What is an Explainer Video?

Explainer videos are designed to be short, easily digestible videos packed with information. The ideal length is typically between one and three minutes. This duration is long enough to communicate your message but short enough to maintain the viewer’s attention. By keeping your video brief, you can prevent viewers from leaving before they have seen the bulk of the video’s important parts.

Explainer videos are highly effective for businesses looking to communicate their message promptly and efficiently. They can be used on websites, social media platforms, and during presentations to capture and maintain the audience’s interest. By breaking down complex ideas into easily understandable segments, explainer videos help build trust with potential customers.

Explainer videos can help businesses by enhancing brand recognition and significantly boosting conversion rates by clearly illustrating the benefits of a product or service. With the help of explainer videos, you can eliminate any doubts in a potential client’s mind that your business is anything but the perfect solution for their life. Studies have demonstrated that explainer videos are more persuasive than other marketing tools and cited that 8 out of 10 customers believe that these videos are the ideal resource for describing the advantages of a new product or service and how it can make their lives easier.

Explainer videos come in various forms, including animated videos, whiteboard animations, and live-action videos. Each type serves the same fundamental purpose: to educate the audience on a particular topic in a simplified manner. They often feature a blend of visuals, narration, and background music to keep viewers engaged. The visual elements help to illustrate the points being made, making it easier for the audience to understand and remember the information presented. Creating a compelling explainer video usually involves the following 8 key steps:

1. Define Your Objective: Determine what you want to achieve with your explainer video. Are you introducing a new product, explaining a service, or educating your audience on a particular topic?
2. Know Your Audience: Understand who your target audience is and tailor your content to their needs and preferences. This will help you create a video that resonates with the right people instead of falling flat. 
3. Craft a Clear Script: A script is foundational for a successful production. It should be concise, engaging, and to the point. Avoid unnecessary lingo or difficult jargon, and focus on the key message you want to deliver.
4. Storyboard Your Ideas: Create a storyboard to visualize the flow of your video. This will help you plan the scenes and ensure that your video has a logical progression. 
5. Choose the Right Style: Decide whether you want an animated video with colorful animations and a range of dimension possibilities, a whiteboard animation displaying simplistic and monochromatic 2D animations, or a live-action video. Each style has its advantages, so choose the one that best suits your message. 
6. Record High Quality Audio: Clear and professional audio is essential. Invest in a high-quality microphone and consider hiring a professional voiceover artist if needed. Many online platforms allow you to peruse portfolios to find the perfect voiceover professional for your project. 
7. Use Engaging Visuals: Whether you opt for animation or live-action, ensure that your visuals are engaging and complement the script. Visually elaborate on complex topics to help aid comprehension. Visual cues, such as arrows and eye-catching colors, can attract and maintain your viewers’ attention for the duration of the explainer video.
8. Edit and Refine: Use editing software to refine your video. Pay attention to pacing, transitions, and the overall flow of the video. Add background music and sound effects to enhance existing audio, producing an engaging and professional explainer video for your target audience.

Animated explainer videos are particularly popular due to their versatility and ability to illustrate concepts effectively. Like all successful videos, an animated video begins with pre-production measures like a concept, a script, and a storyboard. A strong script and a detailed storyboard will help outline and organize your scenes. Next, you’ll need to design the characters and scenes that align with your brand’s style. An animated video is the perfect opportunity to design every detail and encourage brand loyalty and recognition.

Use animation software and apply voiceovers to the footage to bring your storyboard and characters to life. Finally, review the final product and make any necessary adjustments to ensure the animated explainer video meets your objectives.

Creating an effective explainer video involves understanding the audience, crafting a clear script, and choosing the right style to convey the message. These videos have been proven useful tools for increasing brand recognition and company loyalty or as versatile training supplements. At Avalanche Studios, we possess the expertise to craft a video that will serve your company as a powerful tool to communicate complex ideas, boost conversions, and build trust. Contact us today for a free quote on your next sales-boosting explainer video!