In a world where nobody reads and everyone scrolls, explainer videos have become your 60-second elevator pitch on steroids. They take your "What do you actually do?" and turn it into a video that makes people say, "Ah, got it."
Let’s break down what explainer videos are, why they work, and how to actually use them in your marketing (without making another boring corporate cartoon).
An explainer video is a short, engaging video that explains your product, service, or concept in a clear, simple way. It's that thing startups slap on their homepage to avoid writing 1,000 words. But it's not just for SaaS anymore.
If your viewer still doesn’t know what to do at the end, it wasn’t an explainer; it was a vibe.
People would rather watch than read. Period. Explainer videos can increase landing page conversions by up to 80%.
No one wants to hear your data model. But everyone loves a story. Videos help simplify the hard stuff.
Google sees people sticking around longer. You look more interesting. It’s a win-win.
Your tone, your visuals, your vibe, wrapped in one snackable video.
Quick to consume. Easy to share. Works great, muted with subtitles.
Clean, controlled, and cost-effective. Great for products, processes, or anything that doesn’t exist yet.
Perfect if you want a human touch or need to show your team, space, or real-world product.
Yes, still a thing. Simple visuals are being drawn while you narrate. Works well for educational or financial topics.
Click to explore, choose a path, or take a quiz. Converts passive viewers into active participants.
Traditional explainer videos are like Netflix. Interactive ones are like Netflix, where you choose your own ending.
Interactive videos:
If you want to talk to your customer, use traditional. If you want to talk with them, go interactive.
Landing pages: Get to the point fast.
Email campaigns: Boost click-through rates.
Paid ads: Stand out in 5 seconds.
Social media: Add subtitles. Use square formats. Grab attention.
Trying to say everything: You’re not making a documentary. Focus on one message.
Bad audio or design: Nothing screams "we don’t care" like cheap stock visuals and echoey sound.
Skipping the CTA: Again. Say what you want them to do next.
Explainer videos aren’t a silver bullet. But they are one of the most efficient ways to make someone understand, remember, and act on your message.
Make it short. Make it useful. Make it not suck.
60–90 seconds is the sweet spot. Enough time to tell a story, not enough to bore.
Animated and interactive perform well for most brands. Choose based on what you're explaining.
Anywhere from $500 to $20,000, depending on length, style, and who you hire.
Live-action is great for personal brands and real products. Animated is better for concepts and SaaS.
Try tools like Vyond, Powtoon, or Adobe After Effects. For interactive, look at tools like VideoAsk or Rapt Media.