How much is too much for an explainer video

[benwilkie]

Hi,

I'm trying to gauge opinion on small business explainer videos and introduction videos as it's something we get asked about quite a lot but frankly we just can't do as the margins aren't there.

Have you ever thought about using a video to push your company, product or brand - either a narrated explainer video, animation or just literally a piece to camera?

If so, did you use them, did you find them effective?

Imagine a typical video would be 2-3 minutes long, filmed at our studio and feature clips from your website, branding, product demos, etc plus your voiceover and/or presenting. This would then go up on your site via YouTube or suchlike to promote your brand.

Worth it, and if so, how much?

Thanks,
Ben

 

[TotallySport]

define small business, the budget will depend on the expected ROI and the cashflow of the business.

 

[benwilkie]

Well of course, it's kind of difficult to determine a ROI for small companies as each sector varies so widely. Anyone who manufactures or does something unique that comes out well in an explainer video will do well as will someone offering a service where trust and putting a name to a face is important as video makes for good introductions.

I guess I'm talking mainly at startups, businesses in their first few years with only a couple or even just one employee. Companies who have no real marketing budget who may take a punt on a £200 video but can't afford to spend thousands.

 

[TotallySport]

Do you really think the best thing a small startup can spend its money on is a promo video?

I would say the best target market for videos are small business taking over 200k and have been establish for over 3 years. Unless they are in manufacturing or have created their own products in some way.

However if you limiting it videos at your unit and of the things you have listed, and is for marketing, its has even less value.

 

[benwilkie]

No, I don't, but people seem to do it and I want to know why. As I said it's not something we do ourselves, we just can't get all that done for that low a price and it just doesn't make sense for us to work on such small projects. But more and more people are turning to video and getting these little videos made and I'm just interested how it turned out and the reasons people chose to give it a chance.

 

[Billmccallum]

there is no right answer, your poll wont throw up any definitive response....

the answer is "it depends on the business", some wont spend anything, some less than £100, and a few, may spend well in excess of £400 to do it right first time.

if I have a budget of £200 for marketing, that's my price range, if I have a £50,000 budget....... IMHO

 

[PIngels]

No, I don't, but people seem to do it and I want to know why. As I said it's not something we do ourselves, we just can't get all that done for that low a price and it just doesn't make sense for us to work on such small projects. But more and more people are turning to video and getting these little videos made and I'm just interested how it turned out and the reasons people chose to give it a chance.

I agree with Billmccallum, there's no right answer. I think you are approaching it from the wrong direction. Let's assume companies are willing to spend anywhere from £50 - £5 000. You need to determine where in that range of potential budgets you want to position yourself to be profitable.

If you do quality productions with a better chance on ROI and you charge £2000+ for it then great. If you want to compete with all the low quality/low budget outfits then charge £200.

The question has to be at what price point can you compete and still make a profit.

 

[amphis software]

we recently added an explainer video to our home page. it's about a minute long and explains a few key points that we're often asked about and which would probably take longer than a minute to find elsewhere on our web site.

Tom

 

[PIngels]

we recently added an explainer video to our home page. it's about a minute long and explains a few key points that we're often asked about and which would probably take longer than a minute to find elsewhere on our web site.

Tom

And did that video make a difference?

 

[amphis software]

it seems to have, yes.

I think it's easier for someone to click a Play button and listen rather than clicking lots of links and trying to find the information they are after.

there were a few key points that people often asked about such as "can I import contacts from a spreadsheet ?" and "will data entered on one PC be automatically available on the other PCs ?".

we hopefully explained these and other points in the explainer video and we've so far not been asked about these points since.

Tom

 

[Alan]

This is my view (I have been examining explainer videos recently ), and anything less than £1,250 isn't likely to be of sufficient quality to add value.

(This is just an opinion, not based on evidence )