Introduction to Explainer Video
Explainer videos are a popular way to communicate your product or service in a way that is easy to understand in a short amount of time. A study by Wyzowl in 2023, found that 89% of people were convinced to buy a product or service after watching a brand’s video.
Instead of using long descriptions of your product’s features, explainer videos use video as a medium to quickly explain what your product solves and how it benefits your audience. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know before creating an explainer video.
Table of Content
- What Is an Explainer Video?
- Why Use Animation for Explainer Videos?
- Why Your Business Need Explainer Videos?
- What Are The Benefits of Explainer Videos?
- Increase Conversion Rate
- Boost Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Enhance Brand Awareness
- Communicate Your Message Effectively
- Increase Engagement on Social Media
- Things To Consider When Creating Explainer Video
- Explainer Video Content
- Duration of Explainer Video
- Explainer Video Style
- Cartoon
- Motion Graphics
- Doodle (Whiteboard)
- Mixed Media
- Production Process
- Script Writing
- Mockup
- Storyboard
- Voice Over
- Animation
- Budget
- FAQ
- Can I create an explainer video on my own?
- Where can I use explainer videos?
- How can I measure the success of an explainer video?
- Are there any best practices for creating an effective explainer video?
- Can explainer videos be used in industries other than marketing?
- Are there any copyright issues to be aware of when creating explainer videos?
- What are some common mistakes to avoid when creating explainer videos?
- Conclusion
What is Explainer Video?
“In our own definition, an explainer video is a short, animated video that communicates your product or service in a way that is easy to understand.”
These videos are typically used for digital purposes, such as website and social media engagement.
Explainer videos focus on how your product can solve your audience’s problem in the shortest and simplest way possible, often through story-based examples or high-level overviews of the product.
Why Use Animation for Explainer Videos?
Explainer videos commonly use animation instead of live-action video to appeal to a broader audience. Animation goes beyond gender, skin color, and age. Additionally, animation costs less to produce than live-action video with actors and film crew. You don’t even have to physically meet the animator that creates the video.
Why Your Business Need Explainer Videos?
In today’s digital age, businesses of all sizes are looking for innovative ways to stand out from the competition and grab the attention of potential customers. One effective way to do this is by creating explainer videos that showcase your products, services, or brand in an engaging and informative way.
What are The Benefits of Explainer Videos?
There are many explainer video benefits for businesses looking to increase their conversion rates, boost their search engine rankings, enhance their brand awareness, communicate their message effectively, and increase engagement on social media. By leveraging the power of video content, you can connect with your audience in a meaningful way and achieve your business goals.
1. Increase Conversion
Explainer videos can help increase your conversion rates by providing a clear and concise explanation of your product or service. This is because explainer videos help to simplify complex information, making it easier for potential customers to understand what you have to offer.
2. Boost Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Having an explainer video on your website can also help to boost your search engine rankings. Google loves video content, and by embedding an explainer video on your website, you can improve your chances of appearing on the first page of search results. This is because video content is more engaging and has a longer dwell time, which signals to search engines that your website is valuable and relevant to users.
3. Enhance Brand Awareness
Explainer videos can help to enhance your brand awareness by providing a visual representation of your business. By including your branding elements in your video, such as your logo and brand colors, you can create a cohesive and memorable experience for your audience. This can help to increase brand recognition and familiarity, which can lead to increased brand loyalty and repeat business.
4. Communicate Your Message Effectively
One of the most obvious explainer video benefits for your business is that it can communicate your message more effectively than text or images for several reasons. Firstly, videos can be more engaging and entertaining than static text or images. By combining visual and auditory elements, explainer videos can capture viewers’ attention and convey information in a more memorable and impactful way.
5. Increase Engagement on Social Media
Finally, explainer videos can help to increase engagement on social media. According to a report by Hubspot, video content on social media can generate up to 1200% more shares than text and image content combined. The study also found that social media posts with video receive 48% more views than those without.
Things to Consider When Creating an Explainer Video
1. Explainer Video Content
To determine the content, you should ask yourself: what is the quick elevator pitch for your product? Based on that answer, you should get the simplified version of what your product offers. Don’t get caught up in a list of features. Instead, focus on the benefits your audience will be getting. Try to think from the audience’s perspective.
2. Duration of Explainer Video
Your goal is to explain how your product can solve your audience’s problem in the shortest amount of time possible. While it’s tempting to brag about your product’s features, people have become less patient and have shorter attention spans in this age of the internet. The ideal length for an explainer video is usually between 60 seconds to 2 minutes. Keeping it short and focused ensures that the audience remains engaged and retains the information.
3. Explainer Video Animation Style
There are types of animation that commonly used for explainer videos. Including cartoon animation with characters, corporate-looking motion graphics, and whiteboard animation. Let’s take a look at each of these styles and the benefits they offer for your explainer video.
Cartoon Character
This style is probably the most popular. Visually, the video usually features a character or characters that represent the audience, in a setting or background that relates to the story. The video typically begins with the main character having a problem, and then the product is introduced as the solution to the problem. It’s like animating a case study for your product. This format is the easiest to follow, especially for a new audience.
Motion Graphics
You can identify this style by the use of icons or simple outlines with a smooth transition from one object/scene to the next. This style offers a sleek and professional vibe to the video. Since there are no characters in this style, the narrative script can be altered to discuss the problem and solution in a more broad sense. Consider this style if you want to explain technology solutions, such as SaaS or web platforms.
Whiteboard or Doodle
There are two types of whiteboard videos; live footage of someone actually drawing on a whiteboard and animated illustration on a virtual whiteboard with an image of a “hand holding a pen” drawing on a whiteboard. Both offer similar benefits, although animated whiteboards offer more flexibility in terms of creativity and what can be done with the illustration. This is especially beneficial for financial topics that involve a lot of numbers and statistics.
Mixed Media
There are other animation styles, or mixed media video that can be utilized for explainer videos, such as kinetic typography, 3D animation, screencast, and more. Although they are less commonly seen as a standalone style for explainer videos, they are often incorporated or combined with the three most popular styles we have discussed.
4. Production Process
The production process of an explainer video involves several stages, each of which is crucial to ensuring a quality end result.
Script Writing
The first stage in the production process is script writing. The script is the foundation of the video and sets the tone and direction for the entire project. It is important to write a clear and concise script that effectively conveys the message to the intended audience. A well-written script will make the video production process much smoother and ensure that the final product meets the client’s expectations.
Mock-Up
A mock-up is a sample scene that provides a visual representation of the video. This stage is important to ensure that the client is happy with the visual direction of the video before moving on to the next stage.
Storyboard
The storyboard is a sequence of illustrations or images that pre-visualizes the video. This stage helps to ensure that the script is appropriately translated by the visual representation. It is important to ensure that the visuals effectively convey the message to the audience.
Voice Over
The voice over or narrator helps the audience to follow the video better. The voice over is not always necessary, but it can be useful in some cases. For example, a typography explainer video that focuses on text animation may not require a narrator.
Animation
This is the most complex and time-consuming stage of the process. It involves bringing the illustrations to life through animation. Objects, texts, character movement, background, and transitions are all animated. Sound effects and background music are added to enhance the visual message.
By following the steps, you can ensure that your video production process is efficient and produces a quality end result. It is important to give the animator as much time as possible to ensure that they can add as much detail as possible to their work. As a general rule, a one-minute video requires 4-6 weeks for the entire production process.
5. Budget
When it comes to creating an explainer video, several factors can affect the budget. One of the main factors is the duration of the video. Longer videos obviously require more time and resources to produce. Another factor is the quality of the animation. Detailed illustrations and smooth animation are usually signs of high-quality animation, but they also require more time and resources.
Production company charge varying prices for a one-minute explainer video. It can range from a few hundred dollars for a basic video, to several thousand dollars for a high-end production. Ultimately, the explainer video cost will depend on the specific needs of the project and the resources available.
FAQs
Q: Can I create an explainer video on my own?
Yes, it is possible to create a basic explainer video on your own using various online tools and software. However, for professional-quality videos, it’s often advisable to hire a video production company or animator.
Q: Where can I use explainer videos?
Explainer videos can be used on websites, social media platforms, email marketing campaigns, product launches, trade shows, and even in educational settings. They are versatile and can be adapted to various marketing and communication channels.
Q: How can I measure the success of an explainer video?
You can measure the success of an explainer video by tracking metrics such as view count, engagement rate, click-through rate, conversion rate, and feedback from the audience. These metrics will help you assess the video’s impact and make improvements if needed.
Q: Are there any best practices for creating an effective explainer video?
Yes, some best practices include keeping it concise, focusing on the problem and solution, maintaining a consistent brand identity, using a clear call-to-action, and testing different versions to optimize performance.
Q: Can explainer videos be used in industries other than marketing?
Yes, explainer videos are used across various industries, including healthcare, education, technology, finance, and more. They are versatile tools for simplifying complex information and conveying it effectively to different audiences.
Q: Are there any copyright issues to be aware of when creating explainer videos?
Yes, it’s important to ensure that you have the rights to use any music, images, or other copyrighted material in your explainer video. Using royalty-free or licensed content is a common practice to avoid copyright issues.
Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when creating explainer videos?
Common mistakes include making the video too long, overloading it with information, using jargon, neglecting the script quality, and not optimizing it for mobile viewing. Avoiding these pitfalls can lead to a more effective explainer video.
Conclusion
In conclusion, explainer videos are a game-changer in the world of digital marketing. They simplify complex ideas, increase conversion, and provide numerous SEO benefits. By incorporating these videos into your digital strategy, you can effectively convey your message, engage your audience, and ultimately drive business growth.
As you embark on your journey to create impactful explainer videos, keep in mind the things to consider shared here – the content itself, video duration, and video style are all crucial for the success of your strategy.
If you are considering creating an explainer video for your business, our team at Eggplain is here to work with you. We create custom explainer videos that is tailored to your specific needs and goals. With nearly a decade of expertise helping countless businesses just like yours. So, let’s chat and see how we can help take your business to the next level!
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