Dynamic video ads - How to create and set them up [2025]
Dynamic video ads are no longer nice-to-haves. They’re the future of digital advertising.
We live in the age of short attention spans, where, for your brand to stand out, you need to speak directly to the individual. If not, you risk falling behind.
Dynamic video ads make that personal connection possible. We know this because we work with businesses across industries like e-commerce, real estate, travel, and more to help them scale personalized video campaigns that actually convert.
Video marketing statistics also prove that video is superior to static ad formats.
Namely, according to Wyzowl's 2025 video marketing report, 91% of consumers say video quality directly impacts their trust and loyalty to the brand. What's more, 66% of video advertisers say that personalized video drives more qualified leads. Add to that the fact that videos capture attention better than any other format, and you’ve got a formula built for performance.
Wondering how to set dynamic video ads up for your brand? Great! We'll guide you through the process step by step and explain how businesses across the board are using them to their advantage. We’ll also show you what you stand to gain from adding them to your personalized video marketing strategy.
Let me tell you — it's a lot.
What are dynamic video ads?
Dynamic video ads are personalized video ads that automatically adapt their content based on the viewer’s data (e.g., location, behavior, demographics, etc). In other words, dynamic video technology lets you create a video for every viewer — which sometimes means thousands of variations, based on consumer interests and online activity. Everything can be dynamic, whether it’s changing the product or service shown, the background visuals, the text, or even the voiceover.
To paint a picture, here’s an example of a dynamic video ad our client Tapni deployed using our tool, Plainly, for customers who abandoned their cart.
Benefits of dynamic video ads
These ads are engaging in a way never before seen, to the point where they don’t even feel like ads anymore.
But beyond the personalized user experience, here are the tangible benefits we’ve seen firsthand working with brands that use dynamic video successfully:
- Increased engagement and conversions - Personalized video content increases its relevance, which means there's a higher likelihood that people will watch, click, and act. Studies have also shown that dynamic ads can deliver up to 94% higher CTR compared to traditional static ads, and by extent, higher conversion rates.
- Faster creative production at scale - Instead of producing dozens of unique clips manually, you create one base template and then generate hundreds (or even thousands) of variations automatically.
- Real-time personalization - They help convey the right message to the right user at the right time without any manual editing involved.
- Less ad fatigue - People tune out static, repetitive content. Dynamic video keeps things fresh, personalized, and scroll-stopping. That’s because instead of seeing the same ad over and over, viewers get something new each time that actually feels made for them. This results in a longer campaign life and enhanced results.
- Improved ROAS and ROI - With better targeting, stronger performance metrics, and scalable workflows, dynamic video ads offer a higher return on ad spend (ROAS) and return on investment (ROI).
- Cross-platform compatibility - These innovative adverts can be adapted to suit platforms all around, from YouTube and TikTok to even connected TV (CTV).
How different industries use dynamic video ads
Dynamic video ads aren’t limited to one niche or channel; they’re flexible by design. We’ve seen brands in e-commerce, travel, real estate, finance, and beyond use them to target users with engaging content that feels tailor-made.
Here’s how different industries are leveraging dynamic video to drive optimal results:
E-commerce
- Personalized product recommendations - Show users the exact products they’ve browsed, added to cart, or similar items based on their behavior.
- Abandoned cart recovery - Remind users of products they left behind, complete with price, discount, and shipping info.
- Localized offers - Highlight regional discounts, promotions, or store locations based on geolocation.
Automotive
- Vehicle highlights based on user interest - Showcase different car models depending on browsing history or preferences, like body style or fuel type.
- Dynamic test drive invites - Automatically invite users to test drives near them, using personalized scheduling and location details.
Sports
- Event recaps and participation videos - Create custom race recap videos or personalized sports highlight reels with the participant’s name, time, and footage.
See how Plainly helped Augment Agency generate 5,000+ race recap videos tailored to each individual for the Run Malibu event.
Travel
- Destination-specific ads - Serve travel ideas and offers based on recent searches (e.g., “beach vacation” triggers tropical getaways).
- Dynamic pricing and availability - Show live prices for flights and hotels personalized by the user’s search criteria.
Retail
- Seasonal promotions - Dynamically switch creative assets to reflect seasons, holidays, or major sales events.
- Loyalty-focused content - Reward returning customers with exclusive offers, personalized thank-yous, or early access invites.
Hospitality
- Location-based hotel offers - Present personalized booking options based on past visits or user proximity.
- Upsell and cross-sell opportunities - Suggest room upgrades or amenities based on booking behavior.
Financial services
- Personalized financial product videos - Recommend credit cards, loans, or insurance based on user profile and browsing history.
One of the hottest hyper-personalization examples in this context is Barclays' ad campaign which literally paints a picture (ok, a video) of what’s possible with a loan. Instead of a generic message, the viewer is shown a completely personalized and immersive experience that includes a custom license plate and a car to a house bearing their name. Even the voiceover is personalized.
Step-by-step guide for creating dynamic video ads for your target audience
Want to create hundreds or thousands of personalized video ads in minutes?
This guide shows you exactly how - using After Effects to build your template, your data for personalization, and Plainly to generate and distribute your videos!
You don't need to be a developer to pull this off. Everyone from video marketers looking to run high-performing advertising campaigns to motion designers building scalable assets can follow along!
Prefer to watch it? Here’s the full tutorial video!
1. Define your video marketing campaign goal and data
Start by getting clear on your objective: Are you aiming for abandoned cart recovery, localized promotions, or something else entirely?
Once you know your goal, decide on whom you’re going to target. Then, identify which data points you’ll use to personalize your videos (e.g., customer names, locations, recently viewed products, time-sensitive offers, etc.), as these will be the dynamic elements in your video.
2. Create your master video template in After Effects
Next, you’ll want to create a reusable master template in Adobe After Effects. Why AE? Because it gives you the most flexibility and control for templatization, and it works seamlessly with Plainly.
Design your layout as usual, but mark any parts that should change - for example, text, images, and colors. Use a consistent naming prefix like ‘’edit’’ (e.g., editTitle, editImage, etc.) so Plainly can recognize them as dynamic elements.
When you’re done, zip the project with all assets included.
3. Create a Plainly account
You’ll need a Plainly account to continue the process. Signing up is quick and easy, and you get a 14-day free trial - no credit card required.
Just head over to plainlyvideos.com, click ‘’Try 14 days free,’’ and sign up using your email, Google, or GitHub account.
After a few short onboarding questions, your account will be ready to go.
4. Upload your AE template to Plainly
Now it’s time to head over to Plainly and upload your zipped project file. Or use our official Adobe plugin to send it directly to the platform in one click.
After the upload, click Auto-generate, then Prefix, and enter the prefix you used in AE (edit, for example). Plainly will scan your composition and automatically map the dynamic layers.
5. Create a spreadsheet with your data
To personalize each video, you’ll need a CSV file with the data that will power the dynamic elements.
Bear in mind that:
- Each row = a new video
- Each column = a dynamic layer
Not sure where to start? Just open your template in Plainly and click Generate CSV. It will create a ready-to-fill file with the correct column headers.
Once you fill it in (via Google Sheets, Excel, etc.), export it as a CSV.
You can also pull in data automatically using Plainly’s native integrations or API.
6. Automate batch-rendering
In your Plainly dashboard, go to Render, then Batch Render, and upload your CSV file.
Click Auto Link to match your spreadsheet columns with your AE dynamic layers, hit Next, and finally click Render.
In just a few minutes, your entire video batch will be ready - whether that’s 10 videos or 10,000.
7. Distribute your videos at scale
Now that your videos are ready, it’s time to get them in front of your target audience.
You can:
- Download each video individually (best for smaller batches)
- Download the entire batch as a ZIP file
- Automatically upload to platforms, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Frame.io, Vimeo, or YouTube (with more integrations coming soon!)
- Use Plainly’s API to fully automate delivery workflows
If you're running paid ads, you can now also upload your dynamic videos directly into ad platforms.
For example, Meta’s Catalog Product Video feature lets you add video assets at the product level and serve tailored video ads across Reels, Stories, and Feed on auto-pilot based on user interests and behavior.
Ready to jump on the dynamic video ads wagon?
By now, it should be clear: dynamic video ads are more effective, more scalable, and way more impactful than their static counterparts.
They enable you to connect with your audience on a personal level, keep your creativity fresh, and drive better performance across every platform.
And with the tools available today (Plainly, of course), it’s never been easier to create and launch fully personalized video campaigns at scale without the usual production bottlenecks.
So, if you’re ready to:
- Stop blending in with generic ads,
- Start reaching the right audience with the right message,
- And finally, make video work as hard as the rest of your funnel…
We’d love to show you how! Book a demo with Plainly, and let’s make your next campaign your most effective yet.
