The benefits of explainer animations for business marketing
Explainer animations are one of the most powerful marketing tools available to today’s digital marketer.
They provide a lot of information quickly, engage audiences and communicate a lot of information in a short amount of time.
Despite all their advantages, a lot of people in the world of marketing are still using big blocks of text to explain a service or product. Dinosaurs!
In this edition of the STM Blog, we’ll dispel some common myths about explainer animations while, also, ironically, explaining what they are and the benefits of them!
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What are explainer animations?
They’re short, animated videos that explain a product or service in an easy-to-understand way. They can be used to explain complex concepts or ideas, or to introduce a new product or service.
They usually last for around two to three minutes, they’re used on websites, social media, and email marketing campaigns.
How do they work?
Well, first of all, they’re engaging. People are way more likely to pay attention to an explainer animation than they are to a standard text-based website page; in fact, studies have shown that viewers retain 10% of a message from video, compared to 10% in text.
Explainer animations are visually appealing as well. They use bright colours and simple designs to make the information easy to digest. At the risk of repeating ourselves, people are more likely to remember information that is presented in an interesting way.
And finally, explainer animations are incredibly effective at communicating information. They can quickly introduce a new product or service, explain complex concepts, or answer the common questions about a product or service. This is why they’re so popular with businesses – because they can quickly and effectively explain what an organisation does.
MYTHS
But despite all these benefits, some people still think that explainer animations are useless! Imagine that!
To nip all of that in the bud, let’s debunk some of the myths around explainer animations.
1. Explainer animations are too expensive
Arguably not a myth in the sense that some marketing departments may not have a budget, but it’s still fairly easy to dispel.
First up, you don’t have to spend much at all. In fact, there’s a few free pieces of software online that you can use and not have to spend a penny of your budget. It may be to the detriment of overall quality, but it’s something, and we all know something is better than nothing when it comes to video.
The other way to look at this is the return on investment. To reference this real life case study, courtesy of HubSpot, $126,000 was made off a $16,000 investment.
2. Explainer animations are a waste of money
This one is correct…
IF YOU DON’T LIKE SALES THAT IS!
You’re 50x more likely to appear on the first page of Google if you include video on the page.
Video emails have a 96% higher click through rate.
85% of users say they are more likely to buy something after seeing an explainer video about it.
So, if you consider these things risks worth taking, animated explainers are the thing for you.
Facts about explainer animations
If you’re still on the fence, here are four reasons why you should consider using them in your video marketing strategy:
1. They’re engaging
Explainer animations are a great way to engage your audience and get your message across in a fun and engaging way. They’re also a great way to stand out from the competition.
2. They save time
A good explainer animation should be around 90 seconds. A video is worth 1.8 million words per minute. Imagine trying to say 1.8 million words, or repeatedly trying to explain a service your organisation offers; you may have to do that already! Swap that out for sending someone a link, or sitting by sipping on your coffee while the potential customer watches the video.
3. They’re versatile
Explainer animations can be used in just about every way. Put them on a service or product page, whack them out on your social media channels, send them out to your email list, leave it on your YouTube channel for the world to find at its own convenience.
4. They’re effective
Studies have shown, time and time again, that explainer animations are one of the most effective forms of video marketing. We’ve thrown plenty of stats at you, so we won’t bore you with more, but we like to think we’ve done enough to convince you.
The Different Types of Explainer Animations
Peter, the man in charge of RBW Electric Vehicles, was literally having to draw out his process on a whiteboard when explaining it to investors. To save time, energy and to be more clear generally, Peter came to us for a whiteboard explainer animation.
A motion graphics explainer animation utilises moving characters to tell a story or visually represent a process. Here, the University of Wolverhampton made a motion graphics explainer animation to explain their Apprenticeship Hub.
Another example is the Birmingham and Solihull NHS Integrated Care System
Combining real footage and animation elements can engage people in a totally different way, like Novus did in this example. It demonstrates what you’re talking about in real life terms and then moves to an easier to understand animation.
Infographic Explainer Animation
Infographics are the best way to highlight certain bits of information, instead of reeling off hundreds of stats at your audience!
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