Why Video Ads Matter (And Why Most Business Owners Avoid Them)
If you’re running a business in Brisbane—whether you’re a plumber in Coorparoo, a lawyer in the CBD, or running a boutique in Paddington—you know that video is everywhere. You see your competitors posting videos on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and you know they’re getting attention.
But for most small business owners, making a video ad is a massive headache.
Traditionally, you had two choices: 1. Spend $5,000+ on a professional videographer, a fancy camera crew, and weeks of editing. 2. Record something yourself on your phone that looks a bit amateur and hope for the best.
Most people choose option three: they do nothing. They stick to static images or text ads because video feels too hard, too expensive, and too time-consuming.
That’s where AI video generation changes the game.
In this guide, I’m going to show you how AI can help you create professional-looking video ads that actually bring in phone calls and bookings, for a fraction of the cost of a traditional film crew. We’re going to talk about how this helps your bottom line by saving you thousands in production costs while doing the heavy lifting for your marketing.
What Exactly is AI Video Generation?
Forget the sci-fi movies. For a business owner, AI video generation just means using smart software to create video content from simple text or photos.
You don't need to know how to edit film. You don't need to stand in front of a camera and stumble over your words for twenty takes. You certainly don't need a degree in graphic design.
Think of it like an automated kitchen. You put the ingredients in (your text, your logo, some photos of your work), and the machine cooks the meal (a finished video ad).
How it works in plain English:
- Text-to-Video: You type in a description of what you want, and the AI creates the visuals and the voiceover. - Digital Avatars: You can use a lifelike digital person to "speak" your script. It looks and sounds like a real human, but you never had to hire an actor. - Automatic Editing: You give the AI a bunch of photos of a kitchen renovation you just finished, and it turns them into a high-energy ad with music and captions in about sixty seconds.Will This Actually Make Me Money?
I’ve seen this work for dozens of Brisbane businesses. The reality is that people click on videos much more often than they click on still images. More clicks usually mean more people on your website, which leads to more phone calls.
If you’re a landscaper, showing a 15-second "before and after" video created by AI is going to get you more enquiries than a single photo ever will. If you’re a mortgage broker, having a digital avatar explain the latest interest rate changes makes you look like an authority, without you having to spend your Sunday afternoon recording videos in your home office.
By using these tools, you’re winning your time back because you aren't stuck in the "content treadmill." You can create a month's worth of ads in a single morning.
The Cost: Is It Worth the Investment?
Let’s be blunt. A professional video production company in South East Queensland will charge you anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 for a single high-quality ad.
With AI tools, you’re looking at a monthly subscription that usually costs between $30 and $150.
The Trade-off: - Traditional: High quality, very high cost, takes weeks. - AI: Good quality (and getting better every day), very low cost, takes minutes.
For a small business, the AI route is almost always the smarter move. You can test ten different ads to see what brings in the most customers for the price of one traditional video. If one ad isn't working, you haven't lost thousands of dollars—you just spend five minutes making a new one.
What Should You Do First?
Don't go out and buy five different software subscriptions today. That’s a waste of money.
1. Identify one goal: Do you want more people to call you for a quote? Do you want more people to visit your shop in person? 2. Start with your own photos: Take the photos you already have on your phone of your work, your team, or your products. 3. Use a simple tool: Start with something like Canva or a basic AI video maker. Just try to make one 15-second ad for Facebook or Instagram. 4. Keep the script simple: Focus on the problem you solve. "Leaky tap? We’ll be there in an hour. Fixed price, no hidden fees. Call Smithy’s Plumbing today."
What’s a Waste of Money?
I see a lot of business owners get distracted by "shiny object syndrome." Here is what to avoid:
- Over-complicating it: You don't need a 3-minute cinematic masterpiece. People have short attention spans. 15 to 30 seconds is the sweet spot for ads. - Hiring expensive "AI Consultants": Most of these tools are designed for you to use yourself. If someone wants to charge you $5,000 just to set up an AI video tool, walk away. - Bad scripts: The AI can make the video look pretty, but if your offer is rubbish, the ad won't work. Focus on a strong offer first.
How Long Until You See Results?
You can have your first AI video ad running this afternoon. Unlike SEO, which can take months to show results, a video ad on social media starts working the moment you put money behind it. You’ll know within 48 to 72 hours if people are clicking and calling.
Conclusion
AI video generation isn't about replacing humans; it's about giving small business owners the same tools the big guys have. You no longer need a massive marketing budget to have professional video ads.
If you want to automate your business growth and stop wasting time on marketing that doesn't work, AI video is one of the fastest ways to get there.
Ready to get more customers without the stress?
At Local Marketing Group, we help Brisbane businesses use these tools to actually grow their bottom line. We don't care about fancy tech for the sake of it—we care about getting your phone to ring.
Contact Local Marketing Group today to see how we can help you grow.