HeyGen Avatars

HeyGen has become a go-to platform for AI avatar videos. Its combination of quality avatars, diverse voices, and business-friendly features makes it popular for marketing and corporate content. Let's master it.

What is HeyGen?

HeyGen is an AI avatar video platform offering:

• 100+ stock avatars in diverse styles
• 300+ voices in 40+ languages
• Custom avatar creation from your video
• Background options and customization
• API access for automation

Getting Started

Creating an Account

1. Visit heygen.com
2. Sign up with email or Google
3. Free trial includes 1 minute of video
4. Plans start at $24/month for 15 minutes

Pricing Tiers

Plan	Price	Video Credits	Features
Free Trial	$0	1 minute	Basic avatars, watermark
Creator	$24/month	15 minutes	All avatars, no watermark
Business	$120/month	60 minutes	Priority, API access
Enterprise	Custom	Unlimited	Custom avatars, dedicated support

Creating Your First Video

Step 1: Start New Project

1. Click "Create Video"
2. Choose aspect ratio:
   • 16:9 (YouTube, website)
   • 9:16 (TikTok, Reels)
   • 1:1 (Instagram feed)

Step 2: Select Avatar

Browse the avatar library:

Filter by:

• Gender
• Age range
• Ethnicity
• Style (professional, casual)
• Movement (sitting, standing, gesturing)

Pro tip: Choose avatars that match your brand and audience demographics.

Step 3: Write Your Script

Enter your text in the script panel.

Best practices:

• Write conversationally
• Use short sentences
• Include natural pauses (use "..." or commas)
• Avoid jargon unless necessary
• Read aloud to check flow

Example script:

Hey there! Welcome to our product walkthrough.
Today, I'll show you the three features that
our customers love most.

Let's start with the dashboard...

Step 4: Choose Voice

Select from HeyGen's voice library:

Consider:

• Match voice to avatar appearance
• Choose appropriate accent
• Consider your audience
• Test with your script

Voice options:

• Male/female
• Various accents
• Different ages
• Emotional tones

Step 5: Add Background

Options for backgrounds:

Solid colors: Simple, clean, professional

Images: Upload your own or choose from library

Videos: Moving backgrounds for dynamic feel

Transparent: Export with alpha channel for compositing

Step 6: Generate

Click "Submit" and wait:

• Processing takes 1-3 minutes per minute of video
• You'll receive email when complete
• Download in MP4 format

Advanced Features

Multi-Scene Videos

Create longer videos with multiple scenes:

1. Add scene (+)
2. Each scene can have:
   • Different avatar
   • Different background
   • Different camera angle
3. Scenes connect automatically

Use cases:

• Product tours with screen recordings
• Training with multiple presenters
• Marketing with varied visuals

Screen Recording Integration

Combine avatar with screen content:

1. Add screen recording scene
2. Upload your screen recording
3. Avatar appears in corner (picture-in-picture)
4. Or use avatar for intro/outro, screens for demo

Avatar Customization

Adjust avatar presentation:

Camera angle:

• Full body
• Half body
• Close-up

Position:

• Center, left, right
• Adjust within frame

Gestures:

• Some avatars have multiple gesture sets
• Select animation style

Text-to-Speech Settings

Fine-tune the voice:

Speed: Adjust from 0.5x to 2x

Pitch: Make voice higher or lower

Emphasis: Add emphasis to specific words using SSML tags

Pauses: Insert pauses with "..." or break tags

Creating Custom Avatars

Turn yourself (or anyone with consent) into an avatar.

Requirements

For HeyGen Instant Avatar:

• 2-5 minutes of video footage
• Good lighting
• Clear audio
• Looking at camera
• Minimal movement
• Plain background

The Process

1. Upload consent form (required)
2. Upload training video
3. Wait for processing (24-48 hours)
4. Review and approve
5. Use your custom avatar

Best Practices for Training Video

Do:

• Use professional lighting
• Maintain eye contact with camera
• Speak in your natural voice
• Keep movements subtle
• Use a teleprompter for smooth delivery

Don't:

• Move around excessively
• Use dramatic gestures
• Have background noise
• Wear busy patterns
• Make extreme facial expressions

HeyGen for Marketing

Product Videos

Structure:

1. Hook (avatar) - 5-10 seconds
2. Problem (avatar + graphics) - 15 seconds
3. Solution (screen recording + avatar) - 30 seconds
4. Benefits (avatar with text overlays) - 20 seconds
5. CTA (avatar) - 10 seconds

Testimonial Style

Even without real testimonials, create testimonial-format content:

"As a marketing manager, I was struggling with
video production costs. Then I discovered [product],
and now I create 10 videos per week instead of
one per month."

Note: Be transparent that this is demonstrative content, not a real testimonial.

Personalized Videos at Scale

With HeyGen API:

• Generate personalized videos programmatically
• Insert customer names
• Customize for different segments
• Scale to thousands of videos

Tips for Natural-Looking Videos

Script Writing

Use contractions:

• "I'll show you" not "I will show you"
• "You're going to love" not "You are going to love"

Break up sentences:

• Shorter is better
• One idea per sentence
• Add breathing room

Add verbal fillers sparingly:

• "Now," "So," "Well"
• Makes speech feel natural

Timing and Pacing

Vary sentence length: Mix short and long sentences for rhythm

Add pauses: Use "..." for natural breaks

Match content to pace:

• Exciting content = faster
• Technical content = slower

Choosing the Right Avatar

Consider your audience:

• B2B: More professional avatars
• B2C: Can be more casual
• Global: Choose diverse representation

Match the message:

• Serious content: Professional attire
• Fun content: Casual appearance

Common Mistakes

Robotic scripts: Write like you speak, not like you write

Wrong avatar choice: Match demographics and style to your audience

Ignoring background: Background should complement, not distract

Too long: Keep videos focused; attention spans are short

No visual variety: Add scenes, graphics, and movement

HeyGen vs. Synthesia

Feature	HeyGen	Synthesia
Avatar quality	High	High
Avatar variety	Good	Excellent
Custom avatars	Yes	Yes (higher tier)
Languages	40+	120+
Price (entry)	$24/month	$22/month
API	Yes	Yes
Best for	Marketing	Corporate training

Key Takeaway

HeyGen makes professional avatar videos accessible. Focus on script quality—it's the most important factor in a good avatar video. Choose avatars that match your audience, keep videos focused and natural-sounding, and combine with other scenes for visual variety. In the next lesson, we'll explore Synthesia, which excels for enterprise and training content.