Not every business needs the same kind of explainer video. That’s where many companies get stuck. They start by asking whether they need whiteboard animation, motion graphics, or live action. In reality, those are production decisions. The bigger question is this: What are you trying to help your audience understand?
The best explainer videos aren’t chosen because they’re trendy. They’re chosen because they solve a communication problem. Whether you’re launching a SaaS platform, introducing a new product, or shortening your sales cycle, the right video starts with your goal, not the animation style. Before you compare video styles, figure out what job your video needs to do.
Start with the Problem You're Trying to Solve
Every explainer video has one purpose: make something easier to understand. That sounds simple, but businesses often try to squeeze every feature, benefit, and company milestone into one video. The result is a confusing message that leaves viewers with more questions than answers.
Instead, ask yourself:
- Are people struggling to understand what your product does?
- Do prospects keep asking the same questions during sales calls?
- Are visitors leaving your website without taking action?
- Does your product feel too technical to explain with text alone?
Your answers will point you toward the right type of explainer video.
Type of Explainer Video
01Product Explainer Videos
If your audience doesn’t understand what your product actually does, start here. A product explainer video takes something abstract, technical, or brand-new and makes a buyer able to picture it working in their own day. It shows the problem, the product in motion, and the outcome on the other side, so the value lands in under two minutes instead of across a 30-minute demo.
What they actually do:
- Compress the “aha.” They collapse a complicated value proposition into one clear story a buyer gets on the first watch, with no prior context required.
- Handle the first layer of buyer education at scale. One video answers the questions your sales team repeats on every call, so reps spend their time moving deals forward instead of re-explaining the basics.
- Make an intangible product feel real. They turn features and abstractions into something visual and concrete, which builds instant credibility and makes you feel modern before anyone talks to sales.
- Pre-sell the buyer. Most of the buying journey is self-guided research, so a strong explainer means buyers show up to the conversation already understanding the value, which shortens the sales cycle.
They’re especially useful for:
- SaaS platforms
- Mobile apps
- New product launches
- Technology companies
- Enterprise software
A good product explainer doesn’t try to show every feature. It focuses on the features that matter most to your customers. The goal isn’t to explain everything. It’s to make people want to learn more.
02Brand Explainer Videos
Sometimes people understand what you sell. They just don’t understand why they should choose you. That’s where brand explainer videos work best.
Instead of focusing only on features, they communicate your company’s mission, approach, and unique value.
These videos are useful when you want to:
- Build trust
- Introduce your company
- Share your story
- Differentiate yourself from competitors
People buy from companies they understand and trust. A brand video helps create that connection.
03Sales Explainer Videos
Sales conversations often start with the same questions.
- What does your product do?
- How is it different?
- Will it work for our business?
A sales explainer video answers those questions before your team even joins the meeting.
Instead of spending the first fifteen minutes explaining the basics, your sales team can focus on solving customer problems and moving the conversation forward.
That’s why many B2B companies use sales videos throughout their buying journey.
04Customer Education Videos
Winning a customer is only the beginning. Helping them succeed is just as important.
Customer education videos show users how to get the most from your product. They reduce support requests, improve onboarding, and help customers feel confident using your software.
These videos often include:
- Product walkthroughs
- Feature tutorials
- Setup guides
- Training content
- Frequently asked questions
The easier your product is to learn, the more likely customers are to stay.
05Social Media Explainer Videos
Not every viewer is ready to watch a two-minute product demo. Sometimes you only have a few seconds to capture attention.
Short-form explainer videos are designed for platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and other social channels, and should be 30 seconds or less
Instead of explaining your entire product, they introduce one idea, one feature, or one problem your audience relates to.
Think of them as conversation starters rather than complete presentations.
Don't Choose a Style Before You Choose a Strategy
One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is choosing an animation style too early.
They ask:
- “Should we use motion graphics?”
- “Should we use character animation?”
- “Should it be live action?”
Those questions matter, but they’re not the first questions.
The first question should always be: What does our audience need to understand before they feel confident enough to take the next step? Once that answer is clear, choosing the right production style becomes much easier. Animation should support the message, not become the message.
Choose the Team Before You Choose the Animation
Once you know what type of explainer video you need, the next decision is who should create it. This matters more than many businesses realize.
A polished animation won’t help if the message is confusing. The best production partners don’t begin by showing animation samples. They begin by learning about your product, your buyers, and your business goals.
Before signing with any company, ask questions like:
- How do you learn about our business?
- Who writes the script?
- Have you worked with SaaS or B2B companies before?
- Will our video be fully custom?
- How do you measure whether a video is successful?
The answers will quickly tell you whether the company focuses on strategy or simply on production.
Why Businesses Choose Explainify
At Explainify, every project begins with one question: What does your audience need to understand?
Instead of fitting your business into a template, the team builds every explainer video around your product, your buyers and your goals.
The process includes:
- Discovery and strategy
- Scriptwriting
- Storyboarding
- Custom illustration
- Professional animation
- Voiceover
- Revisions throughout production
- Final delivery in high-quality formats
The focus isn’t simply on creating attractive videos.
It’s on helping businesses communicate complex ideas clearly so prospects understand them faster and take action with confidence.
Whether you’re launching new software, introducing a feature or helping your sales team explain your product, Explainify creates videos designed to support real business growth.
The Right Explainer Video Makes Every Conversation Easier
Choosing the right type of explainer video isn’t about following trends or picking the newest animation style.
It’s about understanding what your audience needs to know before they feel confident enough to move forward.
The best explainer videos remove confusion, answer important questions and help buyers see the value of your product faster.
When that happens, your website works harder, your sales conversations become shorter, and your marketing becomes much more effective. That’s why the right explainer video isn’t simply another piece of content.
It’s one of the most valuable communication tools your business can have.
Frequently Asked Questions
01How do I know which type of explainer video is right for my business?
Start with your goal. If you’re introducing a product, educating customers, supporting sales or building brand awareness, each objective calls for a different type of explainer video.
02How long should an explainer video be?
Most explainer videos are between 60 and 90 seconds. That’s usually enough time to explain the problem, present the solution and encourage viewers to take the next step.
03Can one explainer video support multiple marketing channels?
Yes. A well-produced explainer video can be used on your website, landing pages, email campaigns, LinkedIn, paid advertising, sales presentations and customer onboarding.
04Do all businesses need custom explainer videos?
Not always, but custom videos often deliver better results because they’re built around your product, audience and brand instead of relying on generic templates.
05Why does Explainify focus on strategy before production?
Because great animation alone doesn’t drive results. Explainify starts by understanding your buyers and your message, ensuring every video communicates complex ideas clearly and supports your marketing goals.
