Creating an explainer video is something that can be very effective for any business. It is a marketing tool that can help audiences understand your products, services, or mission statement. Here are some best practices for creating explainer videos.
1. Define Your Audience
Before you start creating your explainer video, it’s important to define who your target audience is. This will help you determine the style, tone, and length of your video.
For example, if your target audience is millennials, you may want to create a short, fast-paced video with a modern design. If your target audience is baby boomers, you may want to create a longer video with a more traditional design.
Defining your audience will also help you determine what problem they are trying to solve. This will be the focus of your video, and you will need to make sure you present it in a way that resonates with your target audience.
2. Have a Clear Message
The most important aspect of your explainer video is the message.
What problem are you solving for the viewer?
What are your customers’ pain points?
What do you want the viewer to do after watching the video?
You need to be able to answer these questions before you start thinking about the script.
The script is the foundation of the explainer video, so it’s important to get this right.
Make sure your script is clear, concise, and engaging.
Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through.
Your script is your opportunity to build a connection with the viewer.
3. Keep It Short
The ideal length of your explainer video will depend on where it will be used. For example, if you’re creating a video for a landing page, keep it short and sweet, between 30 seconds and two minutes. If you’re creating a video for a YouTube ad, keep it under 30 seconds.
If you have a lot of information to cover, consider breaking it up into a series of videos. This will help you keep your videos short and to the point, and it will also give you more content to work with.
4. Create a Compelling Script
The script is the backbone of your explainer video. It’s what you’ll use to guide the visuals and narration. A good script should tell a story, explain your product or service, and get viewers excited about your brand.
To write a compelling script, start by identifying the problem your product or service solves. Then, introduce your solution and explain how it works. Finally, end with a strong call to action.
Keep your script short and to the point. Your explainer video should be no more than 2-3 minutes long, so you’ll need to get your message across quickly.
5. Use High-Quality Audio
Notice that I didn’t say expensive audio. It’s important to use well-mixed, high-quality audio in your explainer video so your message is clear and easy to understand.
If you’re on a budget, you can find great audio at a relatively low cost. There are plenty of royalty-free music and sound effect libraries to choose from. Some even offer free audio tracks.
If your video includes narration, make sure you use a good microphone to record the audio. This will help ensure the audio is clear and easy to understand.
6. Add Music
Adding music to your explainer video can help set the tone and mood of your video. It can also help cover up any background noise or other issues with your audio.
When choosing music for your explainer video, make sure it fits the tone and message of your video. You should also make sure it’s not too loud and that it doesn’t overpower your voiceover.
There are a number of websites where you can find royalty-free music to use in your explainer videos. Some of our favorites include:
• PremiumBeat
• Artlist
• AudioJungle
• Soundstripe
• YouTube Audio Library
7. Use the Right Visuals
The visuals you use in your explainer video should be consistent with the visuals you use in all of your other marketing materials. This will help to reinforce your brand and make your video content recognizable.
If you’re using stock footage, make sure you choose clips that are high-quality and relevant to your message. If you have the budget, consider hiring a professional videographer to capture original footage for your video. This will make your video stand out and give it a more polished look.
In addition to video footage, you can also use graphics and animation in your explainer videos. In fact, animation can be a great way to simplify complex topics and make your video more engaging. For example, if your business focuses on mobile commerce, consider using visuals that highlight mobile-friendly features, such as responsive designs or seamless app integration. Just be sure to use animation sparingly and make sure it’s consistent with your brand.
8. Add a Strong Call to Action
Whenever you create video content, you should always include a strong call to action at the end. This is the perfect way to guide your viewers on what to do next.
Your call to action should be relevant to the goal of your video. For example, if you’re creating an explainer video to introduce your brand, the call to action might be to visit your website. If you’re creating an explainer video to demonstrate how to use a specific feature of your product, the call to action might be to sign up for a free trial.
Whatever your call to action is, make sure it’s clear and concise. And don’t be afraid to repeat it a few times throughout your video.
9. Optimize Your Video for Search
Last but not least, you’ll want to optimize your explainer video for search. This is a critical step in the process, as it will determine how many people actually see your video.
Start by doing some keyword research to find out what your target audience is searching for. You can use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ahrefs to get an idea of what keywords to target.
Once you’ve identified your target keywords, be sure to include them in your video title, description, and tags. This will help your video rank higher in the search results, making it more likely that people will see it.
To maximize the reach of your explainer video, optimize it for search engines. Start by identifying target keywords that align with your audience’s interests, such as “VSEO” for improving visibility through video search engine optimization. Incorporate these keywords naturally into your video title, description, and tags. By focusing on VSEO techniques, you can ensure your video ranks higher in search results, making it more discoverable to your target audience. This small step can significantly increase your video’s effectiveness in driving traffic and engagement.
10. Share Your Video on Social Media
Once your video is live, share it on social media! Post it on your company’s LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts. You can even create a short teaser video to post on your social media accounts to promote the full video. This is a great way to get more eyes on your video and drive traffic to your website.
Conclusion
Once you’re done creating your explainer video, you’ll need to host it somewhere. We recommend hosting it on your business website and sharing the URL on social media. If you’re hosting it on YouTube, be sure to include a link to your website in the description and encourage viewers to check out your site.
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