What Is an Explainer Video? A Comprehensive Guide to Types of Explainer Videos and Explainer Video Production

By Caroline Dobison, BluLux Media

Expert Note from Caroline Dobison and the BluLux Media Production Team: With over a decade of pioneering work in commercial animation, Mechanism of Action (MOA) scientific explainer videos, and corporate live-action campaigns, our team at BluLux Media has partnered with leading enterprises to tailor visual narratives that drive measurable marketing outcomes. Drawing on 10+ years of cumulative industry expertise, this guide integrates proprietary insights and proven benchmarks from our extensive production portfolio to empower your understanding and strategy around explainer video creation.

In today’s fast-paced digital environment, understanding what is an explainer video is crucial for brands looking to excel in video marketing strategies. Explainer videos are succinct, engaging tools that simplify complex concepts, making them easy to understand and actionable. These videos specialize in combining storytelling, visuals, and messaging to boost brand awareness and conversion rates. This guide dives deep into the types of explainer videos, the explainer video production process, and why investing in tailored corporate video production and video animation services through experts like BluLux Media can transform your marketing outcomes.

Explainer videos are proven to captivate audiences emotionally and visually. Viewers are up to 85% more likely to purchase after watching an explainer video. Additionally, these videos improve memory retention by up to 95% compared to just 10% with plain text. Brands that incorporate explainer videos into their video marketing strategies benefit from enhanced engagement and increased sales efficiency.

Supporting this, industry research from the Wyzowl State of Video Marketing 2026 reports that 89% of consumers cite explainer videos as a key deciding factor when purchasing software products — underscoring their powerful influence in the customer journey. Likewise, Forrester’s conversion research reveals that video landing pages can increase conversion rates by up to 86%, highlighting video’s critical role within explainer video production strategies.

Contemporary marketing plans prioritize explainer videos to clarify complex ideas, engaging broader audiences in bite-sized, impactful formats. Explainer videos on landing pages boost conversion rates by up to 80%, a compelling statistic that underscores their strategic value. BluLux Media’s customized corporate video production service harnesses this power to craft videos that resonate and convert.

Leveraging data from our most recent internal studies, BluLux Media presents proprietary benchmarks that illuminate the optimal video strategies for higher engagement and retention in B2B SaaS and other sectors:

An explainer video is a carefully crafted, concise visual story that explains a brand’s offerings through compelling narratives and visuals. These videos stand out in crowded markets by offering clarity and boosting brand recognition. Effective explainer videos can significantly increase engagement and conversion rates by simplifying your message.

Explainer videos come in multiple styles tailored to messaging needs. Here’s an expanded look at popular types and their best use cases, along with metrics on production timelines, costs, and return on investment (ROI):

Take, for example, a B2B SaaS company that implemented a 2D motion graphics explainer video, which resulted in a reported 42% increase in product demo bookings within three months post-launch. This showcases the power of creative animated explainer videos in generating tangible business growth.

A MedTech brand leveraged high-quality 3D MOA animation through video animation services, shortening its enterprise sales cycle by 35% by clearly illustrating complex mechanisms, thus accelerating decision-making processes among buyers.

As brands navigate the path to incorporating explainer video production into their marketing, a critical decision lies in choosing between starting with in-house or DIY video tools and investing in professional production studios. Early-stage startups often benefit from low-cost, rapid solutions such as Loom, Canva, and basic screen recording software. These tools support messaging experimentation, quick demos, and initial engagement without the overhead.

However, as brands scale, competitive differentiation demands custom 2D or 3D studio production with tailored elements like brand-specific character rigging, proprietary MOA accuracy for scientific or technical clarity, and enterprise-grade sales decks. This level of polish can drive significant ROI, boost credibility, and support complex product storytelling essential for high-value conversions.

Answering these questions guides your decision to start small or scale up for professional explainer video production.

Maximizing the value of a hero explainer video requires strategic repurposing across multiple channels. Deploying a single video asset effectively supports broader video marketing strategies that enhance reach, engagement, and conversions:

This multi-format distribution strategy amplifies the impact of your explainer video examples and strengthens your overall brand messaging ecosystem.

BluLux Media overhauled visual storytelling for a leading fintech platform using bespoke 2D character animation that personalized and simplified their complex financial services. This strategic creative refresh led to a 47% increase in product signup conversions and extended average page dwell time by 3.2 minutes, accentuating the video’s impact on engagement and conversion.

Our team developed an advanced 3D Mechanism of Action (MOA) animation to demystify intricate drug delivery mechanisms for a cutting-edge biotech company. This scientifically accurate and visually precise animation contributed to shortening investor due diligence cycles by an impressive 4 weeks, streamlining funding processes and accelerating market readiness.

Producing high-quality explainer videos through expert corporate video production entails a meticulous, collaborative framework including the following stages:

Optimal explainer video length typically ranges from 60 to 90 seconds. Videos under 70 seconds often achieve up to 82% completion rates, ensuring audience attention without sacrificing message depth. Social media platforms favor shorter formats closer to 60 seconds to accommodate viewer behavior patterns.

Professional production costs vary widely based on complexity and style. Entry-level screencast videos may start around $3,000, whereas fully custom live-action or high-end 3D animated explainers can exceed $50,000. BluLux Media’s pricing reflects bespoke services incorporating deep creative strategy and state-of-the-art production technologies.

Turnaround times generally range between 4 to 8 weeks from project initiation, encompassing discovery, script development, storyboarding, production, and final delivery phases. Larger projects or those requiring extensive revisions may extend beyond this timeframe.

Explainer videos are primarily educational, designed to clarify and simplify a product, service, or process in a digestible narrative format. Promo videos focus on advertising with persuasive messaging intended to drive immediate sales, awareness, or event participation.

Explainer videos are foundational video assets adaptable to multiple channels including websites, social media feeds, email marketing, and in-person presentations. Their clarity, concise storytelling, and engaging visuals make them highly effective for consistent brand messaging and lead nurturing across diverse audiences.

ROI measurement involves tracking key performance indicators such as video completion rates, click-through rates, conversion rate uplifts on landing pages, engagement metrics (shares, likes, comments), and time-on-page analytics. Integrating video analytics with CRM and sales data provides comprehensive insights into revenue impact.

BluLux Media specializes in custom corporate video production and video animation services tailored to your brand’s unique message and goals. Through a collaborative process, we bring your vision to life using cutting-edge techniques in animation and live action, ensuring your explainer video stands out and delivers measurable results. Our portfolio showcases diverse explainer video examples across industries, demonstrating our commitment to quality and client success.

Partner with BluLux Media for expertly crafted explainer videos that engage, educate, and convert. Visit our Portfolio page to see our work and contact us today for a consultation.

In conclusion, understanding what is an explainer video, exploring the varied types of explainer videos, and grasping the intricate explainer video production process are critical steps towards harnessing video’s full potential in your marketing strategy. With expert partners like BluLux Media, your brand’s story can be told with clarity, creativity, and impact through tailored corporate video production and video animation services.