
Balance quality and cost, use the quality comparison spreadsheet to research providers, and budget for a high-quality explainer video while choosing live action or animation.
Learn IdeaRocket's production strategy, used by 16 Fortune 500s, to craft high quality explainer videos for tech startups by prioritizing preproduction preparation.
Identify the ideal audience for this course by listing roles such as founders, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, chief marketing officers, directors of marketing, growth leads, designers, product managers, and data professionals.
Discover when animation best communicates complex product ideas in explainer videos and weigh live action basics against it, guided by overarching considerations rather than technical editing skills.
Discover how to choose between live action and animation, balance quality and price, and select the right production partner, exploring studio models, styles, script writing, production, and video marketing.
Link up with video blueprint, copy the Google doc or PDF, and fill in your data to start taking action; assess quality versus price to choose animation or live action.
Invest in explainer videos to drive massive engagement, boost click through rates, and increase buyer confidence, backed by data on viewership, conversions, and real case results.
Balance quality and cost by tailoring your video to your brand and budget, avoiding generic explainer templates. Focus on a strong script and storytelling to stand out.
Use live action to show physical products, build trust, and feature testimonials and culture videos; it suits less complex offerings but requires careful scheduling and production coordination.
Choose between live action or animation for your explainer video, then map the market to find the right producer by understanding the variety and structure of production options.
Explore the types of video production companies and services, from initial creative like script and voiceover to full service studios, and compare pricing ranges from $100 to $10,000.
Learn how full service studios handle scripting, casting, voiceover, design, animation, sound effects, and music, with pricing ranging from about 3,000 to 20,000, plus do-it-yourself options.
Explains when to choose do-it-yourself live action, weighing equipment, lighting, sound, and scheduling demands; advises that central explainer or product videos require polished production, while talking-head content can be simpler.
Evaluate producers by considering script design, animation and sounds (sound effects and music), and relevant experience—general and industry-specific—before assessing price to fit your budget.
Evaluate script quality by understanding the product, recalling details, and emotional resonance, aided by simple metaphors; the script should carry more weight than other factors after price.
Evaluate how the design concept enhances the story, fits the brand, and matches the product’s energy, while weighing originality, cost, memorability, and animation nuances.
Open your ears when evaluating explainer videos: ensure the voice over fits the audience, tone carries the message, sound effects and music enhance the story, and the mix is clear.
Learn cost details for explainer videos, including promotional discounts, overages for length and edits, revision caps or hourly retakes, payment terms, rush premiums, and realistic turnaround.
Use the studio comparison chart to evaluate scripts, design, animation, sound, experience, and price, input data, and rate each area to produce objective scores for narrowing providers.
Explore video brewery as a turnkey resource to find producers for Kickstarter projects. Deposit $10, review providers, and note commissions, then combine with outside research to choose the best provider.
Choose the right producer—full-service or diy—set your budget, and use the video blueprint and a comparison chart to stand out.
Explore whiteboard animation and its two main styles—RSA stop-motion and digital hand-drawn simulations—assessing complexity, cost, and editing flexibility for explaining complex products.
Explore motion graphics and kinetic type as sleek, modern video styles, and decide when to use audio, digital footage, and infographic storytelling for tech products.
Explore how mixed media blends animation and live action to showcase products with physical and digital components, including mobile apps with real-life or AR scenarios, budgets start at ten thousand.
Discover how live action with real humans strengthens testimonials, builds trust, and surfaces customer journeys, culture videos, and product stories to attract talent and showcase your offering.
Explore traditional 2D character animation with the broadcast quality 'Tuti' style, emulating classic studio frame-by-frame work via Photoshop, After Effects, and Flash, plus cost and negotiation considerations.
Discover accessible 3D animation forms beyond Pixar, using pre-rigged characters and objects with tools like Maya, After Effects, and Cinema 4D to differentiate your explainer videos, despite higher costs.
Master stop motion by moving objects, photographing frames, and editing to tell stories with physical objects like claymation, pencils, or rocks, requiring patience and expertise.
Explore motion graphics and character animation, tracing 2d traditional cell animation, computer-based 2d and 3d CGI with lighting and bones, and stop-motion techniques used in explainer videos.
Pinpoint your video style by distilling styles into a plan of action, select two or three effective styles and producers, and prepare for script writing with a 20-question creative interview.
Apply the 20-question creative interview to fuel the discovery process, shaping scripts and a video blueprint across strategy, product, brand, audience, and technique for 100+ successful product videos.
Distribute your video by evaluating hosting options like your site or YouTube and define a specific, measurable objective with a clear call to action.
Identify the biggest customer pain point your product solves, then spotlight the key features, benefits, and differentiators. Address objections and monetization to craft a compelling explainer video.
Assess audience demographics and mindset to tailor voiceover, verbiage, and characters, and place them in the right sales funnel stage to decide whether to sell the problem or the solution.
Align technique with your production plan through the creative interview, decide on outsourcing or a full service studio, and specify a preferred video style and script.
Complete section 4 of the video blueprint by answering the creative interview questions, color coded for quick use, to craft an awesome script you can create yourself or outsource.
Identify the four elements of an effective narrative - hero, conflict, quest, and resolution - and use them to shape explainer scripts around the customer's pain point from setup to solution.
Apply the restriction method to writing by setting clear limits on characters, locations, and length to turn creativity into a focused, conflict-driven script for explainer videos.
Begin writing by capturing an opener, using placeholders, and timing your draft to about 90 seconds; speak directly to your audience, read aloud with emotion, and keep language simple.
Develop a do-it-yourself storyboard to visualize your narrative by sketching scenes on PowerPoint slides with the script, then print four to six slides per page and time the run.
Pilot your explainer video production with clear preparation, voiceover casting, and early tech questions to prevent delays. Manage animation drafts, feedback, music, and sound effects to finalize a production plan.
Clarify strategy, business objectives, audience mindset, branding, and brand guidelines with your producer, involve stakeholders early, and set a single point of contact to streamline feedback and deadlines.
Discover a straightforward voiceover casting process: finalize your script, match tone and gender to your audience, and compare platforms like Fiverr and voice networks to audition talent.
Learn to conduct voice over auditions by inviting actors, using the voice database, and evaluating cadence, tone, enunciation, and sound quality to select the right explainer video artist.
Voice over selection, audition proposals, and clear terms help you secure top talent, guide tone and direction, and ensure timely, natural recordings for explainer videos.
Identify standard video specs, including 1280x720 at 16:9 (720p) for web, and the HD size for big screens. Start by aligning with your producer through the draft stages.
Explore the draft stages you can expect, from style frames and storyboards to animatics and layout animatics, then animation and final cut with music, sound effects, and edits.
Use an animation framework that treats script as foundation, design as the first floor, animation as the second, and sound as the roof; involve producers early to prevent costly edits.
Add drama and energy to explainer videos by using sound effects like swooshes, bangs, and pings to emphasize key moments such as product entry and the hero’s solution.
Complete section 6 of the video blueprint by building a production plan and coordinating early stakeholder approvals. Decide voiceover tone, pace, and gender, and outline draft stages and production timeframes.
Master video marketing by applying a five-step ROI framework to place your video in the customer funnel, guide hosting and distribution, and iterate through launch and measurement.
2.6K+ Students Enrolled!
Startups have made upwards of $50M in a few days from the simple act of adding a homepage explainer video.
But not all product videos are created equal. As companies discover the potential of this medium, it's more important than ever to stand out and leave a lasting impression on your audience.
You might be a founder, entrepreneur, marketer, or another role. Regardless, sinking time and money into a mediocre explainer in unthinkable. All the same, too many companies put out costly vids that fail to produce results.
So how do you create something memorable?
How do you make sure your video will convert?
How do you find the right balance between quality and cost?
How do you pick the right technique?
How do you select the right producer?
We'll answer all these questions and many more.
Learn the video creation strategy provided to my former clients, including Venmo, Electronic Arts, and 16 Fortune 500s. As the first employee and Senior Account Manager at IdeaRocket, a New York-based animation studio, I got the opportunity to work on 100+ projects for a variety of companies. Throughout this course, you'll learn the production strategy I extended to our high-paying clients.
Some benefits:
Hire the right producer. Get the best end product and save time and money. Your outcome hinges on your producer, and there are many considerations most companies don't know about when they enter the video marketplace. Get help from our Producer Database of 100+ companies, and our Studio Comparison Chart.
Find the right quality level for your budget. Many producers tout comparable quality levels for dramatically different pricing, ranging from $300 to $30,000 for a 90-second video. Don't get fooled - learn how to assess quality and get the best video for your investment.
Develop your message BEFORE you write your script. By going through the discovery process IdeaRocket uses for every single project, you'll build the foundation for a high-converting script.
Write a persuasive video script. As any director will tell you, it's almost impossible to make a great finished product from a lousy script. To make sure your video will convert, you'll learn the Restriction Method for Writing and you'll get help from templates, samples, and specific strategies.
Learn how to make an awesome whiteboard video. Know when and when NOT to use this style.
Cast a quality, low-cost voice over. Your chosen voice will make or break your video. Learn how to get it right by posting a descriptive casting call and using the top artist networks.
Distribute your video for maximum results. You'll learn strategies, tools, & hacks for driving conversions, sales, and viewership. This course is one of a two part series, and it comes with Free Access to Video Marketing for Startups & Tech Companies (for a limited time).
Get These Added Bonuses When You Sign Up Today:
This is NOT a DIY Course. If you're a startup, entrepreneur, etc., your time is valuable. Producing an awesome homemade explainer is probably not realistic. Settling for a low-quality stick figure animation will most likely do more harm than good. So instead of spinning your wheels and hurting your brand, you'll learn how to (A) build the foundation for your video (your message, script, & voice over) and (B) outsource to the pros in a highly cost-effective way.
As a friendly reminder, this is a no-risk course: it comes with a 30-day, no-questions-asked, money-back guarantee.
See you inside,
Dan