Category Archives: Tips & Tricks

Animation is such a powerful tool for your business. When it comes to creating engaging content, using animation is a solid investment for your company. At Small Films, we’ve been delivering animations for years and have seen the incredible success these styles of films bring to brands.

Our modern culture turns to the internet when we need to learn. Don’t know how to do something? Somebody out there must have made a video about it, right? The videos we consume to understand a particular product or service better are called explainer videos. They’re an awesome way to give your audience quick information and present yourself as an expert in your field. They also help to gain people’s trust – so your company will be regarded with increased confidence.

Nobody wants to be confronted with a wall of text explaining why your company has a good culture and ethics or that your protein water is the best in the business. Instead, an animated explainer video allows people to understand who you are with minimal effort. Because, let’s face it, people don’t have the time to actively learn about who you are; they want to be spoon-fed with valuable information.

So, what exactly is an animated explainer video?

An animated explainer video will describe your product or service through animation. This might be via 2D, 3D, character animation or motion graphics and will be a way to show the benefits of your offering concisely. Animation is so powerful because it can explain complex ideas simply, without the need for expensive film shoots or long-distance travel. Check out our extended blog on ‘what is an animated explainer video’ to learn more about this film style.

Watch the animated product explainer video we did for Blossm

 

5 reasons why you should use animated explainer videos:

● They show a problem and a solution

A consumer wants to know how you can solve their problem. If a video can show a linear narrative in which somebody relatable to themselves gets their problem solved, a consumer is far more likely to become infatuated with your company.

● They are approachable

Animation is probably one of the more challenging forms of media to create. Yet, it is the easiest form to consume. People will be far more likely to watch a video about who you are or what you sell rather than read about it.

● Show your brand personality

Does your company have a wicked work culture that everybody else should know about? Are your ethics well aligned with your audience’s wants, and do you have a brand ahead of its time? Use your animated explainer video as a chance to show your brand’s personality.

● They’re multifaceted

Your video can be posted on YouTube or Vimeo. It can then be relayed through your social media platforms. It can be embedded on your website. It can be sent out via an email marketing campaign. Once you have the video, there is a multitude of ways you can use it.

● Explainer videos can help improve your SEO

Google is constantly trying to figure out why you should be ranked number 1. You need to show Google that you are the top expert in your industry and have information others desperately need. Explainer videos optimised for search will help your website be found by users looking for your product or service.

Explainer videos will add a great deal of value to your website and help highlight why a customer should buy from you. They’ll improve conversions and offer an incredible return on investment.

At Small Films, we will work with you to discover the best animation style that fits your video project, tone of voice, and goals. We’ll help write the script, storyboard it, and our talented bunch of animators will bring your project to life.

If you’re looking for an animated explainer video company, then do get in touch

Animated explainer videos are an excellent way for a business to attract clients in a creative, eye-catching and informative way.  

What is an Explainer Video? 

Explainer videos are usually short videos that are used for marketing or selling a product or service. Explainer videos highlight the key features and benefits of these products/services to encourage why a customer should buy them, so they’re a great style of video to use if your product or service is complicated to understand. They are used in multiple ways, such as on an e-commerce site, in Facebook ads or by the new business team to help quicken the sales cycle.  

The Benefits of an Animated Explainer Video 

Not only are animated explainer videos a popular choice, but they don’t require extensive production or travel, making them easier to create and often more cost-effective. An animated explainer video doesn’t need pre-shot footage, so they’re a great way to bring any concept to life. 

  • They quickly explain complex ideas. 
  • They are cost-effective to create 
  • They support your SEO efforts 
  • They help to position your brand 
  • Video production is easier to manage 
  • They can boost conversion rates

At Small Films, we can provide all types of animated explainer videos. Give us a bell to chat through your project. 

Animation is a great way to get creative with your video. It can be colourful, vibrant and unique – helping to make your brand stand out. With animated explainer videos, you also have access to various styles, from character animation to mixed media – allowing you to choose which best fits your brand. For example, a company like Innocent often uses illustrators for their animations to capture their playful personality, whilst Accenture uses 2D motion graphics to explain their services clearly.    

Animated explainer videos can come in a variety of styles and functions: 

2D Animated Character Videos
Animated videos are pretty easy on the eye, especially when you have a nice simple animated character telling you a story. It’s engaging and, if done right, will put the right message across. 

2D Motion Graphics
With 2D motion graphics, you don’t need an emotional/engaging story. Due to the graphics being the exciting part, you can just jump straight right into the relevant information required. 

Whiteboard Animation
This type is simple and can gain the attention of both a visual and text learner. If done right, it can be a real winner of an animated explainer video. 

3D Animation Video
3D animation is a more advanced style, where features can be made more realistic. However, this can be expensive to create compared to 2D animation but is definitely worth the money. 

Animated Explainer Video Best Practices 

As an experienced animation video company, Small Films has created countless animated videos for our clients, including Interactive Investor and Emily Crisps, so we know all the best practices for all styles of explainer videos. 

  • Keep them between 30-90 seconds in length.  
  • The videos should be kept simple, refined down to only 3-5 messages 
  • Start with a simple script and work your way from there.  
  • Let someone who doesn’t know the industry watch your video – this way, you can see if people will understand your messages and what you need to improve on.    

At Small Films, we can take your project and create something outstanding from just a seed of an idea. We’ll support you with everything, from writing the script, creating storyboards, animating and editing. Give us a bell if you’d like to chat your project through. 

How much does a corporate video cost? It depends…

Frustrating perhaps, but true. Promotional video costs can vary enormously. Like any product – there are low budget options, top-quality professional options with all the bells and whistles, and lots of levels in between. There are so many factors affecting the cost of corporate video that it would be disingenuous (and probably inaccurate) to pluck a figure out of the air to answer the question. It’s not a cost-hiding conspiracy created by the video production industry – it’s just a very complex issue.

The good news is that video recording technology has become a lot more accessible over the last few years and video production costs have decreased. That means that quality video content is no longer the preserve of big brands with a huge budget. It’s now a reality for any small business or SME looking to grow.

Video for your business can be as simple as filming it yourself on a smartphone, downloading an app to use a ready-made template, adding effects, editing it, and publishing it to a video-sharing channel. And that’s great if a lo-fi, personal feel is what you’re trying to achieve. For most businesses, however, the amateur approach doesn’t really work. 62% of consumers who watch a poor quality video say they are left with a negative perception of the brand, but embedding a high-quality video on a business website landing page has been shown to increase conversions by up to 80%.

>> Looking for video production services? From explainer videos to brand films, take a look at how we can help support you. 

It’s clear then, that video content can have a massive impact. It’s important for businesses thinking about video to ensure that this impact is always a positive one. One way of doing that is to use an established video production company that will have a team of experienced professionals, high-quality equipment and pre-production, production and post-production capabilities. When choosing a company, get recommendations, look at their past work and speak to previous clients about their experiences.

The best way to approach commissioning video content from a production company is to have a clear idea of what you want to spend. As with building a house where your architect wants to know the house you envisage from the size, style and building materials, to the features, fixtures and fittings, a professional video production company needs to have an idea of your budget in order to accurately advise what services they can offer you. A corporate video could cost anything from £1,500 to £30,000 depending on a large number of variables from the complexity of the script to the cameras being used. Any reputable video production company will offer you the best creative options for your budget – it’s in their interests that the video looks as good as possible after all. And beware, there’s no such thing as a steal in video production – if something is cheap there’s usually a good reason for it. For example, a camera operator can cost anything from £150 to well over £1000 a day – but the quality of work and level of experience will be reflected in the price. Of course, you can still get a good deal on your corporate video – but the best way to get high quality and value for money is to establish a good relationship and trust with your video production company.

So what are the variables that affect how much a corporate video costs? This will give you an idea of the processes that can be involved in corporate video production. Not all the elements will be necessary in any one video – it obviously depends on the type, scope and length of your video – as well as the budget. The costs will differ for an animated explainer video and a talking head corporate video shot in the workplace for example.

Read our blog: Local vs. London video production company. Which is best?

Planning and Pre-production

Strategy, creative idea, visualisation and design

Scriptwriting/storyboarding

Location finding

Casting of actors or voiceover

Wardrobe/props

Production planning and logistics

Direction and client communication

Shoot day/s

Director

Camera Operator

Cast

Wardrobe/make-up

Sound/lighting technician

Runner

Catering

Studio/location fee

Equipment hire

Travel

Post Production

Editor

Edit Producer and client liaison

Executive producer approvals

Client feedback and approvals

Animation

Motion graphics

Special effects

Stock footage

Music

Voiceover

Licensing

Subtitling/translation

Colour balancing and grading

Export and optimisation for web streaming.

So there you have it. A corporate video can involve many different processes and be many different things, but one thing it should always be is good quality. The best way to cut through the confusion is to speak to a reputable video production company and be clear about what you want and roughly how much you want to spend. Show them examples of videos you like for comparison – be open to new ideas, and most of all, enjoy the creative process!

Small Films is a leading corporate video agency in London. By combining strategic minds with creative flair we create powerful stories with video that deeply resonate with audiences, supporting our clients to achieve their ambitions in growing their organisation, brand or campaign.

As we discovered in our previous blog post , there’s no ignoring the power of video content to transform business marketing. With statistics showing that adding video to your website landing page increases conversions by a whopping 80% (Invisia) and that embedding video in enewsletters increases click through rates by over 200% (Hubspot), video is now the undisputed leader of content marketing formats. And it’s not just the big brands exploiting this power. Advances in digital technology have made video marketing accessible and affordable for even the smallest of businesses and start-ups. Even so – making the decision to use video content in the marketing mix can initially be a little daunting for small business owners. Perhaps it seems like it must be a complex, time consuming or expensive exercise – so how do you go about taking those first steps into potentially commissioning a video, and how does the process work?

Here are our top tips for a smooth video commissioning experience:

1. Assess your business objectives and desired outcomes

You know you want a video because it’s the most effective form of content for marketing – but what do you want to achieve with it? Are you trying to educate, raise awareness of your knowledge and credentials, tell your brand story, or sell something? Have a clear objective and make sure you and other stakeholders in the business are on the same page about your goals.

2. Prepare a video production company brief

Be as detailed as you can so that the video production company can get a full picture of what you require. Putting the time in to give full information at this stage will save time later in the process. Include the following:

– Your business objectives.

– A detailed description of your audience – demographic, location etc.

– The core message you want to communicate through the video.

– Your ideas for the ‘treatment’. How do you want the video to look or feel? Do you have any examples of pieces you have seen that might help convey this?

– The elements you hope to include in the video. For example, do you want voiceover? Interviews with you or your customers? Shots of your product or service? Actors? Animation or motion graphics?

– The platforms where your video will be shown. Is it for your website, a trade conference, social media advertising or all three?

– Your Call To Action – what do you want your audience to do after seeing this video? Are they getting the right information to be able to do it easily?

– An idea of your budget. It’s worth giving a rough idea of what you might be able to spend as this will inform the production company’s proposal. You’ll often be surprised at how much you can get for your money. Think of the video production company using the analogy of an Architect. A builder can construct you a ‘generic’ house, but you need an Architect to design and build you the ‘specific’ house that meets your specific needs. The video production company performs that role for your corporate video. Your budget is paying for the expertise that brings all the complex elements together to produce the right video to communicate your specific business message.

– Your schedule and delivery deadlines. Does your video need to be ready for a trade show or the launch of a new website? Make sure you factor in enough time for the production process.

3. Approach video production companies

Ask for recommendations from colleagues and friends, search locally or look on Social Media. Have a look at case studies of their previous jobs. Some video production companies specialise in certain industries or certain types of video. Some video companies (like our very own Small Films) offer marketing strategy as well as production so bear this in mind when looking for the right fit for your business. Brief two or three companies so that you can compare proposals, but don’t just compare prices. There is a delicate balance to be struck between experience and expertise against cost – a very cheap video is probably not going to be professional enough for your business requirements.

4. Review video production proposals

Your selected video production companies will come back to you with detailed proposals based on your brief. They will have an overall creative idea or angle, (with examples to help you visualise), budget expectations for different options and a schedule. You can then choose the best fit for your business, budget and objectives.

5. Planning process

Once they have the green light, your video production company will give you a detailed production plan and schedule, including consultation meetings and reviews of progress. They will begin work on a script or storyboard for the video and start planning for the shoot. They will carry out location research and venue booking, props finding, acting or voice over casting where necessary – as well as all technical aspects of the filming. They will undertake rehearsals or run-throughs where necessary and will keep you involved and consulted throughout the planning process.

6. The film shoot

The production company will organise everything on shoot day (or days) and will have all the necessary filming, lighting and sound equipment in place. If the filming is taking place at your business location and requiring members of your staff, they will try to minimise the disruption by shooting at quiet times or out or hours if possible with a schedule to make sure that people aren’t kept hanging around.

7. Post production and delivery

After the shoot, the video production company will edit the footage to produce a rough cut of the video. You are provided opportunities to give your input through the editing process and after tweaks and amendments have been made, a final cut will be produced. The video will then be formatted and duplicated correctly for the platforms required, within the agreed schedule.

If you’d like more information about commissioning video or a chat about potential video projects, contact us here.

Small Films are London based video content specialists. By combining strategic minds with creative flair we create powerful stories with video that deeply resonate with audiences, supporting our clients to achieve their ambitions in growing their organisation, brand or campaign