Struggling to explain your latest product or service? YouTube explainer videos may be your answer! These videos combine clear messaging with catchy visuals, making your message unforgettable (and 91% of people watch them before buying!). Imagine the boost these engaging videos could give your YouTube channel!
But creating them can feel like a nightmare. Learning complex editing software, spending hours on fancy effects... who has the time?
Here's the good news: You DON'T NEED fancy editing skills to create professional explainer videos. With the power of AI, creating professional explainer videos is easier than ever.
In this blog, you’ll learn EXACTLY how to do it. We’ve compiled the simplest guide to walk you through the basics of the explainer video creation process. Here’s what we’ve covered ahead:
- What Is a YouTube Explainer Video
- Types of YouTube Explainer Videos
- How to Create a YouTube Explainer Video Using invideo AI
- 10 Tips for Creating YouTube Explainer Videos
Let’s get started!
What is a YouTube Explainer Video?
A YouTube explainer video is a short video that introduces your product or service to your YouTube audience. The motive is to give them a quick idea of what you are offering and why it matters, presented in an engaging and easy-to-understand way.
You might be thinking, “Isn’t that just a promotional video then? Well, yes and no. The context matters here – while explainer videos are promotional, they’re not just about selling. They are about informing and generating excitement among your viewers about your product or service’s benefits and features.
They offer an overall idea about the product or service a video is based upon. This makes explainer videos perfect for introducing new products or services without overwhelming the audience with too many details upfront.
What Makes a Good YouTube Explainer Video?
If you are ready to make a YouTube explainer video for your channel, it's necessary to understand what a good one looks like. Here are 3 main elements that make an explainer video effective:
- Focus on Clarity and Engagement: Your video should clearly explain what the product or service is all about, especially in an eye-catching way. You can use attractive visuals in your video; this can be an animation or be made as a live-action explainer video – depending on what best suits your content.
For example, this explainer video by Yum Yum Videos for Gravity Forms perfectly captures the tool’s functionalities as a WordPress plugin. By the end of the video, you will have a sound idea of how it simplifies creating forms on websites for users. - Personalize: Personalisation is the key to a good explainer video. Your viewers will only find it interesting if it talks about their interests. Focus on the tone of the video, the language used, or maybe a viral social media trend to keep your target audience invested. The idea here is to make the viewers feel like the video is exclusively made for them.
Gigwalk’s custom explainer video is a good example of how to confidently deliver your message while directly speaking to the user’s interests and pain points. The claim that with Gigwalk, managers manage better and workers work better thoroughly sits right with its messaging. - Add a Strong CTA: End your video with a clear call-to-action to make it ACTIONABLE. Is it signing up for a newsletter, buying a product, or booking a consultation? Make sure the intention is clear without being pushy.
For instance, this short video for Morning Brew smartly places the CTA at the end of the video to prompt the viewers to take action. In this case, it's encouraging them to sign up for a FREE newsletter. However, it’s also a great example of how to create FOMO (fear of missing out), back it up with data, and explain how your product benefits them and why they should try it out.
Types of YouTube Explainer Videos
Choosing the right format that fits your video’s concept is just as important as getting the script right. It sets the tone and determines how effectively your video connects with the viewers. Let's look at the top 10 explainer video types you can choose from.
1. Whiteboard Explainer Video
You may have probably seen those YouTube videos where a hand scribbles on a whiteboard to explain something. That's what a whiteboard explainer video is. Ideally used as explainer videos for education, these show a clean white background with a continuous back drawing to break down and simplify a concept. As the narrator speaks through the details, you see the drawings take shape in real-time.
For example, this video by Steven Johnson breaks down complex ideas about innovation and how good ideas evolve. This format has simplicity, and it helps keep the viewers focused on the content without being distracted by complex visuals. So, if you need to explain something advanced while ensuring people retain the information, you can create an explainer video in this format.
2. Motion Graphics Explainer Video
This video format brings concepts to life with vibrant and animated graphics. It includes a blend of visual elements like icons, text, and illustrations dynamically as they move and evolve throughout the video. With each animation, you will find it simple to understand the concepts being explained, making it easy to consume. Mostly used for showing statistics, charts, and data-driven facts, this format easily captures and retains viewers’ attention.
Burnwe’s explainer video is a perfect example of this category as it uses animated graphics to highlight the services provided by Burshek. The use of smooth graphics makes sure that the message is both interesting and straightforward – perfectly capturing the theme’s essence. So, if you’re wondering how to make an explainer video that’s catchy from start to end, go with this format.
3. Live-Action Explainer Video
This one is like a mini explainer film for your business or product since it uses real people, real scenes, and dialogues to convey the message. Instead of animations or graphics, these videos rely on actors, locations, and crops to show how the product or service works.
The engagement is more personalized since it adds a human touch that makes your message feel more relatable and reliable. These videos are perfect when the intent is to show the actual use of a product or give a behind-the-scenes look at how something is made or done.
For example, if you want to make an explainer video for promoting a coffee shop, a live-action video showing a Barista making a latte will capture the cafe’s ambiance. This makes the potential customers visualize themselves in the scene, making it powerful to engage with them and leave a strong impact.
Bolt’s promotional video is one such example that narrates its growth story in the live-action format. The video features real employees and office settings, offering a genuine look into the company's dynamic environment and innovative culture.
Through this actual footage of their team, the brand has effectively communicated their spirit and what they do. This approach makes the content relatable while building strong trust by showing the real people behind the tech.
4. Screencast Explainer Video - DIY
This format shows how things work directly on the screen. It's like recording your screen while you explain something, which makes it super practical for tutorials or demos. This type of video is especially useful if you want to teach your viewers how to use software, navigate a website, or perform a task online.
You can easily create a DIY explainer video right from your desktop by capturing each click and action as you move along. This makes it easy to execute and allows you to create a detailed guide that everyone can follow at their own pace.
Notion’s tutorial is an apt example of this category as it uses screencast footage to explain the features and functionalities. It is designed to show exactly how to use the platform in a step-by-step manner, making it easy for new users to understand. It's one of the best product explainer videos in this category for some inspiration.
5. 2D Animation Video
These videos are a colorful and dynamic way to explain your product or introduce your service using flat graphics that move in a two-dimensional space. These videos are about characters, backgrounds, and visuals that slide, pop, and expand across the screen. This format is ideal for breaking down complex ideas into fun, memorable sequences that are easy to process.
When creating a 2D animation, every element from the characters to the scenery is designed to keep the viewer entertained and engaged. So, if you want to create an animated explainer video, starting with a 2D animation can be a great choice. Why? Because it allows you creative freedom while keeping the production cost lower than 3D animation.
This video by Hound Studio is an apt example of this category as it uses vibrant and colorful animations to show the app’s features and benefits. The clear, animated visuals make it easy to understand the functionalities which showcases the effectiveness of 2D animation in brand storytelling.
6. Typography Explainer Video
Typography explainer videos are all about words – literally! These videos use animated text to convey messages, with voiceovers to keep the rhythm flowing. This format is helpful when you want to focus on the messaging purely through words, making complex information easy and engaging to digest.
Since these videos play with fonts, colors, and motion, it is easy to make your key points stand out. That’s why this format is ideal if you create an explainer video tutorial with powerful words and facts.
Video At Click’s App And Web Explainer video is a great example of an effective typography explainer video that showcases their client's business solutions. The video is tailored with dynamic text and animations while ensuring that the messaging is both informative and appealing.
7. 3D Animation Video
Unlike flat 2D animations, 3D animations add more depth and make the visuals more realistic and dynamic. These videos use computer-generated images to create scenes and characters that move around in a three-dimensional space. Think of it like the animations in big-budget movies – only these are usually for explaining concepts, products, or services.
These animated explanation videos are perfect for showing how something works in a tangible and immersive way. This 3D explainer video by What a Story for WriterZen is an interesting example that breaks down how the product helps simplify SEO for businesses. This format is ideal for engaging storytelling if you want to present an idea or product with next-level impact.
8. Stock-Footage Explainer Video
Stock footage videos are a smart and budget-friendly way to create professional-looking content without a film crew or expensive software. All you need is pre-existing images and video clips that can be purchased from stock footage libraries. This helps you piece the scenes together in a way that fits your narrative.
This video format is a fantastic option for a do-it-yourself explainer video as you can select from a vast collection of clips that match your concept. For example, if you’re explaining a travel service, you can use stock images of exotic locations, airplanes, and travelers, without leaving your desk. Simply choose the right clips that tell your story in an engaging and visually appealing way and you’re set.
Umalt’s promotional video is an example of this category where it discusses how B2B corporate videos are filled with cliches like people in a conference room. Instead, it uses stock footage to target the dullness that generally reminds of conference explainer videos. This approach highlights the brand's creative angle and showcases how stock footage can be repurposed to send a powerful message.
9. Cut-out Style
Probably one of the most creative and quirky options, these videos are made by animating flat, paper-like cutouts of characters and objects. In these videos, the characters slide around and interact on screen which makes them visually distinct and interesting. These are great for narration as the simple movements and bold visuals make the whole thing stand out.
The cut-out style goes well for a social explainer video because the unique and eye-catching animations quickly draw attention on social media platforms. They are practical, creative, and yet straightforward, making it easy to communicate ideas and leave a long-lasting impact. Sabstabs’s College animation video on outer space is a stunning example of how this style brings creative pieces and beautifully puts them together.
10. Stop Motion Explainer Video
Stop motion style is a unique way to present your message through a series of still photos played quickly to create an illusion of motion. It's like a flip book where each frame is a carefully arranged scene using objects, clay figures, and sometimes, paper cutouts. This technique helps you create something quirky with a touch of visual storytelling for a creative twist.
The stop-motion format is perfect for grabbing attention because it often carries an artistic and playful nature. They are a great fit for topics where you want to keep a light-hearted vibe. Including humor, these videos stand out as funny explainer videos, making complex or boring information enjoyable for the audience.
Broadcast2World’s stop motion video is one such example that uses simple backgrounds, and stock motion techniques to discuss the platform’s features. It creatively explains the product without any complex elements that make the messaging clear, and concise, and the brand identity impressive.
11. Mobile App Explainer Videos
This format showcases the features of a mobile app to explain how it works. They are designed to be straightforward, often using bright colors and smooth animations while explaining the app’s functionality with clear visuals and minimal text. This approach helps them understand what the app is exactly about and encourages them to consider downloading it.
Node app’s explainer video is a perfect example of a mobile app explainer video that introduces businesses to the app. The messaging is kept simple by focusing on how it makes it easy to create offers and attract influences to promote their brands on the platform. The video has a clear and concise narration with attractive visuals that showcase the app’s functionalities and benefits effectively.
How to Create a YouTube Explainer Video Using invideo AI?
Making an explainer video from scratch can feel overwhelming with all the script writing, animations, and editing involved. Invideo AI skips this tiresome process for YOU and creates an explainer video in minutes with high-definition quality. Here's what you need to do:
- Visit invideo AI and sign in to access your account. If you don’t have one already, create a FREE account using your email.
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- Once your account is set up, go to the “Workflows” section at the bottom of the page, and choose “YouTube Explainer.”
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- Once selected, you will be redirected to the prompt section with details for the video. Choose the duration that best fits your video concept, a title for the video, and a short description of it.
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- Time for the creative part. Now, choose the type of background music you want to keep. You can also select the voice-over (any, male or female), how you want the subtitles to display (if you want to keep them), and the watermarks along the settings for the amount of iStock to be used. Once done, click on “Continue.”
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- Finalize your prompt and tweak it if you want to add, remove, or replace anything in the details. Once done, click on “Generate a Video” to proceed.
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- The tool will now process your request and once done, you will see a window with the options for audience, feel, and platform.
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- Choose your preferences and click on continue. If you want to change something in the prompt, click on “Edit Prompt.”
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- Once your video is generated, you will see an interface similar to the one below. If you want to edit anything in the video, enter your input in the space below the video and click on “Generate.”
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- Once everything is finalized, choose your settings to export your video and click on “Continue” to go to the download page.
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- Click on “Download” to proceed.
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10 Tips For Creating YouTube Explainer Videos
To make sure your video fulfills its purpose, it's necessary to take care of the little things that affect its impact. From research to the visuals and duration, every element counts in making your video stand out. Here are 10 proven tips to create the best explainer video.
1. Who Are You Making It For?
The first step is to identify your target audience. Ask yourself – Who are the viewers? Considering factors like age, occupation, and interest of the people who might benefit from the product or service can help here.
How to find these people?
If you have a website, you can use Google Analytics to analyze your current customer base and see if there are any common traits or trends. This way, you can narrow down your findings and get a clear picture of people who might be interested in the product or service you are making the video on.
If you don’t have one, you can use YouTube’s Analytics and study who your audience is, where they reside, what they search for, and much more.
2. Keep It Short
When it comes to making your explainer video, less is definitely more. Helen Klein Ros, an author and director recommends, “The less you say, the more likely people are to remember.” The longer the video, the shorter the attention span.
Viewers on YouTube generally look for quick and accurate answers. If there is any section in your video that doesn't add any value, it will be skipped.
YouTube algorithm, on the other hand, favors long videos as they make the viewer stay on the platform. However, that shouldn't mean you drag on your video unnecessarily just to increase its duration. Filling it with irrelevant content will kill your views and won't help it rank better in the YouTube search results.
So, aim for a sweet spot in terms of the length enough to cover the main points without dragging on – ideally 90 seconds.
3. Focus On Simplicity
To keep your video short and simple, avoid complex executions that unnecessarily extend the length. This is where it gets important to focus on allotting a specific duration for each segment of your video. Aram Movsisyan, Chief Business Officer at Yans Media, recommends a solid breakdown for this:
- Problem: First 5-10 seconds
- Solution: Next 5-10 seconds
- How it works/benefits for the customer: Next 30-50 seconds
- CTA (Call to action): Final 10 seconds
So, make sure you keep these 4 elements in mind during the planning phase. It helps you stay organized so that you don't lose focus.
4. Don’t Try Too Hard To Sell
The secret sauce to connecting with customers and converting them is not focusing on selling at all. This may sound contradictory, but that's the reality. An explainer video works as a bridge between you and the potential customers. it's necessary to focus more on positioning the product as a solution to their problem, rather than a sales pitch.
Never try to sell. Rather, focus on their pain points, and show how the product is just the right solution. Make it about the value that is more likely to stick with the viewers.
5. Show Benefits, Not The Features
No matter what product or service your video is based upon, the viewers couldn’t care less about it. Most people miss the mark because the entire focus goes on the features rather than connecting them to the value they provide. The right way to do this is to bring the focus to portraying features as benefits in a resonating way with the audience.
For example, if your product is a smartphone with a 48-hour battery life, instead of simply mentioning this feature, you could frame it more convincingly. It could be, “Stay connected with your loved ones without worrying about your phone dying last minute”. This approach will ensure that your video effectively shows how the product solves the viewers’ problems.
6. Be Wise With The Humor
Sometimes, creating an engaging video means using ‘humor’. Depending on the requirement, if you decide to take that approach, remember that people usually watch videos either to get entertained or informed.
While adding a touch of humor to your video can be an effective way to hit the spot, make sure to strike the right balance between information and humor. If you overdo humor, it might overshadow the important message you want to convey, while too little of it might not keep the viewers engaged enough. With a fine balance between the two, your audience will stay entertained and get a solid understanding of your product or service.
7. Use a Professional Voiceover
The quality of the voiceover in your video can literally make or break its impact. A powerful voiceover brings your content to life and influences how the audience perceives your message. The right tone and delivery can enhance their understanding and for how long they retain the message. This is why using a professional voiceover is the perfect way to set the right mood and message for your video.
8. Please The 3 Senses
A critical aspect to consider as you make explainer videos is tailoring them to fit the needs of the 3 senses:
- Sight: Your video should be a feast for the eye with brilliant visuals and creative animations to keep the viewer hooked to the screen. Add clean, clear images and a cohesive color scheme that makes your video visually appealing and relevant to the theme.
- Sound: The background music and sound effects should complement the voice and visuals without overshadowing them. Properly mixed audio improves the overall feel and helps to convey the right mood and tone.
- Touch: Think about creating a texture using a combination of visuals and sounds that almost helps the viewer “feel” the experience. For example, an explainer video for a course platform might include sharp visuals of interactive course material and learners, with a vibrant and upbeat soundtrack.
Adding these elements with a fine balance can make your video more immersive and memorable.
9. Leverage Storytelling
Stories make your content worth watching because they engage emotions and people are more likely to remember how they felt watching it. They simplify complex information, make it relatable & easier to understand. With this approach, people will see exactly how your product or service fits into their lives, creating a real impact.
In general explainer videos, you may see an invisible narrator reading the script while the scenes roll out. However, you can tell that this needs a better storytelling approach. For instance, you can have the character in the video read out the script within the narrative approach. This delivers your story and also conveys the brand’s value.
10. Keep it Accessible
A commonly underestimated aspect of video creation is inclusivity. There could be a possibility for people with disabilities to watch your explainer video. So, make sure to include captions or a transcript for specially-abled people while ensuring that the audio is appropriately added for someone with a visual impairment.
Similarly, it would be a good practice to be mindful of the needs of viewers with autism. Consider having a simpler version of your video with fewer visual effects to avoid overwhelming viewers who are sensitive to flashy graphics and loud sounds. Keeping these in mind makes your video more inclusive and accessible to a wider audience.
Conclusion
Explainer videos are an interesting and rewarding category to get started in 2024, especially with AI cutting away all the hassle of starting from scratch. It helps you create videos using text, sync the perfect audio, and edit like a professional to keep your views going up and above.
Now that you know how to create a professional explainer video, go ahead and give it a try with invideo AI.
If you want to learn more about creating videos with AI & growing your income, you should definitely check out our YouTube channel.
You should also check out our other helpful resources to learn how you can do a lot more with AI to make money on YouTube:
