animated videos

Why use animated videos

7 Reasons Why You Should Use Animated Explainer Videos

7 Reasons Why You Should Use Animated Explainer Videos 560 315 Pam Jones

In previous posts, we’ve spoken about the cost of animated videos and given examples of animated videos we’ve created. But why use animated videos?

In my experience and opinion, there are seven key reasons why you should use animated explainer videos.

1. The data speaks for itself

There is a lot of research to support how powerful videos are in engaging your audience and getting your message out there. A 2017 article by Invisia, listed some powerful statistics about why you should use videos in your business. Here are the first three statistics:

  • In 2017, online video accounted for 74% of all online traffic
  • 55% of people watch videos online every day
  • 65% of video viewers watch more than ¾ of a video

You cannot afford to ignore statistics like these. If you do, you risk losing some BIG opportunities to reach, engage and connect with your audience – whether they’re learners, customers, prospects or staff.

2. Animated videos are more effective at getting your audience’s attention

Use animated videos to go beyond just text. Graphics, video effects, voiceover and music are all used to create a highly engaging and visually rich experience for your audience.

Remember the phrase “A picture paints a thousand words”? Then think about the power of a moving, highly visual, audio-driven video.

In an information overload society, your audience does not have the time to read dense paragraphs of text. Use animated videos to cut through the text density and get your message across quickly and easily.

3. Create multiple animated videos

Do you need more than one video creating? Perhaps you need different videos to market different products and services? It’s easier and cheaper to achieve this by having a series of animated videos created, than using filmed video. You can reuse graphics and visuals in multiple videos. This saves production time. In other words, create more animated videos for less cost.

4. Animated videos are cheaper and quicker to produce than filmed video

Unlike filmed videos which need real people and locations, for animated videos you don’t need to pay for:

  • Equipment
  • Actors
  • Studios
  • Locations
  • Props
  • Film crew

Filmed video also takes longer to produce. You have to plan ahead and book locations, actors and any studio times. All this planning means filmed video can take a few months to produce.

Animated videos don’t need any of the above so can be created in a matter of weeks. In fact, we have scripted and produced a video in less than one week for a client who had a very tight deadline.

5. People enjoy watching animated videos

Let’s face it – everyone loves video. Think about your social media feeds. Would you rather watch a video or read a detailed paragraph about the same thing?

Because people love to watch videos, they’re more likely to click the play button when they see your animated video on your website or social media channels. And that means you’ve connected and engaged with them.

6. It’s easier and quicker to update animated videos

If you need to update your video, then it’s easier to update an animated video than a video which has been filmed.  For example, you may have rebranded your business so need to update the video with your new logo, fonts and colours. Or perhaps you’ve launched a new service and want to add some extra scenes to the video.

7. You don’t have to worry about being in front of the camera

Some businesses have filmed videos of key team members promoting their organisation’s products/ services. But, not everyone likes being in front of the camera. It can be a nerve-wracking experience. Animated videos don’t need people so no-one in your business needs to worry about being in front of the camera. Just get creative and enjoy the process of making a fun, eye-catching, engaging video for your business.

Hope this has been helpful in understanding why you can/should use animated videos.

 

Are you planning to use animated videos for your business? Get in touch to let us know what you’re planning – we may be able to help.


To learn more about how to use video in your business, check our online course for video tips, ideas and examples.

animated video cost

How Much Do Animated Videos Cost?

How Much Do Animated Videos Cost? 560 315 Pam Jones

Like any new purchase, one of the first questions which people want to ask about animated videos is: How much does an animated video cost?

Video production is a very detailed and skilled process. Graphics, voiceover, music and effects all have to be designed, created and synchronised together to the nearest hundredth second. And synchronised to precision.

There are three types of video that can be created

Here at Eight Interactive we charge for every 30 seconds of video that needs to be produced for each type of video.

1. Scripted video where we write the script

This video uses a professional voiceover narration over the video. The narration might be telling a story, explaining how something works, promoting an offer etc. This type of video costs from £495 (ex VAT) per 30 seconds[1] of video. For this cost we do all the hard work for you where we:

  • Outline your video requirements
  • Write/refine the voiceover script
  • Create a maximum of 3 versions of a storyboard 
  • Create bespoke graphics, moving text, video effects
  • Record script using professional voiceover artist
  • Add background music
  • Include animated  company logo at start and end of video
  • Provide final video in format required

The main factor which may change this cost is the technical nature of graphics. The more technical the image, the more work this will involve. However, you may have graphics which have been created for other materials (e.g. brochures, PDFs) which we can use for the animation. That’s a good start for us as long as the image is supplied in a vector format. We can the use the vector image and work our animation magic on it.

2. Scripted video where you write the script

This video also uses a professional voiceover, but you write the script to a set formula which we provide. This type of video costs £295 (ex VAT) per 30 seconds[1] of video. For this cost we’ll:

  • Review the script and ask you to amend it if we feel it’s too long
  • Create 1 version of the storyboard
  • Use graphics from video software library
  • Add simple animation effects
  • Add background music
  • Include static  company logo at start and end of video
  • Provide final video in format required

3. Unscripted video

This type of video does not need a script. Instead, key messages are designed with animated text, photos and simple graphics. Video effects add extra punch to the message and help to engage the audience.

As with scripted video, we work with our clients closely to do all the above (excluding any script writing and voiceover recording).

This type of video costs £75 (ex VAT) per 30 seconds[1] of video.

There are software packages that can be used to create animated videos yourself. These packages provide a library of graphics, templates and music you can use and you can add your own.

Animated video software packages tend to be marketed with messages like “Create videos quickly and easily”. However, like any software, it does take time to learn how to use the features of the software. So that ease and speed of use is not immediate.

It’s also important to note that producing the video is only one part of the video creation process. You still need to complete the rest of tasks that animated video software does not give you. For example:

  • Script planning and writing
  • Finding and paying for a professional voiceover artist
  • Sourcing music tracks
  • What about when you can’t find the right image in the video software’s library? In this case, you’re left trying to find a suitable image from another image library, or finding a designer to create it for you.

Our clients want a one-stop service to create an exclusive video for their business. And we provide that all-inclusive service so clients don’t have to worry about doing any part of the video production themselves.

If you have any other questions about the cost of animated videos, do get in touch.


[1] 2020 rates


To learn more about how to use video in your business, check our online course for video tips, ideas and examples.

 

Why Are We Called Eight Interactive?

Why Are We Called Eight Interactive? 150 150 Pam Jones

One of the first things people wonder about when they work with us is the company name. They ask “Why are you called Eight Interactive?” More specifically, they want to know more about why the number eight.

One thing that doesn’t change for us is our passion for learning and how we help clients achieve their goals through elearning and video production.  So here’s an insight into the ethos behind our name and how this translates into what we do, how we work with clients and what sets us apart.

We are Eight Interactive.

Eight

The number eight means different things to different people.  To many Asian cultures it is a lucky number.  In Hinduism it is the number of wealth and abundance.  In the middle ages 8 was the number of “unmoving” stars in the sky, and symbolized the perfection of incoming planetary energy.  We like that, but to us:

eight = 4 simple characteristics that define our approach (our USPs) + our 4 stage process for delivering effective engaging e-learning & videos.

Our Four USPs

  1. Creativity – we aim to engage and inspire learners through our work.  Dull content presented as dull text does not achieve this.  We design creative and visual elearning and videos that the learner can connect with.
  2. Simplicity – ‘complex’ should not mean ‘confusing’.  We have a knack of taking complex ideas and subject matter, and simplifying them.
  3. Focus – we use a focused approach in designing learning content and video. Focus on the end learner, learning objectives and business goals.  If we do not maintain a focus on these areas, then any amount of innovative design and simplicity will not create effective learning.
  4. Fun – learning should not be dull!  We enjoy what we do and if we’re having fun creating digital content and videos we know that our creativity, simplicity and focus will shine through, resulting in  videos that everyone wants to watch.

Our Four Stage Process

Our four USPs are ingrained in the four stages of the process we adopt: Define; Design; Develop/Produce; Deliver.

  1. Define – fundamental to each video project we work on is an exploratory phase to understand the client requirements and the end audience. We work with you to understand the purpose of the video and help you write the perfect script.
  2. Design – next we design the storyboard for your message and audience.
  3. Develop/Produce – the next step is to take the video’s storyboard and produce a video with any voiceover script, video effects, music and graphics. In both cases the storyboard is finally brought to life.
  4. Deliver – After detailed reviews  video is delivered to the client and…ultimately the audience.

The four USPs and four stages of the process comprise our “eight interactive principles of effective learning.”

Interactive

A simple dictionary definition of interactive is:

(of two people or things) influencing each other.

allowing a two-way flow of information between a computer and a computer-user; responding to a user’s input.

The interactive element of our name permeates everything we do:  our interaction with clients, the interaction between each stage of the process and the interaction that is enabled between what we create and the audience experiencing it.

At every stage of the process we interact with various people – subject matter experts, designers, voiceover artists, the client, and other members of the team – to ensure that the  video we create always demonstrates our four USPs.

We hope this has given an insight as to why we’re called Eight Interactive.

 


To learn more about how to use video in your business, check our online course for video tips, ideas and examples.

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