7 Reasons Why Animated Explainer Videos Work for Startups

If you’re even slightly connected to the marketing world, you know that video is the golden ticket right now. Since many people are visual learners, video has offered the perfect opportunity to demonstrate how to use products or services to prospective customers. While some companies have whole video departments to produce unique how-to content, most startups don’t have the time, money, or equipment to do the same. Enter animated explainer videos.

Animated explainer videos are short videos that use animations to demonstrate how your product or service works. In recent years, these types of videos have become an integral part of the marketing strategy of countless startups.

In an age where everyone wants evergreen content and high ROI, explainer videos in general have consistently proven themselves to be an engaging marketing tool. For bootstrapping startups, animated videos offer ample opportunity to promote a business and gain more exposure.

Courtesy of Capsicum Mediaworks

A 2013 study showed that “consumers who watch product videos are 85% more likely to buy products, compared to those who don’t” (Source: Switch Video) That percentage has definitely increased since then. Think about it: how many times have you gone to YouTube to see how something works because you were still confused after reading the included instructions?

Right now, video content is the most compelling way to connect with your target audience. Explainer videos allow you to show how your products and services work in a clear and interesting way, and makes your brand identity easier to remember.

So are animated explainer videos for you? We have 7 reasons why they just might be:

1. Animated Explainer Videos Engage Your Target Audience

Animated explainer videos are a great way to explain your services in a way that’s easy for your target audience to grasp. In just 2-minutes, an explainer video can show the process of using your product or service from beginning to end.

So why animated? Why not simply record someone demonstrating your product or service in real life? A professional video commands a much higher level of investment from not just your company, but your audience as well. The content tends to be drier, it’s harder to update if your offering changes, and it’s easy to forget what you just watched if nothing in particular stood out. Animated videos draw people in naturally, just like cartoons do.

2. Animated Explainer Videos are Mobile Compatible

One of the best aspects of producing an explainer video is that it can be viewed on desktop and mobile devices. Not only are videos easier to watch on the go, they’re also easier to understand as well.

You don’t have much time these days to capture, and keep, the attention of your audience. Real-life HD videos take up a lot of space, which requires more time to upload and download. Animated explainer videos are much lighter in size, and quicker to load.

Related: 5 Reasons to Use Vimeo For Your Videos

3. Animated Explainer Videos Increase Conversions

As well as being more entertaining, animated explainers also help to increase conversions. A perfect example of this is Dropbox. “Dropbox produced a 10% conversion increase from their explainer video, making $50 million in additional revenue.” (Source: MarTech)

When you connect with your audience in an emotional way, you communicate the value of your service or product much more authentically. This means that in future your content marketing will stand out against waves of boring advertising. You can even embed a call-to-action into your video to encourage viewers to subscribe or buy.

4. Animated Explainer Videos Ignite Your Social Media Presence

When it comes to building your social media presence, there’s nothing like video content to add some color and personality to your page. Not only is a video more effective at getting your name out there, but it’s also incredibly easy to share as well. It only takes a couple of seconds to click on a video to view it, compared to reading paragraphs of sales copy.

Video content is becoming the dominant force on social networks. Of course, YouTube is the giant, but Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and SnapChat have all taken notice. Brightcove determined social video generates 1,200% more shares than text and images combined.

Related: How to Get Started Using Video as a Marketing Tool

5. Animated Explainer Videos are Good for Visual and Auditory Learners

When push comes to shove, most people are visual or auditory learners. By producing an animated video, you create a piece of content that communicates with people directly in their preferred learning style. The visual just supports the narrator, making it easier to understand what’s going on, and easier for viewers to engage with your message.

6. Animated Explainer Videos Develop Brand Awareness

One of the biggest advantages of animated explainers is how they can help create a unique brand voice.You can say a lot about your business with an explainer that simply showcases your story. From the start of your video, you’re communicating your brand values to your target audience in a vivid format. A good video will combine aesthetically pleasing animation with brand personality to build your businesses identity.

7. Animated Explainer Videos Improve Rankings

Finally, explainer videos are an effective method to encourage your viewers to stay on your site, which will helps to rank you higher on Google. In recent years, Google has begun to prioritize video-centric websites, so much so that video content will make you 53 times more likely to appear on the first page. Using animated explainers on your site is a excellent way to boost your SEO and stand out from your competition.

Regardless of your marketing strategy, animated videos are one of the best ways to improve your visibility and interaction with your target audience. As a startup it can be extremely difficult to get your brand identity out there, particularly when the market is so oversaturated with competition. By deploying explainer videos on your landing page and your social media account you’ll improve your visibility not only on Google, but in the mind’s eye of your audience as well.

Frankie Caplan is an animator interested in video marketing and applying animation to business projects. You can find her writing at Pigeon Studio where she is a guest blogger.