Everything you need to know about 30-second explainer videos

Businesses are increasingly turning to explainer videos to communicate their messages quickly and efficiently because they recognize the sales and marketing power of animated explainer videos.

Explainer videos are especially popular among startups and small businesses, who often use them in place of long-form explainer content.

However, to get the best out of explainer videos you need to be flexible. In certain situations, a 2-minute video may not be the ideal length. This is where 30 second explainer videos come in.

Here are some statistics from LinkedIn. Who found that the sweet spot for B2B video content is between 30 seconds and two minutes.

In this blog post, we will explore the advantages of using these types of videos using examples of 30 second explainer videos. We will also look at the best practices for creating effective 30-second explainer videos.

What is a 30 second explainer video?

A 30 second explainer video packs a lot of punch in a short amount of time! It’s a great way to quickly introduce your product, service or idea to potential customers.

Explainer videos are an entertaining, engaging and visually-stimulating format that can help you explain complicated topics, showcase your brand, and generate excitement about your product.

They offer a fresh way to communicate ideas and capture attention rapidly – all in 30 seconds or less. So get creative and see what a 30 second explainer video can do for you.

When is it appropriate to use 30 second explainer videos?

30 second explainer videos are bite-sized wonders for a simple yet powerful way of delivering complex messages.

• Whether you have a message to share, information to impart, or an idea to explain, 30 second explainer videos can be a fun and effective way to get your point across.
• When you’re trying to reach a public audience, customers, or even coworkers, using a 30 second explainer video can help simplify complex topics in a short but memorable way.
• From website tutorials and product demos, to captivating explainer advertisements, these brief visuals will grab a viewer's attention and leave them with the knowledge they need.

What are the important factors to consider when planning a 30-second explainer video?

Have you ever been in a situation where you had an idea to share, but only thirty seconds to explain it? Let’s face it - it’s not easy to communicate a complex concept within such a short time frame. However, with careful planning and the right tools, you can achieve the impossible:

• First, recognize that videos must be visual to engage viewers and get their attention.
• Second, Your video needs to be clear, concise, and entertaining in order to grab your audience’s attention quickly - and keep it for the full 30-seconds.
• Third, include a strong call-to-action to end the video.

What are the types of 30 second explainer videos?

There are several different types of 30 second explainer videos, including animated explainer videos, live action explainer videos, whiteboard explainer videos, screencast explainer videos, and motion graphic explainer videos.

Each type of video has its own benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to select the right type of explainer video for your message.

• 2D and 3D explainer videos are good for quickly conveying a message in only 30 seconds.
• Animated explainer videos are fun, imaginative, and versatile - perfect for a light-hearted topic.
• Whiteboard videos are effective for more serious topics and use visuals to draw the audience in.
• Kinetic typography is a great way to add movement to your idea - the text literally comes to life.
• Screencast videos are perfect if you want to demonstrate how something works - like our platform.
• Live action explainer videos combine animation with actual people and can really bring your story alive.

Why do 30 Second explainer videos sometimes work better than longer explainer videos?

Short explainer videos are often a better choice for video marketing than longer ones. However, they cannot replace explainer videos of longer duration. It all depends on the context.

The concise format of shorter explainer videos allows businesses to convey their message in the most effective way possible.

Here is a 30 second explainer video example created by Explainer Video Hero for Avoma, the AI Meeting Assistant with Conversation Intelligence:

Additionally, these videos can be shared more easily and quickly on social media platforms, further increasing their reach. Let’s look at some more benefits they offer:

1. Lead generation

30 second explainer videos can be an effective tool to generate leads due to their conciseness:

• They can help capture a viewer's attention within the first few seconds and make an impact quickly. This is especially important when competing with other companies in a crowded marketplace.
• They provide viewers with a quick overview of a product or service, allowing them to quickly decide if it is something they are interested in pursuing further.
• Longer videos may lose viewers' focus before they get to the point where they decide whether or not to take action.

Watch this 30 second explainer video example created by Explainer Video Hero for TrueRev, a subscription & revenue management platform for B2B SaaS businesses. Tackles one subject at a time and does it well too.

2. Demand generation

Unlike longer explainer videos, short explainer videos are typically better suited for demand generation marketing because:

• They can quickly and effectively capture attention, create an emotional connection with the audience and leave them wanting more.
• They offer the customer just enough information to keep them interested and wanting more. With this approach, marketers can capture attention quickly and easily without overwhelming the viewer with too much information.

Watch this 30 second explainer video example from AllTrails, a fitness and travel mobile app. Using simple animations and a soothing voice over, the video manages to alleviate the viewers’ anxiety about going on a hike.

3. Conversion rates

Short explainer videos that are 30 to 40 seconds long help engage potential customers and minimize their perceived risk when considering a purchase leading to higher conversion rates.

This is because these videos are generally more digestible for viewers, and can deliver the same impactful message in a fraction of the time compared to longer explainer videos.

Watch this 30 second explainer video example from pCloud, the encrypted cloud storage. This video uses motion graphics to explain product features and ends with a call to action explaining how to get a free version:

How to use 30 second explainer videos effectively?

Short explainer videos are typically 30 to 40 seconds in length and are used to introduce a product or service, explain a process, or show how to use an app.

You can use them to:

• Explain product features: Provide users with essential product information.
• Generate brand awareness: Create catchy content that informs viewers about your company.
• Create customer engagement: Viewers are more likely to engage with short content on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.
• Show company culture: Showcase your brand philosophy and work culture
• Showcase Corporate Social Responsibility: Build your rapport with the communities around you.
• Send out notifications: Remind customers about offers and discounts.
• Make announcements: Provide information about an event or tradeshow.
• Create Tutorials & Guides: These are great for improving customer service and can be hosted on your website.

Watch this 30 second explainer video example created by Explainer Video Hero for ManyChat, the  Facebook Messenger Chatbot, that informs customers how to get help:

What is the cost of hiring an explainer video service to produce a 30 second explainer video?

Animation explainer video pricing varies from company to company. Many factors affect the Explainer video cost, including its length, complexity, and animation style. The best animated explainer video companies, like Explainer Video Hero (EVH) offer explainer video services through remote video production.

1. Explainer Video Hero

Founded in 2020, Mumbai-based Explainer Video Hero (EVH) is one of the top explainer video companies offering explainer video services via remote video production.

What makes Explainer Video Hero an attractive video production service is their team of more than 30 experts that can deliver a top-notch video from even a PDF. They have produced more than 10,000 minutes of video and counting.

They deliver both animation and live-action videos based on a flat-rate system, with the final cut delivered in under 10 days.

Happy Clients: Book Like A Boss, In-App Chat, Service Provider, VWO, nectar, Picatic, and others.

Delivery Time: Under 10 Days

Average pricing: Animated explainer videos - USD 2000 per minute | Live-action explainer videos - USD 1000 per minute

Watch this 30 second explainer video created by Explainer Video Hero for nectar, the Employee Recognition Software:

2. Thinkmojo

Besides creating explainer videos, Thinkmojo also produces educational commercials and personalized videos.The company based in California was founded back in 2011.

Happy Clients: Zendesk, Google, Slack, Calendly, Square, mongoDB, Discord, and more.

Delivery Time: NA

Average Pricing: Pricing by enquiry

Watch this 30 second explainer video example for Square:

3. Content Beta

Content Beta is a top animated explainer video company that specializes in customer education and explainer videos for SaaS companies.

They specialize in software and SaaS products and have helped more than 100 top SaaS companies across the globe.

They follow a tech-enabled process with on-demand scaling options. First draft is delivered in 1-2 days. Perhaps the most prominent feature of their service is that companies don’t have to spend time briefing them how their product works; no wasting time on conference calls.

Happy Clients: Flipkart, leadfeeder, ManyChat, Kissflow, servicenow, pipe, dynamic yield, and more

Delivery Time: Under 2 weeks

Average Pricing: Animated explainer videos of 1-minute length for USD 2,400.

Watch this 30 second explainer video example from Content Beta created for tomorrow.io, the weather technology company:

Top 10 Examples of 30 Second Explainer Videos

1. Pipe

With Pipe, founders can scale without taking on debt or giving up ownership rights. They no longer have to rely on who they know to access capital, because they will be able to access non-dilutive capital.

Why the video works: This Content Beta-created video totally relies on visuals to introduce a complex UI. The explanations are spot-on and require no voiceover.

2. InstaPay

With InstantPay, you have direct access to all your bank accounts via your mobile device, and you can transfer funds instantly at any time.

Why the video works: Includes essential information + Presents the problem in the first few seconds + Answers them simply + Uses an attractive call to action

3. AllTrails Pro

AllTrails is a trailfinder app with trail information, maps, detailed reviews, and photos curated by hikers, campers, and nature lovers.

Why the video works: The choice of a young girl as the central character using the app for a safe hiking trip is a great way to reassure parents!

4. NeatStreets

Using NeatStreets, you can report hazards, damage, and obstructions on behalf of others and track progress 'in-app' until the problem is solved in under a minute from anywhere in the country.

Why the video works: Serious everyday issues like traffic incidents, used syringes, streetlights not working, unsafe power poles, potholes, and litter have been highlighted visually and memorably in the allotted time.

5. Intuiface

Intuiface is a no-code Audience Engagement Platform that delivers rich interactive digital experiences to connect diverse audiences.

Why the video works: To advertise an engagement product, you need an engaging explainer video! Using flowing animations and peppy music, this video delivers on this premise.

6. Splunk

Splinks software helps search, monitor, and analyze machine-generated data. In addition to indexing and correlating information, it generates alerts, reports, and visualizations as well.

Why the video works: It proves that a well-made video is not just about the length, but its effectiveness as well. Also helps prospective customers in determining whether a product or service is a good fit for them.

7. Kwickmetrics

Kwickmetrics is an Amazon Vendor solution that helps sellers identify business insights for better decision-making through analytics tools.

Why the video works: The use of 2D Motion Graphics to describe the features and benefits of the product is a wise choice because the length of the video and the subject matter demand it.

8. Asana

Asana is a work management platform that helps teams organize, track, and manage their work. It allows teams to create projects, assign tasks, set deadlines, and collaborate on projects in real-time.

Why the video works: The explainer video acts as a commercial with upbeat music and smooth transitions to introduce the new look of their product.

9. Flo

Flo Premium  gives you easy-to-read health reports that show your cycle length, symptoms logged, discharge patterns, activity patterns, and more.

Why the video works: It provides just the right amount of information at the decision-making stage on a topic that people are reluctant to discuss.

10. Vizion

Vizion provides container shipment tracking through an API that pushes the most complete, standardized, and detailed container tracking events to any software or spreadsheet.

Why the video works: The video creates a sense of urgency by highlighting what could go wrong with container shipment tracking, which convinces viewers to learn more about the solution they offer.

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What are the advantages of 30 second explainer videos?

Short explainer videos are quickly gaining popularity as an effective way to communicate complex ideas or services concisely and engagingly.

• With the attention span of the average consumer diminishing, explainer videos that are 30 to 40 seconds long provide an ideal platform to capture and hold viewer attention.
• These short videos can be used to attract interest, provide quick information, showcase a product or service, or even illustrate a company’s mission statement.
• Companies and organizations can also benefit from the cost efficiency of short explainer videos, as they can be created and distributed quickly and easily.

What are the disadvantages of 30 second explainer videos?

Creating a short explainer video that is 30 to 40 seconds long may seem easy, but there are a few disadvantages to consider:

• One of the biggest drawbacks is the limited amount of time available to effectively explain a product or service.
• Additionally, with such a short timeframe, there is not enough time available to include detailed product descriptions or other important information.
• As such, use these videos to provide an introduction to a product or service with the more detailed information provided in longer videos.

How to promote 30-second explainer videos on social media and video-sharing platforms?

B2B brands can use animated explainer videos to promote their products and services. Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Create eye-catching videos: Make sure your videos are visually appealing and engaging. Use vibrant colors and catchy music to grab the attention of your target audience.

2. Utilize keywords: When promoting your videos on social media and video-sharing platforms, use relevant keywords to attract the right people. This will help you increase your reach and engagement.

3. Leverage demand generation marketing: Use demand generation marketing to create interest in your explainer videos. This can include using targeted ads, email campaigns, and webinars.

4. Optimize for search engines: Optimize your explainer videos for search engines by using relevant keywords. You will be able to rank your videos higher on search engine results pages by doing this.

5. Leverage influencer marketing: Reach out to influencers in your target audience to promote your explainer videos. This is a great way to increase visibility and engagement.

What are some tips for making better 30 second explainer videos?

Short explainer videos are a great way to quickly and easily explain complex topics. When creating a short explainer video, it is important to:

• Make the best use of available time; keep the content concise and focus on one topic at a time.
• Use catchy music, attractive visuals, and a clear voiceover to enhance your message.
• Don’t forget to include a call to action to let the viewers take the next step.

What makes 30 second explainer videos a great marketing tool?

30-second explainer videos are a great way to engage users and increase conversion rates. They provide an entertaining and informative way to engage potential customers, as well as to help generate leads. Plus, they are quick, attention-grabbing, and easy to digest.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, 30 second explainer videos are a powerful tool for B2B businesses to attract attention and engage their target audience.

The short length of the video allows companies to quickly communicate complex ideas and concepts, while the creative visuals keep viewers engaged.

Additionally, these videos are perfect for presenting new services and products, as well as demonstrating existing ones. Moreover, explainer videos can be used as part of a larger marketing strategy to increase visibility and brand awareness.

Finally, 30 second explainer videos are quick and easy to produce, making them an affordable marketing tool.