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Lee Stuart
Lee Stuart

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Automating the "Marketing Department": My Python + AI Video Workflow for Solopreneurs

#ai #ads #nextifyai #video

I’d rather write 1,000 lines of backend logic than record a single 30-second TikTok video promoting my SaaS.
As developers, we often fall into the trap of "build it and they will come." But in 2024, if you aren't shipping content alongside your code, your product dies in obscurity. I knew I needed short-form video content, but I didn't want to become a full-time video editor.
I wanted to treat marketing assets like code: Versioned, automated, and scalable.
Here is how I engineered a semi-automated video pipeline using Python and AI, moving from manual drag-and-drop tools to a more programmatic workflow.

The Problem: UI vs. API

Initially, I tried the standard "No-Code" route. I used popular platforms to manually generate avatars and scripts. While tools like Arcads are great for pure marketers, I found myself clicking through menus way too often.
I started looking for a programmable Arcads AI alternative—something that felt less like a design tool and more like a developer utility. I needed a solution where I could potentially pipe in a JSON file of hooks and get video variants out.

The Stack: Python + Nextify.ai

After testing a few endpoints, I settled on a workflow centered around Nextify.ai for the generation layer, wrapped in a simple Python script for batch processing.
My goal was simple:

  1. Input: A list of value propositions (hooks).
  2. Process: Generate video variations using AI avatars.
  3. Output: MP4 files ready for review.

The "Code" Part

Instead of spending hours in a video editor, I structured my marketing campaigns as data.
Here is a simplified version of the logic I use. I treat the script generation as a function that iterates through a list of potential hooks.
(Note: This is pseudocode logic to demonstrate the workflow)

Python

import requests
import json

# My "Marketing Campaign" is just a Python list
hooks = [
    "Stop manually deploying your static sites.",
    "The fastest way to deploy React apps in 2024.",
    "Why your CI/CD pipeline is costing you money."
]

def generate_ad_variant(hook_text, avatar_id):
    # In a real scenario, this connects to the AI generation tool
    payload = {
        "project_name": "SaaS_Promo_v1",
        "script": hook_text,
        "avatar": avatar_id,
        "aspect_ratio": "9:16" # TikTok/Reels format
    }

    # Sending to the generation service
    # I'm using Nextify.ai here for the rendering engine
    response = requests.post("https://api.nextify.ai/v1/generate", json=payload)

    if response.status_code == 200:
        return response.json()['download_url']
    else:
        return None

# Batch processing my marketing
for i, hook in enumerate(hooks):
    print(f"Rendering variant {i+1}...")
    video_url = generate_ad_variant(hook, "avatar_tech_guy_01")
    # Save video_url to my database or download folder
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Why This Approach Wins for Devs

By shifting to this workflow, I treated video creation like a compile process.

  1. Batching: I can write 10 scripts in VS Code, run the script, and walk away.
  2. A/B Testing as a Variable: Changing the "avatar" or the "voice" is just changing a variable string in my code, not re-recording a human actor.
  3. Integration: I used Nextify.ai because it fit neatly into this "input-output" mental model, allowing me to focus on the message rather than the timeline editing.

The "Human in the Loop" (CI/CD for Ads)

Just like you wouldn't deploy to production without a code review, you can't auto-post AI content.
AI models hallucinate tone. Sometimes the emphasis is on the wrong syllable. My workflow is:

  1. Python Script: Generates 5 variations.
  2. Human Review: I watch them at 2x speed.
  3. Selection: I pick the best 2.
  4. Polish: Add captions or overlay music manually (for now).

Closing Thoughts

If you are an indie hacker building in public, don't force yourself to become an influencer. Use your engineering skills to solve the marketing bottleneck.

Finding a programmable Arcads AI alternative wasn't just about saving money; it was about finding a tool that respected my workflow as a developer. Whether you use Nextify.ai or build your own ffmpeg pipeline, the key is to stop treating content creation as "art" and start treating it as "shippable assets."

How are you folks automating your distribution? Any other APIs I should look at?

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