9 Types of Explainer Videos

There are many types of videos a company can produce for both marketing and internal communication purposes. Of those videos, the explainer video is one of the most popular and effective choices. Simply put, an explainer video is a short video that explains a subject in a captivating manner. But did you know that there are several types of explainer videos that you can make?

If you really wanted to get into the finer details of the different types of explainer videos, you could come up with a list of 20 to 25. But chances are you only need to consider about 7 to 10 types to find the right one to achieve your goals. In this article, we identify the top 10 most effective types of explainer videos you can use to help grow your business, increase sales, and improve communication throughout the office. Want to have an easy checklist to figure out which video platform is best for you? Download our free e-book The Ultimate Video Platform Buying Guide

Animated Explainer Videos

One of the most-produced types of explainer videos, animated videos are a great choice. Attractive visuals and computer graphics can explain difficult concepts in a way that improves memory retention in the viewer. Animated explainer videos are ideal for explaining how applications work, describing difficult tech specs, or showcasing financial graphics.

Live-Action Explainer Videos

Your live-action explainer video can be completely live, or you can integrate animated graphics within the video. Use a live-action video when you want to show your product or service in real-world use. It’s also a cost-effective way to engage your audience in a casual manner.

Motion Graphics Explainer Videos

While these types of explainer videos bear some similarities to animated videos, there are some distinctions. The video uses animated artwork, but the focus areas are the message, facts, and ideas you are trying to get across to your audience, not the visuals. Typically, a strong voiceover is used to engage the audience and tell the story, with the graphics simply serving a supporting role.

Whiteboard Explainer Videos

Imagine watching someone draw images on a large whiteboard. Speed up the process, and now you have a whiteboard explainer video. It’s the same concept as those recipe videos that speed up the action so you can watch the entire prep and cooking process within a very short time. The images build a story and a voiceover narrates the video and supports the explanation.

Screencast Explainer Videos

These types of explainer videos are used to show an app or other type of software in actual use. Essentially, the process of using the app is recorded, while a voiceover explains what is occurring. It’s a very cost-effective way of showcasing how to use a particular app.

Infographic Explainer Videos

When you have a lot of information to convey, an infographic explainer video might suit your needs. The infographics can quickly get an important point across to your audience with no lengthy explanations.

Kinetic Typography Explainer Videos

Kinetic typography animation is a trending type of explainer video in which you use fonts and typography to create a visual story. Using the right fonts and animations can make these videos appear very creative.  

Stock Footage Explainer Videos

If you don’t want to spend the money or take the time to shoot your own videos, you can sometimes purchase stock footage for a relatively low cost. It may take a bit of time to find the right footage that works for your message. Of course, you’ll want to make sure that a competitor isn’t using the same footage for their own explainer videos.

Cutout and Stop Motion Animation

Instead of computer-generated animation, you can use these old-school animation methods to produce an imaginative and creative video. Cutout animation is moving cutout images to film a complete story. Stop motion videos are similar, but utilize objects instead of cutouts.

How Viostream Can Help

There are other variations of the above types of explainer videos, but this list should be enough to get you started producing high-quality, creative, and captivating videos that resonate with your audience.

Regardless of which type of explainer video you choose to create, it’s important to always first create a video script, as well as to define what goal you are trying to achieve with your video. Doing so will ensure that your video will be more effective and resonate more thoroughly with your selected audience. Using an enterprise-grade video platform will also provide you with the tools you need to manage and publish your videos most effectively.

Viostream offers solutions for brand building, employee engagement, and growing your customer base. Plus, it's the premier video management platform that's capable of delivering solutions tailored to your organization. Featuring robust analytical tools, live streaming, dedicated video portals, and much more, Viostream can take your video marketing to the next level. Start your free trial now.