Explainer Video Tips: The Do’s and Don’ts of Explainer Videos

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!

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