If you’re still relying on static ads and lengthy blog posts to move customers through your marketing funnel, you’re already behind. Explainer videos are the secret weapon businesses use to speed up the customer journey, drive engagement, and skyrocket conversion rates.

In this guide, you’ll discover exactly how to use explainer videos at every critical stage of your marketing funnel — with no fluff, just results.

What Are Explainer Videos?

At their core, explainer videos are short, compelling videos designed to explain your product, service, or concept quickly and clearly. They’re often animated, live-action, or a mix of both — and they’re engineered to turn “what is this?” into “I need this.”

Why Are Explainer Videos Crucial for Your Funnel?

• 86% of businesses use video marketing.
• 96% of people have watched an explainer video to learn more about a product or service.
• 84% of customers say that a video convinced them to buy.

If you’re not using explainer videos across your entire funnel, you’re leaving leads (and revenue) on the table.

Now let’s break it down by each funnel stage.

1. Awareness Stage: Grab Attention Fast

Goal: Get noticed in a crowded market.

At this stage, your audience doesn’t know you — or even realize they have a problem yet. You need to be impossible to ignore.

How to Use Explainer Videos:

• Create short, punchy, curiosity-driven clips (under 60 seconds).
• Use humor, emotional triggers, or bold questions.
• Focus on the problem rather than your solution.
  

Best Formats:

• 30-second Instagram Reels
• YouTube pre-roll ads
• TikTok short-form videos
  

Pro Tip:
Open with a bold hook in the first 3 seconds. That’s the window you have before people scroll away.

If you’re looking to make that kind of first impression, we can help.

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2. Consideration Stage: Educate and Engage

Goal: Turn interest into serious intent.

Now your audience knows about you — but they’re shopping around. You need to prove you’re the right choice.

How to Use Explainer Videos:

• Dive deeper into how your solution works.
• Highlight your Unique Selling Points (USPs).
• Address objections before they arise.
  

Best Formats:

• 2–3 minute animated explainer videos
• Customer success story videos
• Product feature breakdowns
  

Pro Tip:
Frame your messaging around benefits, not features. Don’t just say what your product does — show how it makes life better.

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What’s the BEST Type of Explainer Video for Your Business? Quiz → Or download our FREE eBook:
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Inside, you’ll discover:

• How to script videos that drive action
• Attention-grabbing frameworks backed by neuroscience
• Proven explainer video types for each stage of your funnel

What’s the BEST Type of Explainer Video for Your Business?

3. Decision Stage: Build Trust and Drive Action

Goal: Close the deal.

Your prospect is almost ready to buy. At this stage, your job is to eliminate doubt and push them gently (but firmly) over the line.

How to Use Explainer Videos:

• Provide video testimonials from real customers.
• Offer direct comparisons to competitors (ethically and clearly).
• Show simple product demos.
  

Best Formats:

• Side-by-side comparison videos
• Walkthroughs of your product in action
• Customer review mashups
  

Pro Tip:
End every video with a direct, clear Call-To-Action (CTA) — “Start Your Free Trial Today” or “Schedule a Demo.”

4. Retention Stage: Nurture and Upsell

Goal: Delight your customers so they stay — and spend more.

The funnel doesn’t end after the sale. Smart brands use explainer videos to increase lifetime value (LTV) and create brand advocates.

How to Use Explainer Videos:

• Create onboarding videos that show how to use your product.
• Send regular how-to tutorials via email.
• Showcase new features or add-ons in quick explainer clips.
  

Best Formats:

• Welcome videos in customer portals
• Video lessons inside email drip campaigns
• Short upsell videos for related products
  

Pro Tip:
Your current customers are 60–70% more likely to buy from you again (compared to new prospects at just 5–20%). Keep nurturing them.

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When your message is clear and your offer is strong, a video can be the final push that turns interest into action.

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Quick Cheat Sheet: Matching Funnel Stage to Video Type

Funnel Stage	Video Goal	Best Video Type
Awareness	Grab attention	Short clips, social ads
Consideration	Educate & engage	Explainers, case studies
Decision	Build trust & convert	Testimonials, product demos
Retention	Nurture & upsell	Tutorials, onboarding videos

Conclusion: 

Explainer videos aren’t a nice-to-have anymore — they’re essential at every stage of your marketing funnel.

Done right, they:

• Accelerate brand awareness
• Educate better than text ever could
• Build unstoppable trust
• Create loyal, repeat customers
  

Start simple: create one video per funnel stage, test different formats, and watch how your marketing efficiency skyrockets.

The future of marketing is visual — and it starts with explainer videos.

FAQs

1. What is the best type of explainer video for brand awareness?

The best explainer videos for brand awareness are short, eye-catching clips (30–60 seconds) designed for platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Ads. They focus on creating curiosity and highlighting the audience’s pain points without diving deep into the product details.

2. How long should an explainer video be for different funnel stages?

• Awareness Stage: 30–60 seconds (keep it snappy)
• Consideration Stage: 2–3 minutes (allow space for storytelling)
• Decision Stage: 1–2 minutes (focused on trust and action)
• Retention Stage: 1–2 minutes (quick tutorials and updates)
  

Keeping video length optimized for each stage ensures maximum engagement.

3. Are animated explainer videos more effective than live-action videos?
It depends on the funnel stage and audience.

• Animated videos work better for complex ideas during the awareness and consideration stages because they simplify explanations.
• Live-action videos (such as testimonials and demos) build more trust in the decision and retention stages by adding a human touch.
  

4. How can explainer videos improve conversion rates?

Explainer videos help simplify complicated topics, address customer objections before they arise, and visually demonstrate benefits. This builds trust faster than text alone, making prospects more confident to buy — leading to 20–80% higher conversion rates.