Starting a SaaS company is thrilling, but the hard part is figuring out how to communicate your product in a way that makes sense to potential consumers right away. There are so many tools out there that a wall of text or a list of features won’t work. People want things to be clear, not confusing. That’s why explainer videos are so important. They can make complicated operations easier to understand, show off your value, and get people interested in a way that a static homepage can’t. For new businesses, they are not only great to have; they are necessary. This tutorial will show you the many kinds of SaaS product explainer videos that every business should make, as well as how to pick the best style to get more consumers.
Why SaaS Product Explainer Videos Are Every Startup’s Secret Weapon?
Explainer videos produce outcomes, not just a polished appearance. An explanation video on a landing page can increase conversions by as much as 80%, according to studies.This is due to the fact that videos help prospects quickly grasp your product and recognize its value by cutting through the clutter.
This is more important than ever for entrepreneurs. You must:
- Simplify complexity: SaaS frequently deals with technical or abstract ideas that are difficult to adequately convey through words alone.
- Build trust fast: Videos help potential customers emotionally engage with your company, whether it’s through animated narrative or actual customer testimonies.
- Engage viewers with short attention spans: A 60-second video captures the attention of viewers more effectively than pages of material.
To put it briefly, explainer films function as your on-call sales representative, educating, interacting, and converting leads even while you’re asleep.
| Video Type | Best For |
| 2D Character Animation | Emotional storytelling, empathy |
| Motion Graphics | Abstract ideas, data visualization |
| Kinetic Typography | Bold messaging, quick impact |
| 2.5D / 3D Animation | High-end, tech-driven showcases |
| Live-Action + UI Overlay | Trust and authenticity |
| Screencasts / Product Demos | Hands-on feature walkthroughs |
| Promo / Short Teasers | Launch campaigns, buzz-building |
| Social / Micro Videos | Social engagement, quick consumption |
| Tutorials / How-tos | Onboarding and support |
| Testimonials & Stories | Building credibility and trust |
| Internal Training / Culture Videos | Scaling team communication |
1. Animation-Based Explainer Videos
It’s easy to understand complicated ideas in animation, which is one of the most popular types of SaaS product explainer videos. Let’s look at the different key styles:
Character Animation in 2D
People can relate to the characters in these 2D videos, who talk about real-life problems and how your tools can help. Storytelling through characters makes people care about and trust you, which makes it a great choice for startups that want to reach people who aren’t tech-savvy.
Moving Graphics
Instead of characters, motion graphics use shapes, icons, and other visual features. This style is great for making complicated ideas like cloud computing, data protection, or automation easier to understand. It looks nice, is well-made, and works well for B2B SaaS brands.
Kinetic Typography
In order to make a strong point, kinetic writing can be very useful. A lot of movement in the text and lively music in the background make your value statement stand out and be hard to miss.
2.5D and 3D Animation
Want to give it more depth and style? 2.5D adds layers to flat images to make them look like they are in 3D, and full 3D animation makes product demos look like they belong in a movie. These formats work best for SaaS companies in high-tech or competitive markets, but they cost more and take more time.
2. Live-Action and Hybrid Explainer Videos
No doubt, animation is great but sometimes you can’t beat what real people need to offer.
Live action featuring a UI overlay
This approach mixes everyday situations with actual screen recordings showing your product in action. For instance, imagine an actor explaining a pain point while your product’s interface pops up on screen, clearly demonstrating how it tackles that problem. It really comes across as genuine and reliable.
Hybrid: Combining Live Action and Motion Graphics
So, in this setup, we’ve got live footage that’s jazzed up with animated overlays to really showcase the important stats or features. This format mixes a personal touch with creative branding – perfect for SaaS startups looking to come across as friendly while still being professional.
3. Screencasts and Product Demos
Sometimes the simplest option is the most effective. Screencast videos show your actual product in use, often with voiceover narration. They’re perfect for:
- Product tours on your homepage
- Feature walkthroughs for new customers
- How-to videos for support and onboarding
The beauty of screencasts is their transparency – users see exactly what they’ll get after signing up.
4. Promotional and Short-Form Videos
Every video doesn’t need to show every little thing. There are times when less is more.
Promo Videos and teasers
Promo films that are short and to the point are great for introducing new products or features. They get people excited, quickly point out the perks, and leave people wanting more.
Micro Videos for Social Media
You could make 10- to 30-second clips for Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter (X). People who are already interested in your business will find these short films interesting and click on them.
5. Customer-Centered and Internal Videos
You can use explainer films for more than just prospects. They also help teams and people who are already using them.
Videos with Tutorials and How-tos
In SaaS, onboarding is very important. A good tutorial video helps new users to get started right away, which keeps them from leaving and needs less support. For simple jobs, these videos can be 30 to 60 seconds long. For more advanced features, they can be 5 to 10 minutes long.
Testimonials and Customer Stories Videos
The best way to build trust is with real customer stories. There’s no better way to make a sale than to film your happy customers talking about how your SaaS product solved their problems.
Videos for internal onboarding and culture
It’s easy for communication to get jumbled inside of startups as they grow quickly. Explainer videos can be used for teaching, showing off the company culture, or getting new employees up to speed. These are great for growing teams because they can be used again and again.
Why These Videos Matter for Startups?
It’s not enough to just have explainer videos; you need them to grow your SaaS business. They:
- Simplify things by turning technical jargon into content that is easy to understand.
- Connect with people on an emotional level by using characters, recommendations, and stories.
- Demos and screencasts are great ways to show real value.
- Boost sales by making it easy for potential customers to understand your product.
To sum up, the right video can help you teach, engage, and sell without being too much for your viewers.
How to Pick the Best Video Style?
How do you choose the right one when there are so many? Here is a quick guide:
- Set a clear goal: Awareness? Changeover? Starting up? A different kind of video is needed for each goal.
- Get to know your audience: A professional buyer might like motion graphics that are clean, while the founder of a new business might like an animation with fun characters.
- Think about your budget and the resources: You have access to. 3D animation looks great but costs a lot. Screencasts and typography videos are cheaper options.
- Match the tone of your brand: Interesting and fun? Choose motion for the characters. Serious and professional? Pick either live action or motion images.
Conclusion
Explainer videos boost growth for SaaS firms. Each sort of video helps you to acquire, engage, and keep customers by simplifying workflows or developing emotional connections. Start with a screencast or short animation that matches your goals. Demos, tutorials, and testimonials should be added to your video library as your firm expands. Remember: the perfect story in the proper style can turn curious visitors into devoted clients.
