In short
- Most client videos work best between one and five minutes; the right length is the shortest one that covers one topic and ends with a clear ask.
- Length depends on the message: a bug report needs under two minutes, a first concept presentation can take eight.
- Cover one topic per video. If you have three topics, send three videos, or one video with timestamps in the message.
- Say the length in the message, so the client knows when they can watch it.
Most client videos should be one to five minutes long. There’s no single right answer to how long a video should be: the right length is the shortest one that covers a single topic and ends with a clear ask. A bug report needs well under two minutes; a first concept presentation can reasonably take eight.
Why length matters more with clients
A client isn’t watching your video for fun. They’re fitting it between meetings, often on a phone. If the link says “12 minutes”, it waits until they have 12 free minutes, and that may be next week.
A short video gets watched sooner. And because it has room for only one topic, it usually gets a clearer answer.
How long should a video be? Lengths by message type
Use these as a starting point. If you regularly go well over the range for a type of message, the video is probably covering more than one thing.
| Type of message | Suggested length | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Quick answer to a question | Under 1 minute | If it’s under 20 seconds, text may be faster |
| Bug report, either direction | 30 seconds to 2 minutes | Only the steps that lead to the problem |
| Design review, later rounds | 2–4 minutes | Only what changed since last round |
| First concept presentation | 4–8 minutes | The client will watch carefully; explain the reasoning |
| Weekly status update | 2–4 minutes | Done, next, blocked, decision |
| Quote or proposal walkthrough | 3–5 minutes | The structure and the reasons, not every line |
| Onboarding, per video | 1–2 minutes | A short series beats one long video |
| Handover tour of a finished site | 5–10 minutes | Then one short video per task |
| CMS training, per task | 1–3 minutes | “How to publish a post”, “how to change the banner” |
| Prospect website audit | 2–3 minutes | Three issues and a quick win |
| Thank-you at the end of a project | Under 1 minute | Keep it personal, not a sales pitch |
Rules of thumb from client work, not research: what matters is that the client watches to the end and knows what to do next.
One topic per video
The most reliable way to control length is to give every video one job. “Round two of the homepage” is one job. “Round two of the homepage, plus the hosting question, plus next week’s content” is three.
One topic per video helps the client too:
- the title can say exactly what’s inside;
- the ask at the end is clear, so the answer is too;
- they can forward it to the right colleague without context;
- they can find it again later.
If two topics are closely linked and both short, they can share a video. If you’re unsure, split.
Say the length up front
Put the duration in the message with the link. The client can decide when to watch it, and three minutes sounds easy.
Round two of the homepage, 3 minutes, one question at the end.
https://justrec.app/v/k3f9Qa
Our guide on getting clients to actually watch your videos covers the rest of the message.
How to cut a video down
Most of the length in a client video isn’t content. It’s warming up, searching for tabs, waiting for pages and repeating yourself.
- Write three bullets before recording. What you’ll show, what it means, what you need. If you can’t, you’re not ready to record.
- Prepare the screen. Open every page and file you’ll show, in order, logged in.
- Skip the introduction. Start with the topic: “Hi Anna, round two of the homepage.”
- Don’t narrate loading or searching. Pause the recording, or have the page ready.
- Say it once. Repetition feels natural when talking live; on video, the client can rewind.
- Stop after the ask. Don’t add a summary after the question.
- Trim the start and end. The first and last seconds are usually fumbling for the mouse.
If you restart a lot because the first take wasn’t perfect, our guide to recording a client video in one take helps. For trimming on a Mac, see how to trim a screen recording.
What to do with long topics
Some topics really are long: a handover, a training session, a complex proposal. You have three options.
Split it into a series
Break the topic into tasks and record one video each. Number them and send them in one message.
The client watches the tour once and comes back to the task they need. This is how we suggest structuring a website handover video and a CMS training series.
Add chapters in the message
If one longer video makes sense, list timestamps under the link.
Concept presentation, 7 minutes:
- 0:00 The brief in one sentence
- 0:40 Direction A
- 3:10 Direction B
- 5:30 What we recommend, and the question for you
https://justrec.app/v/k3f9Qa
The client can jump to what they need, and you can point to a moment later: “see 3:10”.
Have a call instead
If the topic is long because it needs discussion, it’s not a video. Send a short video setting up the options, then talk.
When longer is fine
Length isn’t a sin. A longer video is fine when:
- the client asked for it, like a full walkthrough before a launch;
- it will be rewatched, like training or a handover;
- it’s a first presentation, where reasoning matters as much as the design.
In those cases, say the length, add chapters, and make sure the first minute tells them what’s coming. Our client video scripts show how to open and close each type of message, and the guide to async video for client communication puts it all in context.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a video be for a client?
As short as the message allows, usually between one and five minutes. A quick answer or a bug report can be under a minute; a first presentation or a handover tour can run longer because the client will watch it carefully.
Is a 10-minute client video too long?
For a review or an update, usually yes: split it. For a handover tour or a first concept presentation, ten minutes can be fine, as long as you say so in the message and the client has a reason to watch it all.
How do I make my client videos shorter?
Write three bullet points before recording, open every page you'll show, skip the introduction, and stop as soon as you've made your ask. Then trim the start and end.
Should I split a long video into several?
Yes, when it covers separate topics or tasks, like several CMS tasks in a handover. Number them in the title and list them in one message, so the client can pick the one they need.
