5 best uses for explainer animations

Explainer animations are short videos, usually used for marketing, that help explain a company's product or service. They have become extremely popular and can be a great way to engage an audience and get the word out about your company.

Here are 5 great uses for explainer animations:

1. To visualize an abstract concept, idea or service. Let’s say you offer a really cool service. It’s a bit abstract and sometimes your prospects have a hard time understanding exactly what you do. Plus it’s difficult to fully explain in writing. An explainer animation could be the perfect way to communicate. One reason they are so effective is people learn and retain information best when they can read, hear, and see at the same time. By using animated graphics with voice-over, people more fully understand what your idea or service is and how you can help them solve their problems. Check out this example:

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2. To creatively present a complicated or technical process. Technical animation has been around since…well, animation. It’s the best and easiest way to convey complicated information. You can break through the clutter and dive down into the basics of a process or machine, for example. And you can visualize ideas or process that may not be tangible, visual things in real life.

3. To visualize a subject that may be difficult to shoot on video. For example, imagine you’ve developed a machine. It’s really big and makes cool widgets. And it’s completely different from your competitor’s machine because of a very small doo-dad somewhere in the middle of it. Because it’s new and different, you want to feature it. But how? Explainer animation!

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4. To creatively present statistics. Numbers can be scary. And hard to remember. And sometimes boring. But most often, they’re the most concrete way to present hard facts and information. An explainer animation is a great way to make that information easier to digest, more persuasive and more memorable. In fact, a study conducted by the Wharton School of Business found that 50% of people were persuaded by a purely verbal presentation, while 67% of people were persuaded when the presentation included visuals.

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5. To reinforce your brand. You’ve put in the work. You’ve created a graphic look, logos, icons and narrowed down the color palate. There are print ads, signage, mailers and other collateral. Now you need to give your brand a voice. Literally give it a voice. Through scripting, voicing and design style, you pull together all of the elements you’ve already created, thus creating one solid brand identity.

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So, not only are explainer animations compelling to watch, but they can be used across multiple screens. They are great at helping your audience visualize a complicated subject, creatively present statistics and explain a complicated idea, concept, process, product, or service. Plus, they help to reinforce your brand. Pretty cool, huh?