An explainer video is essentially a short promotional video designed to clearly and concisely communicate the core features and benefits of a product, service, or innovative idea. These videos help viewers understand what is on offer and how it can uniquely benefit them.
Explainer videos simplify information quickly and effectively and typically last 30 to 90 seconds, making them concise yet impactful. They break down complex concepts into bite-sized, digestible golden nuggets. They can be consumed by diverse viewers, from your tech-savvy niece who loves the latest gadgets to your wise old grandpa who appreciates clarity.
Explainer videos are incredibly versatile and can efficiently narrate your company’s story without you having to say a word yourself!
2D Example
3D Example
The Creation Process: A good explainer video starts by understanding your audience like a close friend.
Challenges and Frustrations: Identify the pain points, problems, wants and needs your target market faces without your solution.
Your Solution: Provide a clear and detailed explanation of how your solution effectively addresses the identified issues.
Features and Benefits: Outline what your solution accomplishes and the positive outcomes upon its implementation, detailing the benefits that arise from its usage.
Competitors: Identify your three main competitors and examine their offerings and the positive details they promote about their solutions.
Demographic: Understand who you target, considering factors like age, gender, location, and interests.
Core Benefits: Choose three main benefits that are most valued by your target market.
Unique Selling Points (USPs): Highlight at least one USP your solution provides that competitors do not promote.
Differentiate: Explain how this USP sets your solution apart and why your solution is the better choice.
Takeaway: The answers to these questions will help you gather all the information you need to create an interesting and persuasive narrative that shows what sets your solution apart from the rest.
Narrative:One strategy for developing a customer-focused narrative for an explainer video is the AIDA Model. This model has four vital steps: Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action, taking the viewer from curiosity to buying into the solution.
Attention: Start with a problem, want, or need that resonates with your target audience. This connection helps viewers think about their experiences and motivates them to continue watching.
Interest: Help your audience envision how your brand seamlessly integrates into their lives. Show how it addresses their challenges and fulfils their needs.
Desire: Illustrate the value of your solution by explaining how your features, benefits and (USP) are better and different from your competitors.
Action: Finish with a strong call to action (CTA). A good CTA gives them a choice of how to get involved, and it can be as simple as ‘Click here’ or ‘Sign up.’
Takeaway: Using the AIDA model is a powerful strategy that will transition your audience from curiosity about your product, service or idea to taking action, turning their interest into tangible results!
Voiceover: A vocal artist’s unique style creates an engaging audio piece. They make sure to hold the audience’s attention with every word.
Design: Graphic designers use their creativity to transform written content into digital visuals, which can be two-dimensional (flat) or three-dimensional (with depth).
Animation: Animators create animations that sync smoothly with the voiceover, employing innovative techniques for a polished and slick result.
Collaboration: The combination of artistic talent produces visually appealing and impactful explainer videos that engage viewers.
Usage: Explainer videos can be found here, there and everywhere! There are no set rules for where or how they should be displayed, which means you can make the most of your flagship video. Here are some examples of how they can be used to maximise your return on investment:
Website Integration: Place your explainer video prominently on your homepage so it’s the first thing customers see on your site. This will save them the trouble of sifting through lengthy paragraphs, turning casual browsers into eager buyers in no time!
Landing Pages: Build dedicated landing pages around your explainer video, include a clear call-to-action and optimise for page and video indexing to attract organic traffic.
Blog Posts: Pair your written content with an explainer video. It adds value to your blog and keeps visitors on your site longer, which is great for increasing sales leads and SEO.
Social Media Sharing: Tailor your content to match the unique vibe of each platform to truly engage your audience. Whether creating Reels on Facebook, sharing Instagram Stories, showcasing LinkedIn In-Feed Video Carousels, or hopping on TikTok trends, there’s no faster way to get the word out about your product or service than by utilising these channels!
YouTube: The go-to platform for video content! Skippable and non-skippable ads are a great way to get your video in front of the eyes you need. Skippable ads can be cut short after five seconds, and non-skippable ads, which viewers must watch to continue onto the main content. Clip your video to the perfect length and optimise it for YouTube advertising!
Email Campaigns: Add explainer videos to your email newsletters or marketing pushes. A video thumbnail can seriously bump your click-through rates compared to text.
Presentations and Webinars: Use your explainer video in slideshows or webinars. It works great as a lively intro to your brand, product, or service and helps clarify your message.
Trade Shows and Events: Show off your video at trade shows or industry events. It can draw people to your booth and get your message across quickly. If you’re attracting people to your stall or explaining your company to an audience – use your explainer video as an aide!
Customer Support: Include explainer videos in your customer support toolkit. They’re perfect for guiding users through processes or fixing common issues, which boosts customer satisfaction.
Paid Advertising: Platforms like YouTube and social media for video ads can enhance your brand visibility and increase sales. Eye-catching video content can really ramp up brand awareness and conversions.
User Training: Use explainer videos in your training or onboarding materials. Combining visual and audio content makes learning more enjoyable and effective!
Takeaway: Incorporating explainer videos throughout your website, landing pages, blog posts, social media, and email marketing can significantly improve your return on investment. Explainer videos are also effective in presentations, webinars, customer support, and training sessions.
Internal information: Explainer videos can communicate crucial in-house developments, such as health and safety, human resources, cyber security, etc.
Conclusion: An explainer video is a short, engaging video designed to promote a product, service, or new idea. The primary objective of this type of video is to connect with viewers quickly on a personal level and demonstrate how a solution can address their problems or fulfil their needs. A good explainer video shows what makes a product unique and how it can help people. It grabs the viewer’s attention, makes them curious, and encourages them to keep watching and take action. These videos can be used online, on websites and social media, or during live events and exhibitions.
Expertise: An explainer video is your key to engaging both new and existing customers. Reel Effect will identify your target audience and create a structured script that resonates with them. Our designers and animators will work with you to transform your vision into a visual masterpiece!
Explore our portfolio and view our creative process below.
