What are the best practices for using content design tools to create explainer videos?

Videos are becoming an increasingly important way for businesses to build brand awareness and lead potential customers down the sales funnel. Explainer videos are typically found on website homepages, landing pages, prominent product or service pages, and social media feeds. Some benefits of creating an explainer video include: Improved SEO search rankings Keeping viewers engaged longer Increasing conversions in your sales funnel Creating content that is easily shared

When crafting explainer videos, the choice of content design tool is pivotal. I emphasize selecting a tool that aligns seamlessly with your brand's voice and visual style. For straightforward, animated video creation, user-friendly platforms like Powtoon or Vyond can be ideal, especially if you're working within tight timeframes or limited technical skills. For more granular control over design elements, Adobe Spark or Canva offers a higher degree of customization. This choice not only impacts the aesthetic quality of your videos but also how effectively they communicate your message and represent your brand. The right tool should empower your storytelling, making it both engaging and reflective of your professional identity.

There are multiple tools for content creation. However, choosing the right one specifically tailored for your needs is important. For video creation, tools that can be used include Capcut, Canva, Kinemaster etc. For graphics designing, Photoshop, Corel draw, Canva are used.

Choosing the right content design tool is crucial for creating effective explainer videos e.g, Dollar Shave Club used Powtoon for simple, humorous animated explainer video, effectively engaging its audience and driving conversions. Understanding the features and capabilities of different tools is essential e.g, Slack utilized Adobe Spark for custom graphics and transitions in its messaging platform explainer video Matching the tool to your budget and skill level is important e.g, Trello created accessible explainer video with Canva's pre-designed templates for its project management software Tailoring the tool to your style preferences is key e.g, Dropbox employed Vyond for a dynamic, animated explainer video for its file-sharing service

Before diving into the tools, it's important to plan the script and storyboard for your explainer video. This will help you outline the key messages, visuals, and transitions you want to include. Having clearly defined segments in your video can also help, especially if your product has multiple features and benefits. This way you can create micro content that can be scaled in various formats and on different platforms. Having a clear plan will save time during the creation process and ensure that your video effectively communicates the desired information, covers more platforms and is easy to distribute on multiple platforms.

In content marketing and personal branding, the essence of an impactful explainer video lies in a well-crafted script and storyboard. A compelling script should start with an engaging hook that captures attention, outline a problem that resonates with your audience, offer a solution, highlight the benefits, and conclude with a persuasive call to action. Equally important is the storyboard, which visually maps out the narrative flow. While content design tools can aid in these stages, integrating traditional tools like Google Docs or Storyboarder can enhance the planning process. The blend of a well-structured script and a visually coherent storyboard forms the backbone of a video that not only informs but also strengthens brand message.

1. Clarity of Message - clear & concise message 2. Storyboarding - structure the narrative and visual elements 3. Visual Consistency - colors, fonts, and design elements 4. Engaging Thumbnails - encourage viewers to click and watch video 5. Balanced Text and Visuals to effectively convey the message 6. Animations and Transitions to make video visually appealing 7. Voiceover - use a professional and clear voice 8. Mobile-Friendly Design 9. Optimal Video Length 10. Call to Action (CTA) - clear and compelling 11. Use logos, colors, and taglines to reinforce brand identity 12. Accessibility to wide audience, include closed captions & visual elements understandable without sound 13. Regular Updates of the video content

I gained 1.9 million followers on Instagram @kompascom using explainer videos. Here's my script formula: 1. Hook: Begin with a provocative statement or controversial question to grab the audience's attention. 2. Social Proof: Offer context or highlight a relevant social phenomenon (shared concern, viral news, etc). 3. Story: Share a relatable story, incorporating actionable tips or visual concepts if necessary. 4. Value: Conclude with a final message, summarizing key points, and optionally include a concluding quote. 5. CTA: Express your stance on the phenomenon, promote your brand, or inquire about your audience's thoughts on your explainer video.

Creating an animated explainer video involves a careful blend of storytelling, visual art, and technical expertise. - Understand Your Audience: Tailor your script and visuals to resonate with your target demographic's interests and pain points. - Define Your Message: Clearly state the objective of your video, ensuring it's concise and focused. - Write a Compelling Script: Keep it engaging, simple, and free from jargon. A conversational tone works best. - Incorporate Visual Metaphors and Analogies: Use these to simplify complex ideas, making them relatable and easier to understand. - Choose the Right Visual Style: Select a style that reflects your brand and the tone of your message, ensuring consistency throughout the video.

It’s all about the story and motif you build to resonate with a particular audience - everything else is just the technology that helps you bring it to life and out to your target. Just make sure the technology is capable of delivering your vision, but without the story first the technology is just an empty shell.

One thing that I’ve found helpful is spending the time upfront to customize a template and format that is both true to brand, and that also resonates with your audience - whether that be for email, blog, UGC, media share out, B2B sales, etc.. Using customized templates in a consistent manner and timeframe, not only trains your audience to expect content from you regularly, but also gives them confidence in what is being published, as they grow to expect a certain level of quality that comes with that said format.

Leverage pre-designed templates and assets for efficiency. Canva, for instance, offers a range of customizable video templates. This not only saves time but also ensures a professional look. Templates can be tailored to your brand, maintaining a consistent visual identity across explainer videos. This approach enhances brand recognition and resonates better with the audience, making the content more memorable and impactful.

From my own experiences in content creation: → Choose templates and assets that resonate with your brand's personality. If your brand is playful, go for vibrant colours and lively icons. → Use background music that matches the mood of your message. Upbeat tunes for positive content, or something more subdued for serious topics. → When customizing templates, add a personal touch. Maybe it's a unique transition or a signature colour scheme that viewers associate with your brand. → Balance is key with assets. Use them to highlight points, not overpower them. → Lastly, give your video a unique twist.

You don't have to create everything by yourself or from scratch. There are many resources out there that are made to assist you, so use them. This way, you can spend your time on more important tasks to complete your videos on time.

Leverage the power of templates and assets when crafting explainer videos with content design tools. Choose platforms offering a variety of templates tailored to different themes and industries, ensuring a professional and cohesive look. Maximize pre-existing assets like graphics, animations, and transitions to streamline the design process and maintain visual consistency. This not only saves time but also enhances the overall quality of the explainer video, making it visually appealing and engaging for the audience.

When creating explainer videos is easy to get lost in details. In my experience even 60 seconds is considered a long format for explainer videos. (Some topics should be shorter than others for example those that include many stats and numbers). 'Eye catching' slides and transitions become a priority to keep the viewer engaged when creating explainer videos. My all time favorite tool to achieve quality dynamics and clear explainer videos is Synthesia.io and that is for the following reasons: 1. Many transitions 2. Well organized & simple 3. Can create in bulk 4. Facial expressions 5. Avatars for all niches 6. Easy export in popular formats 7. Best customer service 8. Vids perform well on LinkedIn & YouTube. Good Luck ??

Don’t immediately assume the shortest film will be best. Consider where your audience are in the sales funnel and use that to help determine duration. The further down the funnel, the more time they’ll invest watching your content. Make your films as short as you can but not at the cost of engagement. Completion rates can be a distracting metric.

In my experience, explainer videos should be micro-learnings focusing on a single area of the process/product/program. This means you may need to split your plan out into several sections/videos. I absolutely love using Articulate360's screen capture and recording, and mouse-over/click features, they have made it really easy for learners to follow along exactly!

Designing content effectively demands a delicate balance between video length and quality. To deliver quality videos keep these in mind. 1.Attention Span: To capture and sustain viewer interest, target a concise video duration of 2-5 minutes. Acknowledge the variability in attention spans, recognizing that shorter videos are generally more effective in retaining audience engagement. 2. Content Relevance: Prioritize conveying key messages while avoiding unnecessary details. Align the content with the video's purpose and meet audience expectations to remain relevant and impactful. 3. Engagement: For content requiring more time, consider developing a series of shorter videos. This encourages sustained engagement over multiple sessions.

Depending on the complexity or volume of information your topic has, you may want to split your content into multiple videos. People's attention spans are fairly short especially if your content requires them to heavily focus and constantly think. So instead, split your content into multiple short-form videos that are easily digestable.

In my experience, no idea is good idea as long as data to support or ab test ( experiment) to support the idea. Testing not only validate the idea, it also opens opportunities to further tune the experience and improve conversion. The test has opened up lot of personalisation, new features etc in my past experience.

O-o-oh, testing thing out! The most intriguing part, right? Ok, let me add some important advice on this matter. Before launch: 1. Test on different devices and browsers for compatibility and to ensure video quality remains consistent. 2. Ensure the video loads quickly on various internet speeds to prevent viewer drop-off. 3. Accessibility checks: Ensure subtitles are accurate and the video is accessible to viewers with disabilities. After the launch: Remember that's not opinions that matter, but analytics. Use tools to analyze viewer engagement, drop-off points, and watch time to identify areas for improvement. And good luck! Video-content is king right now. Don't waste your chance to shine ??

Proof reading, testing, and feedback are crucial. As the person who makes the videos, it will be difficult for you to be critical of your own content, so having someone else proof it for you, will help you spot things you will miss. For more of the technical checks, always make sure to have a checklist of things you need to do before posting any content. No matter how many times you've done videos, a checklist will always make sure you don't forget anything.

Conduct thorough testing and iteration of your explainer videos to ensure effectiveness. Review the video across different devices and platforms to guarantee compatibility. Gather feedback from a diverse audience to assess comprehension and engagement. Iterate based on insights received, refining visuals, pacing, and messaging. Regular testing allows you to fine-tune your content design, resulting in a more impactful and resonant explainer video that effectively communicates your message to the target audience.

Uma coisa que sempre fa?o é testar o vídeo com um pequeno grupo antes do lan?amento. O feedback recebido é inestimável para fazer ajustes necessários. Esta etapa assegura que o vídeo atenda às expectativas do meu público.

Before beginning the script or storyboarding, I’d research what videos are already out there on the topic to ensure you’re adding a new perspective or something different. Learn from creators who are already doing a great job in the space and add your own twist and perspective on the topic.

A few other things to consider: - Engagement Elements: Include elements that engage your audience, like questions or interesting facts. - Call to Action: What do you want viewers to do after watching your video? Could you make sure your CTA is clear and compelling? - Accessibility: Include captions for those with hearing impairments and ensure your visuals are understandable even without audio. Remember, the most effective explainer videos tell a story that resonates with the viewer. They're not just about showcasing a product or service but about presenting a solution to a problem. Keep your audience at the centre of your narrative, and you'll be on the right track.

Another crucial aspect to consider when using content design tools to create explainer videos is to prioritize visual storytelling. Great explainer videos effectively engage the audience through captivating visuals that support the message being conveyed. This can be achieved by incorporating appealing graphics, illustrations, & animations that not only enhance the viewer's understanding but also make the video more memorable. Additionally, it is important to maintain consistency in branding & design throughout the video. Lastly, it is recommended to add captions or subtitles, as they can improve accessibility & ensure the message is understood regardless of sound limitations or language barriers.

to sum up everything: ?? Visual Appeal: Use vibrant colors and clear graphics. Ensure the visuals align with your message. ?? Simplicity in Script: Keep the script concise and to the point. Avoid jargon and complex language. ?? Narration: Use a clear, friendly voice. It should be relatable and easy to understand. ?? Data Visualization: If you're presenting data, use infographics and charts for easy comprehension. ?? Pacing: Keep a steady, engaging pace. Not too fast to overwhelm, nor too slow to bore. ?? Creativity: Be innovative with your storytelling. Unique concepts often capture attention better. ?? Personal Touch: Add a human element to connect with your audience. It makes your content more relatable.

Na minha jornada, também aprendi a importancia de se manter atualizado com as últimas tendências e recursos das ferramentas. Além disso, considero a inclus?o de legendas para acessibilidade e a otimiza??o do vídeo para diferentes plataformas.