Explainer Video Best Practices

What is an Explainer Video?An explainer video is a short video that businesses use to quickly introduce themselves, explain what they do, and tell how...

What is an Explainer Video?

An explainer video is a short video that businesses use to quickly introduce themselves, explain what they do, and tell how they can help solve their customer's problems. Explainer videos have gained popularity due to their ability to deliver a message in a concise and engaging way.

They fit perfectly into the marketing strategy of any business, providing an easy-to-digest format that saves both time and effort for potential customers.

Different Types of Explainer Videos

Explainer videos come in different styles, each with unique advantages. The most common types are animated explainer videos, whiteboard animations, live-action explainer videos, and motion graphics. Animated videos are great for complex explanations, whereas whiteboard animations provide a creative and simple way to share a message.

Live-action explainer videos work well for personal products or services, and motion graphics are ideal for businesses with data and statistics to share. Then there's screencast videos, which are perfect tutorials showing the functionality of a digital product or platform.

Why Create Explainer Videos?

There's a multitude of reasons to create explainer videos. With the modern consumers' diminishing attention span, a short video can effectively convey a brand's value proposition better than blocks of text. Explainer videos increase conversion rates by providing clarity to potential customers and helping them understand your product in a new and engaging way.

For startups, an explainer video can be especially beneficial. It can live on a homepage or landing page, providing an immediate overview of a product or service without forcing visitors to scroll through a complex website. For example, Dollar Shave Club's explainer video became a viral sensation and propelled the company to incredible success.

Who Should Create Explainer Videos?

Every business can benefit from creating explainer videos, especially those with a unique product or service that may require some explanation. Whether you're a SaaS business explaining how your platform works or an eCommerce company showcasing a new product, an explainer video makes your message clear and compelling.

What is an Ideal Explainer Video?

An ideal explainer video is short and direct, usually between 60 and 90 seconds. It focuses on the viewer's pain points and presents a solution. It uses simple, clear language and maintains a consistent brand voice throughout. A good explainer video employs engaging visuals that align with the voiceover to keep the viewers’ attention and illustrate the points being made in the script.

What Makes a Good Explainer Video?

A good explainer video is much more than just a quick overview of your business or product. Here are some elements that make a video stand out:

1. Clear and Concise: A great explainer video gets straight to the point. It identifies the problem, proposes a solution, and shows how it works, all within a few minutes.
2. Quality Video Production: Whether it's a 3D animation or a live-action video, the quality must be high. This includes everything from the storyboard to the final product.
3. Engaging Script: The explainer video script is the backbone of the video. The best explainer videos start with a compelling script that speaks directly to the target audience.
4. Professional Voiceover: A professional voice can bring your story to life. It adds personality to your brand and can be a powerful tool to connect with your audience.
5. Strong Call to Action (CTA): Every good explainer video ends with a strong call to action. Whether it's encouraging viewers to sign up, buy, or simply learn more, a strong CTA can significantly improve conversion rates.

How to Create an Explainer Video

Creating your own explainer video involves several steps. First, start with a solid understanding of your target audience. Knowing their interests, pain points, and motivations can guide your video content creation.

Next, develop a compelling script. The script should be simple and concise, focusing on the problem your product or service solves. Remember, the goal is to keep your viewers engaged and motivated to take action.

Storyboarding is the next step. A storyboard is a scene-by-scene visual plan of your explainer video. It will guide you in the video production process, helping you visualize how the script aligns with the visuals.

Then comes the production stage, which depends on the type of explainer video you're creating. If it's an animated explainer video, this involves the animation process. For a live-action explainer video, this is where filming takes place.

Voiceover is an integral part of explainer videos. Ensure you use a professional voice to communicate your message clearly and engagingly.

Finally, don't forget to include a strong call to action (CTA). Your CTA should guide your viewers on what to do next after watching your video.

Best Place to Host Explainer Videos

When it comes to hosting, you have multiple options. Your website's homepage or a dedicated landing page are common places. Having the video on your homepage can engage visitors immediately, while a landing page with a specific video can help with targeted marketing campaigns.

Social media platforms are also effective channels for hosting explainer videos. Platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn can help reach your target audience directly.

Another great platform for hosting videos is Wistia, designed specifically for businesses. It offers powerful video analytics and SEO tools to help your video content reach more viewers.

In the end, the choice of where to host your video depends on your overall digital marketing strategy and where your target audience spends their time.

Speechify AI Video

Speechify AI Video:Speechify AI Video is an AI online video editor that runs in your browser. Easily upload your video, edit, and download. No need to download apps onto your desktop. Needless to say, you can use this on your Mac, iPhone, Android, or PC. It is device agnostic.

Speechify AI Video is ideal for making explainer videos. Create yours in just minutes!

Explainer videos, when done right, can be a powerful tool in your video marketing arsenal. They can simplify complex topics, highlight your product's unique features, engage your target audience, and drive them to take action.

Remember, the best explainer videos are those that are well-thought-out, from the script to the storyboard, to the video production, and finally, to where they're hosted. It's all about delivering the right message to the right people at the right time.

And don't forget, creating a killer explainer video isn't just about making something that looks good—it's about crafting an effective explainer video that resonates with your audience, explains what you do, and drives results for your business.

A well-executed explainer video could be the difference between a potential customer understanding your product or service or them leaving your page. So, take the time to do it right, and you'll create a powerful marketing tool that serves your business for years to come.