What Is an Explainer Video, and Why Should I Use One?

The use of video in marketing has become more and more popular over the years. And the popularity of platforms like TikTok and YouTube means this will continue to be a valuable medium for businesses to use.

According to Wyzowl’s 2020 State of Video Marketing report, 96% of people have watched an explainer video to learn more about a product or service. It was also found that 84% of people say that they’ve been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a brand’s video. These statistics indicate that explainer videos are effective marketing tools and have a good return on investment.

So what are explainer videos, and how can your company utilize them?

What exactly is an explainer video?

In the simplest terms, an explainer video is a short video (generally between 30 and 90 seconds) that explains something in a fun, engaging way.

Usually, this short video highlights a company’s products or services in a concise, compelling way. It introduces the viewer to a subject in a succinct way that serves as an easy point of entry for those who are unfamiliar with the concept. These videos can include tutorials, short lessons and explanations of values.

How do I make one?

First, decide what kind of explainer video you want to make. Will it be live -action? Animated? There are various types of explainer videos and each is useful in different situations. Animated is the most popular because it is relatively easy to create and more visually appealing than watching a person explain a concept to the camera.

Once you’ve decided on the style of video, you’ll need to write a script. Keep in mind that you’re trying to convey a concept to your audience, so write the way you would talk and be sure to use words you can illustrate in the video. Be sure to include the who, what, when, where, why and how, but keep it short and succinct.

After the script is finished, you’ll need to decide who will be the voice of the video, which will set the tone for the video. Pick someone who can articulate clearly and whose voice is pleasing to an audience. Then you’re ready to record.

In the meantime, you should also be creating graphics, icons and other media to go along with your script. This could also include taking a talking-head shot, a screencast or a whiteboard video depending on the style of explainer video you decided on.

Once the recording is finished and the pieces are together, it is time for the editing phase, which allows you to add music, arrange the media and clip out anything extraneous.

Why should I use explainer videos?

Explainer videos allow your company to explain its products or services in a concise, inviting way. They can be tailored to your business, which means you can be creative and show off your brand personality. More importantly, though, there are statistics to back up the necessity of videos in marketing.

According to the Digital Marketing Institute, over 80% of all traffic will consist of video by 2021. This means businesses need to be creating video content in order to optimize their position in search engine results. Explainer videos are a great way to do this because they allow you to incorporate the right keywords, which—along with a solid meta description and strong title—will increase your search engine optimization.

Additionally, the Digital Marketing Institute reports that 81% of businesses are now using video for marketing, which means your company needs video content to stay competitive. Video captures people’s attention and gives you the opportunity to teach them something while they are entertained.

If creating an explainer video seems like a daunting task, contact StoryBox Studios to discuss your needs and how we can help. Our team specializes in 2D animation, motion graphics and live-action productions, and we’ve created everything from corporate content to family entertainment. 

Reach out today to see how we can meet your video needs!