Want to learn how to make whiteboard animation videos (aka whiteboard explainer videos)? Look no further – this blog post is for you! In this post, we’ll explain what they are, what they are used for, the benefits to your audience, and a simple 5 step process to create your own whiteboard animation today. So whether you’re a budding video creator, business owner, or just want to learn more about digital marketing, be sure to read on!
What is whiteboard animation?
Whiteboard animation is a popular style way to present information through video content. It’s a type of video that uses drawings, text, and diagrams to create an engaging presentation. These videos look like they are being drawn on a whiteboard and are commonly used in educational and informational content (I will explain why shortly).
Although the process of creating whiteboard animation can be complex, the right tools and techniques can make the process easy and professional-grade. In this guide, we will walk you through the entire process – from setting up your environment to creating your final product. With this information at your disposal, you’ll be able to create stunning animations in no time!
What are whiteboard animations used for?
Creating these videos can be a great way to communicate ideas and concepts more effectively. They can be used for presentations, marketing materials, and anything else that needs an engaging visual impact. But before you get started, make sure you have a video creation strategy in place. This will help you plan the video content, storyboard the animation, and choose the right software to create the video.
Education
Education videos are a great way to convey complex concepts in an easily accessible and visually appealing manner. They can be used for corporate training videos, product demos, or tutorials. The key is to come up with an effective story that will keep your viewers engaged from beginning to end. Visuals should be creative and engaging enough so that the viewer doesn’t get bored or distracted. Whiteboard explainer videos are proven to help people break down and understand complex topics.
Businesses & entrepreneurs
Whiteboard videos are a great way to show your target market what you do or can do for the viewer. They make an excellent marketing tool for businesses – showcasing the product or service in action is always beneficial. Make sure to use high-quality visuals and sound that will capture the viewer’s attention, making them want more. Furthermore, businesses should remember to create memorable content that will increase brand awareness and drive increased sales.
YouTubers
People go to YouTube to learn new things, solve problems and be entertained. This is why many big channels use a whiteboard style. It’s perfect for visual storytelling and breaking down difficult concepts into simple explanations. Look at Paddy Galloway, a huge name in the YouTube industry. He uses this technique to analyse YouTube success stories and simplify the “how” so his viewers can replicate winning strategies,
Charities & nonprofit organizations
Charities and nonprofit organizations sometimes rely on whiteboard animation videos to promote their work. They can be used to explain complex topics in a simple way, making them more accessible for the viewer. Additionally, they are great for engaging potential donors – by using fun and engaging animations, they can increase donations. There is no wrong way to make whiteboard animation videos as long as you stay true to your purpose and message- both of which will help ensure that your video reaches its target audience successfully.
The benefits of whiteboard animation
Whiteboard animated videos are a great way to create powerful messaging that will leave a lasting impression on your viewers. Here are some of the key reasons why this may be the best strategy for your YouTube channel or business.
Increased brand awareness
Brand awareness is the first step to achieving success with content marketing. By creating valuable, engaging content that resonates with your target audience, you can increase brand recognition and ultimately drive more traffic to your website or blog. This increased awareness usually leads to more customer engagement and conversion rates – making it one of the most effective methods of marketing out there.
Engages your audience on a personal level
There are a number of ways in which you can use video content to engage your audience on a personal level. For example, by using animated video stories that explain complex topics in an easy and interesting way. You could also showcase your brand in a new and creative way, generating interest among potential customers who would otherwise not be interested.
Increase Engagement and Conversion Rates
Animated whiteboard videos can help you achieve two major goals – increasing engagement and conversion rates. They work great as marketing tools to promote your product or service. They are easy to understand, making the information more memorable for the viewer. Research by “We Are Cognitive” discovered that whiteboard animation videos resulted in a 15% increase in the audience’s information retention and a 33% increase in how entertaining they found the content.
Simplifies your message
Whiteboard animation videos are an effective way of communicating your message in a simple and easy-to-follow manner. They can be used to explain complex processes or products quickly, saving you time and energy while reaching a large audience fast.
What do you need to start making whiteboard animation videos?
Creating whiteboard animation videos can be a fun and rewarding experience. However, most people won’t even attempt to create their own as there’s an assumption it needs all kinds of technical wizardry, when in fact, it’s actually quite easy.
Before you start, make sure you have the right tools and software. You will need a computer with an internet connection and some software to get started. Once you have these essentials, it’s time to start animating! Take your time and make sure all the details are perfect – the end result will be worth it!
Audio equipment
If you want to start video recording, you will need a microphone to record some clear audio – don’t underestmate how important audio is to make a whiteboard animation video. Alternatively, if you don’t have time to spend on audio equipment, outsource the voiceover to a freelancer on sites like Upwork or Fiverr. Good audio is essential for viewers to understand what is going on in your video, remember, you are telling them a story.
Whiteboard animation software
If you’re looking to create whiteboard animation videos, then the best software for the job is Videoscribe. This software is simple to learn and very effective – perfect for creating high-quality video tutorials. Plus, it’s reasonably priced, making it a great choice for any business or individual looking to produce quality whiteboard animation videos, turning beginners into animators in a few simple steps..
You can learn more about Videoscribe and why, in my opinion, it’s the best whiteboard animation software for beginners, by reading my review here. In short though, it’s simple to use, has ready-made templates, and effective tools to create powerful videos.
A storyboard
Storyboarding your video idea is an important step in the process. This will help you determine the direction of the video and come up with the script that accurately reflects what it is about. Once you have storyboarded your video, it’s time to choose a catchy title and describe its main points in just a few words! This whiteboard animation video can then be published on social media or other channels where people might find it interesting. All you need for this stage is a blank canvas – a pen and paper, or a word document on your laptop.
Create a whiteboard animation in 5 simple steps
Let’s get started with your first whiteboard animation video. These steps are brief and simple, however, I do have an advanced training course that is an hour long and will guide you step by step through the process of making a whiteboard animation video – you can find it here (30 days free trial access).
Compelling Story, Structure & Script
Creating whiteboard animation that is engaging and captivating isn’t easy. That’s why it is essential to have a well-developed story, structure and script. Storytelling isn’t just about telling an Interesting story – it has to be the right story for your audience too! Think about who your video is for and why they would keep watching it. Are you solving a problem, providing information they are desperate for, promising to make their life easier somehow?
Make sure you identify the type of animation your video will be: informative or entertaining or both? Use images, symbols and metaphors sparingly while also maintaining storytelling dynamics. This will make your video more interesting for viewers and increase their chances of coming back and wanting to learn more.
In terms of structure, you can keep it simple and just consider that your video should have a: beginning, middle and end.
Or you can break it down further, for example, this is how I structure many of my YouTube videos:
- Open with a hook. A way of grabbing the viewer’s attention and making them want to watch the video
- The setup – where you elaborate on what the viewer will gain from watching this video, explain to the viewer exactly what you’re going to explain to them!
- Then there’s the main content that can be broken down into 3-5 smaller steps and is where you dig into the details. Think of each step as a new scene on your video
- The CTA – the call to action or outro if you like. A quick summarization of the video and instruct the viewer what to do next, for example, subscribe to your channel, go watch another video etc
Once you have an idea of structure, it’s time to plan what you are going to say, and we do this with a script. Now, this is entirely what works best for you. Personally, I write my full script, every single word. But many others will write bullet points of the key talking points and rely on their brain to adlib and fill in the gaps more naturally. There is no right way other than whatever works best for you.
Create your style & brand
There is no doubt that whiteboard animation videos are a great way to engage and connect with your target market. However, before you get started, it is important to come up with a style and brand for them. Make sure all your ideas reflect the tone of your video conceptually and visually. When producing whiteboard animation videos yourself (or hiring someone else to do so), choose whether you wish to use a visual moving hand or prefer for the elements to appear without that hand-drawn visualisation.
Other style factors to consider: background image or colours, vignetting or textures for the background, default fonts and colours and so on. Don’t over analyse this. Pick something congruent with your main brand and continue.
Add your audio
Adding audio to your animation is essential and adds an extra layer of depth. You don’t need to have music though, that’s personal preference, if you do then remember to ensure the music you choose doesn’t drown out the main message or audio of the animation.
For me, I always recommend a voiceover, and your visuals should reinforce the key points in that audio. In Videoscribe, you can record directly in-app, or you can easily import a voiceover from elsewhere (record it on your phone if that’s more comfortable for you).
Create the visuals
Creating great visuals for your content is essential in getting people to take notice. Don’t overlook this step! Start with text and images that you think are simple and powerfully congruent with the message you are delivering. Emphasise key phrases and use simple imagery to break down complexity. It is proven that visual information can help us learn and process information (why do you think these are so popular in the education sector).
Assemble your video so that your audio is aligned with the text and graphics (images, charts, gifs) and you have almost made your first whiteboard animation video. All you need now is the finishing touches.
Perfect your timings
Lastly, before exporting, we want to ensure that there is a flow to the video. That the same frame doesn’t sit there for too long and that the animation is compelling and engaging. In Videoscribe, one way we achieve this is with timings and camera movement. It gives us the ability to shorten or lengthen the drawing times, and a little zoom in/out here and there. That extra movement and motion can make a huge difference and can add a professional touch to any beginner’s attempt to make a whiteboard animation video.
Where to find advanced whiteboard animation training
This blog post is intended to give you an overview of how to make a whiteboard animation video, but just as I’ve stated in this post, often it’s best to learn in a more visual way. This is why I have added some good resources for learning more about creating these types of videos.
If you want to learn how to create whiteboard animation videos, Skillshare is the perfect place for you. The courses are comprehensive and will teach you all the basics needed for video creation – from storyboarding and planning to video editing and post-production. There are a variety of courses to choose from, so there’s something for everyone who wants to learn this valuable skill.
I even have my own offering on there, 1 hour deep dive that will show you everything you need to know. You can check it out and use the 30-day free trial here.
YouTube
YouTube is a great resource for learning how to make whiteboard animation videos. There are many resources available on the site that can help you learn everything from the basics, such as video tutorials, to more advanced techniques. With so much information at your fingertips, it’s easy to get started making animation videos that will wow your audience! Check out my channel where I have added some Videoscribe tutorials for any skill level.
Final thoughts
Whiteboard animation videos are a great way to communicate with your audience and engage them on a level that is both creative and fun. There are many different tools and platforms available, so it’s easy to get started. However, the key is to focus on creating creative content that engages your viewers. They’ll love it! Make sure to experiment – learning how to make animation videos is an amazing skill you can use in all sorts of situations. So go ahead – give whiteboard animation videos a try today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What software is needed to create whiteboard animation videos?
To create whiteboard animation videos, you will need software like videoscribe. This software allows you to import video files and annotations, and then use the software’s drag-and-drop interface to create storyboards, animated sequences, or video presentations.
How long should a whiteboard animation video be?
A whiteboard animation video should be between 2 and 5 minutes long in order to capture the viewer’s attention and tell your story or convey your message effectively. But don’t set yourself hard limits, I know plenty of YouTube channels that take much longer, such as The Swedish Investor.
Do I need a professional voiceover talent to make my whiteboard animations shine?
No, you don’t need a professional voiceover talent to make your whiteboard animations look great. In fact, you can do it yourself quite easily with the help of a good microphone. Just make sure to use the right software and settings for recording voiceovers so that the audio quality is good and the video looks polished and professional.
What are the best tools for making whiteboard animation videos?
If you are looking for the best video editing software for whiteboard animation videos, you should consider using videoscribe. This software is great for creating animated video presentations, tutorials, and more.
How do I create a storyboard for my animation videos?
The first step in creating a storyboard for your animation videos is to create a rough outline of the video. This outline should specify each scene and what kind of images and text would depict your message. You can then draw on a piece of paper or sketch on a computer – whatever works best for you. Once you have the outline created, you can begin developing the storyboard further into specific details.
Is it possible to make money from selling whiteboard animation videos online?
Yes, it is possible to make money from selling whiteboard animation videos online. You can freelance for other businesses and start your own youtube channel to sell your work. Make sure to market your video well and provide great quality footage so that you can attract potential customers.
Do I need to hire a professional to create my whiteboard animation videos?
You don’t need to hire a professional to make whiteboard animation videos. In fact, with the right equipment and skills, you can create an amazing video on your own in just a few hours!