by Jace Vernon | Oct 22, 2021 | Explainer Video, Marketing, Story Telling, Video Marketing
Humans are storytellers. It is one of the oldest traditions we have. Before modern methods of record-keeping, storytelling was how we survived–how we preserved knowledge, taught, and shared memories–and it continues to be one of our primary sources of entertainment. And everyone has a story. Just ask the thousands of people who attend the Scottish International Storytelling Festival every year.
Good marketing strategies make use of stories that will stimulate an emotional response and drive a customer to act, whether that action is signing up, making a purchase, or volunteering. At Ydraw we specialize in telling stories through short animated explainer videos, whiteboard animation, 3D animation, and more. We know we can help you tell your story, but first let me tell you Y.
Y Draw?
Of all the ways to tell a story, drawing might be one of the oldest. Just think about ancient hieroglyphs and cave drawings. That’s how people communicated! If that is not a compelling enough reason, here are a few more.
Say More With Less
Have you ever heard that a picture is worth a thousand words? Well, so have we. That is why we know that animating a short video to tell your story can help you say more in less time. That’s great news considering it only takes about a minute for an audience to stop paying attention. In fact, if you don’t have them locked in after 5 seconds they might just move on, but more on that later. However, with animated videos you are not just getting one picture, you are getting several.
Plus drawing has the potential to break down speech barriers and tell a story even without words. That is how powerful they are. You can maximize the short amount of time you have to get your message across by showing your audience what you are talking about, not just telling them.
Enchant Your Audience
How many of you know someone who will sit there for hours watching 10-second videos on Tik Tok? Their eyes glaze over and they can’t seem to tear themselves away because there is something trance-like about watching those videos. That is how easily you can hypnotize your audience with a simple video.
Whiteboard animation in particular is excellent at captivating an audience from the first frame. This is because the viewer is watching things being drawn right before their eyes. As a result, their whole mind is engaged in the process while they listen to the information being shared and are visually stimulated with constant motion. Much like anticipating the punchline during a comedy routine, the viewer is waiting for the whole picture to be revealed and is held in suspense. When the image is complete there is a sense of relief.
Be Contagious
Videos also have a high chance of going viral. In his book, Contagious Jonah Berger talks about “the science behind why things catch on,” and it is full of advice on how to create content that has the potential to ‘go viral.’ The technological age we live in makes it so easy to share a video that they can receive millions of views overnight. So when you have animated explainer videos as part of your marketing strategy you increase shareability and reach a larger audience.
The chances that you will go viral are higher if you have a catchy script and fun artwork. Shakespeare wrote, “the eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen…” to describe how our individual senses come together for a more complete experience. Food that looks good, smells good, AND tastes good is way more enjoyable than food that just does one of those things. In the same way, hand-drawn visuals will complement a well-written script to give you that viral effect.
So now you know Y. What about how?
Explainer Video Basics
The most infuriating thing about every tutorial on how to create a great explainer video or how to write a killer ad script is their number one step. Inevitably it will be something like, “start with a great hook.” Yes, that’s swell advice, thanks…now how do I do that? Well, after some research and a bit of trial and error, here are the basics. Some guides may add a bit more fluff, but these points are found in each one.
Create A Fantasy (AKA Tell A Story)
We’ve all seen enough advertisements to know exactly what it sounds like to be sold something. How thoroughly can a teenager tune out an adult or a husband tune out a nagging wife? That is how easily we tune out advertising all the time. Instead of using boring, overdone ad copy, insert your brand/product into the story people are living out every day.
Taking the idea of telling a story one step further, into creating a fantasy, ups the stakes. Most people at a fundamental level are focused on their own survival. Will your brand or product help them get a promotion? Look better to a potential mate? Be healthier or more fit? Show them a fairy tale and position yourself as their guide, helping them look good or accomplish their goals. They will want to buy into whatever you are selling naturally. Create a fantasy they will want to see played out.
Misery Loves Company
Think about every great movie or comic book villain. What are they trying to do? Make everyone else as miserable as they are! Usually, their backstory is some woeful tale about why they are so full of hate, because it is true: misery really does love company. So when it comes to wooing new customers, sympathy goes a long way.
Chances are you already know some key pain points your clients are suffering from. After all, you created a product or service to fix their problem, right? When you start your video by sharing in their distress, you let the viewer know that you understand how they feel. Then you can comfort them with your offer, and empower them to become the hero.
Don’t make that common mistake. In this story, they must be the hero, not you. This will create a more compelling reason for them to interact with your brand.
Include A Call To Action
One thing you should never do when creating video advertising: exclude a call to action. The audience needs to be told how to obtain your offer, and no it is not because they are dumb. Marketing students have been told for years that “people are dumb, and you have to tell them exactly what to do.” Really, it has much more to do with being lazy.
If you have produced a quality video then you’ve sold the audience by the end of it. The viewer knows that they want whatever you are selling, but they want it to be easy to get. If you don’t make it easy to obtain whatever you are offering they will move on. Some kind of click here, buy now, or call today ending to your script is vital. Make it easy for them and they will flock to you.
Yes, of course, it is important to have a hook, but there is no format for how to do that. A great hook depends on your audience and other variables. First, do the groundwork of figuring out what story you want to tell, then trust the process. A hook will come. It should never be the first step or you might just get stuck there.
There Is No I
You probably want one of these videos for yourself right about now, but deciding to create a video like this is a huge undertaking. So, if this all sounds like a pretty tough nut to crack, don’t worry: hiring us gives you a team of people who know what they are doing. When I first started this job, I thought there was no way that I was going to be able to pull it off. My coworkers kept reminding me that I was part of a TEAM and that it would take time to learn everything, but they would help me along the way.
Here is a peek at our process. Right off the bat, we get to work diving into the story that you want to tell and begin scripting your video. You might already have a script you want to work with, but don’t know what to do with it. Our writers will help you spin it into gold. Then we hook you up with the perfect voice actor to bring that script to life. While the voice actor works their magic, our artists will begin illustrating your project and recording it live. Editing comes last. This is when our genius team pieces together the voice-over and the recorded illustrations with a little bit of digital magic to unveil a work of art: your video.
Still not convinced? Check out some of our work and you’ll see what I mean.
by Ydraw | Jul 23, 2021 | Whiteboard animation, Whiteboard Video
If you are not living under some rock, you probably know how big a part of internet videos are. They practically dominate the global web. So much so that almost every app has a video feature now. Even Instagram, which started strictly with photos, introduced reels and live streaming to stay at par with the latest trend.
According to an estimate, 82% of the internet traffic by 2022 will be videos. YouTube is the second most popular website in the world. Videos are not going anywhere, and if you want to thrive as a content creator, there is no question that videos are essential to your business.
And out of the many forms of videos, we suggest you give a shot to whiteboard animation. Whiteboard videos make use of hand-drawn graphics or doodles on a whiteboard-like background to visually deliver the message. It is accompanied by a voiceover narrating the story. This combination of visuals and narration results in one of the most popular forms of videos across the internet today. Animation sounds exciting and appealing, but if you are skeptical about trying your hands on whiteboard animation, let’s dwell on the top 10 reasons you need them in 2022.
GOOD FOR CORPORATE MEETINGS:
If you are part of the business world, you know how dull and monotonous corporate meetings can get. There is a series of slides to go through, a detailed presentation to deliver, proposals to pitch, and projects to talk through. All of this can bore the employees and managers alike.
The long and detailed meetings make it difficult not to get spaced out. No amount of ice-breaking sessions can keep people attentive in a forum that is likely to proceed for more than an hour. It is then that you find well-dressed individuals blankly staring at walls or mindlessly clicking their ballpoints at a place where you probably called them to sign a multi-million dollars deal. This results in a scenario where even the creepy crawlies in the room draw more attention from flummoxed attendees than a presentation you worked so hard on.
Whiteboard animation is the perfect tool to avoid this situation. The colorful pictures and characters not only make it convenient for you to deliver your point but can also spice up your meetings, making them enjoyable. Therefore, videos are a vital part of business communication.
COST-EFFECTIVE:
Whiteboard videos are way cheaper to produce than live-motion videos. We are past the era where overdramatic ads would help sell a product. Now showing teenagers, drained of energy, starting to dance in perfect sync under the scorching sun fanatically because they were offered a fresh mint gum by another cool kid who appears out of nowhere is likely to make your audience cringe hard. People today like stuff that makes sense, and spending a massive amount of money over conventional ad campaigns is not very smart from a marketing perspective.
Whiteboard videos save you from the hassle. Overthrowing the problem of hiring good actors and direction altogether, they help cost-effectively convey your message. Videos, if well-created, help foster better connections with your consumer base. Showing animated characters would appeal more to the viewers, and therefore animation is what you should opt for when marketing your product.
HIGHER CHANCES TO GO VIRAL:
Videos have a higher chance of going viral. 90% of consumers watch videos online, and whiteboard animations are almost always trending on YouTube. Videos are suitable for a range of topics, be it educational or marketing content, and are likable and shareable, therefore holding an excellent chance to reach the maximum audience.
Not just that, but Google is the parent organization behind YouTube, redirects your search results to videos a lot of the time. Therefore by embedding a video on your website, you increase your chances to be on top of search engines. This can help achieve higher conversion rates and more sales for your brand.
EASY TO UNDERSTAND:
Suppose you are a teacher wanting to help students by posting online lectures, or an expert wanting to share insightful knowledge related to your field, or a content creator trying to build a following online. In that case, you want your content to be easy to grasp. Whiteboard animation videos help with it.
It has been proven by science that motion attracts attention. Have you ever heard of mirror neurons? When you watch someone do something, say, eat an apple, these neurons fire just as they would when you perform a task. Due to this, when you watch something happening, your brain perceives it as if you are doing it. When watching an animation, viewers relate to the content, making it easy for them to understand.
Videos also result in what is called ‘audience anticipation’. The whole animation, be it related to business or educational stuff, unfolds in the form of a story. Viewers keep guessing what happens next, which keeps them from distraction. All of this in combination gives a good viewer experience.
SIMPLE TO CREATE:
Whiteboard animations are simple to make. They don’t require any expensive equipment. Instead, there are numerous wonderful soft wares available which you can make use of to create an engaging, low-cost video in no time.
BEST FOR COMMUNICATING COMPLEX IDEAS:
Either you are a teacher wanting to prepare a lecture around some complicated topics, or a business person wanting to create a presentation including intricate details, whiteboard videos are what you should choose. The hand-drawn graphics spruce up the content allowing you to incorporate several ideas without making the delivery sound cumbersome. Eye-catching visuals accompanied by good narration can keep your audience engrossed till the very end, effectively driving home your point.
HELPS RETAIN INFORMATION:
Research by Dr Richard Wiseman, an award-winning professor of psychology, shows that whiteboard animation boosts knowledge retention by 15%. Also, viewers retain 90% of the message when consumed visually compared to 10% when delivered with text. With the majority of the population being visual learners, videos hold paramount importance as a learning and marketing tool. And here’s why whiteboard animations aid with memory:
- They are attention-grabbing and keep the audience hooked till the very end
- They are multisensory. They involve sight, hearing and motion, which are the most important senses and are responsible for memory.
- They chunk down complicated concepts and go from starting blocks towards building a big picture.
This holds importance, especially if you are an educationalist. As a teacher, you go to lengths to help your students with learning. Whiteboard animations are a proven method that productively fulfills the cause, so they should be your go-to.
HIGH CTR:
CTR or Clickthrough rate is used to gauge how well your Ad is doing. We are living in highly fast-paced times where no one wants to read through lengthy, heavy texts. Videos are to-the-point and versatile and hold a high chance of grabbing people’s attention. A well-created video is likely to be shared around, and therefore animated videos are a good marketing plan to approach the masses. According to Buffer, companies that include videos in their marketing campaigns have 27% higher CTR and 34% higher conversion rates than companies not using this strategy.
PEOPLE RELATE TO ANIMATION:
Animations are fun to watch, concise and clear. Regardless of age, people love cartoons, and hitting this pain point can step up your marketing game. As the bright-colored visuals unfold, the person gets interested in knowing what picture they see at the end, along with a good voiceover, which gives them a positive experience centered around your brand.
GOOD FOR STORYTELLING:
With its ability to captivate the audience, whiteboard animations serve as a powerful storytelling tool. Using imagination and creativity perfectly communicates the idea and evokes emotion in the viewers, all of which is essential for a good storytelling experience.
CONCLUSION:
It is a fact that to establish a successful presence online or even offline, you need to conform to whatever course is in fashion globally. Numbers don’t lie, and they show that whiteboard animation is the future. So whether you want to sell a product or educate and inspire the masses, know that whiteboard videos are the way to go.
by Jace Vernon | Sep 10, 2019 | Animated Whiteboard Videos, Whiteboard animation, Whiteboard Video
Creating a whiteboard animation video for your business is a great idea. But don’t make the decision without putting in some thought first. It’s certainly a good idea to cover all your bases before putting your marketing dollars to work. But since you’ve haven’t given yourself the green light yet, let’s go over something important. You need to know what to consider before creating a whiteboard animation video.
Remember that there are a lot of companies out there that create whiteboard animation videos. The style and quality of work differ from one company to another. And as popular and effective as these videos are, a lot can go wrong in certain circumstances. This won’t happen to you, though, because we’re going to give you the information you need before moving forward.
Here’s what to consider before creating a whiteboard animation video.
Is a Whiteboard Animation Video Right For My Business?
There is almost no circumstance where the implementation of a whiteboard video wouldn’t help. They translate extremely well to virtually every kind of business. But we suppose it would be disingenuous to say with certainty that they’re perfect for every situation. The type of service or product you’re promoting, your long-term marketing goals, and your message should influence your decision.
But there are some circumstances where whiteboard animation videos really are a perfect choice. For example:
When You’re Explaining Something Technical or Complicated
If the message you want to deliver involves a complex system or innovative idea, whiteboard animation videos are ideal. Research has shown that retention increases almost 20% when information is delivered this way. When education is the goal, the whiteboard style excels. This kind of animation can unravel concepts in a fun and engaging way.
When You Have A Lot To Say
Whiteboard animation videos are great at presenting lengthy information in an appealing way. The best examples are whiteboard videos that animate speeches. You’ve likely seen some of these. The brain retains visual information better than auditory. So when animated explanations are paired with the audio of a speech, the speech is no longer, well, boring! It becomes exciting and twice as interesting when you see the speaker’s words come to life in a creative way.
When You Need A Corporate Training or B2B Video
Whiteboard videos are very popular in the corporate space for a reason. It doesn’t matter if the artwork style that matches your business is cartoony or realistic. With precise copywriting and good artwork, your B2B or training video will pique the viewer’s interest and keep their attention. Compared to other options, whiteboard animation should be strongly considered for corporate purposes.
Mistakes Companies Make When Creating A Whiteboard Animation Video
Not every whiteboard animation is created perfectly. Knowledge, experience, and asking the right questions are important to the success of your video. Some common mistakes in whiteboard animation videos are:
To Show The Hand Or Not To Show The Hand
Make sure you decide if showing the drawing hand is what you want. Most of the time, clients prefer to show the hand. It can bring a sense of realism and gives the video added character. But, sometimes showing the hand doesn’t mesh with the aesthetic. Communicate with your creative director to make this decision.
No White Background
We’ve seen whiteboard animation that presented content with a fully-colored background. In our opinion, this a mistake. It lessens the effect that this kind of animation can have. When the viewer sees the artwork manifesting on a white background, it becomes familiar. In a very real way, the white background makes the video more relatable. Only use color for background purposes to help emphasize certain points.
Be very cautious when thinking about doing a full-color background in whiteboard animation videos. It’s almost never a good idea.
No interconnected artwork
One of the calling cards of whiteboard animation is the seamless style of interconnected imagery. One thing always leads to the next with many images literally connected to each other. Some videos choose not to do this at all, resulting in a less-effective final product. We’re not saying the ink should literally connect everything throughout the entire video. But make sure that you break from connected imagery sparingly. Too much isolated imagery can hinder continuity.
Creating A Whiteboard Animation Video Using Multiple Artwork Styles
This adds confusion to the video that just isn’t necessary. Choose an art style and stick with it for the whole video.
Low-Quality Animation
Be sure that the whiteboard animation company you’re using has talented, experienced artists working for them. Bad artwork defeats the whole purpose of putting your marketing dollars toward a project like this. Look at artwork samples and previous videos the company has made to make sure it’s what you’re looking for.
What To Consider Before Creating a Whiteboard Animation Video – Conclusion
When choosing a whiteboard animation company, makes sure they’re actually a whiteboard animation company. Meaning, don’t go with a company that runs a different kind of business but offers whiteboard animation on the side. Hire professionals. Even if it costs a bit more, it will be worth it. When done right, commissioning a video like this can have far-reaching, positive effects. Do your best to stay informed and steer clear of easily-avoidable mistakes.
Contact Ydraw for the best customer experience and the best whiteboard animation videos in the industry!
by Ydraw | Aug 27, 2018 | Creative Marketing, Emotional Connection, Explainer Video, how to make a whiteboard animation, Marketing, Memory, Simple marketing, Story Telling, video, Video Content, Video Marketing, video online marketing, Video Strategy Guide, Whiteboard animation, Whiteboard Video, Writing a Script, Ydraw
“Hello, my name is Mr. Important the CEO of Important Products… but the true important person is you!”
Uh wrong… Can you believe this guy?
He has officially lost us within the first line.
Code #282: If you want your audience to believe your product is important… focus on them and their needs, not on yourself.
This code is very important when creating successful content.
Don’t be Mr. Important.
by Ydraw | Jul 18, 2018 | animated doodle videos, animated doodle videos, animated explainer video, Animated Whiteboard Videos, animation, Animation Production, Animation Video, Authenticity, Creative Marketing, Emotional Connection, how to make a whiteboard animation, Humor, Marketing, Story Telling, Video Content, Video Marketing, video online marketing, Whiteboard animation, Whiteboard Video, Ydraw
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!