First, here is the idea in plain English. Short videos work. They cost less time, they repurpose easily, and they help people remember you. Recent reports from HubSpot and Wyzowl show short form video near the top for return on investment in 2025, so this is a safe bet you can defend with data (HubSpot 2025, Wyzowl 2025). If you market probate services or ADU projects, use short clips that people and AI can quote word for word, and focus on pipeline, not vanity metrics.

Clicks and calls come from clear answers, not long videos.

Because search results and AI features prefer short answers, a tight 40 second clip will beat a long explainer most of the time. When your video follows a simple pattern and lives on a matching hub, you raise the chance that answer boxes pull your words, and you make it easier for visitors to take the next step.

Build your 40 second clips with four beats.

1. Hook, 0 to 3 seconds, say the problem the way your customer says it.
2. Context, 4 to 15 seconds, describe the situation in simple terms.
3. Proof, 16 to 28 seconds, show one named stat or a tiny real example.
4. CTA, 29 to 40 seconds, send people to the checklist or hub that finishes the job.

Publish four clips each month, each with a clear purpose.

First, post one authority story that teaches something useful. Next, post one myth buster that corrects a common mistake. Then, post one local proof that fits your market. Finally, post one testimonial that shows the outcome. This mix gives your hub four quotable assets every month that match different kinds of intent.

Use these examples to get started today.

1. Probate, Authority Story, What happens in the first 10 days of probate, Hook, Here is the timeline in our county, Context, 80 percent of the delays we see come from missing notices, Proof, cite your court data or internal audit, Download our first 10 days checklist, CTA.
2. Probate, Myth Buster, No, probate does not always take a year, Hook, In simple estates, our median is five to seven months, Context, Here is one 4.5 month case with a clean inventory, Proof, See the seven accelerators on our hub, CTA.
3. ADU, Local Proof, Can you add an ADU on a 5,000 square foot lot here, Hook, Our city allows it with these setbacks, Context, We permitted 12 ADUs last quarter, Proof, Grab the zoning cheat sheet, CTA.
4. ADU, Testimonial, We thought we would be denied, Hook, Here is what changed after a pre sub meeting, Context, Approved in 41 days, Proof, Start with our pre sub checklist, CTA.

Make your clips easy for AI & people.

• Add captions and a full transcript under the video, this helps with accessibility and makes your words easy to quote.
• Use VideoObject with duration, thumbnailUrl, uploadDate, and transcript or description, use Clip for key moments, and pair the page with FAQPage if you add Q and A, schemas, VideoObject, Clip, FAQPage.
• Keep your name, address, phone, and other entity details consistent on the page and in your YouTube or Vimeo profile, this lowers confusion in local results.
• Always embed the clip on the matching hub so nearby copy, links, and FAQs back up the claim and point to the next step.

Ship with a simple tool kit and a repeatable template.

• Recording, use your phone in 4K at 30 fps with light on your face, stand one arm length from the camera, keep eyes near the lens.
• Template, Hook, user phrasing, Context, your scenario, Proof, named stat or tiny case plus source, CTA, checklist or hub.
• File names, use clear names like probate-first-10-days-40s.mp4.
• Versions, export square, 1080 by 1080, and vertical, 1080 by 1920.
• Thumbnails, write a direct promise, for example, Finish probate notices in 10 minutes.

Measure revenue impact, not views.

First, tag every embed and CTA with UTMs and track clicks on the page. Next, report video assisted SQLs and pipeline speed, for example time to consult and time to sign, not just view counts. Then, show presence in AI features and local results next to rankings so leaders see the full lift. Finally, cut weak videos and double down on the four best topics next month.

Do this next.

Record one 40 second clip this week using the four beats. Then, embed it on the right hub with schema and a transcript. After that, post the square and vertical versions to two channels, link them back to the hub, and tag your CTAs. Finally, add a three line proof caption under the embed and log the source and change date so your work is auditable. Let us know if you need help, this is our wheelhouse.