3 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Cheap Explainer Video

You’ve seen them: Those local, basic-cable TV commercials that are so bad, it’s embarrassing. You want to change the channel – but like witnessing a train wreck, you just can’t look away. And you ask yourself: How could anyone have paid money to make this ad? What you’re probably not thinking? “Man, I’ve got to buy what they’re selling!”

The same goes for animated marketing videos. Always remember: You get what you pay for! Refuse to skimp on quality, and you’ll end up with a beautiful, unique, mind-blowing piece of marketing art that gets results; but settle for a budget video and you’ll get a cheap mess – one that’s ineffective.

Related: What to Look for in an Animated Video Producer

So even though a $500 explainer video sounds good right now, you should ask yourself a few questions:

1. Do you want impact – Or just a video?

Because if you want an explainer video that gets results – boosted sales, increased conversion, etc. – then you have to make it good. It may sound obvious, but if you really want people to watch your video, you have to make one worth watching. Brands like Apple, Dropbox, and Salesforce know this. They’re not skimping on budget, because they know that the price tag doesn’t matter if at the end of the day your brand stands out, viewers respect you, and consumers buy from you.

2. Do you want to earn trust?

In a world where people face a flood of video advertisements every single day, everyone becomes a video connoisseur. Your audience knows good video from bad.  And they trust brands that invest in quality video. We all notice bad quality and we see it often, so when we see a real, quality explainer video, we pay attention – because we know it took work. So before you settle for a cheap video, remember: the quality of your video directly impacts how people see your brand. People trust good video, because it’s a sign of expertise, craftsmanship, and care.

Related: The Animated Video Production Process

3. Do you want a return on your investment?

What good is a shoestring explainer video if it looks like you made it in your basement? While a high-quality video results in serious ROI – making up for the expensive price tag – a cheap video is more likely to make your company look unprofessional. Why invest at all if it’s not going to work?

When you buy an explainer video, you’re not just “buying a video.” You’re paying for an effective and proven process. And to get right down to it, you’re paying for results. So if you hire a company because they’re “cheaper,” you’ll get exactly what you paid for – a video that not only is cheap, but looks cheap – and doesn’t convert new customers.

Related: What Sets Explainify Apart

But if you take the long view, and understand that an online video isn’t a one-off purchase, but a long-term investment in a proven marketing strategy, then signing on with a high-end production house starts to sound like a much better deal.