Introduction
Ever had to explain something and found it difficult to get your message across? The challenge of explaining concepts and ideas is a common hurdle faced by businesses. This is where explainer videos come in – they make understanding easier, faster, and more fun.
Explainer videos are short animated videos that explain what your company does or the service it offers. They’re ideal for educating customers about new products or services and marketing them at the same time. These videos can be used on social media channels like Facebook and Instagram, in email marketing campaigns, or even as customer-facing content on an e-commerce website. In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know about explainer videos — from what they are and how to create one for your business, video marketing techniques, to the benefits of having one. We’ll also cover some challenges you might face when creating one for your company.
What is an Animated Explainer Video?
An animated explainer video is a professionally produced video that uses animation to communicate complex ideas in a clear and engaging manner. Animated explainer videos can be used for a variety of purposes, including corporate marketing, product demonstration, and educational videos. They are particularly effective for conveying complex ideas or concepts because of their visual appeal.
Animated explainers can be created using various styles of animation, such as stop-motion, claymation, or CGI. The style of animation used depends on the intended audience and the desired effect on viewers. Well-made video explainers will have clear visuals that are easy to understand and follow along with the narrator’s voiceover.
Types of explainer videos
Explainer videos are a great medium to convey complex information in an engaging and informative manner. Here are some of the types of explainer videos that you can create and use to inspire your next video project:
- Visual explainers: These videos use images, diagrams, and other visual elements to convey complex information in an easy-to-understand manner. They are commonly used in marketing and media campaigns to explain products or concepts.
- Audio explainers: These videos use audio files, such as voiceovers, music, and sound effects, to convey complex information in a more engaging manner. They are commonly used in media and marketing to tell stories or present information.
- Text-based explainers: These videos use text to provide detailed information on a specific topic. They can be used by companies for corporate training or educational purposes.
- Animation-based explainers: These videos use animation techniques such as 3D graphics, motion graphics, 2D or 3D characters, and video mapping to convey complex information in a more engaging manner. They are commonly used in media and marketing to tell stories or present information.
- Whiteboard video: Whiteboard videos are illustration-driven video content created against a whiteboard using animated graphics for tutorials and marketing efforts
Benefits of Using Explainer Videos
Explainer videos are a great way to explain complex topics in an easy-to-understand manner. They can be used to provide information about a product or service, educate the public about certain issues, or simply provide a fun and entertaining experience.
Explainer videos have many benefits for businesses, including increased credibility and brand recognition. They can be used to inform the public about new products or services, educate them on issues of concern, or just provide entertainment.
Many companies use explainer videos as part of their media marketing efforts, such as by posting them on their websites or social media channels. This helps to create a better understanding and awareness of their brand and products. In addition, explainer videos can be used in various other ways, such as in sales presentations or when someone is looking for information on a specific topic.
Explain What You Do
An explainer video is a short video that explains a complex topic concisely and engagingly. They are an effective way to quickly capture the interest of viewers and explain what your business does. They can help establish credibility, build trust, and engage with customers. Explainer videos are cost-effective marketing pieces that can help deliver a powerful message about your business and brand. They are often used as promotional content, advertising on social media platforms, or as part of marketing campaigns. These videos can help promote your company, explain your services, and build interest in your brand.
Educated Your Audience
Explainer videos are a great way to educate your audience about the products and services you offer. These video explainer pieces can help explain complex concepts in a concise, engaging, and easily-understand way.
The appeal of animated explainer videos is that they can showcase complex topics in an easy-to-understand format. Plus, animated explainer videos are effective in helping viewers understand how certain products or services work. This can be especially beneficial for customers who have difficulty with read-in-mind information or who may be new to the industry.
An explainer video can also be used to showcase customer testimonials or to provide an overview of a product or service. Using Explainer videos can help you stand out from your competition and create a lasting impression with potential customers.
Simplify Complex Concepts
Explainer videos are a great way to explain complex concepts in a short, engaging, and visually stimulating way. They can help make complex topics easier to understand by breaking them down into bite-sized chunks. These videos are often animated to further enhance their visual appeal and help capture the attention of viewers. They can be used to promote brands, explain company policies, and showcase the features and benefits of a particular product or service. Explainer videos are also more likely to be shared on social media than other types of content, which can help raise awareness about a business and ultimately drive traffic to its website.
Promote Your Business
Explainer videos are a great way to promote your business and explain complex topics in a short amount of time. They provide a visual and engaging way to explain complex topics, making them ideal for use online or in email marketing campaigns. Animated explainer videos help capture the attention of potential customers, making them more likely to take action.
Explainer videos can be used on social media platforms, websites, and even emails to create a lasting impression and answer common customer questions quickly and clearly. They can greatly improve customer service by shortening the length of phone calls with customers and eliminating the need for lengthy interactions with call centers. Explainer videos can be an effective and efficient marketing tool that can help grow your business over time.
How to Make an Explainer Video
There are several factors that determine the quality of an explainer video: the storyline, the use of visuals, voiceover, etc. A good explainer video will have a clear and compelling narrative that keeps the viewer engaged. It should be visually appealing and easy on the eyes. Well-composed shots with good lighting can make a huge difference in overall production value.
Step 1: Write the video script
An explainer video is a great way to showcase your products and services in an engaging and visually appealing way. Creating a video script is the first step in creating an effective explainer video. A video script should focus on key points of your product or service while being concise and easy to understand. After you have written the script, begin creating the visuals for your explainer video. These visuals should be eye-catching and engaging to hold viewers’ attention. Finally, add a strong voiceover to help emphasize the message of your explainer video and bring it to life.
Step 2: Recording the voiceovers
Recording the voiceovers for an explainer video can be a challenging process. One of the most important aspects of creating an explainer video is finding the right voiceover talent. Choosing the right voiceover artist can make or break your video. If you’re not sure who to record your voiceovers with, consider using online audio studios and outsourcing your work to professional voiceover artists.
Another factor that impacts the quality of your recording is your microphone and recording environment. A well-placed microphone will capture your voice clearly and avoid any background noises that can negatively impact your recording.
Finally, you’ll want to pay attention to the details when it comes to recording your voiceover. Make sure you have comfortable background noise, good lighting, and proper soundproofing for optimal recording conditions.
Step 3: Explainer video production
Post-production refers to the process of editing and finishing an explainer video project. It involves animators combining various pieces of footage shot during filming, adjusting the color and lighting, adding graphics and titles, and applying special effects such as transitions, dissolves, and animations. These elements help to enhance the content presentation while also making it more engaging for viewers.
Overall, post-production is an important step in the creation of an explainer video project as it allows producers to create high-quality content that effectively conveys their message.
Step 4: Music & sound effects
Music and sound effects can help create an atmosphere that will draw viewers in and make them more likely to remember your message. The music should be chosen carefully to ensure it fits the tone of the video and enhances the message you’re trying to convey. Animating explainer videos allow you to explain complex topics in a creative and eye-catching way that is sure to get people interested in your company or idea.
Key elements to include in your explainer video
Animated video explainers are a great storytelling tactic to inform your audience about your product or service. Here are some key elements to include in your animated explainer video:
- First, focus on the problem you are solving for your audience. This will help them understand the value of your solution and will make them more likely to buy it.
- Next, think about the target audience for your animated explainer video. This will help you choose the right characters and settings that resonate with them.
- Also, consider the main message you want to convey in your animated explainer video. This will help you center your narrative around a clear point of view and objective.
- Finally, create a visual world that feels real and emotional for viewers with vivid colors and high-quality images. These key elements can be used to craft an effective animated explainer video that will intrigue and inform potential customers!
What platforms are best for hosting an explainer video?
If you’re looking to create explainer videos for your business, there is a wide range of video platforms available to choose from. From the most popular video streaming platform, YouTube, to the creative video platform, Vimeo, each of these platforms has its unique strengths and benefits.
While YouTube is widely recognized as the go-to video platform for many viewers, it comes with several drawbacks. In particular, the video hosting platform is limited in terms of features and functionality. As such, it may not be able to deliver the level of engaging content that customers expect.
On the other hand, video sharing site Vimeo has several creative video features that make it more than just a simple video-sharing site. These include customizable video sizes, watermarks, themes, and more.
Another great option for explainer videos is social media. Using the reach of social media can help your explainer video be seen by more people and increase its reach. Plus, customers can easily share and discuss your explainer video on social media platforms without having to leave your website or app.
Finally, you can also feature your explainer video prominently on the homepage of your website or share it with your sales team as a way to give viewers a taste of what you have to offer. This will help increase customer engagement and encourage them to come back for more.
Measuring Explainer Video Success
Measuring the success of an explainer video is essential to ensuring that the project delivers optimal results. One way to measure the success of an explainer video is by examining factors such as the number of people who view the video, the number of shares it receives on social media, and the comments people make about it.
One commonly used metric for measuring explainer video success is the view-through rate (VTR). VTR represents the percentage of viewers who watch a video through to its conclusion. In other words, it’s a measure of how many people watch a particular video and then take action as a result.
VTR is an important metric because it can indicate how effective a video was in educating its viewers and driving engagement. It can also be used to determine whether a particular video format or style works better than another for delivering the intended message.
Engagement rates refer to how many people have interacted with the video and how engaged they have been. Engagement can take many forms, including shares on social media, views on platforms like YouTube, and click-throughs from websites.
Conversions refer to the number of people who take action based on the information presented in the video. This can range from signing up for a newsletter or making a purchase to applying for a job or taking some other action.
Overall sentiment analysis refers to how people respond to the video overall. This can include things like positive comments on social media platforms and reviews on online platforms.
Several factors can affect the success of a video, including the quality of the production, the message conveyed, and the target audience
Challenges associated with creating an explainer video
Creating an animated explainer video is a complex and time-consuming process, but the benefits of such a video are immense. An explainer video can be used for many purposes, including corporate advertising, marketing, and education. It can be used to introduce a product or service, educate the public about it, or even as a customer support tool.
Creating an animated explainer video involves several steps that need to be taken care of to make sure that the video is engaging and effective. Here are some of the challenges associated with creating an explainer video:
- Finding the right animation team: An animation team is needed to bring life to the characters and visual elements of your video. Choosing the right team ensures that your project is well executed and looks professional.
- Creating a storyline: The storyline is crucial in creating an effective animated explainer video. It needs to be well thought out so that it flows smoothly for viewers.
- Finding the right voiceover talent: A voiceover talent is needed to give life to the characters in your animated explainer video and add gravitas to the script.
- Ensuring high production values: High production values ensure that your animated explainer video has a polished look and feel and is easy on the eyes.
Finding The Right Explainer Video Company
Finding the right explainer video company is essential to creating a quality video that reflects your brand and message well. There are several factors to consider when choosing an explainer video company, including their experience, technology, and budget. Another important factor to consider is whether the company has a reputation for producing high-quality videos or if they have a track record of providing exceptional customer service.
Finally, consider whether the company has a strong online presence, such as a website or social media account. By taking these steps, you can ensure that you choose a company with the experience necessary to produce a high-quality explainer video for your business. Don’t hesitate to ask for recommendations from other businesses or individuals who have used the company before. In addition to all these factors, make sure you choose a company that will work with your budget and deliver on its promises. Ultimately, choosing an explainer video company that meets your needs will set you up for success in creating an effective marketing piece for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best explainer video websites?
If you’re looking to create explainer videos, there are several great websites like Vimeo and Wistia which offer hosting services, so that they are easily accessible to potential customers. Animated explainer video creation services like Animaker and Biteable offer templates for creating explainer videos quickly and easily. Additionally, video editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro is useful if you want to create more custom explainer videos.
Alternatively, many businesses use animated explainer video services such as GoAnimate or Powtoon to create animated explainer videos with a professional look without having to hire an animator or motion graphics designer. These services provide a variety of animation styles, voiceover options, music tracks, and other features to make your explainer video stand out from the rest.
What are the top whiteboard animation platforms?
If you’re looking for the best whiteboard animation platforms to create explainer videos, then here are some of the top options:
1. VideoScribe: VideoScribe is a popular whiteboard animation platform with a range of features for creating engaging explainer videos. It offers an easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor, hundreds of royalty-free images and videos, voiceover recording, video export options, and more.
2. Powtoon: Powtoon is another whiteboard animation platform that offers a library of templates and design options. You can customize animations with your own characters and audio, record voiceover directly within the platform, and export animated videos in different formats like MP4 or GIF.
3. GoAnimate: GoAnimate is a powerful whiteboard animation platform that allows you to create custom explainer videos in minutes. It comes with a library of characters, backgrounds, music, sound effects, and animation templates to use.
4. Animak,e: Animaker, is an easy-to-use whiteboard animation platform with an intuitive user interface. It offers voiceover recording, video exporting options in Full HD format, motion graphics animations, storyboards, and more.
5. Vyond: Vyond is a comprehensive
Conclusion
Now that you know the importance of explainer videos and their benefits, it’s time to get your explainer video. You can either hire a freelancer on a platform like Upwork or look for explainer video companies on Google. Many explainer video production agencies offer explainer video quotes. Once you shortlist a few, you can compare the explainer video samples they’ve produced and see which fits your requirements best. Remember, an explainer video is going to help your business drive more sales!