7 Types Of Explainer Videos And When To Use Them
Explainer videos have become mighty marketing tools for businesses of all sizes.
In fact, an impressive ‘97% of businesses say that explainer videos help users understand their business better’, emphasising just how powerful they can be.
Whether you’ve made a new product or are promoting a new service, explainer videos can help you tell the world in a clear, concise way.
In this guide, we’ll cover seven types of explainer videos and when to use them to help you get the most out of your content.
Let’s get into it, shall we?
In no particular order, some key types of explainer videos include, but are not limited to:
Live action
2D motion graphics
Whiteboard animation
3D animated
Stop motion
Traditional animation
Infographic
1. Live Action
The first type of explainer video is live action.
It says what it does on the tin! These types of explainers feature real people and are great for promoting services and physical products.
From offering comedic value to getting into the nitty gritty for your target audience, live action explainers are great for injecting some personality into your brand, as supported by the fact that 54% of marketers use live action video.
What’s more, they can be used as a vehicle to convey exactly what makes your brand unquestionably unique!
You can also combine them with 2d motion graphics to ensure key moments stand out and make a bigger impact. Speaking of…
2. 2D Motion Graphics
Next up, we have 2D motion graphics.
Known for their ability to effectively convey complex information, these types of explainer videos are great for app demonstrations, data visualisation, and much, much more!
Not only are 2D motion graphics explainer videos a powerhouse when it comes to grabbing your audience’s attention, but they’re also one of the cheapest ways of creating an animated video and can be updated and reused.
That said, they’re a great option for smaller-sized businesses looking to make noise without breaking the bank!
There are numerous scenarios where a 2D motion graphic explainer can be useful, from acting as a visual aid in client meetings to helping you cause a storm on socials.
3. Whiteboard Animation
Another type of explainer video is whiteboard animation.
As the name suggests, this explainer video makes use of hand-drawn, static images drawn on a whiteboard to illustrate a story.
Why Use Whiteboard Animation?
Whiteboard animation is epic at simplifying complicated concepts and intricate processes through the power of storytelling.
As such, these explainer videos are not only memorable but also great for educating your audience about your product or service and ensuring they actually remember it!
From launching a product to explaining concepts, whiteboard animation explainers should never be underestimated.
4. 3D Animated
A 3D animated explainer video includes objects and characters in a three-dimensional space.
When you’re looking to give a detailed look at your product, or need to show internal mechanisms, for instance, 3D animation explainer videos are the way to go.
They’re also a great option to show products that are still in development or that are difficult to capture in real life.
To learn more about explainer videos and why they’re ace, be sure to check out our article. Or, if you’ve already got an explainer video in mind, drop us a line at content@stormandshelter.com to find out how we can bring your idea to life.
5. Stop Motion
Stop motion is an eye-catching style created by filming one frame at a time and then incrementally moving the subject.
If you’re looking to create an explainer video that stands out, stop motion is not only creative but also distinctive by nature, making it ideal for your website’s home page, for example.
That said, although they’re very artistic, they can be a challenge and time-consuming to make.
When you consider that ‘81% of businesses said that their explainer video has helped them increase sales’, it makes sense why stop motion is relatively uncommon in the explainer video space, as businesses often want a quicker turnaround to start reaping the benefits.
Nonetheless, they’re worthy of a mention, especially if you’re looking to invest in something artistic that could be used across multiple platforms for years to come.
6. Traditional Animation
Next up is traditional animation. It’s a classic for a reason!
Also referred to as hand-drawn animation, traditional animation involves creating characters and storyboards in a two-dimensional environment.
Traditional animation explainers are generally less expensive than if you were to opt for 3D animation, and can be used for everything from presentations to website content.
This type of explainer video is great for grabbing your audience’s attention in a fun and emotive way, helping you engage with them whilst fostering a stronger connection.
7. Infographic
Last, but not least, we have the infographic explainer video.
Infographic explainer videos are a highly effective way to simplify complex stats, data, and information through visual representations.
This can include everything from graphs to charts that illustrate large amounts of data, but are presented in a simple, engaging way to allow audiences to better understand and digest more information.
That said, these explainer videos can transform a mind boggling concept into a consumable, easy-to-understand video that’s perfect for meetings and educational purposes.
We hope that this article has given you a better understanding of some of the different types of explainer videos out there.
How We Can Help
Are you looking to create an explainer video that your target audience is sure to remember? We’ve got you covered.
Whether you’ve made a killer product or a much-needed service, our experts at STORM+SHELTER know exactly how to get your audience to understand it through a well executed explainer video.
Contact us at content@stormandshelter.com or on +44 (0)2920 251255 to find out how we can help. Or for more content, keep an eye on our socials, including our Instagram.
Written by Jemima for STORM+SHELTER.
