Explainer videos are now a cornerstone of brand communication, providing a simple yet impactful way to engage audiences, clarify complex topics, and build brand trust. Whether a brand introduces a product, explains a service, or shares an idea, the right explainer video can captivate viewers in ways that text alone cannot. Choosing the right style can be challenging, with options ranging from animation to live-action and whiteboard videos.
This guide by Helio Advertising showcases some of the best explainer video examples across popular styles, illustrating how each type meets different brand needs and appeals to diverse audience preferences. We’ll break down what makes these examples effective and offer insights into creating an outstanding explainer video for your brand. By understanding the strengths and applications of each style, you’ll be well-prepared to choose or create an explainer video that resonates with your audience and meets your communication goals.
Whether you’re seeking inspiration, practical guidance, or insights into what makes a successful explainer video, this guide is for you. Join Helio Advertising as we dive into the world of explainer videos, explore various types, and uncover best practices to make your videos memorable, engaging, and highly effective.
What Is an Explainer Video
An explainer video is a short, engaging video that clarifies a product, service, or concept. These videos simplify complex information into a concise narrative, often using animation, voiceovers, and visual storytelling to enhance understanding. They typically last between 1 and 3 minutes and focus on answering common questions, showcasing benefits, and guiding viewers through specific features or processes.
Key Elements of Explainer Videos
- Problem Identification: Introduces a problem the target audience faces.
- Solution Presentation: Shows how the product or service solves this issue.
- Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): Encourages viewers to take the next step.
- Engaging Visuals: Utilizes animations or graphics for easy comprehension.
Explainer videos are popular in marketing for their ability to boost engagement and clarify brand messages effectively.
Why Explainer Videos Are So Effective
Explainer videos have taken the digital marketing world by storm, providing brands with a way to capture attention and convey their message with impact. But what makes these videos so effective? The answer lies in combining psychology and strategy, making explainer videos a preferred method for breaking down complex topics and engaging viewers.
The Psychology Behind Explainer Videos
Explainer videos’ effectiveness is based on their reliance on visual storytelling. Humans process visuals 60,000 times faster than text, making video a natural medium for quick comprehension and long-lasting retention. Explainer videos help viewers absorb information effortlessly by combining visuals with concise narration. Instead of passively reading, viewers actively engage with the content, making it easier to understand and remember the key points.
Research shows that people retain up to 80% of what they see, compared to just 20% of what they read. This makes explainer videos ideal for conveying ideas, especially for complex or technical topics requiring visual support. Whether through animations, graphics, or live-action elements, explainer videos leverage the power of visual storytelling to create an experience that resonates with audiences long after they’ve watched.
Engaging the Viewer: The Power of Simplicity and Focus
Explainer videos are designed to be clear and concise, focusing on delivering one central message without overwhelming the viewer. This simplicity is crucial for grabbing attention in a digital space where information overload is common. By honing in on a single idea or solution, explainer videos guide viewers through a seamless journey, making it easy to understand what the video is about and what action they should take next.
The best explainer videos use a streamlined approach to avoid unnecessary details, choosing language and visuals that resonate with the viewer while focusing on the essentials. This directness keeps viewers engaged and improves comprehension, making explainer videos particularly effective for complex topics that need to be broken down into manageable, digestible parts.
In short, explainer videos’ simplicity and focus make them ideal for any brand that wants to connect with its audience quickly and memorably, whether introducing a new product or explaining a difficult concept.
Popular Types of Explainer Videos (With Examples)
Explainer videos come in various styles, each tailored to achieve different goals and resonate with specific audiences. The right type of explainer video for your brand depends on your message, target viewers, and the emotional or informational impact you want to make. Here are some popular types of explainer videos with examples to showcase what makes each one effective.
1. Animated Explainer Videos
Overview: Animated explainer videos are a versatile choice, offering limitless creative possibilities. They simplify complex ideas by using engaging visuals, characters, and colorful animations while captivating viewers. Animation allows abstract concepts to be visualized in ways that live-action cannot achieve, making it a preferred style for tech startups, educational content, and any product or service with intricate features.
Example: Dropbox’s Animated Explainer Video—One of the best explainer video examples, Dropbox’s animated video demonstrates how its product simplifies file sharing. The animation introduces relatable characters and a clean design to explain the product’s value clearly and effectively, without technical jargon.
Why It Works: The visuals are lively and straightforward, engagingly guiding viewers through Dropbox’s benefits. This animated explainer successfully conveys its message and leaves a memorable impression by focusing on visual storytelling.
2. Whiteboard Explainer Videos
Overview: Whiteboard explainer videos use a hand-drawn approach, with illustrations appearing step-by-step on a white background as the narration progresses. This style mimics the experience of being taught in a classroom and is particularly effective for educational or instructional content. It’s simple yet engaging, appealing to audiences who enjoy a straightforward, visual learning experience.
Example: Dollar Shave Club’s Whiteboard Explainer – Dollar Shave Club’s video takes a humorous approach, with a whiteboard animation illustrating the product’s unique selling points and benefits. By blending humor with simplicity, this video keeps viewers engaged while clearly explaining what sets Dollar Shave Club apart from competitors.
Why It Works: Whiteboard videos maintain attention by visually illustrating each idea as it’s introduced, creating an easy-to-follow narrative flow. This approach enhances understanding and builds curiosity as viewers watch the story unfold.
3. Live-Action Explainer Videos
Overview: Live-action explainer videos use real people and real-world settings, creating a personal and authentic connection with viewers. This style is ideal for brands wanting to showcase the human side of their business or demonstrate how their product fits into everyday life. Live-action explainer videos are commonly used by lifestyle, healthcare, and service-based brands, where trust and relatability are crucial.
Example: Slack’s Live-Action Explainer – Slack’s live-action video introduces the messaging platform through a relatable office scenario, highlighting how it streamlines workplace communication. The video builds an immediate connection and demonstrates its practical benefits by showing people using Slack in their day-to-day routines.
Why It Works: The real-life setting and genuine interactions make Slack’s explainer video feel authentic and trustworthy. Viewers can easily envision themselves using Slack, making it more likely that they’ll relate to and engage with the product.
4. Screencast Explainer Videos
Overview: Screencast videos capture the activity on a computer screen, often combined with narration to guide viewers through a product or service. Screencasts are especially effective for software demos, app tutorials, or any product with a digital interface. They allow viewers to follow along step-by-step, which can be incredibly helpful for onboarding or educational content.
Example: Trello’s Screencast Tutorial—Trello’s Screencast explainer walks users through its project management tool, showing key features and navigation tips. With straightforward instructions and on-screen highlights, the video ensures viewers feel comfortable using Trello immediately.
Why It Works: Screencasts excel at providing hands-on guidance, making users feel empowered to navigate the product on their own. By focusing on usability, Trello’s screencast tutorial builds user confidence and encourages new users to get started.
Each explainer video type serves a distinct purpose, offering unique advantages depending on the brand’s goals and audience needs. Whether animated, hand-drawn, live-action, or screen-based, explainer videos provide creative ways to communicate, engage viewers, and bring your brand’s message to life.
What Makes a Good Explainer Video? Best Practices to Follow
Creating a standout explainer video involves more than just choosing the right type and visuals. To truly connect with your audience and convey your message effectively, following best practices that enhance clarity, engagement, and viewer action is essential. Here are the top elements that make a good explainer video great.
Clarity of Message
One of the key qualities of an explainer video best practices is a clear and focused message. The best explainer videos deliver a single idea or solution, avoiding unnecessary details that might confuse or overwhelm viewers. By keeping the message straightforward, brands can ensure that viewers understand the core purpose of the video without getting lost in unrelated information.
To achieve this clarity, start by defining the video’s goal. What is the main takeaway you want viewers to remember? From there, structure the script and visuals to support that objective, focusing on simplicity and relevance. A well-defined message is especially important for complex topics, as it helps viewers quickly grasp essential information without distractions.
Engaging Script and Visuals
An engaging script and eye-catching visuals are the backbone of any good explainer video. A good script doesn’t just explain—it tells a story that resonates with the audience. When crafting the script, use conversational language, relatable scenarios, and a friendly tone that speaks directly to viewers. This approach creates an emotional connection, making the information more impactful and easier to remember.
Meanwhile, the visuals should complement the script, enhancing understanding without overwhelming the viewer. Effective explainer videos use a consistent style, color scheme, and animations or graphics that align with the brand’s identity. An engaging script and complementary visuals create an experience that captures attention and leaves a lasting impression.
Strong Call-to-Action
Every great explainer video has a purpose: to encourage viewers to sign up, make a purchase, or visit a website. A clear and compelling call-to-action (CTA) is crucial for converting viewers into customers. Place the CTA near the end of the video once the main message has been delivered and viewers are ready to take the next step.
Keep the CTA short, specific, and action-oriented to make it effective. Use phrases like “Get Started Now,” “Learn More,” or “Sign Up Today” to encourage immediate action. A strong CTA can significantly increase engagement and conversions, helping the video fulfill its primary goal.
Keeping It Short and to the Point
In an era of short attention spans, brevity is essential. The best explainer videos are concise, typically lasting between 60 and 120 seconds. This short format keeps viewers engaged from start to finish, delivering the message without dragging out unnecessary details.
To keep the video concise, focus on the essentials and cut out any fluff. Avoid lengthy introductions, and get to the main point quickly. By maintaining a streamlined structure, you’ll hold viewers’ attention and maximize the impact of your message.
By following these best practices, you can create informative, memorable, impactful, and highly effective explainer videos. A great explainer video example combines clarity, engagement, action, and brevity to ensure viewers walk away with a clear understanding and motivation to take the next step with your brand.
Read More: Everything you should know Video Marketing
Examples of Some of the Best Explainer Videos
To truly understand what makes an explainer video effective, let’s look at some top examples of explainer videos from different industries and styles. These videos stand out because of their creativity and clarity and their ability to engage viewers and drive action. Here’s a list of top explainer videos and what makes them exceptional.
1. Dropbox – Animated Explainer Video
Why It Stands Out: Dropbox’s animated explainer videos are often cited as a classic example of simplifying complex ideas. The video illustrates how Dropbox can help people access their files from any device, using relatable characters and clean animations to convey the message. By focusing on the product’s primary benefit, Dropbox avoids technical jargon, making it easy for viewers to understand the service at a glance.
2. Dollar Shave Club – Whiteboard Animation with Humor
Why It Stands Out: Dollar Shave Club’s whiteboard-style video takes a humorous, down-to-earth approach to introduce its subscription service. The video doesn’t shy away from humor, which adds a unique personality to the brand. As the narrator walks viewers through the product benefits in a relatable and entertaining way, the video becomes memorable and shareable.
3. Slack – Live-Action Explainer Video
Why It Stands Out: Slack’s live-action explainer video uses a real-world office setting to showcase the platform’s benefits for team communication. Featuring real employees and workplace scenarios, the video effectively demonstrates Slack’s practical applications in a relatable way. The authenticity and clarity of this live-action explainer help build trust, making it easier for viewers to envision using Slack in their workspaces.
4. Mint.com – Animated and Data-Driven Explainer
Why It Stands Out: Mint.com’s animated explainer uses visuals and simple charts to explain how users can manage their finances effectively. The video breaks financial management down into easy-to-understand steps, using data-driven visuals reinforcing the product’s benefits. This approach makes the video informative and visually appealing, appealing to viewers’ desire for clarity and functionality.
5. Trello – Screencast Tutorial
Why It Stands Out: Trello’s screencast tutorial takes users on a step-by-step tour of the project management tool’s interface. The video builds user confidence by directly showing how to navigate and use Trello, making it ideal for onboarding new users. The screencast format works particularly well for software products, where demonstrating functionality directly on-screen enhances comprehension.
6. Airbnb – Animated Explainer with Storytelling
Why It Stands Out: Airbnb’s animated, cool explainer videos tap into storytelling to create an emotional connection with viewers. The video featuring travelers and hosts communicates Airbnb’s value proposition while fostering a sense of community and belonging. The warm and inviting animation style aligns perfectly with Airbnb’s brand ethos.
Each video demonstrates elements contributing to a successful explainer, from humor and storytelling to data-driven visuals and hands-on guidance. These examples highlight the versatility of explainer videos and how they can be adapted to meet various brand goals and audience needs. Whether you’re looking to entertain, inform, or inspire, the best explainer videos can help elevate your message and leave a lasting impression.
Conclusion: Elevate Your Brand with the Perfect Explainer Video
Explainer videos are one of the most powerful tools for capturing attention, simplifying complex topics, and building meaningful connections with your audience. These videos can transform brand messaging and boost conversion rates by focusing on clarity, engaging visuals, and a strong call-to-action. The best explainer videos—animated, live-action, or screencast—enable brands to stand out by delivering information in a memorable and impactful way.
Investing in a high-quality explainer video is a strategic choice for companies looking to increase engagement and strengthen their online presence. Explainer videos are not just about telling people what you do; they’re about showing them why it matters and how it can benefit them. They provide an engaging experience that resonates with viewers long after they’ve watched, helping to establish trust and credibility.
Ready to elevate your brand? Helio Commercial Video Production Company is here to help. Our team of video production experts has extensive experience in creating impactful explainer videos tailored to meet your specific needs. Contact Helio Commercial Video Production Company today for a consultation, and let us bring your vision to life with an explainer video that enhances your brand and drives results.
