Are you looking for a comprehensive guide on creating an effective and engaging software explainer video? You've come to the right place. This blog will walk you through the process, step by step, demystifying the best practices, video editing, video production, and much more.
What is Explainer Video Software?
An explainer video software is a tool that aids in creating brief, engaging videos, explaining a product, service, or concept. These videos are often animated, featuring animated characters and motion graphics. Such software usually comes with features like video templates, transitions, animation tools, text-to-speech functionality, fonts, music tracks, and even stock videos. They're perfect for tutorials, social media content, and marketing strategies.
Popular explainer video software includes Powtoon, Animaker, Vyond, and VideoScribe. These tools offer both free versions and paid plans, with pricing depending on the level of functionality required.
How Do You Make a Software Explainer Video?
Creating an explainer video involves a multi-step process:
- Conceptualize Your Idea: Identify what type of explainer video suits your content best. Will it be a whiteboard explainer video, a live-action video, an animated explainer video, or a mix? Understand your target audience, and frame your idea accordingly.
- Storyboard Creation: Create a storyboard. This is a graphical representation of how your video will unfold, shot by shot. It's made up of a number of squares with illustrations or pictures representing each shot, with notes about what's happening in the scene.
- Script Writing: Write a script keeping your target audience in mind. The script should be informative, clear, and engaging. A good explainer video does not just tell a story, it tells it interestingly.
- Voiceover Recording: Record a professional voiceover. This will guide the audience through the video, underlining key points and maintaining the pace. Tools like Adobe Audition can help you record and edit your voiceovers.
- Design and Animation: Use animation software to design your explainer video. Animated characters, typography, infographics, and other visual elements can be used here. This is also when you select your transitions, ensuring the video flows smoothly from one scene to the next.
- Music and Sound Effects: Add royalty-free music and sound effects. This helps set the tone for your video and can greatly improve engagement.
- Video Editing: The final step is video editing. With video editing software, you can adjust timing, add special effects, and refine your video to ensure it is polished and professional.
Best Practices in Creating a Software Explainer Video
- Keep It Short and Simple: A good explainer video is concise and straightforward. Aim for 60-90 seconds, as this is the sweet spot for maintaining viewer attention.
- Focus on the Benefits, Not Features: Highlight how your software can solve a problem or improve a situation. This appeals more to viewers than a list of features.
- Start with a Strong Hook: Capture your audience's attention in the first few seconds. A powerful start can ensure viewers stay engaged.
- Clear and Concise Messaging: Avoid jargon and complex language. Make sure your audience can easily understand your message.
- Quality Matters: A high-quality video reflects well on your brand. Use the best explainer video software to achieve professional results.
- Include a Call to Action: Whether it’s to visit your website, sign up for a free trial, or another action, make sure it's clear what you want viewers to do after watching.
- SEO Optimization: Optimize your video for SEO to ensure it reaches the maximum potential audience. Include relevant keywords in the title, description, and tags of your video. Also, consider hosting your video on platforms like YouTube, which is the world’s second-largest search engine.
Detailed Steps to Create a Software Explainer Video
Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the process:
- Define Your Goals: Identify the purpose of your explainer video. Do you want to increase conversions, improve brand awareness, or provide user-friendly tutorials?
- Identify Your Audience: Understand your target audience's pain points, needs, and preferences. This will help tailor your video content accordingly.
- Create a Detailed Script: A well-crafted script is the backbone of a good explainer video. Highlight the problem, introduce your solution, explain how it works, and end with a strong call-to-action (CTA).
- Design a Storyboard: Translate your script into visual format with a storyboard. This will help visualize the video before production begins.
- Select Your Video Style: Choose the video styles that best suit your content. There are numerous types, from live-action videos to animated explainer videos, whiteboard videos, and infographics.
- Animate or Film Your Content: Depending on the type of explainer video you chose, you’ll need to animate your content or film it in real-time. Software like Adobe After Effects or Toonly can be used for animation, while live-action videos can be shot using a professional camera or even a high-quality smartphone camera for startups or small businesses.
- Record Voiceover: You can record your own voiceover, hire a professional, or use text-to-speech tools available in some explainer video software.
- Edit Your Video: Make use of video editing software to fine-tune your video. Editing tools can help you add transitions, adjust the timing, incorporate sound effects, and add music tracks.
- Feedback and Revisions: Get feedback on your video from colleagues or a test audience, then make necessary revisions.
- Publish and Promote Your Video: Once you're satisfied, publish your explainer video on your landing page, social media, or any other platforms you use. Promote it as part of your marketing strategy to reach your intended audience.
Best Apps to Create Software Explainer Videos
- Powtoon: Powtoon offers pre-designed templates, making it a user-friendly choice for beginners. It offers both free plans and priced versions.
- Animaker: This is a cloud-based tool with six different video styles and a vast library of animated characters, properties, BGs, and more. It also offers a free version.
- Vyond: Known for its wide array of customization options, Vyond offers whiteboard animations, video templates, and live-action explainer video capabilities.
- VideoScribe: VideoScribe specializes in whiteboard explainer videos. It also provides a royalty-free music library and a range of fonts and images.
- Toonly: A drag-and-drop interface makes Toonly an accessible choice. It provides a large selection of animated characters, objects, and backgrounds.
- Biteable: Biteable is known for its high-quality templates, animated scenes, and footage. It’s a great tool for creating professional video content.
- RawShorts: RawShorts provides AI technology that automates video creation, saving you time and effort.
- Adobe Spark: Part of the Adobe suite, Spark allows for creating explainer videos with professional quality. It also includes access to Adobe Stock for images and icons.
All these tools vary in functionality, so the best software for you will depend on your specific needs, budget, and technical expertise.
See a demo of a Software Explainer video created with Speechify Voiceover
Tips for Using Explainer Video Software
1. Try Before You Buy: Most explainer video software offers free trials or free plans with limited functionality. Make use of these to understand the software before committing to a purchase.
2. Explore Templates: Many video tools provide pre-designed templates. These can be an excellent starting point, especially for beginners.
3. Leverage Stock Libraries: Most software includes libraries of royalty-free images, video clips, music tracks, and sound effects. Use these to enhance your videos without worrying about copyright issues.
4. Customize for Your Brand: Customize colors, fonts, and other elements in line with your brand identity to create consistent and recognizable content.
5. Use Animations: Animation tools can bring your ideas to life. Use animated characters and motion graphics to make your videos more engaging.
6. Incorporate Text-to-Speech: If professional voiceover isn't an option, consider using the text-to-speech functionality provided by many explainer video software.
7. Optimize for Mobile: Make sure your video is optimized for mobile devices, as a significant portion of your audience will likely be viewing on smartphones or tablets.
Creating a software explainer video doesn't need to be intimidating or overly complex. With the right approach, understanding of your audience, and use of the best explainer video software, you can produce professional, engaging video content that effectively communicates your message and enhances your online presence. Whether you’re a small business, a startup, or an individual, these tools and tips can help you create high-quality videos for your marketing strategy, tutorials, or other purposes.
