Explainer Video: What does your audience need to know?

Explainer videos are incredibly useful tools for corporations and small businesses. But to get the most out of them, they have to be done right. With a few simple principles, you can create an explainer video that lets your customer understand what you can do for them. Starting with…

Clarity

Any explainer video, just like other forms of marketing, starts with a simple question: What’s your audience? Don’t take this for granted; sit down and write out exactly who you are explaining your product to. Think about the video from their perspective: When they Google your product or company, why are they doing so? Do they have a need that can be fulfilled? Are they customers looking for answers to questions they have about your product? Videos with a clear vision of who’s watching are the most effective.

Concision

There’s much debate over just how much time you have to land and keep your audience’s attention. Some say you have two minutes. Others argue you have merely ten seconds. Everyone agrees, though, that an effective video grabs the viewer quickly.

So, when making an explainer video, don’t be coy. Tell the audience right up front what you’re explaining to them. Think of it as an elevator pitch; lay out the basics of the idea up front, and then, efficiently lay out more details on those points.

Simplicity

While you shouldn’t “dumb down” your video, you also should consider your topic carefully. Limit your video to exactly what you need to explain and set everything else aside for another video or a text post on your site. The truth is that most of the time, your audience very much wants those specifics, and you can refer them to other details after you have their attention. Focus on telling them what they need to know first: Everything else can wait.

Quality

 

Quality is more important than ever. The cost of professional video tools has dropped incredibly quickly, and the net result is that audiences are coming to expect a certain level of polish from even the most modest corporate video. Explainer videos in particular need to look good.

Ease Of Use

Finally, remember that the goal is to get your video in front of everyone who wants to see it. So make your video easy to find and easy to watch: Upload it to YouTube, link to it on any relevant web pages, and make sure you use best SEO practices when titling, tagging, and filling out the fields. An explainer video is only useful if it can explain, so make sure it can get some traction.

With a little care and forethought, any company can make a great explainer video. What do you want the world to know about you? Ask us how we can help!