiles. These bite-sized clips perform well on platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook Ads, helping you reach more people with minimal extra effort.

Short-form videos capture attention quickly, which is crucial in today’s fast-scrolling social media era. According to multiple studies, videos that are 15 to 30 seconds long are generally considered optimal for capturing attention and delivering a concise message. This duration is widely used across platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

By pulling the best moments from your existing videos, you save time while maximizing the value of your content. But repurposing isn't just about cutting a video down—it’s about crafting something compelling that suits the format and keeps viewers engaged. That’s where AI-driven tools like AI Video Cut can help.

Overview of Video Ad Possibilities on Social Media (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok)

Social media platforms offer various video ad formats, each with unique features and best practices. Here’s a breakdown of ad possibilities on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, with a focus on video-based promotions.

YouTube Video Ads

YouTube offers multiple ad formats that appear before, during, or after videos, as well as in search results and recommended feeds.

• Skippable In-Stream ads – Play before or during a video; users can skip after 5 seconds. Best for storytelling, product demos, or longer ads with a strong hook.

• Non-skippable In-Stream ads – Short (15 seconds max) and cannot be skipped. Best for concise, high-impact messaging.
• Bumper ads – 6-second non-skippable ads, designed for quick branding and awareness.
• YouTube Shorts ads – Vertical video ads appearing in the Shorts feed, similar to TikTok-style engagement.

• Discovery ads – Appear on the YouTube homepage and in search results, blending into organic content.

Best Practices for YouTube Ads:

• Grab attention in the first few seconds.
• Optimize for both skippable and non-skippable formats.
• Include captions for better engagement.

Instagram Video Ads

Instagram integrates video ads across different placements, catering to various engagement styles.

• Instagram Feed video ads – Appear in users’ feeds like organic posts. Can be up to 60 seconds long.
• Instagram Story ads – Full-screen vertical ads appearing between users' stories. Often used for direct response campaigns (swipe-up links).
• Reels ads – Similar to TikTok, these ads appear between Reels content and encourage high engagement.
• Instagram Explore ads – Video ads placed within the Explore tab, targeting users discovering new content.

Best Practices for Instagram Ads:

• Use vertical formats for Reels and Stories.
• Keep content visually engaging and mobile-friendly.
• Include a clear CTA, like “Shop Now” or “Swipe Up.”

TikTok Video Ads

TikTok’s ad system revolves around engaging, immersive video content that blends into the platform’s organic experience.

• In-Feed ads – Appear as native-looking videos in users' "For You" feeds. Can include clickable CTAs.
• TopView ads – The first video users see when opening the app, providing premium visibility.
• Branded hashtag challenges – Encourage user participation and UGC (User-Generated Content).
• Branded effects – AR filters or interactive stickers that promote engagement.
• Spark ads – Boost existing organic content as an ad to maximize reach.

Best Practices for TikTok Ads:

• Make ads look like organic content (avoid overly polished production).
• Use trending music, effects, and challenges.
• Keep videos short (6–15 seconds for best performance).

Each platform has its own Ads Manager/Dashboard where users can upload and manage their video ads. Here’s how it works for each:

YouTube – Google Ads Dashboard

Users upload video ads via Google Ads (formerly Google AdWords).

1. Go to Google Ads and create a campaign.
2. Choose “Video” as the campaign type.
3. Upload the video (it must be hosted on YouTube).
4. Select the ad format (Skippable, Non-Skippable, Bumper, Shorts, etc.).
5. Define the target audience, budget, and bidding strategy.
6. Submit for review, and once approved, it will start running.

Instagram – Meta Ads Manager

Since Instagram is part of Meta, video ads are managed through Meta Ads Manager (same as Facebook).

1. Go to Meta Ads Manager.
2. Click Create and select a campaign objective (Traffic, Conversions, Engagement, etc.).
3. Choose Instagram as the ad placement (you can also include Facebook if needed).
4. Upload the video or select an existing Instagram Reel, Feed post, or Story.
5. Adjust video settings, add a CTA, and set audience targeting.
6. Submit for review; after approval, it will go live.

TikTok – TikTok Ads Manager

TikTok ads are managed through TikTok Ads Manager.

1. Sign in at TikTok Ads Manager.
2. Click Create Campaign and select an objective (Conversions, Traffic, App Install, etc.).
3. Choose Video as the ad format.
4. Upload the video or promote an existing TikTok post (Spark Ads).
5. Set up targeting, budget, and bidding options.
6. Submit the ad for approval, and once reviewed, it will start running.

Can You Upload Ads Directly from the App?

Instagram and TikTok allow users to boost posts directly from the app, but for full targeting options and ad customization, using the Ads Manager is recommended. YouTube, in turn, requires video ads to be uploaded via Google Ads; you can’t run ads directly from the YouTube app.

How Long Should Video Ads Be? 

Various studies suggest different optimal length, but here are the general guidelines you can follow to find some basis for your upcoming tests and experiments: 

• Facebook: For news feed ads, 15 seconds or less is recommended, while in-stream ads can be up to 31 seconds.
• LinkedIn: For brand awareness, aim for under 30 seconds; for more detailed content, up to 90 seconds can be effective.
• Instagram: Short, engaging content of 15 to 30 seconds is ideal.
• Twitter: Videos should be 15 seconds or less due to the platform's fast-paced nature.
• YouTube: For ads, pre-roll videos should be 15 to 20 seconds, and bumper ads are limited to 6 seconds. 

What Makes a Short-Form Video Effective?

Not every segment of a long video will work as an ad. The best short-form content grabs attention immediately, delivers a clear message, and encourages action. Here’s what works:

A strong hook

The first few seconds determine whether someone keeps watching or scrolls away. A thought-provoking question, a bold statement, or an eye-catching visual can pull people in.

Concise messaging

A 60-minute podcast or a 10-minute product demo may contain valuable insights, but an ad needs to distill that message down to 15–60 seconds. The shorter the content, the sharper it needs to be.

Visual and emotional appeal

Short videos rely on quick cuts, dynamic text, music, and engaging visuals. Even if the original video is informative, repurposing it for ads means enhancing its visual impact.

A clear call to action (CTA)

Whether it’s “Try for free,” “Sign up now,” or “Watch the full video,” a CTA guides viewers on what to do next. Without it, even a well-edited video might not lead to conversions.

How to Repurpose Long-Form Content for Ads

Step 1: Identify Key Moments

Go through your video and find sections that pack the most impact. Look for moments where the message is clear, the visuals are engaging, and the speaker delivers something memorable. These could be:

• A compelling customer testimonial.
• A product demo that showcases a unique feature.
• A funny or relatable moment that fits well with social media trends.
• A powerful quote or insight that sparks curiosity.

If reviewing footage manually sounds time-consuming, AI Video Cut can help by automatically identifying the most engaging segments based on speech patterns, facial expressions, and audience reactions.

Here’s how to use it: 

1. Open the AI Video Cut website and insert a YouTube video link you want to turn into a short ad or upload a video from your device. 

2. Choose the video type from templates or come up with your own custom prompt how you want to crop and cut your original video. For ads, we suggest you should choose the following prompts: 

• Topic-clips to generate multiple videos at once.
• Product Ads. 
• Testimonial if you want to show what your customers say about your product.
• Product Features to showcase an overview of your product features.
• Showcase to highlight practical use cases of your product.
• Multi-Product Recap if you want to advertise multiple products in a single video. 

3. Select the length of your output video, aspect ratio (depending on a platform), and original video language to make sure the captions are as accurate as possible. 

4. Choose the caption style to align them better to your brand visuals and press Submit. 

As a result, along with a video transcription, you’ll get a short product video ad perfectly tailored to your vision and a platform where you want it to publish. 

If you use AI Video Cut, all the next steps aren’t necessary. But if you opted for a manual approach, keep on reading. 

Step 2: Edit for Maximum Engagement

Once you’ve manually selected key moments, it’s time to refine them into a short, impactful video.

• Trim unnecessary parts. The goal is to remove filler and leave only what matters. A few seconds of silence or slow-paced dialogue can hurt engagement.
• Adjust the format. Vertical videos work best for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. If your original video is widescreen, cropping strategically ensures that key elements stay visible.
• Add captions. Many users watch videos without sound, so captions boost engagement and accessibility.
• Incorporate branding. A subtle logo, color scheme, or watermark can reinforce brand identity without being intrusive.

AI Video Cut streamlines this process by automatically resizing videos for different platforms, generating captions, and optimizing clips for social media engagement.

Step 3: Optimize for Distribution

Each platform has its own best practices for short-form content. A repurposed video should feel native to the platform where it’s posted. For example:

• TikTok and Instagram Reels: Fast cuts, trending sounds, and playful text overlays work well.
• YouTube Shorts: More polished production and slightly longer clips (30–60 seconds) tend to perform better.
• Facebook Ads: A well-defined message and a clear CTA should be the priority, as these videos are often seen by users who aren't actively looking for content.

Testing different versions of your repurposed video can help determine what resonates most with your audience. Running A/B tests with different hooks, lengths, or CTAs can provide insights into what drives engagement and conversions.

AI Video Cut Simplifies Repurposing

Manual video editing takes time, especially when you need to create multiple versions for different platforms. AI Video Cut automates much of this work:

• Smart scene detection pinpoints the best moments without hours of manual review.
• Automatic resizing ensures videos look great on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook.
• AI-powered captioning makes videos more accessible and engaging for viewers who watch without sound.
• Different prompts with the ability to regenerate the result video allow for a better and more efficient video repurposing specifically for your goals, be it a product ad that you want to make, product testimonial, overview of its features, and more. 

Repurposing long-form content into short-form ads is a smart way to extend the reach and impact of your videos. Instead of starting from scratch, you can take content you’ve already created and shape it into compelling, shareable clips.

Try AI Video Cut now to see what it can do!