5 Types of Explainer Videos You Should Know

5 Types of Explainer Videos You Should Know

Explainer videos have become an essential tool in marketing, education, and customer engagement. They provide a concise, visually engaging way to convey complex information quickly. Whether you’re trying to explain a product, a service, or a concept, explainer videos can boost understanding and retention. But what kind of explainer video works best for your needs? In this article, we’ll explore five types of explainer videos you should know and highlight how each type can help you create the best explainer videos for your brand.

1. Animated Explainer Videos

Animated explainer videos are perhaps the most popular and versatile type. These videos use animation to illustrate complex ideas in a simple and visually appealing way. They often combine characters, icons, and vibrant graphics to convey a message.

Why Choose Animated Explainer Videos?

• Versatility: Animation allows for unlimited creative possibilities, making it suitable for any industry, from tech startups to healthcare.
• Simplicity: Complex processes, such as how a product works or a business model, can be broken down into digestible parts.
• Engagement: Viewers are more likely to stay engaged with colorful, dynamic visuals.

If you’re looking to capture attention and explain your product or service in an entertaining way, animated explainer videos might be the best explainer videos for your brand.

Best Use Cases

• Explaining technical or complex products.
• Showcasing software or digital services.
• Engaging audiences on social media.

2. Live-Action Explainer Videos

Live-action explainer videos feature real people and environments, making them highly relatable. This type of explainer video can humanize your brand by introducing customers to the people behind your company, showcasing the use of a product, or illustrating a service in a real-world context.

Why Choose Live-Action Explainer Videos?

• Personal Connection: Seeing real people in action fosters trust and makes the message feel more authentic.
• Demonstration Power: If you have a physical product or a service that needs to be shown in real life, live-action videos are ideal.
• Brand Authenticity: Real footage helps brands connect on a personal level, as viewers can see tangible proof of what is being offered.

For businesses with a more personal or tangible product, live-action explainer videos might be the best explainer videos to demonstrate the human aspect of your brand.

Best Use Cases

• Products that need hands-on demonstrations.
• Customer testimonials and success stories.
• Humanizing your brand by showcasing your team or workspace.

3. Whiteboard Explainer Videos

Whiteboard explainer videos are known for their simplicity and clarity. In these videos, a hand sketches illustrations on a whiteboard while a voiceover narrates the message. This visual style gives the impression of a lesson or a brainstorming session, making it particularly effective for educational content.

Why Choose Whiteboard Explainer Videos?

• Clarity and Focus: The minimalist design keeps the viewer’s attention focused on the core message without distractions.
• Memorability: Studies have shown that viewers retain information better when it’s presented in a step-by-step manner, like a whiteboard sketch.
• Cost-Effective: Whiteboard videos are often more affordable to produce compared to other types of explainer videos.

If you’re looking to educate your audience clearly and cost-effectively, whiteboard videos may be the best explainer videos for delivering instructional content.

Best Use Cases

• Educational content, tutorials, or training.
• Complex topics that need to be broken down visually.
• Budget-friendly explainer video projects.

4. Motion Graphics Explainer Videos

Motion graphics explainer videos combine animation with text and graphical elements to create a sleek, modern look. They often rely on movement, transitions, and visual effects to guide viewers through the message, making them highly engaging and professional.

Why Choose Motion Graphics Explainer Videos?

• Professional Appeal: The polished look of motion graphics makes them ideal for corporate presentations, B2B marketing, and industry-specific content.
• Clear Communication: Motion graphics can highlight specific data, statistics, and key points, making them excellent for presenting information in a clean and concise manner.
• Flexibility: These videos can incorporate charts, graphs, and other visuals to simplify complex data and processes.

If you’re in a business environment or need to present data-driven content, motion graphics videos could be the best explainer videos to convey your message with clarity and professionalism.

Best Use Cases

• Corporate presentations and pitch decks.
• Data-heavy content such as reports or case studies.
• Brand storytelling for professional services.

5. Screencast Explainer Videos

Screencast explainer videos are perfect for demonstrating software, websites, or digital tools. These videos record the screen of a device while someone narrates and guides viewers through a process. They’re often used for tutorials or product walkthroughs.

Why Choose Screencast Explainer Videos?

• Perfect for Tutorials: If your product involves software or a digital interface, screencasts allow you to show exactly how to use it in real-time.
• Step-by-Step Guides: They are perfect for guiding users through the functionality of a tool or website.
• Direct and Informative: By showing the actual product in action, screencast videos can eliminate any confusion about how something works.

For software companies, tech startups, or businesses with digital platforms, screencast videos might be the best explainer videos to directly show your audience how to interact with your product.

Best Use Cases

• Software tutorials and product demos.
• Website tours or app walkthroughs.
• Customer onboarding or training videos.

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How to Choose the Right Explainer Video for Your Brand

When deciding on the best explainer videos for your brand, consider these key factors:

• Target Audience: Think about who you are trying to reach. Are they tech-savvy, visual learners, or looking for detailed tutorials?
• Message Complexity: For more complex topics, animated or whiteboard videos might help simplify and break down the message.
• Brand Personality: Does your brand have a fun, approachable vibe, or is it more professional and data-driven? The style of your video should reflect this.
• Budget: Some video types, like live-action and motion graphics, tend to be more expensive to produce, while others, like whiteboard and screencast videos, can be more budget-friendly.
• End Goal: Whether you’re trying to educate, sell, or simply engage your audience will also influence the type of explainer video you choose.

Conclusion

Explainer videos are a powerful way to communicate your message, whether you’re educating customers, demonstrating a product, or conveying a complex concept. By understanding the five main types—animated, live-action, whiteboard, motion graphics, and screencast—you can determine which format will create the best explainer videos for your goals. From simple and straightforward whiteboard animations to sleek and professional motion graphics, each type offers its own unique strengths. Choose the one that aligns with your brand and start creating content that engages, educates, and excites your audience.