6 Types of Animation Explainer Videos and How SaaS Companies Can Use Them to Drive Sales

Explainer videos are a great way to communicate with your customers. They can be used for many different purposes, including lead generation and reducing customer churn.

What is an explainer video and why does your business need it? There are many types of explainer videos but an animated explainer video is an important one. It is a short video that businesses use to promote their products or services. The best explainer videos:

• Use simple language and humor to explain complex concepts.
• Are concise, simple, entertaining, and visually appealing.
• Are memorable, which makes them more likely to be watched and shared.
• Can be used to target specific audiences.

A study conducted by Invisia shows that those who watch a video retain 95% of what they see, while those who read a text message retain 10%.

As valuable as explainer videos are for marketing your B2B SaaS products and services, it can be tough to decide which type is right for your brand because there are many types of explainer videos to choose from.

In this two-part article, we will discuss some of the most popular types of animated explainer videos, and how B2B businesses can use the sales and marketing power of animated explainer videos.

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PART I: 6 Types of animated explainer videos

Let’s look at the 5 types of animated explainer video examples that B2B SaaS brands can use for demand generation marketing and increasing conversion rates.

1. Product demo explainer videos

Use case: Product demo videos are a powerful marketing and sales tool for B2B brands. If you want to show off your product in all its glory, a product demo video is the way to go.

• By providing a short, engaging video that demonstrates the key features and benefits of your product, you can quickly capture the attention of prospects and customers alike.
• They can be used to show potential customers how your product works, and why it's the best solution for their needs.
• They can be used to drive traffic to your website and increase conversions.

Watch this example of an animated explainer video created by Explainer Video Hero for In-app Chat, the instant messaging app:

2. Case study explainer videos

Use case: Case study videos are typically used to showcase how a product or service has helped a specific customer.

• This type of video is an excellent way to build trust with potential customers and show them how your business can help them solve their specific problems.
• To create an effective case study video, choose a customer that is willing to be featured in your video. You will also need to create a script that highlights the problem that your customer was facing and how your product or service helped them solve it.

Watch this case study animated explainer video from DHL, the global logistics and international shipping service:

3. How-to explainer videos

Use case: If you want to give potential customers a taste of what using your product is like, how-to videos are the way to go.

• How-to videos walk viewers through the process of using your product and show them how easy it is to get started.
• They showcase your product or service in action and demonstrate how it can be used to solve a problem for your target customer.
• They act as a valuable resource that they can refer to when they need help.

Explainer Video Hero created this animated explainer video for VWO, the market leader in A/B testing tools:

4. Animated explainer videos

Use case: If you want to get into the nitty-gritty of how your product works, an animated explainer video is the way to go. These videos go into detail about the features and benefits of your product, and how it can help businesses achieve their goals.

With animated characters and engaging animation, these videos can help you tell your brand's story uniquely and engagingly and add personality to your explainer video.

The word animated explainer video is generally used as an umbrella term. Some of its types are 2D explainer videos, 3D explainer videos, Whiteboard explainer videos, 30 second explainer videos and so on.

They all perform the same function, but some types work better for certain topics. A whiteboard explainer video, for example, brings a topic to life in front of an audience.

Watch this animated explainer video created by Explainer Video Hero for Ibexa DXP - The dedicated digital experience platform for B2B:

5. Motion graphics explainer video

Use case: You can use motion graphics explainer videos to make your business stand out from the competition.

If you’re in the SaaS business, you know that selling your product can be a challenge. You’re competing against other companies with similar products, and you need to find a way to stand out. One way to do this is with a motion graphics explainer video.

Motion graphics explainer videos are a type of explainer video that use movement, graphics, and sound to help viewers understand and retain information about a product or service.  

It’s an engaging and visually appealing way to communicate your message, and it can be used on your website, social media, and email marketing campaigns.

Explainer Video Hero created this animated explainer video for Book Like A Boss, the Booking Page Builder:

6. Live-action explainer videos

Use case: If you want to show potential customers what using your product is really like, live-action videos are the way to go. They feature real people using your product in real-world scenarios and can be used to show off your product's features and benefits in a relatable way.

One way to engage potential SaaS customers and explain the benefits of your software is through the use of live-action explainer videos.

These videos can be used to answer common questions about the software and address any concerns that the customer may have and to reassure potential customers that its product is used by real people and it offers the benefits as advertised.

Watch this example of a live-action animated explainer video from Expandopedia, a global HR & compliance business intelligence platform:

PART II: How SaaS companies can use explainer videos to increase sales

We will take the approach of stating the problem faced by B2B SaaS brands and what types of explainer videos can help:

What challenges do B2B SaaS brands face when increasing sales?

B2B SaaS is a rapidly growing market, which is highly competitive. In order to succeed, brands need to focus on creating a strong sales strategy. The following are some of the most common challenges faced by B2B SaaS brands in their effort to boost their sales.

1. Lack of differentiation

With so many players in the market, it can be difficult for B2B SaaS brands to differentiate themselves from the competition. Therefore, it is vital for them to have a clear and unique value proposition that sets their brand apart from the rest.

What video to use: Motion graphics and Live-action videos work well because being relatively new concepts they can help a B2B SaaS brand to stand out on video sharing platforms and social media channels.

This motion graphic explainer video was created by Explainer Video Hero for myCOI, the automation solution for the request, collection, and resolution of insurance certificates:

2. Poor lead generation

To boost sales, B2B SaaS brands need to generate high-quality leads. There are, however, many brands that struggle with lead generation because they lack effective strategies.

Explainer videos are short and informative that can help attract potential customers to learn more about your product or service and also keep them engaged.

You can also use them to drive traffic to your website or landing page and capture their contact information. This can improve your chances of turning leads into customers.

What video to use: Product demo explainer videos, How-to videos, animated explainer videos

Here is an example of a product explainer video created by Content Beta for Lyne.ai, the AI-powered sales data products company:

3. Low conversion rates

Even if a B2B SaaS brand is generating a high volume of leads, it may still struggle with sales if its conversion rates are low. For this reason, it is important to have a strong sales funnel in place capable of converting leads into customers.

To increase conversion rates, businesses need to focus on creating engaging and informative content that speaks to their target audience. Explainer videos are a great way to communicate complex information in a concise and easy-to-understand format.

What video to use: Product demo explainer videos, How-to videos, animated explainer videos

4. High customer churn

B2B SaaS brands need to focus on customer retention as well as acquisition. If a brand has a high churn rate, it will be difficult to grow its business. It is important to invest in marketing and sales strategies that can help reduce customer churn.

High customer churn can be a real drag on a company's bottom line. But what if there was a way to reduce it?

Explainer videos can be used to engage with customers and explain your product or service with clarity. You can also use them to onboard new customers, reduce their learning curve, and retain them for a long time.

What video to use: Product demo explainer videos, how-to videos, animated explainer videos

An example of a How-to animated explainer video created by Content Beta for TapClicks, The Smart Marketing Cloud:

5. Lack of investment

If a B2B SaaS brand is not investing in its marketing and sales efforts, it will struggle to succeed. Therefore, it is important to allocate a certain amount of resources towards these areas to boost growth.

To attract investment, SaaS companies need to have a strong success story. Explainer videos are the best ways to communicate this story compellingly.

A high-quality case study explainer video can help companies show potential investors that they are committed to their product and have a clear vision for how it can be used to solve real-world problems as has been demonstrated in the case study

What video to use: Case study explainer videos, animated explainer videos

Read this case study from Content Beta describing how they helped Leadfeeder, a B2B lead generation software, to create video content for the entire customer journey. You can also watch the animated explainer video:

Conclusion

No matter what type of explainer video you choose, the important thing is that it's informative and engaging. A good explainer video service can help you boost your brand awareness, and persuade potential customers to give your product a try.

If you're looking for a top explainer video company for your B2B SaaS brand, Explainer Video Hero is the perfect partner. They specialize in creating high-quality, informative, and engaging explainer videos that help brands reach their target audiences.