Explainer videos are short, to-the-point videos that explain a product or service in typically between one and two minutes. They’re powerful tools that get across your important messages while lifting search engine rankings and conversion rates, and there are four types of explainer videos, each with its own unique use case:
1. Animated explainer videos
These are the bread-and-butter of explainer video, and are typically the most common types of explainer videos. They use a combination of animated characters, on-screen text, and voiceover / audio to engage viewers in emotional ways. Animated explainer videos are ideal for showcasing complex concepts that can’t really be explained in any other way than animation. In fact animation is a flexible medium, that can take viewers to space, 30 thousand leagues under the sea, and basically anywhere the imagination can go.
2. Live action explainer videos
Opposed to animated explainer videos, live action explainer video show real people (actors usually), in real-life environments “living” the concepts you’re trying to convey in your script. Live action explainer videos are ideal for physical products, where showing how something works is needed. They’re ideal when your viewers need realistic explanations of your product or service.
3. Motion graphics explainer videos
Motion graphics explainer videos are animated video, but they take a simpler approach when it comes to visuals. There typically aren’t any characters included, instead just on-screen text and more icon-based visuals. These explainer videos are great for explaining quantitative information, like financial performance. Check out this example from our portfolio.
4. Whiteboard explainer videos
Whiteboard explainer videos are one of the older types of explainer videos, but they still hold value in certain situations. Whiteboard explainer videos use a hand (either high-def image or illustrated) that draws each scene as the voiceover describes different concepts. They’re great for businesses with complicated concepts that are worried about losing viewer attention. The motion of the hand keep viewers naturally curious to see what is being drawn in the final product, helping keep them engaged to the end.
With a variety of types of explainer videos, be sure you think through the goals, audience, and messages you want to include in your next explainer video. Not all are ideal for your needs, but now that you understand the 4 different types of explainer videos, you’ll be on your way to get results for your business that you’re hoping for.
Contact us today to get started on your next explainer video.
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