We live in a world where attention spans are getting shorter than ever. Thus, marketing professionals are constantly seeking new ways to grab the spotlight. One powerful tool in their arsenal? Animated marketing videos. These dynamic and captivating creations have become a driving force behind successful digital marketing campaigns.
The world of marketing is evolving, and consumers are flocking to video content. In fact, as of 2022, a whopping 44% of digital marketing leaders recognized this trend and responded by increasing their investments in digital video advertising.
Imagine you’ve got a fantastic product or service you’re genuinely passionate about, one you’re convinced can be a huge success. The only hitch? You’re not quite sure how to sell it effectively. If you’re new to this exciting world, fear not – you’ve just stumbled upon the perfect guide.
This comprehensive guide on creating animated marketing videos will help you to create your own, from planning to promotion. After you’ve digested the insights in this article, you’ll be well on your way to mastering a powerful, attention-grabbing marketing tool that can help you sell your product or service to virtually anyone in just a matter of minutes.
Before we jump on how to make animated marketing videos, let’s first answer the most sought-after question:
How Will You Produce Your Video?
If you’re a marketer with no experience in creating animated videos, it’s crucial to be aware of the plenty of available options. Here they are:
Option 1: Software
Using software is the most straightforward way to start making videos. The software lets you create marketing videos, helping you understand what you need in terms of things like visuals, branding, and video style. However, once you’re sure your idea works and you want to make higher-quality videos, you’ll likely want to explore other methods. For your initial videos, starting with basic video-making software is a great choice.
Option 2: Services
If you want to step things up a bit, consider hiring a video production company for animation services. Here, you come up with the video’s purpose, brainstorm ideas, and decide on the branded elements. The production part – actually making the video – is handled by professionals. How closely you work with them depends on what you need and how much you want to be involved.
Option 3: In-house
Once you’ve had some success with videos and decide you want to keep making them regularly, you can think about bringing a video producer in-house. This means having someone on your team who’s an expert at making videos. If you’re starting, you might not already have this person on staff. But when you have an in-house expert or partner, they can really get to know your brand, your voice, and your values. It not only saves time and money in the long run, but it also helps create more genuine and on-brand video content.
Step 1: Plan Your Video and Set Goals
Just like in any successful marketing adventure, everything begins with a clear objective. Before you even start creating animated videos for marketing or before you put your ideas into action, you need to figure out who you’re making this video for and what you want to say. It’s a bit like not being able to write a good story until you know what your story is all about.
And it’s not just about knowing; it’s about keeping it short and sweet. At this stage, pick one main thing you want to measure to see how well your video does. For instance:
- Click-through rate (CTR)
- How long do people watch your video
- How many people engage with it
- How many people view it (views/impressions)
- How many people watch it on a specific webpage, etc.
Once you’ve got your main thing to measure (and some brilliant goals to achieve), it’s time to focus on who you’re making this video for and what you’re going to say to reach them. Look back at those buyer personas of your ideal customers to figure out which problems and interests your video is going to tackle.
Step 2: Pick a Style
Now that you’ve figured out what you want your video to achieve and how you’ll measure its success, it’s time to get creative and choose a style. Maybe you already have a vision in mind, or maybe it’ll come to you during brainstorming. If you’re not quite sure, let’s explore some of the most common styles:
Typography Videos
These are the simplest and often the easiest to create, especially with the software’s help. Typography videos work great when you want to convey information in short, easy-to-digest pieces, especially when you don’t need many visual elements. Think of teaser videos, testimonials from happy customers, or videos that share quick facts.
Animated Infographics
A step up from typography, animated infographics make written information more exciting. They include things like motion graphics, transitions, and other animated elements to make the information more engaging. It’s a way to add some visual flair to your message.
Full Animation
These videos are the most intricate and require the most work. Unless you have an in-house animation expert, you might want to team up with an outside partner like an agency or freelancer. It’s not typically a starting point, but when you’re ready to create evergreen content or support a big project, full animation can make your video look really impressive and captivating.
Step 3: Craft a Storyboard
Once you’ve set your objective, polished your message, and settled on a style to create a marketing video, it’s time to plan what you’ll actually show on screen. This planning stage can take different forms, and if you’re new to this, you can use simple presentation software.
This software helps you sketch out your ideas without needing advanced video skills. The main idea is to get started, focusing on the different elements you want in your video. This might include animated characters, the words that tell your marketing story, or images of your product.
When creating your first storyboard, go step by step:
- Add all the pieces to your storyboard: Characters, text, and spaces for effects, transitions, and objects.
- Arrange the elements: Move everything around on your storyboard slides the way you want them in the finished video. If you’re using presentation software, try to show how things move from slide to slide.
- Make any assets you need: You might have to find or create some elements. This is when video production software or an agency could come in handy if you don’t have in-house experts. If your video needs a voiceover, remember to factor in that cost.
- Time it and check the colors, animations, transitions, and more: Once you’ve got everything in place, including assets (they can be unfinished or final, depending on your progress), make sure the video flows nicely and fits within your desired time frame. Aim for a maximum of 2-3 minutes.
Step 4: Share and Promote Your Video
The last thing to do after learning how to create animated marketing videos is to get them out there for people to see. When you plan how to share and promote your video, remember that different platforms require different video specifications.
For regular social media, emails, and websites, use the standard 16:9 aspect ratio, like on YouTube. But for some places like TikTok and Instagram, it’s wise also to make another version of your video in portrait orientation. Make sure you create versions that look great on the main spots you’ll use; you can find this info for each place by searching.
When you promote your video to boost social media marketing, follow the same rules you used when you first planned your message. This means keeping it short and clear when you talk about what your video is all about. That way, your viewers get a smooth and practical experience.
Elevate Your Marketing Game with Animated Marketing Videos!
Creating videos can be challenging, especially when you add animation to the mix. However, with the step-by-step guide we’ve provided, you have all the tools you need to start brainstorming and producing remarkable animated videos.
Whether you choose to embark on this journey independently using software, collaborate with a video production company, or hire an in-house expert who deeply understands your brand, the choice is yours. One thing is sure, though: video content is here to stay. People are consuming more short-form video content than ever before, and now you’re well-prepared to seize this opportunity and make the most of it. And we’re here to help you every step of the way; connect with Anideos to get the best motion graphics services.
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