In today’s world every second counts. Especially when you’re making an explainer video that showcases your brand to your prospects and customers.
If your explainer video becomes too long, you might lose the viewer’s attention. But if your video is too fast-paced, you’ll leave the viewer feeling confused. Remember to strike the right balance!
Here are 3 tips that will help you determine the optimal length for your animated explainer video:
1. Different Lengths For Different Videos
There are different optimal video lengths for different types of videos:
● Product tutorial: 45-90 seconds
● Typical commercial: 25-60 seconds
● Video designed for crowd-funding: 2 – 5 minutes
● Video testimonial: 60 – 120 seconds
● Explainer videos: 60 – 90 seconds
● Now when it comes to social media, an ideal video length can be in the region of 20-30 seconds.
● Instagram videos: Up to 30 seconds
● Facebook story videos: Up to 20 seconds
● Facebook ad videos: Not more than 15 seconds
Note that these are all general recommendations and can vary according to the context. For instance, consider an explainer video for a product meant for technical experts. In this case the intended audience is more committed to understanding the product’s technical aspects. So, the video can be as long as 2-3 minutes or more depending on the content.
Also within this optimal video length, make sure that you create an outline for the script and allot the right length of time to each section. For example, you can break up an animated explainer video in the following sections – introduction, problem statement, solution introduction, key benefits and closing statement. Your guidance will be really important because your explainer video production company can give you the best explainer video only when you give their team the right brief.
2. An Effective Opening
Today there are multiple pieces of content competing for a viewer’s attention. This means that the first few seconds of your video are crucial in helping the viewer decide whether your video is worth watching. So remember to set the context upfront.
For example, in this explainer video for HDFC Mutual Funds, the explainer video production company gave a clear introduction to the concept of goal setting and then delved into the details of financial planning. In this video the focus was on explaining the importance of goal setting in the shortest length of time and the most interesting manner possible.
By contrast, in this explainer video for the startup nUlta, the explainer video production company, gave a light and friendly introduction that makes it easier for viewers to engage with a sensitive topic such as mental health.
So depending on the context, make sure that the opening to your explainer video interests viewers enough for them to continue watching the video.
3. Well-Crafted = Effective Length
Whether you choose whiteboard animation or any other graphic style, you must ensure that the use of different elements in your video increases your prospect’s understanding of your offerings.
For example, in this explainer video for our own video production company, the visuals and supers complement the narrative. As a result, the viewer remains engaged till the very end and video completion rates are high.
Remember that the best explainer video companies understand the craft of video-making. So make sure to work with an expert.
Our video production company, Ripple Animation is an explainer video company with over a decade of industry experience with clients based in metros such as Mumbai-Pune-Bangalore-Delhi all the way to Isreal and New York. We’d love to help you tell your story!
You can reach out to us via email or visit our website and fill out the short form on our home page. We’d love to hear from you!