If you’re here looking for information on choosing the best whiteboard animation company, I’m guessing you’ve seen a whiteboard video before. And I hope it was a good one. Because there are some really, really cringe-worthy ones out there too.
And it’s not just the quality of whiteboard videos that’s all over the map. Whiteboard video pricing varies madly as well. Candidly, you could probably buy one on Fiverr for less than $100. At the other end of the spectrum, some whiteboard animation studios would charge you $15,000 per finished minute plus royalties.
It’s enough to scare you off making a whiteboard video at all. And that would be a shame.
Finding the best whiteboard animation company for your needs is worth the effort
There are countless benefits of whiteboard videos. Whiteboard videos are an excellent way to communicate complex information in a simple and effective way.
Compared to talking-head videos, research from the University of Hertfordshire’s Professor Richard Wiseman shows that whiteboard videos:
- Are rated as 33% more entertaining
- Deliver a 15% higher recall rate
- Are 66% more likely to be shared
And check out the eye-popping whiteboard animation statistics that resulted from a recent third-party study of our own videos.
What’s more, your whiteboard video can help you consistently communicate your message the right way, even when you can’t be in the room. You can use a whiteboard video, in a number of different ways, including:
- In your presentations
- In your training and onboarding
- On social media
- At your events
- In your email marketing
In this post, I’ll help you understand 11 different factors you should consider in order to select the best whiteboard animation company for your needs.
1
They take the time to understand your needs
Before they jump into production, the best whiteboard animation company takes the time to understand a few fundamental things about you and your project. For example:
- Who your viewers are–from the problem they’re trying to solve to the type of language and visuals that resonate with them.
- Your objectives for the video. How do you want your viewers to feel when they watch it? What actions do you want them to take after watching the video?
- Your organization’s personality, so that they can reflect it in everything from the video’s language and examples to the colours and fonts.
2
They’re storytellers
I’ve said it again and again: trying to make a video by adding great visuals to a terrible script is like putting lipstick on a pig. It doesn’t work.
The best whiteboard animation company is not just good with their illustrations and animation tools. Make sure they excel at the craft of writing a solid video script that turns your key messages into a great story.
3
No subject matter is too complicated
It’s easy to make an entertaining video if the subject matter is, in and of itself, approachable and entertaining.
But what if your topic is dry and complicated? What if it’s highly technical or scientific?
In that case, you should look for an animation company that has worked with other clients in your industry, or that has at least shown they have the skills to absorb very complicated information and make it easy to digest.
4
They are experts in visual communication
It’s easy enough to present concrete everyday objects visually when they come up in a script.
But how do you represent more nebulous ideas so that viewers will recognize their meaning in a matter of seconds, before the video moves on to the next idea?
We’ve needed to find visuals that represent ideas like “creativity” and “regret” (not to mention “erectile dysfunction”, while keeping it PG!) and I can tell you, it wasn’t immediately obvious.
Hire a company that has experience in the art of visual communication and knows how to translate all your ideas, no matter how vague or complicated, into visuals that are quick and easy to digest and absorb.
5
They create custom illustrations just for you
One of the ways that low-end whiteboard animation companies keep their pricing down is by using illustrations from an image bank, rather than creating them specifically for your project.
In some cases, that can work out fine. Especially if:
- The illustrations are all in a consistent graphic style. Otherwise, the video can look unprofessional.
- The illustrations are formatted to whiteboard animate in a natural way. (This is pretty rare unless the image bank was assembled specifically for whiteboard animation purposes).
- The visuals you need are fairly generic
If any of the following conditions apply, you’re better off with a company that can custom create your illustrations for you:
- You need a specific illustration style to go with your topic. (For example, steer clear of a comic style if your subject is serious or sensitive. In that case, a semi-realistic style that conveys emotion is a much better pick.)
- You want to showcase proprietary products.
- You want a character who looks like a leader in your organization.
6
They have expertise in a variety of animated styles
Personally, I love watching visuals being drawn before my eyes. And I know that the anticipation created while viewers wait to see what is being drawn increases their engagement.
But even I get bored if the entire video is nothing but images being drawn out live.
Select a whiteboard animation company that is innovative and knows how to use a variety of animation techniques to keep your viewers’ eyes glued to the screen for the length of the entire video.
Learn to explain complicated things in a simple way
Find out how to explain complicated things in a simple way that attracts and holds attention, builds trust, engages your audience, and moves them to act.
7
They have access to great voiceover talent
The best animation company for you knows how to find exactly the right voice actor for your video, which means someone whose voice will resonate with your viewers and fit with your topic, including their
- Gender
- Tone
- Accent
- Age
- Delivery
And on the subject of delivery: Just because they’re professional voiceover actors, doesn’t mean they’re good at delivering the voice that your video needs. Even pros sometimes sound like they’re orating or reading a script. What whiteboards need is a natural, conversational delivery, similar to what you’d expect to hear if someone were scribbling on a whiteboard while talking you through something.
Find a whiteboard animation company that knows how to find the right voice actors and coach them on their delivery.
8
They strike the right balance with music and sound
The best whiteboard animation companies knows how to put the finishing touches on your video to make it very engaging. They understand that adding music can create the right mood and add personality to your video, and that sound effects can make your video more dynamic and make subtle animations stand out.
But a professional animation company also knows that moderation is key. And that being too heavy-handed with your sound choices can overpower your video and distract your viewer from its substance.
The best animationa company knows how to strike the right balance.
9
They pride themselves on delivering an outstanding customer experience
With the wrong animation company, you can encounter two sorts of problems:
- They communicate very little along the way and you risk ending up with a video that doesn’t meet your needs, but it’s too late to do anything about it.
- They count on you to make all the decisions. You feel out of your depth and the process is onerous and time consuming.
When you’re working with one of the best animation companies, the process is fun. They steer the entire process, letting you feel like you’re in good hands.
But they also present you with options and recommendations, making sure you see the video through its different stages and have the chance to weigh in on how it’s progressing. That way, there are no unpleasant surprises at the end.
10
They go above and beyond
As in every field, there’s a difference between a supplier and a partner. The best whiteboard animation companies have people who care about you and your success–beyond the narrow scope of their mandate.
A solid partner should be able to provide added value in one or several of the following ways:
- Have the skills to create complementary visual communication assets (such as website landing page, presentations or infographics).
- Provide guidance on the different ways you can use and promote your new video to make the most out of it.
- Create derivative art from the video, including thumbnails for your social posts or printable posters that show your video content at a glance.
11
They have been producing quality whiteboard videos for years
I’ll make this point by sharing the true story of one of my clients, a not-for-profit with a small budget to produce a whiteboard video.
They came to me on the heels of a terrible experience with another so-called whiteboard animation company.
Between the way this company managed the process and the quality of their work, it became very clear that this was the first whiteboard video they had ever produced.
My client quickly extricated themselves from the agreement, but only after having lost a chunk of their budget to a deposit for the project.
The story has a happy ending. We were able to produce a whiteboard video that supports their cause on a daily basis.
But their story serves as a cautionary tale.
Make sure not to entrust your project to a company that hasn’t earned its stripes. A few tips:
- There’s no substitute for time. Any company that’s been producing whiteboard videos for years, and that makes it a point to up their game with every project, will pick up the skills. Conversely, it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to produce a showstopper for you when they’re brand new to the craft.
- Ask to see some references and sample projects.
- Animation awards from legitimate organizations that aren’t pay-to-play are always a good sign.
Need some help?
If you’re planning to produce a whiteboard video, I hope you’ll consider partnering with Exaltus on the project. Contact us to schedule a quick chat so that we can take you through our process and answer all your questions, and be sure to check out more of the whiteboard animation examples in our portfolio.
