Today’s digital marketing landscape is dominated by video content. Not only does video make it easier to hold the attention of viewers, but studies have also shown that it improves the retention of the information presented in the video. If you want potential customers to see your video content and remember your brand, it helps to give them something they need. In many cases, that’s as simple as explaining a complex concept or showing how something works. It’s called an explainer video and it’s one of the most popular types of video content on the web today. At Pixel Perfect Studios in Philadelphia, we’ve mastered the art of the explainer video and we’d like to share our experience with you! Here’s more about the history of explainer videos and how you can use one right now to improve your digital marketing outcomes.
A Brief History of Explainer Videos
Before broadband internet became widespread, people used old-fashioned in-person presentations to sell products, explain concepts, and establish themselves as an authority on any given topic. When programs like PowerPoint came around, computers rapidly became an essential part of presenting and explaining information. Before long, even elementary school students were using technology to explain things in their class presentations! Eventually, multimedia content made its way into PowerPoint, making it the precursor to modern explainer videos.
After the internet boom, it became cheap and easy for anyone to upload videos. Social media and video sharing platforms like YouTube made it simple to share a video to potentially millions of viewers without spending a dime. By 2008, “How-it-works” videos were some of the most successful pieces of content on YouTube and Common Craft became the first YouTube channel to make an official explainer video – one that described how Twitter works. It was so popular, Twitter even shared it on their page!
Shortly thereafter, Dropbox made an explainer video to tell viewers how their cloud-sharing and storage service worked. When that explainer video netted them an additional 10 million users and $50 million in revenue, marketing professionals truly began to see the power of the explainer video. By the time the term “explainer video” had entered our collective consciousness, plenty of startups, like Groupon, and even established companies, were using them successfully in marketing materials to strengthen their brands.
Explainer Videos Today
Now that explainer videos are commonplace, internet users instinctually seek them out any time they need to know how something works. Today, 88% of online businesses have at least one explainer video, and if you don’t have one, you’ll be falling behind the rest of the pack. The great thing about an explainer video is that it doesn’t have to be “salesy.” All you have to do is think of a topic related to your business and make a short video explaining how it works. You can start with questions your customers ask frequently; if they have wondered about a particular topic, chances are plenty of other people have as well. If you give them an answer online, it can give them a chance to find the information they need and a chance to find out about your business.
The creative team at Pixel Perfect Studios understands that not every business owner is well-versed in video production and digital brand management. Luckily, we are! If you want to make an explainer video, we can help you, no matter where you’re located. We can work with you to come up with ideas and create content that’s ready to be posted on your website, social media accounts, video sharing sites, and more! Give us a call at our Philadelphia office by dialing (215) 568-8380 to discuss your project. You can also send an email to info@pixelperfect-studios.com or fill out the online form on our contact page. An explainer video can be your ticket to conducting more successful online marketing activities; get in touch with Pixel Perfect Studios to find out how!