Over the years, I have created videos to help me explain certain concepts I am trying to teach. This achieves two goals: the videos can be consumed on demand, and they allow me to provide a visual of what I am describing instead of having to rely on each person’s imagination. Due to the complexity of some topics, I find animated explainer videos are an excellent option. Using animation, I can be really creative and avoid the expense of having to set up and shoot a live scene.
I created a series of explainer videos to show how engagement can start in a financial institution branch without making any physical changes. I showed a typical transaction—a customer making a deposit—and used that animation as a baseline. Then I created another video showing how the teller could have used the customer’s smartphone to make the deposit instead. The effect is dramatic: you can clearly see the difference in both the communication between the two parties and the increased level of engagement.
You can watch the first video here, and the second video here.
When I speak, facilitate strategic planning or teach, I use these animated videos. And I give out the links, specifically so that those in my audience can use them when talking about the concepts back at their institution. Instead of having to rely on their memory or notes, they have the videos and can show them at their next managers or board meeting. That sparks a discussion, and it has the desired effect: to get them to think differently about what a branch visit might entail.
I rarely get to hear these discussions. The videos have been viewed hundreds and hundreds of times, but I can only imagine their effect. But every now and then, I get a glimpse of how powerful they are. One of my Graduate Banking School students sent me this email after she showed the videos in a recent meeting:
Hi David!
I presented your videos 1 and 2 on the mobile deposit teller transaction and they were a HIT. You would’ve loved how I tied it into the message on transitioning from tellers to product experts etc. And being different than other banks and making a difference in our customer’s lives.
My boss approved my request for 14 tablets for my retail staff, so I will get them in time for the fourth quarter sales meetings, to hand out … and show your video 3!! I’m so excited!
This is an amazing story! Those animations had an impact. The institution is thinking differently and the senior management is seeing their employee as an innovative thinker. There are so many online services now offering cut-rate deals on creating videos—it can be really inexpensive. They may also be made with canned programs, but be of lower quality. I use Blooming Twig to create my videos (you can check them out here) and get consistently high quality with reasonable pricing.
Think about your organization. Are there topics on which you could create an explainer video? Perhaps an animation that would educate your clients and prospects and inspire them to think differently? Could you use that to differentiate your organization from your competitors?
Curious about video #3? Reach out to me and I’ll send you the link!