Videos are certainly a highly efficient tool for information transmission. According to various studies, video allows us to retain a message way better than other mediums. This shows us how enormous the potential of using videos as a learning tool really is. When it comes to making an effective explainer video, however, it is important to assess how they can provide the maximum possible value. In this article we will analyze two key factors which will mainly determine the impact the video will ultimately have.
Content - What to tell your audience
What messages exactly you will give the viewers is, of course, highly individual. However, you want to make sure that the information you convey is prepared correctly. Assess questions such as: What do you want to present? Which means will you emphasize in in the video to present different fractions of the information? And how will you get your audience to understand your message? These are very important considerations when making an effective explainer video. So be sure to thoroughly think them through to get the best out it.
Information load
First of all you want to make sure that there is not too much information in one video. Otherwise, this might overwhelm your audience and thus lead to a dampened learning experience. It might also be beneficial to weed the information beforehand, meaning to concentrate on the key points and messages you want to share and to cut out information that would distract from that. Make sure that the entire explainer video is aimed at presenting the identified key messages and irrelevant information is avoided.
Key messages of your effective explainer video
It is important to ensure that key points are recognized as such by your audience. You can achieve this by marking important images or phrases in the video or accentuating them through the voice over. This helps direct the attention of the viewer to crucial messages throughout the video. Keep in mind that the most memorable parts of the video are also the most likely to be remembered.
Which info is best presented in which way?
Be aware that when making a video, you have auditory and visual tools at your disposal. Admittedly, this might seem rather obvious. But this presents an essential part of the reason why videos are so efficient at transferring information. In order to communicate the information, you can either concentrate on visually presenting the information, focus on auditory factors, or you can combine the two in order to create a multisensory learning experience that transports the information you intend to provide. However, some aspects of your message will be easier to present one way of another. Make sure to keep this in mind when considering the information architecture of your video.
Engage your audience - How to tell it
After having assessed what information you want to provide, the task is now to present it in a way that captivates your audience. In order to take full advantage of the value an explainer video can provide, it is important to make sure that your audience is engaged in the video. You want them to take in the full learning experience. Here are some fundamental recommendations.
Determine the length
A central question here revolves around the length of the video. In order to keep the attention of the audience, the explainer video should not be too long. As attention spans are continuously getting shorter, it makes sense to keep the video short as to not lose the audiences focus. On the other hand side it is important to consider the content and message you address. An effective explainer video should be long enough to comfortably contain the key points you want to bring across, but not unnecessarily long.
Avoid Monotony
In the creation of the video, it is essential to avoid monotony. Monotony causes the viewer to lose interest in the video very quickly. In order to counter this, engage your audience. Approach them in a personal and conversational manner to make them feel addressed. Do not talk too slow and aim for a vivid atmosphere, transporting your enthusiasm for the topic to your viewer. Make sure to know your audience – And know the best way to address them.
Use all the crayons in the box
Another way of engaging your audience is to make use of auditory as well as visual sensations in order to keep your audience with you. While this mix can also help to more efficiently transport information to the audience, one should not be forget that it can be used to further captivate the viewers attention in the video as well. Make use of your options to turn this learning tool into an actual learning experience. Keep the audience invested from start to finish. As a multisensory medium, explainer videos have unique potential of using various ways to get and retain the audience’s attention – so make sure to use them.
Conclusion - Creating the most effective explainer video
It is evident that the use of explainer videos can have huge benefits for the overall learning experience, as well as for the results. In order to get the most out of this potential, however, it is important to make sure that the content is carefully considered and engagingly presented. Following the guidelines laid out in this article will be a great aid in ensuring the effectiveness of your explainer video.
Get in touch now – and let us at Propulse video help you create a video that captivates your audience.