How businesses can effectively use explainer videos

Written by Maren Dinges | 27h December 2024

Table of Contents

Explainer videos simplify complex topics such as products, services, or processes in a straightforward, engaging, and often entertaining way. Businesses primarily use explainer videos to convey information quickly and effectively. However, for this to work, the explainer videos must be created with efficiency in mind.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to create an explainer video and effectively integrate it into a business context.

What are the benefits of explainer videos for businesses?

Explainer videos are powerful tools for communicating brand content. They help ensure brand messages resonate – both with employees and potential customers.
The key advantages of explainer videos:
1. High engagement rates
People respond more strongly to visual content than plain text. Visuals are easier to consume than text-heavy content, making people more likely to watch an explainer video to learn something new. Videos distill complex information into a few minutes while storytelling triggers emotions in the audience. This keeps attention spans high from start to finish and increases engagement.
2. Increased brand awareness
Explainer videos are ideal for crafting memorable messages and building brand recognition. An appealing style, distinctive design, and snackable content all contribute to boosting your brand’s visibility. Plus, explainer videos can be used on virtually any platform. Whether LinkedIn, Instagram, company websites, or internal channels like a social intranet, short videos are conquering all media platforms.
3. Improved conversion rates
In customer outreach, explainer videos help businesses sell products or services. For instance, an explainer video in a FAQ section can answer questions more user-friendly than text. It demonstrates exact processes and guides viewers step-by-step to a solution. Alternatively, explainer videos on websites can evoke emotions and drive purchases by showcasing product features, reducing skepticism, highlighting benefits, or sparking desires.

How can businesses use explainer videos?

Explainer videos are incredibly versatile for businesses: they support sales processes, build trust, and increase brand recognition through consistent messaging. Here are some use cases:
1. Educating customers
Businesses use explainer videos to inform customers about products and services. A video may cover an entire service offering or explain specific features, processes, or benefits. For example, a company might use an explainer video to outline key contract terms or explain a software feature in detail. Explainer videos are especially helpful for guiding users through processes – such as setting up an account or configuring a device.
2. Training employees
Internally, explainer videos make memorable and engaging training materials. Employees quickly learn:

  • How company processes work
  • What values the company holds
  • The details of compliance guidelines
  • Who their points of contact are
  • What to do in case of emergencies
  • Or how to complete specific tasks

Businesses can integrate explainer videos into e-learning, in-person training, onboarding sessions, or digital info boards within the company.
3. Showcasing products
Since information alone doesn’t sell, businesses increasingly use videos for product presentations. These videos feature emotional music and inspiring tones of voice. Even complicated technical details become easier to understand when an explainer video emphasizes the user’s benefits. By focusing on customer value, the information becomes more memorable and increases purchase intent.
4. Visualizing processes
Explainer videos are also effective for presenting both internal and external processes. Internally, they illustrate workflows within teams or across departments. For customer-facing processes, they might show how orders are fulfilled or a returns process works.

Creating corporate explainer videos: Tips for effective design

Effective explainer videos convey your messages clearly and memorably. Here are our tips for crafting successful corporate explainer videos:
  • Keep it short: Studies show explainer videos under three minutes perform best.
  • Tailor to your audience: Focus the content and value proposition of your explainer video on your target audience’s needs, interests, and knowledge level.
  • Strong storyline: Opt for a concise and simple narrative that captivates viewers and evokes emotions.
  • Rule of One: Communicate only one core message per explainer video.
  • Visually appealing animations: Highlight key information using color, size, or motion, and leverage animations that grab attention and reinforce brand recognition.
  • Channel-appropriate videos: Optimize your explainer video for the specific platform and add subtitles where necessary.
With simpleshow video maker, you can create explainer videos in your company’s branding. Use custom colors, adaptable illustration styles, and our Story Generator to craft complete video scripts tailored to your target audience. This makes implementing all these tips seamless and straightforward.

How effective are explainer videos for knowledge transfer?

Businesses frequently use explainer videos for knowledge sharing. Studies confirm their effectiveness in delivering information. A study conducted by simpleshow analyzed 2,000 test results from Germany and the US. The findings revealed that explainer videos achieve significant learning outcomes – and the shorter the video, the better the result.
Empirical research also shows that explainer videos positively impact cognitive factors. In short: explainer videos truly help businesses share knowledge effectively.

How can businesses measure the success of explainer videos?

The effectiveness of explainer videos is measurable through key metrics:
  • Watch time: The average length of time the video is watched
  • Click-through rate: How often links in the explainer video are clicked
  • Drop-off rate: The point at which viewers stop watching the video
These metrics can inform actionable improvements. For example, the drop-off rate indicates where you need to enhance the storyline to keep attention high. Click-through rates, on the other hand, reveal how compelling your call-to-action is.

Conclusion: Effective corporate communication with explainer videos

Explainer videos are a vital part of a business’s communication strategy. Depending on the purpose, they inform, entertain, encourage purchases, or generate interest. They can motivate entire target groups, share knowledge, or simplify complex processes in an easy-to-understand way.
Leverage simpleshow video maker to create explainer videos quickly and easily for your business. The tool combines everything you need for video production: automatically generated professional scripts, visual suggestions, your brand colors, engaging music, subtitles, and automated voiceovers.
Test the simpleshow platform today and create your first explainer video!

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