E-commerce Product Videos

Turn product catalogs into avatar-led e-commerce videos via the HeyGen API. One video per SKU, automatically refreshed when prices, photos, or copy change.

The Problem

Product pages with video significantly outperform those without — higher engagement, longer time on page, and better conversion rates. But with thousands of SKUs, creating individual product videos is impossible with traditional production. Most e-commerce stores have great product images but zero product video.

How It Works

Product catalog (name, description, images) → Prompt per product → Batch generate → Embed on product pages

Your product database already has everything Video Agent needs: name, description, features, and images. Turn that structured data into video at scale.

Build It

1. Pull product data

   # From your catalog API, database, or CSV
   products = [
       {
           "name": "CloudWalk Pro Running Shoes",
           "category": "Footwear",
           "price": "$129",
           "description": "Lightweight performance running shoe with responsive foam midsole and breathable knit upper.",
           "features": [
               "ResponsiveFoam midsole — 30% more energy return",
               "Breathable knit upper — keeps feet cool on long runs",
               "Carbon fiber plate — propels you forward",
               "Only 7.2 oz — one of the lightest in its class",
           ],
           "images": [
               "https://cdn.store.com/products/cloudwalk-hero.jpg",
               "https://cdn.store.com/products/cloudwalk-side.jpg",
               "https://cdn.store.com/products/cloudwalk-sole.jpg",
           ],
       },
       # ... hundreds more
   ]
   
2. Build category-aware prompts

   Consider using different video styles for different product categories. For example, fashion might benefit from energy and aspiration, while electronics might call for clarity and specs.

   CATEGORY_STYLES = {
       "Footwear": {
           "tone": "energetic and aspirational, like a Nike ad",
           "focus": "performance benefits, how it feels, lifestyle context",
           "duration": "20 seconds",
       },
       "Electronics": {
           "tone": "clear, knowledgeable, like a trusted tech reviewer",
           "focus": "specs that matter, real-world use cases, comparisons",
           "duration": "30 seconds",
       },
       "Home & Kitchen": {
           "tone": "warm, practical, like a friend recommending a product",
           "focus": "solving everyday problems, quality materials, ease of use",
           "duration": "25 seconds",
       },
   }
   
   def build_product_prompt(product):
       style = CATEGORY_STYLES.get(product["category"], CATEGORY_STYLES["Electronics"])
       features = "\n".join(f"- {f}" for f in product["features"])
   
       return f"""Create a {style['duration']} product video for {product['name']}.
   
   Product: {product['name']} — {product['price']}
   {product['description']}
   
   Key features:
   {features}
   
   Video structure:
   - Hook (3s): Bold statement about the key benefit
   - Features (70% of duration): Walk through 2-3 standout features
     with text overlays. Reference the attached product images.
   - CTA (3s): "Available now for {product['price']}"
   
   Tone: {style['tone']}
   Focus on: {style['focus']}
   Use the attached product images as visual reference.
   """
   
3. Batch generate with rate limiting

   import requests
   import time
   
   video_jobs = []
   
   for product in products:
       prompt = build_product_prompt(product)
       files = [{"type": "url", "url": img} for img in product["images"][:5]]
   
       resp = requests.post(
           "https://api.heygen.com/v3/video-agents",
           headers={
               "X-Api-Key": HEYGEN_API_KEY,
               "Content-Type": "application/json",
           },
           json={"prompt": prompt, "files": files},
       )
       video_jobs.append({
           "product_id": product["name"],
           "video_id": resp.json()["data"]["video_id"],
       })
       time.sleep(5)
   
   print(f"Submitted {len(video_jobs)} product videos")
   

   Then poll for completion and match video URLs back to product IDs.

4. Embed on product pages

   Once rendered, add video URLs to your product data and display on your store.

   # After polling all videos to completion:
   for job in video_jobs:
       update_product_page(
           product_id=job["product_id"],
           video_url=job["video_url"],
           thumbnail_url=job["thumbnail_url"],
       )
   

Video Types by Use Case

Video type	Duration	When to use
Product showcase	15–30s	Product listing page — show key features
How-to-use	30–60s	Complex products — demonstrate usage
Comparison	30–45s	”Pro vs Standard” — help buyers choose
Unboxing/first look	20–30s	New arrivals — build excitement
Customer testimonial	30s	Social proof — pair with review text

Scaling to Thousands of Products

For large catalogs, consider prioritizing by business impact:

1. Top sellers first — highest traffic pages get the most ROI from video
2. High-margin products — the conversion lift matters most here
3. New arrivals — video helps customers understand unfamiliar products
4. Products with high return rates — better video = more informed purchases = fewer returns

# Prioritize by revenue impact
products.sort(key=lambda p: p["monthly_revenue"], reverse=True)
top_products = products[:100]  # Start with top 100

A/B Testing

Generate multiple video styles for the same product and measure which converts better:

variants = [
    {"style": "presenter explaining features", "label": "explainer"},
    {"style": "fast-paced montage with text overlays only", "label": "montage"},
    {"style": "customer testimonial style, first-person", "label": "testimonial"},
]

Variations

• Seasonal campaigns: Regenerate product videos with holiday-themed prompts
• Multi-language: Translate for international storefronts using Video Translation
• Social ads: Generate portrait (9:16) versions for social media advertising
• Bundle videos: Combine multiple products into “complete the look” or “bundle” showcase videos

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Next Steps

Real Estate Listings

Same catalog-to-video pattern, applied to properties.

Social Media Pipeline

Distribute product videos across social platforms.