If you’ve ever tried to slap your logo on a pre-made video template and called it a day, you know it never really looks right. If you want your company’s videos to actually feel like your brand—and not like a generic stock ad—the default options just don’t cut it. This guide is for anyone who wants to use Hourone to create branded videos that don’t make your designer cringe.
We’ll go step-by-step, from the basics to the details most people miss. I’ll be honest about what works, what’s not worth obsessing over, and where Hourone’s limits actually are.
1. Start With Your Brand Guidelines—But Keep It Real
Before you even open Hourone, grab your brand guidelines. That means your official logo files, color palette, font choices, and any rules about how things should look. But—and this is big—don’t expect to copy your brand book pixel-for-pixel into any video platform, including Hourone. Video tools always have quirks, so aim for “close enough” instead of perfection.
What matters most: - Colors: Stick to your core palette, especially for backgrounds and text. - Logo: Use high-res, transparent PNGs. Don’t use the tiny one from your email signature. - Fonts: Get as close as you can. You probably won’t get your exact font, so pick the closest Hourone offers. - Tone: If your brand is playful, don’t make a stiff corporate video. Match the vibe, not just the visuals.
Pro tip: If you don’t have a real brand guide, jot down 2-3 colors, your logo, and a font you use on your website. That’s enough to get started.
2. Choose the Right Hourone Template (and Don’t Get Distracted)
Hourone gives you plenty of templates. The trick is to pick one that matches your video’s goal, not just the one with the flashiest animations.
Here’s how to pick: - Match the message: Is this for training, marketing, onboarding? Templates are geared for specific uses—don’t fight against that. - Look past the images: Focus on layouts and structure. You can swap out images later, but changing a template’s core layout is a pain. - Keep it simple: Busy templates with lots of moving parts are hard to brand. Simple ones are easier to make your own.
What to ignore: The stock images and example content in templates. You’ll replace them all. Don’t worry if the sample video is about yoga and you’re making a sales pitch.
3. Swap In Your Brand Colors (But Don’t Overdo It)
Colors do the heavy lifting when it comes to branding. Luckily, most Hourone templates let you change background and text colors.
How to get it right: - Primary colors: Use your main brand color for titles, buttons, or key highlights. - Secondary/background: Don’t make everything your boldest brand color. Use whites, greys, or a muted palette for most backgrounds. - Contrast: Make sure text is readable. Dark text on light backgrounds, or vice versa. Don’t get clever—if it’s hard to read, people won’t watch.
What doesn’t work: Trying to use gradients or complicated color schemes. Most templates keep it basic, and so should you.
Pro tip: If you only have a hex code (like #0057B8), you can paste it directly into Hourone’s color pickers.
4. Update Fonts—But Manage Your Expectations
Hourone lets you pick from a list of fonts. Odds are, your exact brand font isn’t there. That’s normal.
How to handle fonts: - Pick the closest match: Sans-serif for modern brands, serif for traditional, etc. - Consistency: Use the same font for all headlines and another (if you must) for body text. - Avoid script or novelty fonts: These rarely look professional on video, no matter how “on-brand” they seem.
What to ignore: Don’t obsess over tracking or kerning. You can’t fine-tune spacing in most video tools, so don’t waste time.
5. Add Your Logo (and Make Sure It Looks Good Everywhere)
This part seems obvious, but plenty of branded videos get this wrong.
How to do it right: - Use transparent PNGs: No white boxes or pixelated edges. - Positioning: Top right or bottom left usually works best. Don’t block important content. - Size: Small enough to be subtle, big enough to be visible on a phone screen.
Common mistake: Dumping a huge logo front and center. Unless you’re a sponsor at a sports event, keep it subtle.
Pro tip: If your template has a placeholder for a logo, use it. If not, add an image layer and position it yourself.
6. Replace All Stock Images and Videos
Nothing kills a “branded” video faster than generic stock photos. Even Hourone’s AI presenters need context that matches your brand.
What you should do: - Use your own photos or videos: Even a smartphone shot is better than a cheesy stock image. - Branded imagery: Replace background images with shots of your office, team, or product. - AI presenters: Pick one that fits your audience. You can’t “brand” the presenter, but you can avoid jarring mismatches (like a formal presenter for a skateboard brand).
What to ignore: Uneditable demo footage in the template. If you can’t change it, skip that template.
7. Tweak the Script and Voiceover
Templates come with canned scripts and voiceovers. They’re generic for a reason—you’re supposed to make them your own.
How to brand your message: - Rewrite everything: Even if it’s just changing “Hello!” to your usual greeting, do it. - Use your brand’s tone: Conversational, formal, quirky—make it sound like you. - Voiceover: Hourone lets you choose voices and languages. Pick one that fits your brand’s style (and audience). If you have a real person who is your brand, record/upload their voice.
What doesn’t work: Leaving anything stock. People can spot a template script a mile away.
8. Adjust Transitions, Animations, and Timing
This is the fine-tuning step most people skip.
How to dial it in: - Keep transitions simple: Fades, slides, or cuts. Wild animations distract from your message. - Match timing to your brand: If you’re fast-paced, speed up the cuts. If you’re calm, slow things down. - Don’t overload with effects: More isn’t better. Consistency is.
Pro tip: Watch the finished video with the sound off. If your brand still comes through, you’ve done it right.
9. Watch Out for Hourone’s Limits
Here’s the honest part: Hourone is great for quick, good-looking videos, but it’s not Adobe Premiere. Some things you just can’t change.
What you can’t (or shouldn’t) try to do: - Custom fonts: Unless Hourone lets you upload (rare), you’re stuck with what’s in the menu. - Pixel-perfect layouts: You can nudge things, but you can’t drag-and-drop every element. - Super-detailed brand motion graphics: These need a real designer and pro software.
What to do instead: Focus on what’s visible—colors, logo, images, and script. That’s what most viewers notice.
10. Export, Review, and Iterate
Don’t just export once and call it done.
Best practices: - Preview before exporting: Catch typos, weird cuts, or off-brand moments. - Get a second opinion: Show it to a coworker who knows your brand. Fresh eyes spot things you’ll miss. - Iterate: Small tweaks make a huge difference. Don’t aim for perfection on the first try.
What to ignore: Chasing minor details that only you notice. Most viewers care about clarity and consistency, not whether you hit the exact shade of blue.
Keep It Simple—And Keep Improving
Branding your Hourone videos isn’t about perfection. It’s about making sure your audience feels like the video belongs to your company, not some faceless template factory. Stick to the basics—colors, logo, images, tone—and don’t get lost in the weeds. The more you make, the better you’ll get, so keep it simple and keep iterating. That’s how you go from “meh, that’s generic” to “hey, that actually looks like us.”