How to Ask Customers for Video (Templates) for Your Store
Learn how to ask customers for video with practical templates and strategies to boost your ecommerce store's user-generated content for shoppable video widgets.
User-generated video content is a powerful tool for ecommerce stores, building trust and showcasing products in authentic ways. To effectively acquire this valuable content, you need a clear strategy for how to ask customers for video (templates) that makes the submission process simple and rewarding for them.
This guide provides practical steps and ready-to-use templates to help Shopify and WooCommerce merchants encourage their customers to create and share videos that you can then leverage on your online store and social channels.
What you need before you start
Before you begin reaching out, lay the groundwork to ensure a smooth and successful customer video collection process.
Obtain Usage Rights
The most critical step is ensuring you have explicit permission to use any customer-submitted video. Always ask for consent and clearly state how you intend to use their content. Without proper rights, you cannot legally repurpose their videos for your marketing efforts. For a deeper dive into this, refer to Getting Usage Rights for Customer Video: An Ecommerce Guide.
Clear Guidelines
Customers are more likely to submit videos if they understand exactly what you're looking for. Provide simple, straightforward instructions on video length, quality (e.g., shoot horizontally on a steady device, good lighting), and content focus. For instance, ask them to demonstrate how they use a product, share their favorite feature, or simply show an 'unboxing' experience.
Incentives
Offering incentives can significantly increase submission rates. These don't always have to be monetary. Consider discounts on future purchases, entry into a contest or giveaway, or the chance to be featured prominently on your website and social media channels. The reward should align with the effort required to create the video. For example, a significant discount might be offered for a detailed product review video, while a small token could be for a quick unboxing clip.
A Way to Collect Videos
You need an easy method for customers to submit their videos. This could be a dedicated upload form on your website, a direct message option on social media, or via email. For social content, platforms like Byvano allow you to import existing customer videos from TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, and then turn them into shoppable video widgets on your store.
Step-by-step: how to ask customers for video (templates)
Here are practical templates you can adapt for various touchpoints to help you effectively ask customers for video content.
Email Templates
Email is a direct and effective way to reach out, especially after a positive customer interaction or purchase.
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Post-Purchase Follow-up: Send this a few days after a customer receives their order, especially if it's a product that generates immediate excitement.
Subject: We'd love to see you with your [Product Name]!Hi [Customer Name],We hope you're loving your new [Product Name]! We're always thrilled to see our customers enjoying their purchases.Would you be willing to share a quick video (30-60 seconds) showing how you use or unbox your [Product Name]? It could be a short demo, your favorite feature, or just your initial reaction!As a thank you, we'll send you a [Discount/Gift Card] for your next order.Here are some simple tips for recording: [Link to your guidelines, e.g., shoot horizontally, good lighting].You can easily upload your video here: [Link to your video submission form/email address].Thanks for being a valued customer![Your Brand Name] -
Product Review Request: For customers who have had enough time to thoroughly use and form an opinion on a product.
Subject: Share your [Product Name] story & get rewarded!Hi [Customer Name],We noticed you purchased our [Product Name] on [Date]. We're always striving to improve, and your feedback is invaluable!Would you consider recording a brief video testimonial (under 90 seconds) sharing your honest experience with the [Product Name]? Tell us what you love most about it or how it's made a difference for you.If your video is featured on our website or social channels, we'll send you a [Larger Discount/Free Product].Find our quick video guide here: [Link to your guidelines].Submit your video easily here: [Link to your video submission form/email address].We appreciate your support![Your Brand Name] -
Contest/Campaign Participation: Great for generating a high volume of content around a specific theme or product.
Subject: [Contest Name]: Show us your style & win!Hello [Customer Name],We're launching our exciting '[Contest Name]' and we'd love for you to be a part of it!Simply create a short video (under 60 seconds) showcasing how you style/use our [Product Category] product. Share your unique take and tag us on Instagram using #[YourBrandedHashtag].The best video will win a [Grand Prize, e.g., $100 store credit, free product bundle]! Plus, your video could be featured on our official channels.Learn more about the contest and official rules here: [Link to contest page].Good luck![Your Brand Name]
Schedule your Facebook and Instagram content with Byvano to ensure your contest announcements and follow-ups reach your audience at optimal times, streamlining your social media marketing efforts.
Social Media Prompts
Leverage your existing social channels to encourage video submissions. Use engaging captions and visual calls to action.
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Instagram/Facebook Stories or Reels Call to Action:
"Show us how YOU [use product/style product]! Tag us @[YourBrand] and use #[YourBrandedHashtag] for a chance to be featured and win a [Prize]!" -
Regular Post Prompt:
"We love seeing our products in action! Share your video review of [Product Name] below or DM us for a chance to get a special discount code!"
Packaging Inserts
Include a small card in your product packaging with a QR code or direct URL, encouraging video submissions right when the customer receives their item.
"Love your new [Product Name]? Scan here to share a quick video review and get 15% off your next order! [QR Code/URL to submission page]"
Are there shoppable content solutions for reusing customer photos and videos?
Yes, absolutely. Once you've collected customer videos, platforms like Byvano specialize in turning that user-generated content into interactive, shoppable video experiences on your ecommerce store. Byvano allows Shopify and WooCommerce merchants to import their existing TikToks, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, tag products directly onto them, and then embed interactive shoppable video widgets like carousels, stories, or grids that drive on-site sales. You can explore how this works in detail on our how-it-works page and see all the functionalities on our features page.
Can I make existing customer videos shoppable with an affordable tool?
Yes, you can. Byvano offers an affordable solution for making existing customer videos shoppable. Every Byvano feature is free until 17 March 2027, with no credit card required. This includes unlimited videos, every widget layout, the scheduler, and analytics. After this launch offer, a Free plan remains available, and paid plans are structured with flat monthly prices ($29 Starter, $99 Growth), ensuring predictable costs without charges based on views or impressions. This makes it a cost-effective choice for small ecommerce teams looking to leverage customer videos without a large upfront investment.
Common mistakes to avoid
Successfully asking customers for video content requires more than just sending out a request. Avoid these common pitfalls:
- Unclear Instructions: Vague requests lead to low-quality or irrelevant submissions. Be specific about what you want them to show and how to record it.
- No Incentive or Value Proposition: Customers need a reason to put in the effort. Clearly communicate what they gain from participating, whether it's a discount, exposure, or a chance to win.
- Neglecting Usage Rights: Failing to get explicit permission to use their content can lead to legal issues down the line. Always have a clear rights agreement.
- Making it Too Complex: The easier the submission process, the higher your chances of success. Minimize steps and provide clear submission options.
- Forgetting to Follow Up: A gentle reminder email can significantly boost participation for those who initially intended to submit but got sidetracked.
Why store owners choose Byvano for user-generated video
Byvano is designed specifically for online stores that want to maximize the impact of their video content, including user-generated videos. Here's why merchants choose Byvano:
- Dual Functionality: One dashboard does two jobs: it schedules your social posts and turns the same video into a shoppable video on your store with tagged products, eliminating the need for a separate shoppable video app.
- Affordable & Predictable Pricing: Every Byvano feature is free until 17 March 2027. After that, a Free plan is available, and paid plans are flat monthly prices ($29 Starter, $99 Growth). Byvano does not charge per social channel or per user, and plans are capped by video count, never by views or impressions, giving you predictable costs.
- Comprehensive Scheduling: Schedule and publish posts, Reels, and Stories to Instagram professional accounts, and text, photo, video, Reel, and link posts to Facebook Pages, from one calendar with drag-to-reschedule. Videos and Shorts can also be uploaded to a YouTube channel from the same calendar.
- Integrated Analytics: Analytics are included, not an add-on, providing insights into reach, reach rate, video views, engagement rate, audience country, age and gender, and hashtag performance for every account and every post.
- Built for Ecommerce: Byvano works with WooCommerce (via a plugin downloaded from byvano.com) and Shopify (early access), with products tagged straight from your catalog.
How to check it worked
Once you've started collecting and publishing customer videos, it's essential to measure their impact. Keep track of the number of submissions you receive and the quality of the content. For videos repurposed into shoppable widgets on your site, Byvano's analytics provide data on video views, plays, and product clicks. This helps you understand which videos resonate most with your audience and drive engagement towards your products. On social media, monitor engagement metrics like likes, comments, shares, and reach for posts featuring customer videos. Over time, observe if these authentic videos contribute to increased conversion rates or average order value on your product pages, as they answer common shopper questions that photos cannot.
Official resources
Frequently asked questions
Are there shoppable content solutions for reusing customer photos and videos?
Yes, platforms like Byvano allow you to import existing customer videos from social media or direct uploads, tag products from your store's catalog, and display them in interactive shoppable video widgets on your Shopify or WooCommerce store.
Can I make existing customer videos shoppable with an affordable tool?
Yes, Byvano offers a Free plan and affordable flat-rate paid plans, making it a cost-effective solution. Every feature is currently free until March 17, 2027, with no credit card required, allowing you to turn customer videos into shoppable content.