Explainer Video Guide
In today’s fast-paced digital world, capturing your audience’s attention is more challenging than ever. That’s where animated explainer videos come in!
As a freelancer specializing in creating these dynamic tools, I’m excited to share a series of posts exploring the how and why behind crafting compelling explainer videos.
How to begin...and what to consider
From simplifying complex concepts to boosting engagement and conversions, explainer videos are a must-have for any business looking to make a lasting impression. Join me as I delve into the benefits, styles, and creation process, providing insights and tips to help you harness the full potential of this powerful medium with example videos I have created for my clients.
The first step is to consider what you want to say and to whom. Here are a number of reasons to create an explainer video:
a. Introduce a product or service
b. Educate your customer
c. Make people aware of your brand
d. Identify a problem that you solve
e. Explain procedures to new customers or employees
f. Simplify complex ideas
g. Drive sales and boost conversions
h. Internal communications
i. Present information to investors or stakeholders
j. Promote an event
As you can see, there are quite a number of situations where an explainer video can be useful.
After determining the goal of the video, the next step is to create a script and storyboard. This will be covered in the next post. Typically, explainer video for services or products run between 60-90 seconds, whereas instructional style videos can last for a few minutes. Then it is important to create the voiceover. This will also be covered later. The video should be dynamic, attention-grabbing and easy to digest. Finally, adding sound effects and background music will set the tone for the entire video. By following these steps, you can create an impactful explainer video that effectively engages viewers and communicates your message. f
How to create a script and storyboard
When creating an explainer video, writing a clear and concise script is key to delivering your message effectively. A well-written script ensures your audience stays engaged and understands your offering.
Here’s a simple structure to follow for service-based explainer videos:
Start with the problem: Identify the pain point your audience is experiencing. This grabs attention and shows you understand their needs.
Introduce who you are: Briefly explain your company or service and why you’re the one to solve the problem.
Present the solution: Share how your service or product can solve the problem and add value to your audience.
Provide details: Highlight key features or benefits of your offering that set it apart from others. Keep this concise but informative.
End with a call to action (CTA):
Encourage viewers to take the next step, whether it’s contacting you, visiting your website, or signing up for a free trial.
Your audience has a short attention span, so conciseness is key. Keep the script minimal and avoid unnecessary words. If part of a sentence can be removed without losing meaning, eliminate it. Explain ideas with fewer words and avoid repeating the same concept.
In order to gauge timing, note that there are approximately 150 words per minute of spoken text.
Once your script is ready, the next step is creating a storyboard. A storyboard outlines each scene visually, which helps in planning the flow of the video. This can be as simple as text notes describing what will appear on screen or more detailed with sketches or sample graphics.
Whether it’s visuals of people using your service, animated icons, or text elements, a storyboard ensures the visual and audio components align perfectly to convey your message.
With these steps, you’ll have a solid foundation for creating an engaging and effective explainer video.
Take a look at the following video I created for Granny Nannies as an example of following the structure above.