The Benefits of Animated Explainer Videos

There is no denying the power of video to capture attention and evoke an emotional response. The combination of graphics, moving pictures, sound, and, of course, content all serve to grab and hold attention. When you think about it, this is no surprise.

The old adage “a picture is worth a thousand words” is no joke. Our brains process visual data much faster than text. The information we can glean from an image in a split second could take paragraphs of text to impart.

When you add in the fact that humans are inherently programmed toward laziness – we all want to complete tasks in the most efficient and least labor-intensive way possible – it’s easy to see why video content is now king. We seek the path of least resistance, and reading requires more cognitive effort than watching a video.

While the internet was originally conceived as a communications tool, it is also a visual medium. The best way to convey information these days is through video content. How can this work for trenchless businesses interested in attracting an audience, generating leads, and ultimately, making sales?

One of the best ways is to incorporate explainer videos into your content strategy. As their name implies, explainer videos are a means of conveying a business concept in a bite-sized and easily digestible manner. This is especially important when you run a business or sell a product that is not easy for the consumer public to understand.

If you’re unsure what you stand to gain by spending the time and money to create explainer videos for your trenchless business, here are just a few of the benefits you may enjoy in the process.

Traffic

Businesses have many goals when it comes to their online operations.  One of the first is to bring in more traffic, and specifically more targeted traffic, to their website. If people don’t know you exist, your business isn’t likely to be very successful.  Increasing visibility and getting new potential consumers in the door is a must.

Videos can help you to increase traffic in a couple of ways. First of all, you can optimize videos in many of the same ways as text. Complete all hidden meta data fields like titles, tags, and descriptions.

In addition, you can embed backlinks in video content. This way, when people share a video, you automatically and organically increase your network of links. Video content can also increase the amount of time visitors spend on your pages, a statistic that search engines use for tracking and indexing purposes. These efforts help to boost your page rank, increase your web presence, and bring in more traffic.

Engagement

As mentioned above, our brains are wired to seek convenience and expedience, which makes videos a better source of gathering information than blocks of text.  However, we are also curious creatures and we seek connection and meaningful experiences. Video content not only engages more senses than text, but it has greater power to speak to us on an emotional level as well.

You can increase engagement through video content by conveying information about your company in a way that forms a personal connection, helping viewers relate to your company, or more specifically, the characters in your video. When paired with a concise and non-threatening call to action, explainer videos can turn passive viewers into active leads.

Conversions

There are escalating levels of conversions that might interest the average business owner, from click-thru, to lead generation, to making sales, to creating brand ambassadors. Animated explainer videos give you the opportunity to clarify what your company has to offer, connect with prospective customers on a mental and emotional level, and make a more lasting impact than you could with text alone. This level of engagement is more likely to result in all types of conversions.

Sharing

Social media has quickly become an inescapable necessity for many people. For some, it is a primary means of connecting with family, friends, and the world.

As a result, there is a new sort of social currency around sharing content, including articles, videos, and opinions. Video content is not only more appealing than text, but it is also easier to share.

While your animated explainer videos may not necessarily go viral, it is certainly more likely consumers will share them, increasing your reach and potentially your network of links, both of which are to the benefit of your business.