Use when
- Generates an operational guide and all supporting content — tool selection rationale, avatar design brief, scripts, use-case plans, and distribution protocol — for deploying AI avatar video at scale in B2B outreach, client communications, and social content production. Invoke when a client wants to use AI-generated video for personalised outreach or branded video content, when production time on talking-head video needs to be reduced, or when a scalable video communications system is being built.
- Use this skill when it is the closest match to the requested deliverable or workflow.
Do not use when
- Do not use this skill for graphic design, video production, software development, or legal advice beyond the repository's stated scope.
- Do not use it when another skill in this repository is clearly more specific to the requested deliverable.
Workflow
- Collect the required inputs or source material before drafting, unless this skill explicitly generates the intake itself.
- Follow the section order and decision rules in this
SKILL.md; do not skip mandatory steps or required fields. - Review the draft against the quality criteria, then deliver the final output in markdown unless the skill specifies another format.
Anti-Patterns
- Do not invent client facts, performance data, budgets, or approvals that were not provided or clearly inferred from evidence.
- Do not skip required inputs, mandatory sections, or quality checks just to make the output shorter.
- Do not drift into out-of-scope work such as code implementation, design production, or unsupported legal conclusions.
Outputs
- An AI-focused strategy, audit, system design, or prompt asset in markdown with human review and control points.
References
- Use the inline instructions in this skill now. If a
references/directory is added later, treat its files as the deeper source material and keep thisSKILL.mdexecution-focused.
Purpose
Produce operational plans and production-ready scripts for AI avatar video deployments using Synthesia, HeyGen, Tavus, D-ID, or Elai.io. Output covers tool selection, avatar design, script writing, distribution, and disclosure compliance. Every deliverable is sized for the East African market by default.
Roth, H. and neuroflash Team (2024/2025) AI Strategy 2025 for Marketing Teams. neuroflash. [Statistics on video outreach performance cited below]
Required Input
Before generating any deliverable, ask for:
- Client business name and industry
- Country and city (default: Uganda / Kampala)
- Primary goal — outreach at scale, client communications, social content, or onboarding/training
- Volume required — estimated number of videos per month and whether personalisation per recipient is needed
- Existing human presenter — is there a real person whose voice and likeness the avatar should represent, or will a stock avatar be used?
- Budget tier — indicative monthly budget in USD (see platform pricing below)
Section 1 — Tool Selection Guide
Platform Comparison
| Platform | Best for | Avatar creation | Languages | Free tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synthesia | Corporate training, branded explainers, polished templates | 230+ stock avatars; custom avatar from upload | 140+ | No (14-day trial) |
| HeyGen | B2B video outreach, language localisation, scalable personalisation | Instant from 60-second clip | 40+ | Yes (1 free video/month) |
| Tavus | 1:1 personalised video at scale (unique video per recipient) | Clone from 5-minute recording | English primary | No |
| D-ID | Talking-head from photo; fast turnaround; no minimum commitment | Animated photo or uploaded image | 119 | Yes (20 credits free) |
| Elai.io | Volume production at lower cost; best value for EA price point | Custom avatar from video upload | 75+ | Yes (1 free video/month) |
Selection Rules
Apply these rules to select the right platform before starting production:
- Outreach volume > 100 personalised videos/month: Use Tavus. Each recipient receives a unique video with their name, company, and a personalised line.
- Polished evergreen content (training, onboarding, explainers): Use Synthesia. Templates are the strongest in the market; avatar quality is broadcast-standard.
- Language localisation required (Swahili, French, Luganda voiceover): Use HeyGen. Its translation feature re-lips the avatar in the target language from a single English recording.
- Quick turnaround from a single photo, minimum budget: Use D-ID. Ideal for one-off client communications or prototype testing.
- Volume production on a constrained budget (under USD 50/month): Use Elai.io. The price-to-output ratio is the strongest for high-frequency social content.
EA Pricing Reference (March 2026)
| Platform | Entry paid plan | Approx. UGX/month |
|---|---|---|
| Synthesia | USD 29/month (Starter — 10 min video/month) | ~UGX 107,000 |
| HeyGen | USD 29/month (Creator — 15 credits) | ~UGX 107,000 |
| Tavus | USD 150/month (Starter) | ~UGX 555,000 |
| D-ID | USD 9/month (Lite — 10 min) | ~UGX 33,000 |
| Elai.io | USD 23/month (Basic — 15 min) | ~UGX 85,000 |
Flag: all platforms require payment by international card or PayPal. MTN Mobile Money payment is not directly supported; use Payoneer or Wise to fund an international card from a Mobile Money wallet.
Section 2 — Avatar Design to Brand Specification
Wardrobe and Visual Identity
- Specify wardrobe colour in the design brief using the client's primary brand colour hex code; most platforms allow uploading reference images.
- Avoid busy patterns or small checks — they compress poorly in MP4 output.
- Logo placement: Synthesia and HeyGen support branded backgrounds with logo overlays; for platforms that do not, use a branded frame in Canva applied in post-production.
- Professional register must match the sector: formal attire for financial services and legal; smart-casual for technology and creative sectors; branded casual (polo shirt with embroidery) for retail and FMCG.
Background
- Branded background: Use the client's office, a branded set mockup, or a solid brand-colour background. Synthesia, HeyGen, and Elai.io all support custom background image uploads.
- Neutral background: A plain white, grey, or dark studio background works for B2B outreach where the message must carry the video, not the visual.
- D-ID does not support custom backgrounds natively; apply background via CapCut or Canva's video editor before distribution.
Voice: ElevenLabs Integration
Where the client has a human presenter whose voice should match the avatar:
- Record the presenter reading a 3–5 minute voice sample (clear, neutral pace, no background noise, on a phone in a quiet room is sufficient).
- Upload to ElevenLabs Voice Cloning (Starter plan: USD 5/month).
- Export the cloned voice as an MP3 and import into Synthesia, HeyGen, or Elai.io via their "custom voice" upload function.
- Test with a 30-second sample video before full production.
- Specify pace in the ElevenLabs settings: 0.9x speed is optimal for East African professional audiences; 1.0x can read as rushed.
Approval Protocol
Obtain written client sign-off (email confirmation is sufficient) on:
- Avatar appearance (screenshot from the platform's preview)
- Voice sample (30-second MP3)
- Disclosure language (see Section 6)
- One full pilot video before any volume production begins
Do not proceed to volume production without approval at each stage.
Section 3 — Script Writing for AI Avatars
Script quality is the primary determinant of avatar video quality. AI avatar delivery requires a fundamentally different structure to live video.
Core Rules
- Sentence length: 15 words maximum per sentence. Break longer sentences at natural breath points.
- No compressed contractions: Avoid "I'd've", "we'd've", "they'd've" — write "I would have", "we would have". Standard contractions (I'm, we're, it's) are acceptable.
- No idioms: Avoid "hit the ground running", "move the needle", "circle back". Write the plain meaning: "start immediately", "improve results", "follow up".
- Pause markers: Insert
[PAUSE]wherever a human speaker would breathe, hesitate, or let a point land. - Emotional register instructions: Open with a register instruction in
parentheses — e.g.
(warm, direct)or(confident, measured). Insert a new instruction before any tonal shift — e.g.(slight urgency)before the CTA. - EA register: Avoid English idioms that do not translate to the East African professional context. Write in the tone expected in an EA boardroom: direct, respectful, and specific.
Length Limits
- Outreach video (cold or warm B2B): 60–90 seconds maximum. Anything longer loses the recipient before the CTA.
- Client communications (e.g. monthly report summary): 90–120 seconds.
- Onboarding or training explainer: Up to 3 minutes. Longer content must be broken into chapters (each chapter = a separate video file).
- Social content (Reels, TikTok, Facebook short video): 30–60 seconds.
Script Template — B2B Outreach (60–90 seconds)
(warm, direct)
Hello [FIRST NAME]. [PAUSE]
My name is [PRESENTER NAME] from [COMPANY].
I noticed [ONE SPECIFIC, RESEARCHED OBSERVATION ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS]. [PAUSE]
We help [TARGET AUDIENCE DESCRIPTION] to [PRIMARY OUTCOME].
[PAUSE]
One of our clients, [CLIENT REFERENCE], achieved [SPECIFIC RESULT] in [TIMEFRAME].
(slight urgency)
I would like to show you how we could do the same for [THEIR COMPANY NAME].
[PAUSE]
Reply to this message and I will send you a 20-minute briefing. [PAUSE]
Thank you.
Script Template — Monthly Report Summary (90–120 seconds)
(professional, warm)
Hello [CLIENT NAME] team. [PAUSE]
Here is your [MONTH] performance summary. [PAUSE]
This month, your top-performing content was [POST TITLE OR DESCRIPTION].
It reached [REACH FIGURE] people and generated [ENGAGEMENT FIGURE] interactions.
[PAUSE]
Your follower growth was [FIGURE] — [UP/DOWN] [PERCENTAGE] from last month.
(direct, confident)
Three priorities for [NEXT MONTH]: [PRIORITY 1]. [PAUSE] [PRIORITY 2].
[PAUSE] And [PRIORITY 3].
[PAUSE]
The full report is attached. [PAUSE]
I am available Thursday if you would like to discuss any of this.
Thank you.
Section 4 — Use Cases with EA Application
B2B Video Outreach
Personalised video emails achieve 75% open rates and up to 40% response rates, compared to 21% average open rates for text-only emails (Roth and neuroflash Team, 2024/2025).
- Tool: HeyGen (for variable personalisation with the recipient's name and company inserted via CSV) or Tavus (for fully unique video per recipient).
- Personalisation variables: First name, company name, one researched observation about their business (sourced from their LinkedIn or website).
- Distribution: LinkedIn InMail with video thumbnail embedded + follow-up email with GIF preview. Do not attach the raw MP4; host on Loom, Vimeo, or the platform's share link and embed the thumbnail.
- EA application: B2B outreach in Uganda/Kenya is relationship-led. Lead with a warm, specific observation before any product or service mention. A generic "I saw your company" opener will not perform in this market.
Client Communications
- Monthly performance report as a 2-minute avatar video from the account manager. Replaces or supplements the PDF report.
- Use the account manager's own avatar (HeyGen custom avatar from a 60-second clip) so the client sees a familiar face.
- Distribute via WhatsApp (under 10MB MP4) and email (thumbnail link).
- EA application: personalised video report increases perceived value of the retainer. Clients who see a face presenting results are less likely to question the agency fee.
Onboarding
- Welcome video for new clients: 90-second avatar video from the managing director, welcoming the client and confirming the first three steps.
- Platform training introduction: a 3-minute explainer on how to read their monthly dashboard or how to request content amendments.
- Use Synthesia for evergreen onboarding content — the polished templates are appropriate for a first impression.
Social Content
- Short branded videos for Instagram Reels (30 seconds), TikTok (30–45 seconds), and Facebook (45–60 seconds).
- The avatar handles the talking-head element; pair with B-roll footage or branded graphics in CapCut or Canva.
- Production time: under 30 minutes per video once the script and avatar are approved.
- EA application: Ugandan audiences respond strongly to a recognisable, consistent presenter. A recurring avatar character builds familiarity over time in the same way a brand spokesperson does on television.
Section 5 — Distribution Protocol
- Post the video directly to the LinkedIn feed (native video outperforms links in the algorithm).
- For outreach: send as an InMail with a thumbnail image embedded in the message body and the video URL beneath it.
- Add captions; LinkedIn auto-generates them — edit for accuracy before posting.
- Do not embed the MP4 file directly. Host the video and use a static thumbnail with a play-button overlay as the email image.
- A GIF preview of the video's first 3 seconds increases click-through rate by 26% (Roth and neuroflash Team, 2024/2025).
- Subject line format: "Video for [FIRST NAME]" or "[FIRST NAME] — 90 seconds on [TOPIC]" consistently outperforms generic subject lines.
WhatsApp (EA Primary Channel)
- Compress the MP4 to under 10MB before sending (use HandBrake, free, or CapCut's export settings).
- Send directly to known contacts via WhatsApp Business.
- For broadcast to segments: use WhatsApp Business broadcast lists (maximum 256 contacts per list). Do not broadcast unsolicited video; send only to contacts who have opted in to communications.
- A voice note teaser (15 seconds, human voice) sent before the video link increases video opens in the EA market — the voice note signals a genuine personal message rather than a mass broadcast.
Section 6 — Disclosure Requirements
Legal Obligation
Under EU AI Act Article 4 (effective August 2026) and emerging global norms, any video using an AI avatar that is not a real person must be disclosed as AI-generated.
This requirement applies to all clients regardless of their country of operation, because:
- Content may be received by EU-based contacts or distributed on EU-regulated platforms.
- Non-disclosure is a reputational risk in any market; disclosure done well is a brand asset.
Standard Disclosure Language
Include this line in every AI avatar video communication:
"This message was delivered by an AI avatar on behalf of [FULL NAME], [TITLE] at [COMPANY NAME]."
Place the disclosure:
- As the final sentence of the video script (spoken by the avatar)
- In the email footer or LinkedIn message body beneath the video link
- In the video description on any platform that supports it
Custom Avatar Disclosure
When the avatar uses a real person's likeness and voice (cloned via ElevenLabs or a platform's custom avatar tool), add:
"This is an AI-generated video using a digital likeness of [NAME], created with their consent."
Client Approval
Obtain written client approval of the disclosure approach before any video is sent to a third party. Document the approval in the client's folder.
Quality Criteria
- The correct platform is selected using the selection rules in Section 1; the rationale is stated in one sentence referencing the client's primary goal and volume requirement
- The avatar design brief specifies wardrobe, background, voice, and pace with reference to the client's brand standards and sector register
- Every script follows the 15-word sentence limit, contains at least two
[PAUSE]markers, and opens with a parenthetical register instruction - Scripts are timed before production; outreach scripts are 90 seconds or under when read at the specified pace
- Distribution is specified per channel with file size limits and thumbnail instructions for email and WhatsApp
- Disclosure language is included in every deliverable and written client approval is required before volume production
- EA market context is reflected throughout: WhatsApp distribution, payment method feasibility, EA professional register, and relationship-led outreach norms
- Volume production does not begin until the pilot video has been approved in writing
Related Skills
biz-dev-video-outreach— use for the full video outreach sequence (messaging strategy, follow-up cadence, CRM tracking) that AI avatar videos feed intobrand-voice-ai-training— use to establish the brand voice parameters before scripting avatars; the brand voice brief feeds directly into the register instructions in each scriptplaybook-content-production— use for the full content production workflow that AI avatar social videos sit within
References
- Roth, H. and neuroflash Team (2024/2025) AI Strategy 2025 for Marketing Teams. neuroflash. [Video outreach performance statistics; distribution CTR data]
- Chaffey, D. (2024) Digital Marketing: Strategy, Implementation and Practice. Pearson. [Channel strategy context for distribution sequencing]