How to Create Engaging Topical Videos with AI in 2025: Your Complete Guide to Trending Content

Stay relevant, spark conversations, and boost engagement with timely video content that captures the moment

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, timing is everything. While evergreen content forms the backbone of your marketing strategy, topical videos are your secret weapon for capturing immediate attention, joining trending conversations, and showing your audience that your brand is current, relevant, and engaged with the world around them.

Whether it’s a breaking news story, a viral social media trend, seasonal events, or industry developments, topical videos help you ride the wave of public interest and dramatically increase your content’s reach and engagement.

But here’s the challenge: creating timely, relevant video content quickly enough to capitalize on trends while maintaining quality and brand consistency. That’s where AI-powered video creation comes in, and Promo.com’s intelligent platform makes it easier than ever to turn trending topics into compelling video content.

What Are Topical Videos and Why They Matter

Topical videos are content pieces that respond to current events, trending topics, seasonal moments, or timely industry developments. Unlike evergreen content that remains relevant indefinitely, topical videos have a shorter lifespan but often generate significantly higher engagement rates.

The power of topical content:

• Higher engagement rates: Trending topics naturally attract more views, shares, and comments
• Improved social media reach: Algorithms favor timely, relevant content
• Brand relevance: Shows your audience you’re plugged into current conversations
• Competitive advantage: Beat competitors to trending topics and own the conversation
• Community building: Creates opportunities for real-time interaction with your audience

Understanding Promo.com’s AI Video Creation Process

Promo.com’s AI-powered platform transforms your ideas into professional videos through intelligent prompt interpretation. The system analyzes your input and automatically selects appropriate visuals, music, text overlays, and pacing to match your intended message and tone.

How the AI works:

1. Prompt Analysis: The AI interprets your text prompt, identifying key themes, emotions, and objectives
2. Visual Selection: Automatically chooses relevant stock footage, images, and graphics from Promo’s extensive library
3. Audio Matching: Selects background music and sound effects that complement your content’s mood
4. Text Generation: Creates compelling on-screen text and captions based on your prompt
5. Pacing Optimization: Determines optimal scene timing and transitions for maximum impact

The key to success lies in crafting prompts that give the AI enough context while maintaining clarity and focus.

The Anatomy of an Effective Video Prompt

Creating compelling topical videos starts with writing prompts that communicate your vision clearly to the AI. Think of your prompt as a creative brief that needs to convey not just what you want to say, but how you want to say it.

Essential Prompt Components

1. Topic and Context – Start with the specific topic or trend you’re addressing. Be explicit about the current event, trend, or theme.
2. Target Audience – Specify who you’re speaking to. This helps the AI select appropriate visuals and tone.
3. Desired Tone and Emotion – Clearly state the emotional direction: inspiring, urgent, celebratory, informative, humorous, etc.
4. Key Message – What’s the main takeaway you want viewers to remember?
5. Call-to-Action Intent – What action do you want viewers to take after watching?
6. Visual Style Preferences – Mention specific visual elements, colors, or aesthetic preferences when relevant.

Prompt Structure Template

Create a video about [duration] long about [specific topic/trend]. 

Target audience: [specific demographic/industry].

Tone: [emotional direction].

Key message: [main point in 1-2 sentences].

Include: [specific elements you want featured].

Call-to-action: [desired viewer action].

Visual style: [any specific aesthetic preferences].

15 High-Impact Topical Video Prompt Examples

Current Events & News Response

1. Economic Trend Commentary

Create a video about 60-seconds long addressing the recent interest rate changes announced by the Federal Reserve.
Target audience: small business owners and entrepreneurs.
Tone: informative yet reassuring.
Key message: despite economic uncertainty, smart businesses can still thrive by focusing on customer value and operational
efficiency. Include statistics about business resilience and practical tips.
Call-to-action: download our business strategy guide.
Visual style: professional graphics with upward trending charts and diverse business imagery.

2. Technology Breakthrough

Create a video about 45-seconds long about the latest AI breakthrough in healthcare diagnostics announced this week.
Target audience: healthcare professionals and tech enthusiasts.
Tone: excited and optimistic about the future.
Key message: AI is revolutionizing healthcare, making diagnoses faster and more accurate than ever before.
Include futuristic medical imagery and technology graphics.
Call-to-action: learn more about AI solutions for healthcare.
Visual style: clean, modern aesthetic with blue and white color scheme.

Seasonal and Holiday Content

3. Back-to-School Season

Create a video about 90-seconds long for back-to-school season targeting working parents.
Tone: empathetic and solution-focused.
Key message: balancing work and school preparation doesn't have to be overwhelming with the right tools and planning.
Include imagery of organized families, school supplies, and productive workspaces.
Call-to-action: try our family organization app free for 30 days.
Visual style: warm, family-friendly colors with authentic lifestyle footage.

4. Earth Day Environmental Action

Create a video about 75-seconds long for Earth Day targeting environmentally conscious consumers.
Tone: inspiring and action-oriented.
Key message: small daily actions collectively create massive environmental impact.
Include beautiful nature footage, sustainable practices, and diverse people taking eco-friendly actions.
Call-to-action: join our sustainability challenge.
Visual style: vibrant greens and earth tones with uplifting natural imagery.

Industry-Specific Trends

5. Remote Work Evolution

Create a video about 60-seconds long about the latest remote work productivity trends.
Target audience: HR managers and team leaders.
Tone: professional and forward-thinking.
Key message: successful remote teams aren't just working from home—they're reimagining how work gets done.
Include modern home offices, virtual collaboration, and productivity metrics.
Call-to-action: schedule a demo of our team collaboration platform.
Visual style: minimalist, modern design with consistent brand colors.

6. Social Media Algorithm Update

Create a video about 50-seconds long explaining the recent Instagram algorithm changes.
Target audience: social media marketers and content creators. Tone: informative and strategic.
Key message: algorithm changes aren't obstacles—they're opportunities for creators who adapt quickly.
Include social media interface mockups and engagement graphics.
Call-to-action: download our updated social media strategy guide.
Visual style: Instagram-inspired gradients with mobile device mockups.

Pop Culture and Viral Trends

7. Viral Challenge Adaptation

Create a video about 30-seconds long adapting the current #ProductivityChallenge trend for busy professionals.
Target audience: career-focused individuals aged 25-40.
Tone: energetic and motivational.
Key message: small productivity hacks compound into major career advantages.
Include time-lapse footage of organized workspaces and successful people in action.
Call-to-action: share your productivity win using our hashtag.
Visual style: dynamic transitions with bold, energizing colors.

8. Celebrity Endorsement Response

Create a video about 45-seconds long responding to a celebrity's recent endorsement of sustainable fashion.
Target audience: fashion-conscious millennials and Gen Z.
Tone: trendy and authentic. Key message: sustainable fashion isn't just a celebrity trend—it's a movement anyone can join.
Include diverse models wearing sustainable clothing and behind-the-scenes fashion footage.
Call-to-action: explore our sustainable fashion collection.
Visual style: Instagram-worthy aesthetic with natural lighting and authentic moments.

Crisis Communication and Response

9. Supply Chain Disruption Update

Create a video about 60-seconds long addressing recent supply chain challenges affecting our industry.
Target audience: existing customers and business partners.
Tone: transparent and solution-focused.
Key message: while supply chains face challenges, our commitment to customer service remains unwavering.
Include logistics imagery, team members working solutions, and customer testimonials.
Call-to-action: contact our customer service team for updates.
Visual style: trustworthy blue tones with professional business imagery.

10. Data Privacy Concern Response

Create a video about 75-seconds long addressing recent data privacy concerns in our industry.
Target audience: security-conscious consumers and business leaders.
Tone: trustworthy and informative.
Key message: protecting customer data isn't just our policy—it's our promise.
Include security graphics, diverse team members, and trust-building imagery.
Call-to-action: read our comprehensive privacy policy.
Visual style: clean, secure aesthetic with shield imagery and professional photography.

Seasonal Business Cycles

11. Tax Season Business Tips

Create a video about 90-seconds long with essential tax preparation tips for small business owners.
Target audience: entrepreneurs and freelancers.
Tone: helpful and stress-reducing.
Key message: organized businesses make tax season manageable and might even find money-saving opportunities.
Include organized paperwork, calculator graphics, and relieved business owners.
Call-to-action: download our tax preparation checklist.
Visual style: professional green and blue color scheme with clean organizational imagery.

12. Holiday Shopping Behavior

Create a video about 60-seconds long about changing holiday shopping patterns post-pandemic.
Target audience: retail business owners and e-commerce managers.
Tone: insightful and strategic.
Key message: successful retailers are adapting to new consumer behaviors rather than fighting them.
Include shopping analytics, diverse consumers, and modern retail environments.
Call-to-action: request our holiday retail strategy consultation.
Visual style: festive but professional with retail-focused imagery.

Health and Wellness Trends

13. Mental Health Awareness

Create a video about 80-seconds long for Mental Health Awareness Month targeting workplace wellness coordinators.
Tone: compassionate and actionable.
Key message: workplace mental health support isn't just good for employees—it's essential for business success.
Include diverse workplace scenes, supportive team interactions, and wellness activities.
Call-to-action: explore our employee wellness programs.
Visual style: calming blues and greens with authentic workplace photography.

14. Fitness Trend Analysis

Create a video about 50-seconds long analyzing the rise of micro-workouts for busy professionals.
Target audience: time-strapped professionals interested in fitness.
Tone: energetic and practical.
Key message: fitness doesn't require hours—just consistency and smart choices.
Include quick workout demonstrations, time-saving graphics, and energetic people exercising.
Call-to-action: try our 15-minute workout app free.
Visual style: vibrant, energetic colors with dynamic movement and modern fitness imagery.

Community and Social Issues

15. Local Community Event

Create a video about 70-seconds long promoting community involvement in local environmental cleanup initiatives.
Target audience: local residents and community-minded individuals.
Tone: inspiring and community-focused.
Key message: strong communities are built by neighbors who care enough to take action together.
Include diverse community members, local landmarks, and group activities.
Call-to-action: sign up for our next community cleanup event.
Visual style: warm, community-focused imagery with local flavor and authentic interactions.

Pro Tips for Maximizing Your Topical Video Impact

Timing Is Everything

Strike While the Topic Is Hot: Monitor trend lifecycles and aim to publish within 24-48 hours of a trend’s peak interest. Use tools like Google Trends, Twitter Trending Topics, and industry news alerts to stay ahead of the curve.

Plan for Predictable Topics: Create content calendars around known events like holidays, industry conferences, quarterly earnings seasons, and annual awareness months. Having prompt templates ready allows for quick execution.

Authenticity Matters

Stay True to Your Brand: Even when jumping on trends, ensure your content aligns with your brand values and speaks authentically to your audience. Forced trend-following often backfires.

Add Unique Value: Don’t just repeat what everyone else is saying. Bring your unique perspective, expertise, or angle to trending topics.

Optimize for Each Platform

Tailor Video Length: Instagram Stories (15 seconds), TikTok (15-60 seconds), LinkedIn (30-90 seconds), YouTube (varies widely). Use Promo.com’s platform-specific optimization features.

Consider Platform Culture: A trend that works on TikTok might need significant adaptation for LinkedIn’s professional audience.

Measure and Learn

Track Performance Metrics: Monitor views, engagement rates, shares, and click-through rates to understand which topical content resonates most with your audience.

Document What Works: Keep a record of successful prompt formulas and topics for future reference and iteration.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Moving Too Slowly: By the time you’ve had three meetings about whether to create content about a trend, the moment has likely passed.
• Being Too Generic: Generic responses to trends get lost in the noise. Your unique angle is what makes your content worth watching.
• Ignoring Your Audience: Not every trend is right for every audience. Consider whether your followers will find the topic relevant and valuable.
• Sacrificing Quality for Speed: While timing matters, posting low-quality content can damage your brand more than missing a trend entirely.
• Forgetting Your Goals: Every piece of content should serve a purpose in your broader marketing strategy, even topical videos.

Your Next Steps: Start Creating Topical Videos Today

The best time to start creating topical videos was yesterday. The second-best time is right now. Here’s your action plan:

1. Set Up Trend Monitoring: Use Google Alerts, social media monitoring tools, and industry publications to stay informed about emerging topics in your field.
2. Create Prompt Templates: Develop 5-10 prompt templates for different types of topical content you’re likely to create (industry news, seasonal content, trend responses, etc.).
3. Establish a Quick-Response Process: Define who in your organization can approve and publish topical content quickly to capitalize on trending moments.
4. Start Experimenting: Choose a current trend relevant to your audience and create your first topical video using one of the prompts above as inspiration.
5. Track and Optimize: Monitor the performance of your topical videos and refine your approach based on what resonates with your audience.

Remember, topical video creation is a skill that improves with practice. The more you create, the better you’ll become at identifying opportunities, crafting effective prompts, and timing your releases for maximum impact.

Your audience is already talking about current events, trends, and industry developments. The question isn’t whether these conversations are happening—it’s whether your brand will be part of them. With Promo.com’s AI-powered platform and the right prompt strategy, you can join these conversations with professional, engaging video content that builds your brand’s relevance and authority.

The next trending topic is just around the corner. Are you ready to make it work for your business?

Ready to start creating topical videos that capture attention and drive engagement? Try Promo.com’s AI-powered video creation platform today and turn trending topics into powerful marketing content in minutes, not hours.