7 Ways to Boost Engagement with Animated Explainer Videos

08 Aug, 2024 Animation

Animated explainer videos have become a dynamic way for businesses to communicate their messages effectively. In a world where everyone is online, these videos have become essential by successfully simplifying complex ideas into engaging visuals. Their versatility allows them to be used across various platforms—websites, social media, and email marketing campaigns—making them an excellent tool to reach a broad audience.

Keeping your audience engaged is crucial; animated explainer videos can help you achieve that. Here are seven ways to use animated explainer videos to increase engagement and drive action.

What Are Animated Explainer Videos?

Animated explainer videos simplify complex topics through animation. They combine graphics, voiceovers, and engaging narratives to present information in an easy-to-understand and entertaining format. These videos are designed to make concepts accessible and captivating through creative animation techniques. Examples include:

‘How it Works’ Videos: A software company might use an animated explainer video to simplify and illustrate how their complex software works for potential customers.
Educational Videos: An educational institution could create an animated explainer video on a complex scientific concept, making it more accessible and interesting for students.
Product Launch Videos: A business launching a new product might use an animated explainer video to demonstrate its features and benefits in a captivating way.
Training Modules: Companies often use animated explainer videos in their training programs to make the learning process more engaging and effective for employees.
Social Media Campaigns: Brands frequently use animated explainer videos on social media platforms to explain their mission, values, or upcoming events in a visually compelling manner.

7 Ways To Boost Engagement

1. Understanding Your Audience

To create an impactful animated explainer video, it’s important to understand your audience. Research their preferences, challenges, and interests. Tailor your content to address their needs, using visuals and language that resonate with them. The more you align your video with your audience’s expectations, the more effective it will be.

To understand your audience better, consider conducting surveys or interviews to gather insights about their preferences. Use these findings to develop detailed audience personas, which can guide the creation of your explainer video.

2. Crafting a Clear and Compelling Script

Creating a well-crafted script is critical to producing a compelling explainer video. To ensure your message is clear and engaging, focus on the following elements:

Structure Your Content: Develop a clear story arc with a beginning, middle, and end.
Incorporate Relatable Elements: Use characters or situations that make the content more personable and engaging.
Align with Brand Voice: Ensure the language and tone reflect your brand voice and resonate with your target audience to build familiarity and trust.
Strategic Pauses and Emphasis: Integrate pauses and emphasise key points to direct viewers’ attention and enhance the impact of your message.
Clear Call to Action: Include a direct call to action to guide viewers towards the next steps.

3. Selecting the Right Animation Style

Choose an animation style that suits your message and audience. Here are some options:

2D Animation: A classic choice with two-dimensional graphics and characters, perfect for storytelling and simplifying complex concepts.
3D Animation: Adds depth and realism for a more immersive experience, ideal for product demonstrations or creating lifelike simulations.
Whiteboard Animation: Features hand-drawn illustrations on a whiteboard, ideal for educational content and outlining step-by-step processes.
Motion Graphics: Uses animated text and graphic elements for dynamic presentations, great for corporate communications and data representation.
Character Animation: Brings characters to life to drive the narrative, best suited for branding videos or to create a connection with the audience.
Stop-Motion Animation: Uses real objects photographed incrementally to create movement, perfect for creative and artistic narratives.
Infographic Animation: Displays data through animated charts and visualisations, excellent for presenting complex data in an accessible manner.
Screencast Animation: Demonstrates software or on-screen actions in an animated format, ideal for tutorials and how-to guides.

4. Focusing on Visual Appeal and Design

Visual design plays a key role in maintaining viewer interest. To make sure your video captures and retains attention, align it with your brand’s identity through consistent colour schemes and graphics. This helps in building a cohesive brand image. Consider the following design elements:

High-Quality Animations: Choose smooth, professional animations to create a polished and engaging experience.
Effective Use of Transitions: Incorporate seamless transitions between scenes to ensure a smooth flow. This keeps viewers focused on the content and prevents distractions.
Visual Hierarchy: Design your video with a clear visual hierarchy to emphasise key messages. Guide viewers’ attention to important elements by effectively using contrasting colours, sizes, and placements.
Adaptability: Make sure your design is adaptable to various devices and screen sizes. Optimising for both mobile and desktop views ensures that your video maintains its visual appeal across different platforms.

5. Enhancing Audio Elements

Good audio is fundamental to a successful explainer video. Use a professional voiceover to communicate your message, choose background music that complements the tone, and add sound effects to highlight important points and keep viewers engaged. To maximise the impact of video content, consider these additional tips:

Optimise Audio Quality: Invest in high-quality recording equipment or use a professional studio to ensure clear, crisp audio.
Balance Audio Levels: Carefully balance voiceover, background music, and sound effects to ensure that each element complements each other. Avoid having background music overpower the voiceover.
Use Consistent Voice Tone: Maintain a consistent tone and style throughout the video to build a coherent, engaging narrative.
Test on Various Devices: Test your audio on different devices, such as headphones, speakers, and smartphones, to ensure it sounds good across all platforms.

6. Optimise for Different Platforms

To maximise the impact of your video, optimise it for various platforms. Adjust the format and length to suit different social media channels and websites. For example, Instagram prefers square videos, while YouTube is best suited for longer, landscape-format videos.

Additionally, paying attention to platform-specific behaviours, like auto-play on Facebook or silent playback on LinkedIn, can help you tailor your videos to maximise viewership.

7. Analysing and Improving

Monitor engagement metrics such as viewer interaction and retention. Collect feedback to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Use this data to refine your videos and enhance future content.

User Interaction Metrics: Track how viewers interact with your video through metrics like click-through rates on calls to action, replay rates, and social shares. These interactions can provide insights into which elements of your video are most engaging and effective.
Conversion Rates: Monitor conversion metrics to assess how well your video drives desired actions, such as sign-ups, purchases, or inquiries. Analysing these rates helps determine if the video effectively meets its objectives and where improvements may be needed.

To Wrap it Up

Animated explainer videos are a proven strategy for capturing attention and communicating your message effectively. By tailoring your content to your audience, crafting a compelling script, and selecting the right animation style, you can create videos that engage and drive action.

Whether you’re looking to boost social media engagement, educate your audience, or promote your latest product, animated explainer videos offer versatility and impact across various platforms.

At Pickle Pictures, we’re experts in creating captivating animated explainer videos that resonate with your audience and elevate your brand. Take your video marketing to the next level. Contact us to get started on your next project and see how our creative solutions can make a difference for your business.