This comprehensive guide explores the world of explainer videos, covering everything from different types and compelling examples to expert tips for creating your own high-converting masterpiece. Discover why explainer videos are indispensable for startups and how to harness their power for your business. Let’s dive in!

What is an explainer video?

Explainer videos are concise online marketing videos designed to showcase your company’s product or service. These videos are strategically placed on key web pages like landing pages, homepages, or prominent product pages. Their effectiveness is undeniable, with some websites reporting remarkable conversion rate boosts of by as much as 144% after incorporating explainer videos.

An explainer video for Crazy Egg The power of online videos for businesses is unquestionable. The key lies in understanding how to create your own compelling explainer video. In this guide, we’ll explore:

• Examples of successful explainer videos and the reasons behind their efficacy
  • The benefits of explainer videos for businesses
• Different types of explainer videos you can create
• A step-by-step approach to crafting explainer videos for your website

Types of explainer videos

• Live-Action Explainer Videos: These non-animated promotional videos offer a real-world look at your business’s product or service, as seen in examples like Dollar Shave Club and PooPourri videos (showcased below). Live-action explainer videos are particularly effective for companies selling tangible products or services involving people, such as restaurants or consulting firms. Featuring real people fosters an emotional connection with viewers due to our natural inclination to connect with human faces.
• Live streams on Social Media: Essentially live-action videos without the luxury of editing, live streams offer a raw and unfiltered glimpse into your brand. While seemingly daunting, this realness, including any imperfections, demonstrates transparency and humanizes your brand. Explore how to go live on platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, with the option to save these videos to your account after they end.
• Animated Explainer Videos: As the most prevalent type, animation reigns supreme, especially for explaining services or intangible tech products like software. When physical elements are minimal or absent, animation provides the ideal solution. This format unlocks boundless creativity and simplifies editing and updates for future modifications. Explore video editing software options to discover the perfect tool for your needs.
• Whiteboard Explainer Videos: In this engaging format, animation comes alive through hand-drawn visuals on a whiteboard, offering a cost-effective and increasingly popular option for creating explainer videos.

5 great explainer video examples

The rising popularity of promotional videos has resulted in a plethora of outstanding explainer video examples. Let’s delve into some of our favorites. 1. Dollar Shave Club

Dollar Shave Club sets a daring tone with their bold video title, “DollarShaveClub.com – Our Blades Are F***ing Great,” a promise delivered upon in their hilariously unconventional video. What makes this explainer video a resounding success? Dollar Shave Club possesses an intimate understanding of their target audience – men in their 20s and 30s open to purchasing razors online. The video’s language and humor resonate perfectly with this demographic. Dollar Shave Club exemplifies a well-structured explainer video, beginning with a concise service overview (high-quality razors delivered monthly for $1), followed by highlighting the problem (expensive blades with unnecessary features, easily forgotten purchases), and concluding by reiterating their solution (affordable blades conveniently delivered to your doorstep). 2. PooPourri

PooPourri’s success mirrors Dollar Shave Club’s, employing a similar style that resonates with its audience. Their explainer video seamlessly blends live action with animation to showcase the product’s functionality without resorting to potentially off-putting visuals. The prominent green call-to-action button at the end leaves viewers with a clear next step. However, replicating their brand of humor requires caution. While effective for their unique product, most businesses benefit from a more subtle approach. PooPourri’s daring humor aligns with their unconventional product. 3. Mint

Mint exemplifies the power of animation over live action for certain businesses. They leverage animation to illustrate how their platform aggregates financial information from various aspects of a user’s life, presenting it in a unified dashboard. Their animated explainer video incorporates screenshots of the actual product, familiarizing viewers with its design and layout. 4. Airbnb

Airbnb masterfully combines live action and animation to highlight the unique and budget-friendly travel experiences offered through their platform. This explainer video effectively showcases and verbally explains the advantages of using Airbnb. 5. Spotify

Spotify relies solely on captivating animation and an energetic soundtrack to convey its digital music service’s essence. The video’s fast-paced editing complements the vibrant music, while the color palette harmonizes with Spotify’s design, creating a sense of familiarity. Simplicity is key, relying on a catchy tune and concise messaging to emphasize their music-centric focus. Do you have any favorite explainer video examples you’d recommend? Share what resonates with you in the comments!

How to make an explainer video

Let’s break down the process of creating your own compelling explainer video. It demands focus and effort, but the rewards are well worth it.

Step 1: Write the video script

The script serves as the backbone of an effective explainer video. Even the most stunning visuals and captivating voiceovers fall flat without a strong script as their foundation.

Devote significant attention to crafting a compelling script, preferably writing it yourself, even if you outsource the production. You possess an unparalleled understanding of your target audience’s concerns and pain points, and the video should directly address these. What are their biggest fears? What confuses them about your product or service? Consider surveying your audience if you haven’t already to gain valuable insights. A recommended structure for your explainer video script includes:

1. A brief overview of your product and its purpose
2. An introduction to the problem
3. Presenting your product or service as the solution
4. A clear call to action (e.g., “Sign up for a free trial by clicking here!”)
5. Showcasing trust signals (e.g., notable clients, awards, media mentions)

Explainer video script best practices

• Keep it concise, ideally under 90 seconds.
• Deliver your key message and value proposition within the first 30 seconds to capture attention immediately.
• Adopt a conversational tone using second-person pronouns like “You” and “Your.”
• Use clear and simple language, avoiding technical jargon that might alienate viewers.
• Maintain a consistent tone throughout the video, opting for a casual and conversational style in most cases.
• Infuse subtle humor to enhance engagement, as videos with a touch of humor tend to resonate better.

Step 2: Recording the voiceovers

Once you have a solid script, it’s time to bring it to life with a voiceover. Consider these options: Voices.com: This platform boasts an extensive selection of large network of professional voice actors to choose from. Craigslist: A reliable resource for various needs, crazy Craigslist often features voiceover artists offering their services. Fiverr: You can find budget-friendly voiceover for your explainer video for just $5 options on Fiverr, with prices typically starting at $5 and varying based on factors like duration and word count. While $5 might be the starting point, expect to invest a bit more for quality. However, it remains a cost-effective option for voiceovers.

Step 3: Explainer video production

When it comes to the actual creation and production of your explainer video, explore these diverse paths: Bring Out the Pros: Entrusting your video to a professional video production company guarantees a high-quality product. While this option comes at a premium cost, ranging from $5,000 to $20,000, you benefit from expert guidance throughout the process. Consider reputable explainer video companies like Demo Duck, Wyzowl, LessFilms, Flikli, Explainly, Yum Yum Videos, and Studio Pigeon. Powtoon: For budget-conscious creators with no animation experience, Pow Toon offers an accessible solution. Its user-friendly interface allows anyone with basic computer skills to create animated explainer videos. While the results may not be masterpieces, it’s a cost-effective and straightforward option with a free tier. Their comprehensive tutorial series guides you through the process.

DIY Explainer Video with iPhone: Embrace a cost-effective approach by filming your explainer video using an iPhone. This awesome post from Wistia provides a step-by-step guide. For editing, explore options like iMovie or Camtasia. For DIY animated explainer videos, this animation toolkit from Salsify offers a treasure trove of animation tools and resources. Hire a Freelancer: Experienced freelancers offer high-quality explainer video production assistance at a fraction of the cost of large production companies. Platforms like Craigslist and freelance websites are excellent sources for finding skilled freelancers. Crowd Sourcing: Consider exploring video crowd-sourcing company Video Brewery platforms. By submitting a project overview, you’ll receive proposals from a network of vetted freelancers. Choose a proposal that aligns with your vision and budget, with typical costs ranging from $3,000 to $5,000.

Step 4: Music & sound effects

Enhance your animated or live-action explainer video with captivating sound effects and music. Discover tracks from these sources:

• MusOpen: Explore a rich collection of free music resources, including recordings and sheet music.
• Free Sound:: Access a vast database of audio samples and recordings licensed under Creative Commons.
• YouTube:: YouTube offers a selection of free background music for video creations.
• Audio Jungle:: Discover royalty-free audio files encompassing loops, sound effects, and more.
• Audacity:: While not a source for audio files, this free tool empowers you to create your own soundscapes. Remember to carefully review the licensing agreements on these platforms to understand usage rights and restrictions. Some offer affordable royalty-free options, while others require attribution. Consult our helpful guide on using music in ads legally for guidance.

Step 5: Measure the performance of your explainer video

Track your video’s performance diligently and be prepared to make necessary adjustments. While YouTube Insight provides valuable insights, delve deeper with Google Analytics by setting up nifty custom event tracking.

Gain granular insights into viewer engagement, such as play, pause, and watch time metrics. Wistia also offers robust analytic tracking features and simplifies the process of sync up Wistia and Google Analytics.

Now enjoy the advantages of your new explainer video!

Explainer videos offer a wealth of benefits, including:

• Boosting conversion rates
• Enhancing SEO performance through video content, aligning with 70% of the top 100 search listings’s inclusion of videos in search results
• Increasing viewer retention on your website by 2X longer
• Expanding your product’s reach through easy sharing on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter
• Repurposing for diverse purposes, such as investor pitches and email signatures Embrace the power of explainer videos to elevate your marketing efforts. Share your experiences in the comments below!