2D animated videos are taking over the internet! Businesses are using them to acquire new customers. Media outlets are using them to explain new concepts and ideas. People are sharing them all over the internet and social media.  But why are they so popular? Why are people using them? And how do you make your own?

If you have a question about 2D animated videos that isn’t answered in this article, you can use our contact form to ask your question or click the image below to with a member of our production team:

How Do Businesses Benefit From Animation?

Businesses have been creating 2D animated videos to help explain what they do, get the word out about their business, and generate more leads and sales. The reason businesses are creating more animated content these days is because it helps their brand stand out in an ocean of live action video content. Animation enables businesses to communicate their unique brand personality to connect with their target audience in a way film can’t match.

Additionally, animated videos do an exceptional job at helping viewers focus on the key message, understand it, and retain the information longer than if they had watched a video of a person explaining something.

2D Animated Video Demo Reels

Video Igniter can create any kind of 2D or 3D animated video for you. Check out our animation portfolio here. Request access to our demo reels and price sheet here. Contact us or to start making your video.

2024 2D Animated Video Demo Reel

2D Animation Standard Design Reel

Are you looking for an example of a different style of animation? Send us a message to let us know what kind of animation example you want to see and we will follow up with relevant production samples.

2D Animated Video, Simple Design Reel

For more examples of 2D animated explainer videos, check out our portfolio page.

Advantages Of 2D Animation

2D animation has some unique production advantages over other types of video content (live action/film and 3D animation). 2D animated videos are:

Fast to Produce

compared to 3D animation. Simple 2D animations can be produced in a few days or weeks. 3D animated videos require a lot more time to create details accurately, add motion design, and render out the final animation (which could take weeks, months, a year, or more!)

Easy to Change

If you want to modify part of your 2D animated video, all you need to do is contact your animator/designer/studio and explain the changes you want to make. As long as someone has the original project files, any video animator or designer could make the changes.  If you filmed a video and want to make changes, you need to book the same location and hire the same actors to come in to re-film something. Definitely not as quick and easy as some changes your animator could make from their laptop.

Lower Production Cost

2D animated videos can be made by small animation studios in just a few weeks. This helps keep costs low. 3D animated videos can take months to years to produce and require a large, expensive team. Live action videos can be quick to produce but assembling a professional team on site with all their equipment quickly surpasses the costs associated with 2D animation.

What Is The Production Process Like?

2D animated videos go through a sequential production process that looks like this: script -> storyboard -> art -> voiceover -> music -> animation.

1). Script:

First, you will start by creating the script for your 2D explainer video. You can create the script yourself or work with your animation studio/freelancer. Or you could just hire Video Igniter ;) If your 2D animated video is designed to support a business purpose, you should focus on concise writing that speaks directly to the problems your target customer is trying to solve. Start your script with a compelling hook to grab your audience’s attention. Introduce your company/product/service as a solution to a problem your customer has. Illustrate the top 1-3 benefits they can experience from buying what you offer. Then, end your script with a compelling call to action that lets them know how they can do business with you.

If you’re creating a 2D animated video for fun, write out your script and include notes about what you think the corresponding visuals should be. This will help you simplify your storytelling and will make it easier for you to create your storyboard.

For more tips on writing a script for your animated video, check out this article: “How to Write An Animated Explainer Video Script.” As a bonus, you might also like this companion article: “7 Tips to Supercharge Your Explainer Video Script Writing.”

2). Storyboard:

Next, you should turn your script into a storyboard so that the design and animation team know what you want them to create. The storyboard is essentially the blueprint for your 2D animation explainer video.

Each page of a storyboard includes four parts:

• Visuals
• Direction
• Script
• Asset List

To create your storyboard, put one sentence of your script on each page of the storyboard in the lower left corner (Download our storyboard template here). If a sentence is particularly long, you can break it up over multiple slides.

In the upper left corner of the storyboard, create a rough mockup of the scene that corresponds with that part of the script. You can sketch it out on paper, take a photo and paste it into the document. Or, you can use free images you find online to mock up the scene. Artistic ability is not important. Stick figures are ok. The point is to provide a basic visual reference for the design team. They just need to know how you roughly intend for a scene to be laid out. They will take care of making the art look great for you.

In the upper right corner of the storyboard, create a bullet point list of instructions for the animator. Provide sequential instructions that specify what motion details should happen in what order. The more specific you can be, the better.

Finally, in the lower right corner, provide a list of the assets that are needed for each slide. Include details like background/scene design, characters, items, sound effects, and more.

Want more tips to learn how to create a storyboard for your animated video? Check out this companion article. “How To Create A Storyboard For An Animated Video.”

3). Art

After the storyboard is approved, your designer will create concept art for one of the scenes of your 2D animation. Usually they will provide multiple pieces of concept art so you can choose your favorite. When you select your favorite concept, you can provide feedback to refine the visual style. Once you’ve approved the concept, the illustrator will create all the art for your animation.

You’ll get a chance to review all the art and request edits before animation begins.

4). VoiceOver

VoiceOver creation typically happens in parallel with art creation. Your animation project manager will audition some voiceover talent and send you recordings to review. Once you select your favorite audition, your project manger will procure the full voiceover. You will get an opportunity to review it and ask the voiceover artist for edits.

For tips on making your own professional sounding voiceover for free, watch Episode 3 of The Video Igniter Show.

5). Music

Your project manager will also select soundtrack options for you consider for your animation. Sometimes this phase happens in parallel with the voiceover auditions & concept art creation. Other times, it makes sense to wait to pick out a soundtrack after you’ve seen the first draft of your animation.

6). Animation

Finally, after everything has received your approval, the animation team follows the instructions in your storyboard to animate your video. 2D animated videos take about 1 week for one animator to animate one minute of video.

In total, the 2D animated video production process takes about 3-5 weeks.

For a more in depth look at the animation production process, check out this companion article: “Understanding The Animation Production Workflow.”

Why Should You Work With Video Igniter?

1). High Quality For The Price

Video Igniter’s production service offers the unique ability to get the quality of a $5,000-$10,000 2D animated video for half the price – or less! (Request access to our pricing page here.) Our online production platform streamlines the production process which means we put more of your production budget into production quality and creative storytelling because we save significant costs on production management and company overhead.

2). Attention to Detail

We want to ensure you are 100% satisfied with the final draft of your animated video. We go step by step through the production process to ensure all components of your video are designed to speak to your target audience. Everything from the visuals to the voiceover and music must work together to present a cohesive and compelling narrative.

3). World Class Storytelling

Video Igniter produces content for world-class brands like T-Mobile, Amazon Web Services, Snoop Dogg and more! We know what kind of storytelling works for big name brands and we can bring that magic to your project as well. Even if you’re a small independent business, startup, agency or video production company.

Get a Quote For Your 2D Animated Explainer Video:

Want to get a quote for a 2D animated video? Click here to get a quote.

Animated 2D Video FAQ:

How long does it take to make a 2D animated video?

2D animated videos take 3-5 weeks to produce. If you need to guarantee delivery in less than 3-4 weeks, rush delivery options are available (contact start@videoigniter.com). For more information on the timeline for a 2D video explainer, check out this article.

How much does it cost to make a 2D video animation?

2D animated videos cost $500-$10,000+ per 60 seconds of animation. For more specifics on budget considerations, check out this article or click here to get a quote for your 2D animation.

How does the 2D animated video production process work?

The production process works by creating a script, then a storyboard for the animation. This tells the production team what art to create and what voiceover(s) to procure. Once you’re happy with the art and the voiceover, the animation team will produce your video.

Deep Dive: How To Make A 2D Animation

How to do I get the maximum impact out of my 2D video animation?

This guide explains how you can A/B test your video to get more people to click play, watch your video longer and take action when they’ve finished watching your 2D animation. For 6 more tips on how to increase engagement for your animated video, check out this article.

Can you produce videos in other languages besides English?

Yes!

Choosing the Right 2D Animation Style for Your Brand

When creating a 2D animated video for your brand, one of the most crucial decisions you’ll make is choosing the right animation style. The style you select should reflect your brand’s personality, tone, and message. A well-matched animation style can elevate your brand identity, making your video more engaging and memorable to your audience.

Popular 2D Animation Styles

There are several 2D animation styles to consider, each with it’s own unique benefits for different use cases:

• Flat Design: Known for its simplicity, flat design is a modern, minimalistic approach to animation. It works best for tech companies and startups, where clean visuals and clear messaging are vital.
• Motion Graphics: Motion graphics are great for simplifying complex concepts. Whether you’re explaining a product, a service, or a process, this style uses moving text, shapes, and images to convey information clearly.
• Character Animation: If you want to connect with your audience emotionally, character animation is an excellent choice. Characters bring stories to life and help create an emotional bond between the brand and the viewer.
• Explainer Animation: Explainer videos are best for breaking down complicated topics into digestible parts. They’re ideal for explaining products or services, especially in sectors like tech, finance, and education.
• Whiteboard Animation: Whiteboard animation is perfect for educational content or explaining intricate ideas. Its hand-drawn, sketch-style visuals make it relatable and engaging.

Aligning Animation Style with Brand Identity

Selecting a style that aligns with your brand identity is essential. Here are some ways to align your 2D animated video with your brand:

• Brand Personality: If your brand is playful and fun, consider a more whimsical character-based animation. For a professional, corporate image, a flat design or motion graphic style would be more fitting.
• Consistency in Design: Ensure the animation style incorporates your brand’s color scheme, fonts, and logos. A cohesive visual identity is key to strengthening brand recognition.
• Target Audience: Know who your audience is and choose an animation style that resonates with them. Younger audiences may prefer bold, character-driven animations, while more serious or technical audiences might appreciate clean, minimalist visuals.

Building Brand Recognition with 2D Animation

A well-designed 2D animated video can make a significant impact on brand recognition. When your video matches your brand’s look and message, it creates a lasting impression. Animation can bring brand elements like logos, taglines, and color schemes to life, reinforcing your identity with every view.

Storytelling With 2D Animated Videos

Storytelling is the heart of any 2D animated video. Whether you’re explaining a product, conveying a brand message, or sharing an emotional story, storytelling makes your animation more engaging and impactful. A compelling narrative helps capture your audience’s attention and keeps them interested from start to finish.

Essential Components of Effective Storytelling

A great story needs a few key components to resonate with viewers:

• A Clear Message: Every 2D animated video should have a clear takeaway or message. Avoid confusion by focusing on one primary goal, whether it’s educating, entertaining, or inspiring.
• Relatable Characters: In animation, characters can represent your brand’s values or simply be vehicles to deliver the message. Their emotions, challenges, and growth drive the narrative forward.
• Plot Structure: A well-structured story has a clear beginning, middle, and end. Introduce the characters, set up the conflict, and resolve it in a way that is satisfying to the audience.

Animation as a Storytelling Tool

What makes 2D animated videos unique is their ability to visualize concepts and ideas that are hard to express through words alone. Whether you’re simplifying a complex product or illustrating an abstract idea, animation provides the flexibility to create engaging visual metaphors and dynamic storytelling.

• Simplifying Complex Ideas: If you need to explain a product’s features or a difficult concept, animation can break it down visually, making it easier for the viewer to grasp.
• Creative Freedom: Unlike live-action videos, 2D animation allows you to create worlds, characters, and environments that wouldn’t be possible otherwise, giving your story more freedom and creativity.

Crafting Compelling Narratives

When creating a 2D animated video, it’s essential to keep the narrative simple, focused, and relatable. Focus on the core message you want to communicate and develop the plot around it. Timing and pacing are also crucial—if your video feels rushed or drags on too long, you may lose the audience’s interest.

Avoiding Common 2D Animated Video Mistakes

Creating a 2D animated video involves careful planning and execution; even small mistakes can impact the final product. From poor pacing to technical errors, these common animation mistakes can affect the quality of your video and hinder your ability to effectively communicate your message. Here’s how to avoid them.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Overcomplicating the Story: Keep the story simple. An overly complicated plot can confuse your audience and dilute the message. Stick to one main idea and develop it clearly.
• Poor Timing and Pacing: Timing and pacing are critical in animation. Too fast, and your audience won’t absorb the information; too slow, and they’ll lose interest. Ensure your animation flows naturally.
• Inconsistent Character Design: Visual consistency is crucial for character animation. Characters should look the same throughout the video, and their movements should remain fluid. Inconsistencies can distract the viewer and harm the overall experience.
• Ignoring Audio Quality: Audio is just as important as the visuals in a 2D animated video. Poor sound quality can detract from the viewer’s experience. Always use high-quality voiceovers and sound effects that match the animation’s tone.
• Neglecting to Optimize for Devices: Since most videos are watched on mobile devices, it’s essential to optimize your 2D animated video for mobile. This includes ensuring the video is properly formatted for different screen sizes and load times.

Best Practices for 2D Animation Success

• Review the Script: Always read through the script before starting animation to ensure the story is clear and concise. Get feedback from team members or stakeholders before finalizing.
• Test Audio Synchronization: Ensure that the voiceover, sound effects, and background music are well synchronized with the animation.
• Optimize for Mobile: Check your animation’s resolution and aspect ratio to ensure it looks great on both desktop and mobile devices.

Optimizing Animated Videos for Different Platforms

Once you’ve created your 2D animated video, the next step is ensuring it reaches the right audience across different platforms. Each platform has its own set of specifications, and optimizing your video for each one ensures maximum engagement.

Platform-Specific Video Considerations

• YouTube: YouTube animations typically perform best when they are between 7-10 minutes long. Ensure your 2D animated video has a custom thumbnail, relevant tags, and a catchy title to help it stand out.
• Instagram: Instagram videos should be short and punchy. Vertical videos (9:16 aspect ratio) are most effective for Stories and Reels, while square (1:1) format works best for posts in the main feed.
• Facebook: Keep videos between 1-3 minutes for Facebook posts. Subtitles are essential since many users watch videos without sound. Use engaging thumbnails and call-to-action buttons to increase interaction.
• Twitter: Twitter is all about quick engagement. Aim for a 15-30 second clip that’s eye-catching and to the point. GIFs or looping videos often perform best on Twitter.
• Websites: When you embed videos on your website, ensure that they are high-quality, with clear resolution, and are optimized for fast loading times. You can also use video SEO techniques to improve your video’s visibility in search engines.

2D Animated Video Optimization Tips

• Resolution and Aspect Ratio: Ensure your 2D animated video is in the correct resolution for each platform (e.g., 1080p for YouTube, 720p for Instagram).

• File Size: Compress your video to reduce file size without losing quality. This is especially important for animated social media posts where faster load times lead to better user experience.

Best Tools and Software for Optimization

Use tools like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro for video editing and compression. For social media platforms, tools like Hootsuite or Buffer can help you schedule optimized posts and track performance.

Legal Considerations For 2D Animated Videos

Before releasing your 2D animated video, it’s crucial to understand the legal aspects involved in the production and distribution. Failing to address these legal considerations can result in costly issues down the road.

Copyright and Ownership

• Copyrighting Your Video: If you’ve created original animations, they are automatically protected by copyright. However, registering your copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office gives you additional legal protections.
• Licensing Issues: Ensure you have the right to use any third-party assets (music, stock footage, or illustrations) in your 2D animated video. You may need to purchase licenses or get explicit permission from the creators. Media platforms like YouTube enable you to paste in a license code for music to ensure your video won’t get flagged for improperly licensed music.

Fair Use and Permissions

• Fair Use: In certain cases, you may be able to use copyrighted material under fair use, but be careful. This usually applies to commentary, criticism, or educational content, but even then, it’s important to be cautious.
• Permissions: Always seek permission if you plan to use someone else’s work in your animation. This applies to music, voices, or branded elements.

Trademarks and Branding

When incorporating logos or brand names into your 2D animated video, make sure you have the legal rights to do so. Avoid using logos or trademarks without consent, as this could lead to legal issues or claims of infringement.

Data Privacy and Consent

If your 2D animated video features real people or their likenesses, make sure to obtain their consent beforehand. This is especially important in case you plan to use the video commercially.

Measuring the Success of Animated Videos

After launching your 2D animated video, it’s crucial to measure its success to understand how well it’s performing. Tracking metrics helps you assess the effectiveness of your video and make data-driven improvements for future content.

Key Metrics to Track

• View Count: The number of views your 2D animated video receives is a basic but important metric. It shows how far your video has reached and how successful it has been in attracting viewers.
• Engagement Rate: Engagement includes likes, shares, comments, and interactions. High engagement suggests that your audience is actively involved with your content.
• Watch Time: Watch time indicates how long viewers are watching your video. Longer watch times typically mean your video is engaging and holding attention.
• Conversions: Ultimately, you want to know if your 2D animated video leads to desired actions, like sign-ups, purchases, or inquiries.

Analytics Tools to Use

Google Analytics, YouTube Analytics, and Facebook Insights provide in-depth data on how your video is performing. These tools give you a better understanding of audience behavior and which aspects of your video are working well.

Improving Future Campaigns Based on Analytics

Use the insights from your video analytics to improve future videos. If you notice a drop-off point where viewers stop watching, consider changing the pacing or content at that part of the video. A/B testing different versions of your video can also help you determine what resonates best with your audience.

Future Trends in 2D Animation

The world of 2D animated videos is constantly evolving, and staying on top of the latest trends will help you create cutting-edge content that resonates with audiences. Here are some emerging trends to watch for in the future of 2D animation.

Advancements in Animation Technology

• AI-Powered Tools: Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing animation by automating repetitive tasks like in-betweening or coloring. This allows animators to focus on more creative aspects of the video production process.
• Motion Capture in 2D Animation: Motion capture technology, traditionally used in 3D animation, is now being adapted to enhance the fluidity and realism of 2D animations.

Interactive 2D Animated Videos

Interactive elements in 2D animated videos are becoming more popular. These can include clickable options, branching storylines, or user-controlled animations that make the viewer feel more engaged and in control.

Personalized and Targeted Animation

The ability to personalize animations based on audience data is becoming more prevalent. Brands can now create customized 2D animated videos tailored to individual viewers, providing a more personal experience.

 

Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Animation

With growing environmental awareness, there is a trend toward more eco-conscious animation production. This includes reducing energy consumption, using digital assets instead of physical materials, and minimizing the carbon footprint of the production process.

Collaborating with 2D Animation Studios

Collaborating with an animation studio can help you produce a high-quality 2D animated video that meets your vision. Professional studios bring expertise, creativity, and experience to the table, ensuring that your project is handled efficiently.

Finding the Right Studio for Your 2D Animated Video Project

When searching for an animation studio, it’s essential to review their portfolio and ensure they have experience in the style of animation you’re looking for. Assess their creativity, technical expertise, and ability to meet deadlines and budgets.

Clear Communication and Project Scope

Effective collaboration begins with clear communication. Set expectations regarding deadlines, budget, and deliverables. Ensure everyone is on the same page regarding the project’s scope and goals to avoid misunderstandings later.

Feedback and Revisions

During the production process, be prepared to provide constructive feedback. While animation studios will do most of the creative work, your input is essential to ensure the final 2D animated video matches your vision.

Legal and Contractual Considerations

Ensure that your contract includes all necessary details, such as the ownership of the final video, payment terms, and any revisions. A solid contract protects both parties and ensures a smooth production process.

Budgeting for Animated Video Projects

Budgeting is a crucial aspect of creating a 2D animated video. Without proper financial planning, your project could go over budget or face delays. Here’s how to set a budget that ensures you get the most out of your animated video.

Factors That Affect 2D Animated Video Costs

Several factors influence the cost of a 2D animated video, including:

• Complexity of Animation Style: More detailed animations with custom characters or intricate backgrounds can increase costs.
• Length of Video: Longer videos will take more time and resources to produce.
• Additional Elements: Costs can rise if you add extras like voiceovers, music, sound effects, or custom illustrations.

Cost Breakdown

• Pre-Production: Storyboarding, scripting, and concept design typically account for 20-30% of the total cost.
• Production: Illustration & animation are the most expensive parts, comprising 50-60% of the budget.
• Post-Production: Editing, sound design, and revisions make up the remaining 10-20%.

Tips for Saving on Animation Costs

• Outsource Certain Tasks: You can save money by outsourcing voiceovers or using stock music and effects.
• Use Templates or Stock Animation: When appropriate, consider using templates or pre-made animations to reduce production time and costs.
• Keep a Clear Scope: Avoid frequent revisions or scope creep, which can quickly inflate costs.

Managing Your Budget Effectively

Use budgeting tools or software to track spending. Keep track of each stage of production and ensure you’re staying on schedule.

2D Animated Video Production Resources

These popular 2D animated video production resources are recommended for your video production journey:

How to hire and collaborate with a 2D animation studio?

Where can I find 2D animators for hire?

How to make a video animation.

Contact Us

If you’re interested in speaking with someone about your 2D animated video project, schedule a call with our production team.

Or…

You can fill out a creative brief to help us understand what kind of animation you want to create.

What is Video Igniter Animation?

Digital marketers love using animated videos engage with potential clients and customers. This year, more companies are using animated videos in their digital marketing campaigns than ever before. The main reason for this is because they’re more affordable than ever before, but also because they make it easier for your business to stand out from the crowd. If you’re not sure whether or not you should use animated videos as part of your digital marketing strategy, this article explains why you should give them a try!

 

Examples Of Digital Marketing Animated Videos You Can Get From Video Igniter

Video Igniter can create any kind of 2D or 3D animated video for you. Check out our animation portfolio here. Request access to our demo reels and price sheet here. Contact us or schedule a call to start making your video.

Are you looking for an example of a different style of animation? Send us a message to let us know what kind of animation example you want to see and we will follow up with relevant production samples.

 

How can a digital marketing animated video help your digital marketing?

Animation is more fun to watch. It makes it clear for your audience to understand what you are talking about. This is particularly helpful for technology and software services.

Animated videos hold attention like no other medium in the world of digital marketing. Your potential customers will be highly engaged with the informative content.

You can use animated video web marketing to generate leads, promote products or services, or educate customers about new features in your product or service offerings and much more!

 

Example of an animated video we created for a digital marketing campaign:

 

Animated videos are more fun to watch and keep your audience focused and engaged

The first benefit of using animated videos is that they’re more fun and engaging to watch (compared to live action videos, photo and text-based content). The reason for this is simple: people are more likely to watch a video that’s looks like colorful entertaining eye-candy. Animated videos can be funny, cute, or exciting. They can also be educational—and people will keep watching if you teach them something they don’t already know!

For example, at the end of one of Shopify’s animated tutorials on how to build an online store, the viewer sees a friendly animated character who walks the viewer through the final steps of setting up their own store and getting it ready for launch day. The viewer gets to watch Shopify’s character actually walk the viewer through each step so everyone knows exactly what needs to happen next before starting their new online store.

For tips on how to get high viewer engagement on your animated videos, check out this article: “6 Ways To Get High Viewer Engagement For Your Animated Videos.”

Animations help you build your brand

One way to build your brand is through a unique identity. Animated videos are a great way to do this in an entertaining and memorable way. When people see an animated video, it sticks in their minds more than other types of video because they’re so different from what they’ve seen before.

You can create animated characters or symbols that live inside each video and represent your business’s branding, so viewers will recognize them when they see them again on other platforms.  The more memorable something is, the easier it is for people to recall later. And that’s why animated videos can be so effective at building a strong company brand: the messages and visuals are going to stick with people long after they’ve seen them.

Dropbox built their entire brand image on the internet with this simple but straightforward marketing video animation:

Marketing videos help attract new leads via SEO

Using proper Video SEO techniques, you can get your message in front of the people who are looking for it. With animated videos you can create content that’s not only interesting to watch but also ranks high in search engines – making it easier for more people to find your website and learn about your company.

This is important because if someone searches for something like “digital marketing animated video” or “animated video web marketing,” on Google or Bing, they’re likely going to end up either clicking on an ad from one of our competitors – or clicking a link to read an article on our website and then potentially getting in touch with us about creating an animated video for their digital marketing campaign.

Digital marketing videos make it easy to share your message

Animated videos encapsulate your entire brand message and personality in a fun, easy to consume way that can be packaged up and easily shared and consumed across all platforms and devices.

You can upload videos to Facebook and other social media platforms, email them as attachments, include them in your slide presentations, or simply embed them directly on you blog or website via HTML code.

If you need a new way to engage customers, animated marketing videos will work for you

Animated marketing videos are the next best thing to having a real-life brand evangelist on your team. They’re engaging, sharable, and easy to make with Video Igniter. Animated videos work well for businesses in all stages of business development because they improve customer education at all stages of the sales funnel. They’re also easy to understand – even if you have a complicated product or service!

If you want your customer’s attention but don’t have time to get a full website created, animated marketing videos can stand in to help potential customers, generate awareness and cut through the noise to grab people’s attention immediately.

Types of Animated Videos for Digital Marketing

When it comes to digital marketing, there are several types of animated videos you can use to engage your audience effectively. Explainer videos, for example, break down complex products or services into simple, easy-to-understand visuals, making them ideal for explaining how your business works or demonstrating your product’s value. Product demos are another popular choice, showcasing your offerings in action and highlighting their benefits. Social media ads, often short and punchy, use animation to capture attention quickly and encourage users to take immediate action. Additionally, corporate videos or brand storytelling can use animation to humanize your brand, conveying your values in an entertaining yet professional manner.

No matter the goal, choosing the right type of animated video will ensure your message resonates with your target audience and strengthens your digital marketing strategy.

Tips for Creating Effective Animated Videos

Creating a successful animated video for digital marketing involves careful planning and attention to detail.

Start by crafting a compelling script—ensure it is clear, concise, and directly speaks to the needs and desires of your target audience. Focus on the problem your product or service solves and how it benefits the viewer.

Visual design is equally important; use animation styles that align with your brand identity and appeal to your audience’s preferences. For example, playful, colorful animations might work well for a younger audience, while a more minimalistic style might be better for a professional tone.

Ensure that your video is optimized for the platform you’re using. A video for social media, for example, should be short and eye-catching, while a YouTube animation can be longer and more detailed.

Finally, include a strong call-to-action (CTA) that directs viewers on what to do next, whether it’s visiting your website or signing up for a free trial. By following these tips, you can create animated videos that not only entertain but also drive results.

The Role of Animation in Storytelling

Animation has a unique ability to bring stories to life in ways that traditional video or text cannot. By using animated characters and vibrant visuals, businesses can create engaging narratives that capture the attention of their audience and emotionally connect with them.

For example, a brand can craft a storyline around their customer’s journey, showing how their product or service solves a particular problem. This type of visual storytelling is incredibly effective for building brand loyalty, as it helps viewers identify with the characters and scenarios presented in the animation.

Moreover, animated videos offer endless creative possibilities. You can explore fantastical worlds, transform ordinary scenarios into extraordinary ones, or even make abstract concepts easier to grasp. Ultimately, animation empowers businesses to communicate their message in a more memorable and compelling way, strengthening their overall marketing efforts.

Video Distribution Strategies

Once your animated video is ready, it’s essential to implement a strategic distribution plan to maximize its reach. Platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram offer vast audiences, but each platform has its unique characteristics, so it’s important to tailor your approach.

For example, YouTube is ideal for long-form content, whereas Instagram and Facebook are perfect for shorter, more visually captivating videos. Additionally, consider embedding your animated video on your website’s landing pages or blog posts to boost engagement.

Incorporating videos into your email marketing campaigns can significantly increase click-through rates, as emails with videos are known to generate higher engagement.

Optimize your video for SEO by including relevant keywords in your video title, description, and tags, ensuring it’s discoverable on search engines.

With these strategies, you can ensure your animated videos reach the right audience and help achieve your marketing goals.

Trends in Animated Video for Digital Marketing

The world of animation is continually evolving, and staying on top of the latest trends can give your digital marketing efforts a competitive edge. Currently, 3D animation and motion graphics are highly popular, as they provide a visually stunning and engaging experience for viewers. These techniques make your videos stand out and offer a more dynamic and immersive feel.

Additionally, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are transforming how animated videos are used in marketing. These technologies enable the creation of interactive experiences, offering customers an even more engaging way to interact with your brand.

As for design trends, minimalism and flat design continue to be popular due to their clean and modern aesthetic, while bold colors and hand-drawn animation styles evoke a sense of personality and uniqueness.

By keeping up with these animation trends, your business can create fresh, engaging animated video content that resonates with your audience and sets you apart from your competitors.

How to Integrate Animated Videos with Other Marketing Channels

Animated videos shouldn’t exist in isolation; they should complement and enhance other marketing efforts across different channels. For instance, you can use animated videos in email marketing campaigns to introduce new products, explain services, or even share customer testimonials, increasing click-through rates and engagement.

Similarly, animated videos can be a powerful tool for driving traffic to your website when placed on landing pages or included in blog posts.

Social media is another great platform where animated videos can boost brand visibility and encourage user interaction.

Integrating videos with paid ad campaigns is also highly effective, especially on platforms like Google Ads or Facebook Ads, where visually appealing content tends to perform better.

By using animated videos across multiple channels, you create a consistent and engaging experience for your audience, ultimately strengthening your brand’s message and increasing conversions.

Cost Considerations and Budgeting for Animated Video Production

While animated videos are an excellent investment for digital marketing, understanding the costs involved is crucial for effective budgeting. The cost of producing an animated video can vary depending on several factors, including the video’s length, complexity, animation style, and the level of customization required.

For instance, a simple 2D explainer video will typically cost less than a more intricate 3D animation or a motion graphic-heavy video.

It’s important to balance quality with your marketing budget—consider working with experienced animators who can provide professional-quality work within your budget range. To get the most value, set clear goals for what you want to achieve with the video, whether it’s brand awareness or lead generation, and ensure the production aligns with those objectives.

With careful planning, animated videos can provide a significant return on investment, driving engagement and conversions in ways that other forms of content may not.

Interactive and Personalized Animated Videos

In the world of digital marketing, personalization is key to creating meaningful connections with your audience, and interactive animated videos are an exciting way to achieve this. These videos allow viewers to actively participate in the content by making choices that affect the storyline or outcome.

For example, interactive videos can guide customers through a personalized product recommendation process or provide tailored content based on user input. This level of interactivity makes the viewer feel more involved and invested in the experience, increasing engagement and brand loyalty.

Furthermore, interactive videos can be highly effective in capturing valuable customer data, which can then be used for targeted marketing efforts.

By combining animation with personalization, businesses can create immersive, engaging experiences that drive higher conversion rates and foster stronger customer relationships.

Digital Marketing Animated Video Production Resources

These popular digital marketing animated video resources are recommended for your video production journey:

How do I build a great storyboard for my explainer video?

How do I turn my idea into a video?

How to I make an explainer video for my company?

Conclusion

Now that you know how great these videos can be for marketing your business, we encourage you to try creating one for your company. We know it might seem intimidating at first… But our video animators are here to help! Click the image below to schedule a call with Video Igniter’s Animated Video Production Team and we’ll hold your hand through the entire process.

 

Contact Us To Make An Animated Video For Your Next Digital Marketing Campaign

Do you want to create an animated video for a digital marketing campaign? Here are several ways to get in touch with us to discuss your project:

– Schedule a call with our production team.

– Get a quote for your educational animated video.

– Request access to our price sheet.

– Create an account and fill out a creative brief to get production started on your animated video.

Benefits Of Working With Video Igniter

World class production and storytelling at prices startups can afford.

Our online production service delivers a streamlined production experience which lowers your production cost + more of your budget is put towards creativity, storytelling and production quality instead of overhead and project management costs.

Check out our portfolio.

+20 Reasons: Learn why companies hire Video Igniter to create animated videos for their digital marketing campaigns.

Do you want to create an animated cryptocurrency video or an animated blockchain explainer video that explains how your technology works? We can help with that too.

Not sure what Video Igniter is? Read more about us.

So, you finally made an explainer video for your business. But now you’re wondering how you can use it. This article teaches 7 ways you can use your animated explainer video to grow your business.

Examples of Business Explainer Videos You Can Get From Video Igniter

Video Igniter can create any kind of 2D or 3D animation for you. Check out our animation portfolio here.

Request access to our demo reels and price sheet here. Contact us or schedule a call to start making your video.

Are you looking for an example of a different style of animation? Send us a message to let us know what kind of animation example you want to see and we will follow up with relevant production samples.

 

1). Embed Your Business Explainer Video On Your Website

The first thing you’ll want to do when you finish creating an explainer video is add it to your website. Don’t just put on your homepage – put it everywhere it makes sense to add the animation on your website!

The benefits of putting these videos everywhere are twofold. Firstly (and most obviously), it makes sure potential customers get exposed to your brand as often as possible. Secondly—and more importantly—it ensures viewers spend longer on each page than they would otherwise do without a video present. This means there’s more time for them to notice all the details about what your company does and why they should buy from you.

Businesses use explainer videos because it helps potential customers learn about they offer, quickly. Embedding your business’s explainer video on your website can increase the conversion rate of your landing pages and sales pages.

Deep Dive: Learn more about explainer video production and what to expect during the production process.

2). Share Your Business’s Explainer Video On Social Media

Next, you’ll want to share your business’s explainer video on social media.  This helps get the word out about what you’re offering and who you are as a business. It also allows people to easily find more information about your brand later on.

To get the right eyeballs on your video, share your business’s explainer video on the channels that are most relevant for your audience. Don’t forget to tag friends in the comments section of each post so that they can see it too!  Sharing content directly from a personal account can help build trust with new prospects while sharing from a brand-specific account will help keep track of readership stats so you know what kind of content resonates best with your readership demographics

You shouldn’t just post your business’s explainer video once and be done with it—share it multiple times over several days/weeks in order to reach different audiences during different times of day!

3). Send It Via Email

The best way to get feedback is by sending an email out to coworkers and clients who already know you. Email is a great way to get your explainer video in front of these people because it allows for quick and easy sharing (and it converts really well).

You can also send a link to a landing page with your video on it to new leads and prospects.

4). Leverage Your Video In Meetings And Sales Pitches

Now that you have a great animated explainer video, it’s time to leverage it in your sales and marketing efforts. Use it as an ice breaker at events, meetings, or networking events. You can even use it as a sales pitch when a prospect is hesitant about committing resources to your project.

If you’re planning on making an in-person presentation about your product or service, consider incorporating the animated explainer video into this presentation by playing parts of it at key points throughout to keep audience members engaged with what’s being said on stage.

If you’re going to be doing any webinars or live webcasts, then consider using the animated explainer video as part of the digital materials available for people who are going through registration and viewing options. This way they’ll see something familiar right off the bat—and feel more comfortable continuing with registration because they’ll know more about the what they’re getting into.

5). Optimize Your Video For Each Platform

Make sure that the content of your explainer video matches the platform where it will be hosted. For example, an explainer video about a fitness app should probably be posted on Instagram or YouTube (since those are both platforms with lots of physically active users), but not Linkedin (which is more for business updates and networking).

You should also consider the aspect ratio and length of your business explainer video before posting it to various platforms. Some platforms reward vertical videos or square videos over the traditional 1920×1080 horizontal format of most videos. Additionally, some platforms are better suited for shorter content. If your animated explainer video is more than a few minutes long, consider breaking it up into shorter chapters for social media.

The other thing to think about when posting your animated explainer videos is how they fit into the overall online ecosystem in which they exist. If people are looking specifically for animated explainers on YouTube or Vimeo, they may be less likely to watch it if they find your video on Facebook or Twitter because those platforms don’t contain primarily animation-related content like YouTube and Vimeo do.

6). Introduce A CTA At The End Of Your Explainer Video

The content of your business explainer video should encourage the viewer to take action when you present a call to action to them at the end of the video.  A CTA can be as simple as a link directing people back to your website or blog post, or if you have a phone number listed on the screen at the end of your explainer video, use that number. You may also consider offering discounts or coupons for customers who call in response to viewing your explainer video—this will help build goodwill with new customers while increasing brand exposure in general.

When you post your business explainer video on social media, be sure to include the call to action within the creative itself (like “click here” or “Learn more”). This will allow viewers who like what they see to easily contact someone at the company without having to go through any extra steps.

Finally, one of the most effective ways that businesses have used explainer videos has been by inviting viewers away from YouTube and onto their own websites or landing pages where they can sign up for free trials and further engage with your business. Include links in your videos and video description that can guide people towards your homepage and landing pages.

7). A/B Test To Improve Video’s Conversion Rate

You’re likely aware that it can be difficult to gauge the effectiveness of your video. You know that people are watching it, but do they understand what you want them to take away from it? Has your explainer video helped convert visitors into customers?

Are you getting lots of clicks and views, but no conversions? You may want to change up the content or style. Are you not getting any clicks at all? You may want to rework your messaging or optimize your video (more on that later). Do people tell you they really like it, but nothing happens after they watch it? Maybe you need to repeat your call-to-action more often throughout the video, or use different types of CTAs.

By collecting data on your video’s viewership stats, you can identify places in the video where viewership drops off. Once you’ve identified these spots, you can work with your video producer to improve them.

It’s also possible to A/B test your animated explainer video to improve its effectiveness. Check out the companion article below to learn more about how you can get more people to click play on your video, get more people to watch your video til the end, and get more people to take action when they arrive at the CTA at the end of your video.

8. Integrating Business Explainer Videos with SEO

Explainer videos are a powerful tool not only for engaging audiences but also for improving your website’s search engine optimization (SEO). When you embed an explainer video on your site, you encourage visitors to spend more time on your page, which can lead to a lower bounce rate—a key factor in SEO rankings.

Additionally, videos can appear in search engine results pages (SERPs), making it easier for potential customers to discover your business. To fully optimize an explainer video for SEO, it’s crucial to pay attention to your video’s metadata. Ensure the video title is descriptive, relevant, and contains key search terms. Write a detailed video description, incorporating target keywords while also providing a clear summary of what the video covers. Don’t forget to add tags that relate to the content and target audience.

By strategically optimizing video content, you can improve visibility on platforms like YouTube and Google, driving more organic traffic to your site.

9. Creating a Series of Business Explainer Videos

While a single explainer video can be effective, a series of videos can offer even more value to your audience. Creating an animated video series allows you to delve deeper into different aspects of your business, product, or service. For example, you could produce a series that explains various features of your product, with each video focusing on a different benefit or use case. Another approach is creating a “how-to” series that educates viewers on using your product in various contexts.

Customer testimonials or success stories can also be showcased in a series, building trust and credibility over time. A series of explainer videos not only keeps your content fresh and engaging, but it also helps build a narrative and fosters stronger connections with your audience. Plus, viewers are more likely to return to your website for the next installment, increasing your site’s engagement and retention rates.

10. Interactive Elements in Business Explainer Videos

Incorporating interactive elements into your explainer videos can significantly enhance user engagement and create a more personalized experience. Interactive videos enable viewers to click on certain elements within the video to learn more, navigate to another page, or make a purchase directly from the video. For instance, you could embed a clickable calls-to-action (CTAs) that lead to product pages or a contact form.

Interactive videos can also feature quizzes, surveys, or decision-making paths, making the content more dynamic and tailored to the viewer’s interests. This is especially valuable for businesses that sell complex products or services, as it helps guide potential customers through the decision-making process. When done correctly, interactive videos can boost conversion rates and encourage further interaction with your brand, all while keeping your audience engaged in a fun and informative way.

11. Leveraging Explainer Videos for Customer Support

Explainer videos can play a crucial role in customer support, helping users quickly understand how to use your product or resolve common issues without having to contact customer service. By creating a library of short, focused animated customer support videos that address frequently asked questions or common troubleshooting issues, you can provide your customers with self-service options. This reduces the burden on your support team and allows customers to find solutions at their own convenience.

Video tutorials, step-by-step guides, and how-to demonstrations can significantly improve the customer experience, especially for complex products that require more detailed instructions. Additionally, embedding these videos in support sections of your website or app makes it easy for customers to access the information they need. By proactively addressing customer concerns with explainer videos, you enhance satisfaction and minimize frustration.

12. Video Analytics and Metrics

Understanding how your explainer videos perform is key to refining your video marketing strategy. Video analytics provide valuable insights into how viewers interact with your content, including metrics such as views, engagement rate, watch time, and conversion rates. These insights allow you to gauge the effectiveness of your videos and identify areas for improvement. For example, if you notice that viewers are dropping off at a specific point in the video, this could indicate that the content is too long or not engaging enough. On the other hand, high engagement rates and increased conversions signal that the video is resonating with your audience.

Tracking these metrics over time enables you to adjust your approach, experiment with different formats, or even A/B test elements like CTAs, pacing, and length. With proper video analytics, you can ensure that each explainer video contributes to your business’s goals and continuously optimize your content for better results.

13. Video Personalization

Personalizing explainer videos can create a more tailored experience for each viewer, increasing the likelihood of engagement and conversion. By leveraging data like user demographics, browsing history, or location, businesses can produce videos that speak directly to individual interests and needs.

For example, an e-commerce brand could create personalized product demos based on a customer’s previous purchases or browsing behavior. Dynamic video tools enable you to change content like the product featured in the video or even the narrator’s name depending on the viewer’s preferences. Personalized videos feel more relevant and can help your brand stand out in a crowded market. Not only does this enhance the viewer’s experience, but it also helps build stronger connections with customers, leading to higher retention rates and increased sales. Personalizing your explainer videos offers a way to create deeper, more meaningful interactions with your audience.

 

Thanks for reading our tips on how to get the most out of the animated video for your business. Let us know in the comments how you make the most of your business’s animated explainer video!

Don’t forget – check out our animated video portfolio to see our latest and greatest creations.

Interested in learning about pricing for your video? Request access to our pricing page here.

Business Explainer Video Production Resources

These popular explainer video resources are recommended for people looking into creating an explainer video for their business:

How long does it take to make an animated explainer video?

See examples of explainer video scripts and the videos they turned into.

What explainer video services does Video Igniter provide?

What is Video Igniter Animation?

Video Igniter is an animated explainer video company that creates custom 2D and 3D animated videos. Watch our video below to learn more and contact us to start making your explainer video.

These days, most content comes in video format, and competition for attention is increasing at a consistent pace. While there are several different types of video content you can create, animated videos tend to do the best job of keeping people’s attention. But how exactly do you keep people’s attention focused so that your animated video engagement rate goes up?

If you have a question about increasing viewer engagement that isn’t answered in this article, you can use our contact form to ask your question or click the image below to with a member of our production team:

Let’s take a look at 6 video marketing tips you can use to keep viewers engaged while they watch your animated video:

1). Start With An Attractive Shot Or Compelling Introduction

In the first few seconds of a video, viewers quickly make a decision about whether or not they should keep watching or skip your animated video. That’s why it’s important to present an impactful first impression that captures people’s attention with something compelling. Focus a lot of your creative efforts on this first impression to ensure your animated video engagement rate will be high and minimize the number of people who will immediately skip it.

2). Keep Your Animated Video Short

If you want to make sure your animated video engagement stays high, don’t make your video too long. Figure out which key details are essential to include and then make your animated video focused on these points, keeping it as short as possible. Videos that are short attract more viewers; people on social media tend skip longer videos. Make sure you are use every second of your video effectively. If your goal. is to drive awareness, aim for a video that is 15 – 30 seconds long.

3). Using Statistics Can Trigger Interest

Animated characters and motion graphics do a fantastic job of keeping the eyes focused on new visual elements. To mix things up, you can also add some interesting statistics as well to keep people’s attention. Statistics in your video can work to trigger more interest in the video or the product you are promoting. The best part is that stats are easy to fit in almost any part of an animated video.

4). Use Sound Effects To Keep Your Animated Video Engaging

Subtle use of sound effects is a great way to improve your animated video’s engagement rate – it makes your animated video feel more alive and helps engage the viewer’s attention.

5). Make Sure That Your Presentation Isn’t Predictable

Storytelling goes a long way to keep people engaged in your animated video. But if you really want to hold their attention, try adding some suspense to your narrative. (Example: make an impressive claim about what your company/product/service can do, then gradually unveil how people can get the desired benefit). Without suspense, people will scroll away from your video. Make sure that you have unique and creative ideas that are not predictable to create suspense.

6). Always End With A Call To Action

For animated explainer videos that are created for a business/startup/sales team, not only do you want people to watch as much of the video as possible, you also want them to take action at the end so that they can get closer to buying your product or service. Ending your animated video with a call to action is important. A Call To Action directs viewers towards doing business with you (download our app, sign up for a free trial, create an account, join our newsletter, etc).

Animated Video Engagement Bonus Tip #1: Incorporate Interactive Elements into Your Animated Videos

Interactive elements are a powerful way to increase engagement with your animated videos. By adding polls, quizzes, clickable links, or even embedded forms within your content, you can create a more personalized and engaging experience for your viewers. Interactive videos invite the audience to participate directly, which keeps them invested in the content.

Tools like H5P, Wistia, or YouTube’s interactive features can help you easily add interactive elements to your animated videos. This not only makes your video more enjoyable but also helps to collect valuable data about your audience’s preferences and behavior. By encouraging viewers to take part in the content, you make them feel more connected to your brand, which ultimately leads to higher engagement rates and better conversion opportunities.

Animated Video Engagement Bonus Tip #2: Leveraging Social Proof and Testimonials to Boost Viewer Engagement

One of the best ways to build trust and foster engagement is by incorporating social proof and customer testimonials into your animated videos. Showcasing real feedback, case studies, or positive reviews can strengthen your brand’s credibility and increase viewer trust. Animated videos, when combined with testimonial content, can bring these reviews to life and make them more visually engaging.

The combination of animation and genuine customer stories can create a compelling narrative that resonates with viewers. Social proof taps into the psychological principle that people are more likely to trust content when they see others’ positive experiences. Including testimonials in your videos can significantly improve engagement by establishing trust and prompting viewers to take action.

Animated Video Engagement Bonus Tip #3: Optimizing Video Thumbnails for Maximum Click-Through Rates

An eye-catching thumbnail is the first thing viewers notice when scrolling through a sea of video content. If you want to boost viewer engagement with your animated videos, ensure that your thumbnails are both visually appealing and relevant to the video’s content.

A well-designed thumbnail should give a preview of the video’s key message while sparking curiosity. Animated video thumbnails should use vibrant colors, bold typography, and characters or elements from the video itself to attract attention. Keep the text clear and minimal but impactful, and always make sure it complements the video’s tone. A compelling thumbnail leads to higher click-through rates (CTR), which in turn increases the chances of your video getting viewed, shared, and engaged with.

Animated Video Engagement Bonus Tip #4: Tailoring Content to Different Social Media Platforms

To maximize viewer engagement, it’s essential to tailor your animated videos to the unique requirements of different social media platforms. Each platform has its own audience and format, and understanding how to adapt your content to suit each one is key. For example, YouTube videos can be longer and more in-depth, while Instagram Stories require shorter, attention-grabbing content. Facebook and LinkedIn videos should focus on delivering value quickly, with high-quality animation that grabs attention within the first few seconds.

By customizing your animated videos for each platform, you’ll reach more viewers, enhance engagement, and drive more traffic to your website or landing pages. Understanding the best practices for each platform’s audience ensures your video resonates more effectively.

Animated Video Engagement Bonus Tip #5: Using Humor to Make Your Animated Videos Memorable

Humor is one of the most effective tools to engage viewers and make your content memorable. Animated videos provide a unique opportunity to infuse humor into your messaging in a way that feels lighthearted yet impactful. Whether you use playful animation, witty dialogue, or funny characters, humor can enhance the viewer experience and make your content more shareable.

When done well, humor creates an emotional connection with the audience, making them more likely to remember your video and take action. Just be sure that the humor aligns with your brand tone and the message you want to convey. If done right, humor can set your animated videos apart and drive significant engagement.

Animated Video Engagement Bonus Tip #6: Personalizing Animated Videos for Different Audiences

Personalization is an effective way to boost viewer engagement by ensuring your animated videos speak directly to the interests of your audience. Tailoring the content to different demographic groups or customer segments can make the video more relevant and appealing. This can be done by addressing specific pain points, using targeted messaging, or incorporating audience-specific visuals or examples.

Personalized videos feel more relatable, which increases the likelihood of the viewer engaging with the content, sharing it, or following your call to action. Many video marketing platforms, such as Vidyard and Wistia, allow for easy customization and segmentation, making it easier to deliver personalized content at scale.

Animated Video Engagement Bonus Tip #7: Analyzing Viewer Data to Refine Your Strategy

To continuously improve viewer engagement, it’s important to analyze the data and insights gathered from your animated video campaigns. Platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, and social media channels provide valuable metrics, including view time, click-through rates, and audience retention rates. By carefully reviewing this data, you can identify which aspects of your video are working well and where improvements are needed. For instance, if you notice a drop in viewer retention after the first 30 seconds, you may need to refine your introduction or make the content more engaging. Regular analysis allows you to fine-tune your video strategies for maximum engagement and ensures you’re always optimizing for the best results.

Animated Video Engagement Bonus Tip #8: The Power of Narratives and Emotional Appeal in Animated Videos

Storytelling is one of the most effective ways to engage and connect with viewers emotionally. Adding a narrative to your animated video not only makes the content more enjoyable to watch, but it also helps your message resonate with the audience on a deeper level. Whether it’s through a personal story, a brand journey, or a fictional character’s adventure, a well-crafted narrative can drive home your point in a way that statistics and facts cannot. Emotional appeal, such as humor, empathy, or even sadness, can motivate viewers to take action, whether it’s subscribing to your channel, sharing the video, or making a purchase. A compelling story creates an emotional bond that encourages sustained engagement.

Animated Video Engagement Conclusion

By implementing these strategies, you can significantly enhance the engagement of your animated videos and ensure they not only capture attention but also inspire viewers to take action. Tailoring your approach based on the latest trends and understanding your audience’s needs will keep your content fresh, relevant, and impactful. Keep experimenting and refining your video strategies to see continuous improvement in engagement levels.

Hire Video Igniter Animation to create your animated video

World class animation and design talent at prices startups can afford.

We can make any kind of 2D or 3D animated explainer video you can imagine.

Check out our portfolio!

+20 reasons companies love hiring us to create animated videos.

 

Examples of Videos You Can Create With Video Igniter

Video Igniter can create any kind of 2D or 3D animated video for you. Check out our animation portfolio here. Request access to our demo reels and price sheet here. Contact us or schedule a call to start making your video.

 

Explainer videos are a great way for a brand or a company to show how their products/services work. They’re quick, informative, and engaging nature has made them one of the most popular forms of videos today. This article contains some of our favorite explainer video tips and tricks to ensure you end up with a high performing explainer video. According to statistics, 93% of marketers get high-quality leads with the help of social media videos, while branded videos start the ‘customer journey’ for 80% of consumers on YouTube.

So, if you are planning on incorporating explainer videos into your marketing strategy, you should explore the best way to craft an explainer video. Here we will be discussing some of the most important Do’s and Don’ts for explainer video-making that you should keep an eye out for. 

If you have a question about any of our explainer video tips, you can use our contact form to ask your question or click the image below to with a member of our explainer video production company:

Explainer Video Tips

Do: Keep It Short

The first and most important explainer video tip is to keep it short. You want to be able to get your point across in a minute or less. This is because people’s attention spans are shorter than ever these days. By keeping your video short and sweet, you can be sure that people will watch it all the way through and understand your message.

Do: Target The Right Audience

Here’s a tip for before you begin production on your explainer video. Spend some time thinking about your target audience, the demographic who is likely to purchase your products or services. This way, you will be able to craft your explainer video around situations your prospects can relate to and where your products can come in handy. Understand who you are speaking to, and use language that your prospects can easily understand. 

Easy to overlook explainer video tip: Don’t Use Too Much Technical Jargon

When creating your animated explainer video, you want to be sure to avoid using too much technical jargon. While you may be tempted to use industry-specific terms to describe what you do, this will only confuse and turn off your viewers. Instead, use language that is easy to understand and will resonate with your target audience.

Do: Use Compelling Visuals

Another important element of an effective explainer video is compelling visuals. People are more likely to watch and remember a video that is visually appealing. So be sure to include high-quality images and graphics in your video. This will help to capture people’s attention and keep them engaged throughout the video.

Don’t: Be Boring

Of course, you also want to avoid being boring in your animated explainer video. If your video is dry and dull, people will likely tune out before it’s even over. Instead, infuse some personality into your video and make it fun and entertaining to watch. This will help to hold people’s attention and ensure that they remember your video long after they’ve watched it.

Do: Create a Compelling Script

The script of your video is a sort of foundation that you build your video upon. Great explainer videos always incorporate video scripts that are conversational and engaging for the audience. Our explainer video tip is to write 1-2 sentences that describe the target audience’s problem, use the next few sentences to showcase how your product solves their problem, and then display how your product works and how people can get your product. 

Remember to:

• Hook your audience by basing your script on concrete pain points
• Be specific about your product and the solution you provide
• Avoid technical jargons
• Choose the right tone

Don’t: Over-Explain Things

You may very well end up doing more damage than good by cramming too much information into one explainer video. You should aim to make your videos more easily consumable. Videos that are complex, over-explained, and difficult to make sense of might not deliver your message as clearly as you hope. So, try to keep things simple. 

Important Explainer Video Tip: Include a Call to Action

A lot of people that make their first explainer video don’t know this tip… The whole point of an explainer video is to get people to take action. So be sure to include a call to action at the end of your video. This can be something as simple as telling viewers to visit your website or sign up for your email list. By including a call to action at the end of your video, you can improve your conversion rate at every stage of your marketing funnel.

Don’t: Forget about SEO

When creating your animated explainer video, be sure to keep SEO in mind. This means including keywords in your video title and description, as well as adding transcripts or closed captions for people who prefer to read rather than watch. By optimizing your video for SEO, you can ensure that it will be seen by more people and have a greater chance of ranking in search engines.

Do: Test, Test, Test

This seems like an obvious explainer video tip, but before you launch your explainer video, it is important to test it out on a variety of different devices. This includes phones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. You want to be sure that your video looks and sounds good on all types of devices, as this will help ensure that people can watch it no matter where they are.

Don’t: Skip the Planning Stage

Last but not least, it is important to avoid skipping the planning stage when creating your explainer video. This means taking the time to determine your goals, target audience, and key messaging before you start the animated video production workflow. By planning ahead, you can be sure that your video will be on track and will achieve the results you are hoping for.

Explainer Video Bonus Tip #1: Use a Strong Hook at the Beginning

When creating an explainer video, the first few seconds are crucial in capturing your viewer’s attention. A strong hook can be the difference between someone watching the entire video or clicking away.

What makes a good hook?

A good hook immediately addresses a problem, presents a compelling fact, or asks a thought-provoking question. For example, you could start with a bold statement like, “Did you know that 70% of people forget to follow through on their New Year’s resolutions?” This immediately intrigues the viewer and encourages them to watch on to learn more.

How to make the most of your hook:

• Keep it concise: The hook should be short, impactful, and straight to the point.
• Focus on the pain point: Address a challenge your target audience is facing. Show empathy and demonstrate how your product or service can provide a solution.
• Use attention-grabbing visuals: Pair your hook with striking visuals to reinforce the message and maintain the viewer’s interest.

The hook is your opportunity to make a great first impression, so spend time crafting it carefully.

Explainer Video Bonus Tip #2: Incorporate Customer Testimonials or Case Studies

One of the most effective ways to build trust with your audience is by showcasing real-world success stories. Including customer testimonials or case studies in your explainer video adds social proof and demonstrates the effectiveness of your product or service.

Why customer testimonials work:

• Relatability: Potential customers can see that others, just like them, have benefited from your product or service. This relatability can increase the likelihood of conversions.
• Credibility: Testimonials serve as endorsements from real users, making your claims more believable. This is especially important in a marketplace where people are becoming more cautious about trusting brands.

How to incorporate testimonials effectively:

• Short and sweet: Keep testimonials brief. A few sentences of a customer sharing how your product solved their problem will suffice.
• Visuals to accompany testimonials: If possible, use video testimonials where customers speak directly to the camera. This adds authenticity. You can also show the customer using your product in real-world scenarios.
• Include metrics or results: When sharing a case study, focus on quantifiable results. For instance, “Our explainer video helped increase our client’s conversion rates by 25%.”

Testimonials and case studies can significantly enhance the credibility of your explainer video and help potential customers relate to your message.

Explainer Video Bonus Tip #3: Focus on Storytelling

Humans are naturally drawn to stories. In fact, storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in marketing, and it can significantly improve the effectiveness of your explainer video. By weaving your product or service into a narrative, you create an emotional connection with your viewers.

Why storytelling matters:

• Engagement: A story makes your video more engaging. People are more likely to watch a video to the end if they feel invested in the story.
• Memorability: A well-crafted story is easier to remember than a simple explanation or sales pitch. Storytelling helps make your message stick.
• Emotional connection: Stories evoke emotions, and emotions drive decisions. By connecting emotionally with your audience, you encourage them to take action.

How to incorporate storytelling into your explainer video:

• Start with a relatable problem: Begin by showing the viewer a problem they face. This sets up the narrative.
• Introduce the solution: Present your product or service as the hero of the story. Show how it helps solve the problem.
• Include a resolution: Wrap up the story by demonstrating how the viewer’s life is better after using your product.

By focusing on storytelling, your explainer video becomes more than just a product pitch—it becomes an engaging experience that viewers remember.

Explainer Video Bonus Tip #4: Choose the Right Music

Music is a subtle yet powerful tool in setting the tone of your explainer video. It can influence how viewers feel about your brand, the message you’re conveying, and the overall mood of the video. The right music can elevate the viewer’s experience, while the wrong choice can detract from your message.

Why music matters:

• Sets the tone: The type of animated video soundtrack you choose can set the mood. Upbeat, energetic music is great for creating excitement, while softer, more reflective music can convey a calm, thoughtful message.
• Enhances emotional engagement: Music that matches the emotion of the video can enhance the emotional impact and make the video more memorable.
• Paces the video: Music can help set the pace for the video, ensuring that it flows smoothly and that transitions between different sections feel natural.

Tips for selecting the right music:

• Align with your brand personality: If your brand is fun and energetic, choose upbeat music. If you’re offering a more serious service, opt for more subdued, professional background music.
• Avoid overpowering the voiceover: The music should complement, not compete with, the voiceover. Make sure the music volume is adjusted so it doesn’t drown out the speaker’s voice.
• Use royalty-free music: To avoid copyright issues, use royalty-free or licensed music. Platforms like AudioJungle, PremiumBeat, or even YouTube’s audio library offer a wide range of music options.

Choosing the right music helps set the right mood and keeps your audience engaged throughout the video.

Explainer Video Bonus Tip #5: Consider Animation vs. Live-Action

One of the first decisions you’ll need to make when creating an explainer video is whether to go with animation or live-action. Both approaches have their advantages and can be effective, but it’s important to choose the one that best aligns with your brand and message.

When to choose animation:

• Simplicity and flexibility: If your message involves complex ideas or abstract concepts, animation can simplify and visualize the content. It’s also easier to change the look or flow of an animated video as your business evolves.
• Appealing to younger or tech-savvy audiences: Animated videos often resonate more with younger audiences and tech-savvy viewers, who appreciate creativity and visual storytelling.

When to choose live-action:

• Human connection: If your brand’s message is highly personal or you want to emphasize human connection, live-action can create a more relatable, authentic feel.
• Brand personality: If your brand has a serious, corporate, or professional image, live-action may be a better fit. It gives a more realistic and grounded approach.

Animation or live-action—what works best?

• If you’re showcasing a product or service that requires technical explanations, animation is usually the better option. If your message focuses on storytelling or human connections, live-action can help convey emotion more effectively.

Consider your audience and the nature of your message when deciding between animation and live-action for your explainer video.

Explainer Video Bonus Tip #6: Add Subtitles or Closed Captions

Adding subtitles or closed captions to your explainer video can make it accessible to a broader audience, including people with hearing impairments or those who speak different languages. It also helps boost the SEO of your video by providing search engines with text they can crawl.

Why subtitles and closed captions are important:

• Increased accessibility: Captions make your video accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing, ensuring that everyone can engage with your content.
• Improved user experience: Subtitles allow viewers to watch your video in noisy environments (like public transport) or with the sound turned off (such as on social media). This increases the chances that your video will be watched and shared.
• SEO benefits: Search engines like Google can crawl the text in your captions, making it easier for your video to rank for relevant keywords.

Best practices for adding subtitles or captions:

• Accuracy is key: Ensure that the subtitles accurately reflect what is being said. Mistakes can be distracting and reduce the professionalism of your video.
• Synchronize with the video: Make sure the subtitles are in sync with the audio to avoid confusion.
• Provide translations for different languages: If you’re targeting an international audience, offering captions in multiple languages can significantly expand your reach.

Subtitles and captions not only make your video more inclusive, but they also help enhance the viewer experience and improve video SEO.

Explainer Video Tips Conclusion

Thank you for reading our explainer video creation tips. Creating an explainer video can be a great way to promote your business and convert more website visitors into customers. By following the do’s and don’ts outlined in this article, you can create an effective and engaging explainer video that will help you reach your goals. So what are you waiting for? Get started today!

It usually helps to outsource your video making to an experienced video-maker for optimum results. Want more insight on how you can create a captivating explainer video? Contact the Video Igniter Team today!

Hire Video Igniter to Create Your Explainer Video

Video Igniter’s animated explainer video company provides top tier animation and design services at prices startups can afford.

We can make any kind of 2D or 3D explainer video you can imagine.

Check out our portfolio!

+20 reasons companies love hiring us to create animated videos.