What Is an Explainer Video? An Ultimate Guide

Have you asked yourself the question what is an explainer video? Did you know that including an explainer video on the landing page results in an 86% better conversion rate than pages without the video? Also, 95% of people watch an explainer video to understand a product or service better.

So, if you’re still debating whether to invest in these videos, the statistics are enough to indicate that videos should be a priority in your digital marketing strategy.

Your question is probably, “What is an explainer video?” In this guide, we will answer your questions and tell you so much more about it.

So, read on to find out everything you need to know, including how to create high-quality videos for your business.

What Is an Explainer Video

What Is an Explainer Video?

This is a short, animated video that summarizes products or services quickly. The video can explain what your business offers, produces, or benefits people will reap from buying your products and services.

You can also use these videos to introduce new or unique products and their benefits. The main goal is to quickly explain what your business does and persuade viewers to buy your services and products.

The ideal length of these videos is between 45 and 90 seconds. A video shorter than 45 seconds would make it difficult to explain your point. If it’s longer than 90 seconds, your audience may get bored and avoid watching it to the end.(Opens in a new browser tab)

Why Use Explainer Videos?

There are many reasons why you should use these videos as part of your digital marketing strategy. The top reasons include:

  • They are great for explaining complex products or services.
  • They can increase conversion rates by up to 86%
  • Viewers retain 95% of the information
  • They are a great way to increase brand awareness
  • They are cost-effective and engaging

These videos are also easy for people to share, and they fit well with other digital marketing tactics.

Why Animated Explainer Videos Are Effective (Opens in a new browser tab)

Which Types of Businesses Need an Explainer Video?

Generally, any business can get benefits. However, they are especially beneficial for companies that sell products and services that are difficult to understand.

Examples of businesses that can benefit more from explainers are those operating in the healthcare, construction, IT, and e-commerce industries. A video can help break down the complex information and make it easier for viewers to understand.

Types of Explainer Videos

There are many different videos that you can choose from, depending on your business. Here are some of the most popular types:

Animated Videos

Animated videos are a great way to quickly explain a complex topic. The videos are typically around two minutes long, and they use animation to describe products and services.

Since animations allow you to break down complex topics, they’re suitable if your business operates in a complicated industry.

Whiteboard Animation Videos

These are videos where you use hand-drawn visuals to narrate the content. The hand-drawn visuals appear on a white background, and there’s a voice-over that supports the visuals.

Whiteboard animation videos yield an interactive visual experience. Therefore, they’re good if you want to persuade your viewers to try one of your products or services.

Motion Graphic Animation Videos

Motion graphic videos use animation and motion graphics to explain a product or service. They often use minimal text and maximum visuals to demonstrate a product.

Since they’re very visual, motion graphic videos are good for businesses that want to show off their products or services. For example, you can use these videos to demonstrate your product features, such as an app demo.

Live-Action Videos

Live-action videos are filmed using a camera. They often use real people to explain products and services.

Live-action videos are suitable for businesses that want to create a human connection with their viewers. They’re also a great way to show off your company culture. Examples include restaurants, hotels, and retail stores.

Screencast Videos

These are the types of videos you create by recording the screen of a computer or mobile device. The video will show the user interface and how to use the product.

The main advantage of screencast videos is that they’re easy to make. You only need to launch the recording feature on your device and start doing whatever you want to demonstrate.

Kinetic Typography Animation

This type of video uses moving text to explain information. The videos are effective if you want to convey information that contains boring statistics or too much text.

You can make the videos more attention-grabbing by including catchy background music. The music will compel the viewers to watch the video, even if it’s text-heavy.

woman working on animation in studio

What’s the Right Formula for Explainer Videos?

A good video should flow through four main processes. The processes include:

Introduction to the Problem

Your video should begin by pointing out the problem that your audience is currently experiencing. Your visuals should focus more on how the audience is facing the problem at this stage. Communicate the message from the audience’s perspective.

The Solution

After introducing the problem, you need to present your company’s solution. This is where you need to explain how your product or service can solve the problem.

Demonstration of the Solution

The third step demonstrates how your product or service solves the problem. This is where you show the viewers how your product works in a real-world setting. You can also showcase your product’s unique selling proposition.

A Call to Action

Your video should always have a call to action. This part should ask your viewers to take the next step, such as buying your product or signing up for your service.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to creating a call to action. Your goal should be to compel the audience to take action that will help them start reaping the benefits of your products.(Opens in a new browser tab)

What Are the Essential Components of an Explainer Video?

Before you start thinking about production, you need to have all the essential elements. No matter the type of video you intend to make, you should have the following:

man holding hand drawn movie script

The Script

The script is the foundation of your video. Without a well-written script, your video will lack coherence and structure.

Your script should have a problem statement, available solutions, your product’s benefits, and a CTA.

Sound Effects or Background Music

Sound effects and background music can help set the mood of your video. They can also make your video more appealing to the eye.

Make sure that you find sound effects and background music that aren’t copyrighted. You don’t want to get into legal trouble for using someone else’s work without permission.

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Professional Voiceover

A professional voiceover can enhance the quality of your video. It can also help you establish trust with your viewers.

Make sure you find a voiceover artist with a pleasant voice who can clearly communicate your message. Video production companies can connect you with the right artist because they know the voiceover that would fit your video.

A Storyboard

A storyboard is a series of sketches that show what your video will look like. It can help you visualize the final product and make changes accordingly.

Animation or Live-Action

The type of animation or live-action you use will depend on the message you want to communicate. If you want to create an emotional connection with your viewers, you should use live-action. If you want your video to look more professional, you should use animation.

What Are the Key Phases in Creating High-Quality Videos?

Don’t just jump into video creation if you want to create successful video content. Instead, take time to plan and iron out everything that will help you create killer video content. You should go through the following phases:

Pre-Production

In this phase, you should spend time preparing for the production process. There are a few things you should do in pre-production. They include:

  • Researching the market, target audience, and everything necessary to:
  • Defining your goals
  • Determining your budget
  • Making a list of the filming equipment and determining the location

Discussing details with the video production company or in-house team and writing the script are the final parts of the process.

Production

This is where all the action happens as you bring your video content ideas to life. You should get the production team and the equipment to your filming location and capture your footage.

The production process should include animating or filming, recording the voice-over, and creating the music effects.

Post-Production Process

Once you’ve created your videos, you need to go over them to see whether you’ve missed any crucial details. Your full-service video production will help you add some final touches to the video.

The professionals will edit your video, add color, and other features to make your video perfect.

Tips for Creating the Best Explainer Video Content

Now that you know the essential elements and the different phases of creating one, it’s time to focus on the content. Keep the following tips in mind when creating your video content:

Make a Concise Video

Your video should be less than two minutes long. If it’s longer, then you’ll lose your viewers’ attention.

Your video should be straightforward so that viewers can understand the message without difficulty. You should focus on one message in your video. You don’t want to confuse your viewers by trying to communicate too many messages in one video.

video camera operator creating a video

Focus More on Benefits and Less on Features

When creating your video, focus on your viewers’ benefits if they purchase your product or service. Your audience will be more interested in knowing what’s in it for them. They’ll want to know how your product will address their current pain point.

So, don’t talk about your product or service features in detail. The audience can easily find the features on your website or brochure.

Consider the Audio Quality

The audio quality is just as important as the visuals. Use a good microphone and record in a quiet place to ensure that your audio is clear and easy to understand.

Poor audio quality can be extremely distracting and ruin an otherwise great video. Make sure to take the time to get it right.

Add Some Fun to the Video

One of the most popular ways to add fun to your videos is through animation. You can use animation to create an intro or outro for your video, add movement and effects to scenes, or create characters that interact with your audience.

Another way to add some fun to your video is by including humor. However, you should be careful not to go too far overboard with the jokes, as you’ll risk alienating your viewers.

Choosing the Best Platform

Once you’re done with production, you should choose the right platform to increase conversion rates.

One viable platform is your website. You can embed the video on your homepage or a landing page to increase the chances of people watching it.

Another great platform to showcase your video is social media. Post it on your company’s Facebook page, Twitter profile, Instagram, and LinkedIn page.

You can also post your video on video-sharing platforms like YouTube and Vimeo. These platforms have high viewership rates and can help you reach a larger audience.

Consider your target audience and the type of video you created when selecting a platform for your video. If you have made a short, catchy video, post it on social media. When you create a longer, more in-depth video, post it on your website or video-sharing platforms.

Create Your Explainer Video Today

What is an explainer video? If you’re asking yourself this question, our guide tells you everything you need to know. They are a powerful marketing tool that can help you increase your conversion rates.

If you’re thinking of creating a good explainer video for your business, our team at Telideo Productions would be happy to help. Our skilled professionals will help you create custom, engaging videos that your audience will love. Contact us today for a free video production quote.