Here at Ydraw, we work with amazing people every day, from all over the world, to create awesome videos.
Our completely custom videos are perfect for companies, because we can create EXACTLY what they need. From the scripting, to the choice of art style, to your voiceover selection, to our custom music composer, everything is tailored to our customer’s needs.
Since each video is entirely unique, it requires both parties to be equally invested and provide timely feedback. COLLABORATION IS KEY! This can be both a blessing and a curse.
One of the biggest challenges we run into when creating videos is understanding each parties’ roles in the project. We rely on the client to provide the information needed for us to understand their product or service, and in return, ask our clients to trust us when it comes to creating the best content for them.
Sometimes clients will focus in on one minor detail that has little or no impact on the overall messaging of the video, and can eventually lead to an experience or end product that isn’t so spectacular.
For instance, have you ever looked at a word so many times that you convince yourself it’s spelled wrong? The more your stare at it, the weirder it looks… even though it was right from the beginning. This can happen when creating content.
When creating videos, we notice this problem in the artwork phase. For example, a client will get so hung up on the color of “Mary’s shirt”, and before you know it, they’ve convinced themselves that their ENTIRE video is a failure, because absolutely NO ONE is going to understand or even watch the video, if her shirt is red, and NOT blue…
Sounds dramatic… but we see examples like this happen with our clients often.
We completely understand that these projects, these videos, are as important as your first born child! You have a lot of pressure to produce an amazing product, but it’s imperative to remember to step back and focus on the overall message of your video.
So if the color of Mary’s shirt isn’t the most important part to creating a successful video… then what is?
The message!
First, you want to establish your message. Keep it clear and concise! Second, ensure that your content helps to portray that message.
Don’t know where to start? The good news is that Ydraw can do it all for you!
(and don’t worry.. if you want Mary’s shirt to be blue, we’ll make sure it’s the prettiest blue you’ve ever seen.)
What makes things funny? Our own sense of humor isn’t always funny to the guy sitting next to us. So, let’s look at a few simple principles used in Improv to make your video funny to all of your audience!
First and foremost, there is TRUTH in COMEDY! The funny comes from the experiences we have all had in our lives. Think about sitcoms, why do they work? They take something so simple, like everyday life and exploit it. The ups and downs of dating and heartbreak or fighting for that perfect job, only to find out that it isn’t so perfect. But where does the comedy come from?
The funny comes from the unexpected. The moments of truth. It comes from showing not telling. We have all been there…the time in the grocery store when two people are having a conversation in public and you can’t help but listen, even though you know the topic should have probably been left at home…yeah that stuff.
So let’s take a look at this funny scenario….
We see two shadowy figures digging holes in a graveyard. It’s dark, but we can see that there’s a body behind them. It appears that they are covering up a murder! The scene is quite grim and creepy… so how is this funny? The car lights flicker on and we get a better look of the situation… only to reveal…two clowns? Okay, now this is way more terrifying, but their must be more to the story… so as we get closer, we overhear…
Clown 1:“Look Stan, all I’m saying is I’m sorry she left you. You deserve better!”
Clown 2:“You know Joe I just don’t understand, I did everything I could to make her happy.”
Clown 1:“Hey, you know, it’s okay if you want to cry. It’s just us brother.”
Clown 2: (in tears) “Life is just so unfair! But hey how’s the wife and kids?”
Clown 1: “They’re real good. Sally just started walking…”
The conversation continues as they are digging a shallow grave wearing their clown costumes. So, we know they are clowns, we know they are friends, and we know what happened…but they don’t have to tell us that they murdered this guy. We just know! If we focused on the body, or what happened the scene would drag on, the audience would get board with details and information that they don’t need.
This scenario leads us to the truth of comedy…Relatability!
Think about how you feel when you pop bubble wrap. Did that put a smile on your face just thinking about it? How about when you scoop peanut butter from a freshly open jar, yeah there’s that satisfaction face. See how easy it is to relate? All you have to do is capture a moment when someone has used your product in such a way that it brings a clear feeling to your audience.
Just remember that comedy is subjective, but so is being bored out of your seat. By using these tried and true principles of Improv Comedy, you can help your audience laugh at the unexpected, learn about your great product/service and keep them interested and wanting more.
So, let’s get out there and take a fresh approach to comedy, and whatever you do, if you see two clowns walking your way…RUN!
Teddy Roosevelt has been quoted many a time, “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” And this goes especially for Marketing to Your Audience!
You see, you CAN begin your marketing by sharing your giant Pedigree* of Success, your giant Rolodex* of clients that come at your every beck and call, and your impressive collection of Vintage Star Wars action figures, boxed in mint condition. BUT THEY DON’T CARE!
Okay…maybe the Star Wars figures, I mean especially if they have that one Rare Boba Fett*…
My point being, don’t make your first impression with your audience ABOUT YOU. In fact, you may consider, minimizing the mention of “you” to the smallest amount possible. Your marketing NEEDS to be about THEM.
FOR INSTANCE!
The Mom who is exhausted carrying around a giant purse that contains everything known on the periodic table of elements. She wants to know that you care about her and her plight, when you sell her your amazing, mega-organizational handbag.
Spend the time in your marketing, connecting with her. Show empathy for how hard it is to carry that overgrown purse. Use humor to help her have a chuckle about it because she knows how impossible it is to find that lip gloss when her chapped lips are screaming for moisture, and the kids are clawing their way to find a granola bar in there too. She will totally think to herself, “Been there done that!”
By doing this, you will establish a relationship with your audience, in this case the Moms of the world. Now, they’ll care to listen to YOU! You have their attention because you relate to each other, on an emotional level. You are selling a relationship BEFORE you sell a product or service. So now, proceed to show some of the cool features of this “Heavenly Handbag” and again relate those features to them.
On a side note, keep your features explanation brief. They don’t need to know the process of “cutting and stitching every nuanced detail” that you researched; they just want the HIGH LEVEL facts that relate to them. This will keep them EMOTIONALLY engaged in your marketing.
In the case that you do spend time talking about YOU, make sure it’s to show how you relate to them. The purpose of sharing this piece of you is to connect with them, and not to gloat about you or in any way make you seem superior. If you don’t connect with them, be on their level, share their emotions, they will see right through you and go elsewhere for a solution to their need.
So…QUICK 5 POINT RECAP
Marketing is about THEM
Show Empathy
Use Humor
Emotional Engagement
Sell a Relationship
NOW, get your groove on and practice that Electric Slide together! It’s all about the relationship, and your audience will respond to you once they know that you care about them.
*Pedigree – Pretty sure it’s some type of dog food.
*Rolodex – The Stone Age variety of a contact list on your smart phone. Geesh, writing all those cards sucked.
*Rare Boba Fett – A Boba Fett figure that was designed exclusively as a cereal box mail-in item in 1979. It was advertised with a Rocket firing backpack, but the actual production firing rocket was made stationary, as it was deemed a “choking hazard.” This figure is still highly sought after by collectors and has fetched upwards of 20K at auction.
I get asked all the time by clients and prospective clients who are looking for whiteboard videos:
“What makes you different from all the other whiteboard video companies?”
Well…I am glad you asked. We actually lost a job last week to some company in California. It always amazes me when this happens because I do not know why people settle for no name companies that produce junk. Unless it is a price issue, then I understand.
Let’s Get REAL!
Did you know that 95% of Whiteboard Animation Companies do not even create customized art? Nor do they draw under the camera. It’s all clip art and fake hands. Welcome to the day and age of deception. If you are going with a large video production company they are most likely going to search for software that will create a fake hand.
Don’t be fooled. If you want amazing Whiteboard Animation Video results, make sure you have a company that really does produce whiteboard videos.
Make sure they are customized and your artwork is created to match your brand and business. This will eliminate about 95 % of whiteboard video companies.
Here is a list of companies that create real whiteboard animation videos.
1. Ydraw
2. Truscribe
3. Switchvideo (look fake, but are not)
4. Whiteboard Animation
5. RSA animate (the father of Whiteboard)
6. Adtoons
7. 321 fastdraw
These 7 Whiteboard Video Companies are what I consider to be the best in the industry. We have all been around since the beginning and we focus on Explainer Videos. They are my competition and I consider them to be valid opponents (kind of).
Now Let’s Compare Whiteboard Video Quality.
Best way to compare quality is to show you some screen shots. Or you can just jump over to YouTube and check out a few videos.
https://www.youtube.com/user/theRSAorg
Ydraw
Ydraw
https://www.youtube.com/user/theRSAorg
https://www.youtube.com/user/switchmarketing
https://www.youtube.com/user/TruScribeVideos
https://www.youtube.com/user/321fastdraw
https://www.youtube.com/user/Ydraw2011
Obviously I am a little biased but you will see that Ydraw is the absolute best in quality. Our artists all come from places like Disney, Cartoon Network, Marvel, etc. They worked on movies like, Land Before Time, Pocahontas, Toy Story, etc. They are one of the the things that makes us different.
Let’s Talk Whiteboard Video Pricing
This is where things can get a little tricky. The companies above have a price range starting at $3900 and goes up to $75,000. It’s rather unique how we are all over the board. Don’t ask me… 🙂
The price of a whiteboard video is very negotiable, but if you go too low, your quality will suffer. I would pay around $8000 for a one to 2 minute video. There is no need to go higher. If a company wants more or thinks they deserve more money because of some special method, don’t buy it. Have them come down!
We have a package that starts at $3900 if you are the right client, but most pay $7500 for the first minute and $2000 per additional minute. http://ydraw.com/youre-a-genius
And Finally The Whiteboard Methodology
This is where we all differ a bit, but at the end we wrap the same concepts into different terms. For example, we like to draft our scripts using simple formulas.
1. Headline, Problem, Solutions, Call To Action.
2. Attention, Interest, Desire, Call To Action
3. Pain, Peril, Resolution.
These are all things that you need to integrate into your Explainer Video. This is what keeps their attention. I have seen all of our competitors create great videos.
Usually the number one destroyer of a creative video is the client. They say too much and forget to let us do our jobs. Below are some of my favorite videos. The first one is a great script that converts, the second one was created by RSA animate. It was one of the first whiteboard videos ever created.
Have a great day. We would love to help you with your next Whiteboard Animation Video. We consider ourselves the Best in the Industry and would love to prove it to you.
