So you’re convinced explainer videos are the best marketing tool to sell your software product or service. What’s the next decision you need to make?
It would probably be what type of video should you be making? A software explainer video or a product demo video? Maybe you don’t even know the difference between the two options. You might also be wondering what style you should use for your video? An animated video, a stock footage one or a live action one? Perhaps, you might be wondering what are the implications of these choices?
In this blog, we will explain the differences between these types of videos and video styles.
What’s The Difference Between A Software Explainer Video And A Product Demo Video?
A software explainer video provides a brief description of your software product and informs your target audience about the key benefits of your offering. It describes the challenges that the prospect faces and showcases how your software could help. Here’s an example of a software explainer video. You can use this video in the awareness phase of the buyer journey. Below is an example of a software explainer video.
A product demo video is the next video to create after you’ve created your explainer video. A product demo video shows prospects, visually, what key screens of your software solution look like and takes them through how your software actually works. This software demo video can be used at the point when your prospect is considering purchasing your product so that he can actually ‘see’ what it looks like in motion. Below is a good example of a software demo video.
What’s The Difference Between Whiteboard Animations, 2D Animations, Stock Footage Videos and Films That Are Shot Live?
2D animated videos can be of two types – whiteboard animation videos and pure 2D animation videos. Below are examples of each.
Whiteboard Video
2D Animation Video
You might think that animated videos are not taken seriously and unsuitable to explain a software product. You would definitely be wrong; Animated videos can have a highly professional feel! In fact, animation can be great for explaining software because it is visually appealing and interesting. Since software products are not that easy to explain, software explainer videos or software demo videos that simplify complex information and hook in your customers, can really work well.
Stock footage videos are also a great way to tell your brand story or explain what problems your software solves, how it works and the benefits.
Stock footage videos make use of video clips that already exist with image banks. The key is to create the right narrative or script, find footage that matches each line of your script and stitch it together with clever editing. Add graphical overlays, screenshots and supers and you’ve got a winning software explainer video or software product demo on your hands.
The downside is that stock footage can be expensive to purchase, especially if you need several clips in each video and you may have to retrofit your script to the footage that is already available. So, your narrative may be limited. Below is an example of an engaging stock footage video.
Live action videos use actors who are specifically cast for each role and the video is filmed at a particular location or multiple locations with a crew, equipment and lighting.
This option might not be suitable for software explainer videos since most software offerings are based on abstract concepts which could be difficult to explain through live filming. Also, live action videos are also more expensive and logistically difficult to create as compared to animated or stock footage videos. Below is an example of a live action video.
Browse through our software explainer videos and product demo videos on our website to get a better understanding of the possibilities.
Ripple Animation, has been rated the ‘Best Explainer Video Company In India 2020’ by US based reviews and ratings platform, Clutch.
Our specialists have created films for some of the world’s most well known software companies.
If you need help figuring out what the correct choice of video is for you, our team of experts is waiting to help!
Visit our website and fill in our form or contact us and together we will begin the journey of creating a video that can help grow your software business!