An Honest Assessment:

Which Videos Work Better for You - Live Videos or Animated Videos

Animated Explainer Videos

Cons

  • Harder to get to know you when you’re not on camera

  • More expensive than turning on your phone or laptop camera

  • Not as affordable to use if you are testing unproven ideas or concepts vs trying it on your own 

Pros

  • Don’t have to be on camera

  • Animation lowers the viewer’s guard

  • Create compelling stories easily

  • Explain a complex process or concept

  • Easy edits and changes if a scene is missed or idea changes

  • Easy to outsource to an expert

  • More cost-effective than hiring a videographer for live video

  • Less time consuming for you

Truth

Top brands, such as Deloitte, Ford, and United Airlines use animated videos.  Animated videos are used in commercials too.

Myth

Your customers will find an animated video childish.  


Best Animated Videos to Create

Click here - VIDEOS EVERY BUSINESS NEEDS

  1. Customer Journey video

  2. Describing your process video

  3. Explainer a complex concept video

  4. Service/product video

  5. FAQ video - answer the most commonly asked questions up front

  6. Landing page video

Best Ways to Use Animated Videos

  • Website (every page except about us)

  • Email marketing

  • Email follow-up (can be used repeatedly)

  • Email signature

  • Landing page

  • Social media direct messaging (can be used repeatedly)

Talking Head/Interview Style

Cons

  • You have to be on camera

  • More expensive to hire a quality videographer

  • More time-consuming for you

  • Harder to tell a compelling story

  • Harder to explain a process or concept

  • More difficult to edit if you missed a scene, had bad audio, or had poor lighting

Pros

  • Build trust faster with your face and voice on camera

  • Can get multiple members of your team in the video

  • Quickly churn out videos on your own with your own equipment and editing software


Truth

Nope.  That looks like a hostage video.  You want to be as natural as possible and speak like someone is directly in front of you.  This takes a lot of practice but is doable.

Myth

I must be perfect and read from a script if I’m on camera



 

Best Ways to Use Live Videos

  • About us page of your website

  • Email marketing

  • Personal email follow up (created just for one person) 

  • Email signature

  • Landing page

  • Social media (must be short and heavily edited)

Best Live Videos to Create

  1. About Us (Bio) video

  2. Testimonials

  3. Service/product video to show in person

  4. Landing page video

  5. Quick how-to/educational video (weekly)


Conclusion

The decision comes down to your needs, more than which “works” better.  

If you don’t have an unlimited budget and you know what you want, then animated is better.

But if you can splurge, do it yourself, or make a more personal impact, use a live-action video.