Explainer video ideas for small businesses
The best short videos answer something your customers already wonder about. Here are six kinds that work for almost any business, with ideas for each.
Updated
1. The questions you hear every day
Write down what customers ask on the phone, at the counter or by email. Each question is a video.
- How far ahead should I order a celebration cake?
- How often does my dog need a groom?
- What should I bring to our first meeting?
2. Myths to clear up
A common belief, then what’s actually the case. Keep it kind: never make the viewer feel silly for believing it.
- “Bread keeps longer in the fridge.”
- “My dog will be fine without brushing between grooms.”
- “I only need to think about my records in January.”
3. How to do it, step by step
Three short steps your customer can follow at home. Show each one.
- Freezing bread so it tastes freshly baked
- Brushing out a tangle without pulling
- Photographing receipts as you go
4. Before and after
The change your service or advice makes, from one side to the other.
- A shoebox of receipts, then tidy records
- A matted coat, then a comfortable dog
- A last-minute rush, then a calm order
5. Dos and don’ts
One thing to do and one to avoid, side by side. Quick to watch and easy to remember.
- Do wrap bread in cotton; don’t use plastic
- Do brush the way the coat grows; don’t brush a wet coat
- Do keep business spending separate; don’t mix accounts
6. What to expect
Walk a new customer through what happens, so they arrive ready and relaxed.
- Your first visit, from arrival to pick-up
- What happens after you place an order
- How we work together through the year
Making the most of each idea
- One idea per video. Two ideas make two videos.
- Keep it under a minute: 30 seconds is plenty for most.
- Post the same video in the size each place suits: vertical for Reels and TikTok, square for feeds, widescreen for your website.
- Put your best ones on your website too, beside the question they answer.