Deciding to invest in an animated explainer video is a good idea for almost every type of business when it comes to building out a comprehensive marketing strategy. Along with all the things above, there are several other aspects that you as a business owner should look for in an animated explainer video agency.

Here are a few of the most important that we think should be on your list to check off before choosing which agency to go with:

Check Their Portfolio

When first starting your hunt for the perfect explainer video agency you will want to take a look at their website and their portfolio. Most agencies will have a portfolio housed somewhere on their website. This will allow you to take a look at their style and examples of their work.

If when looking at this portfolio you don’t see any videos specifically having to do with your industry you can always reach out to the agency and ask if they have examples of work that do.

By taking an in-depth look into their portfolio and reaching out to see if they have any other examples of their work you will be able to get a good idea of the quality as well as the variation of animation styles available to you.

This is also a great place to take a look at how effectively each of those examples deals with that particular brand’s message. When looking at the portfolio you want to also pay close attention to the small details. Make sure to look for things like transitions, sound design, the pacing of the story as well as the voiceover and the overall storytelling of the videos.

These are all aspects of an animated explainer video that could be the thing that gives the video production quality a boost and therefore give the agency an edge over their competition.

Reputation

Even with a stellar portfolio you still need to pay attention to what is being said about the company and their work. There are two main ways to do this- through online reviews and by utilizing LinkedIn.

Start by taking a look at platforms that allow people to leave online reviews. Read several of the reviews to look for both positive and negative experiences with said company. You can also Google the company to find out what other past clients are saying about them.

Taking the time to dive into your LinkedIn and research whether you have any connections in common with the agency is also a good idea when it comes to diving into their reputation. If you do have connections you can always reach out and ask these connections what their opinion of the agency is.

Once you have gathered together all the information and you feel confident that you have a good grasp of the reputation of the agency you can decide whether it is the right fit for you and move on to the next item on the list.

Budget

There are varying sizes of agencies out there that you can do business with and depending on the size of them you may find that there are different price points quoted for a project like yours. An animated explainer video budget typically ranges anywhere from $500 to $80,000 depending on the agencies capabilities and experience. So you have to really pay attention to the budget you have when looking for an agency for your video production needs.

Of course, during the initial consultation, a final price will not be able to be delivered to you by the agency. But they will be able to give you a ballpark range of what the project you are looking to have done will potentially cost.

But you as the marketing agency looking for the explainer video shouldn’t let the agency itself dictate the price. Instead, you should come to the initial consultation with a budget range that you can do. By doing this you will be able to determine immediately whether this agency and your needs are compatible.

Proven Process

Most animation agencies that deal with explainer videos will have developed a process that they have carefully crafted over time to ensure a smooth workflow when it comes to production. When looking at the agency you will want to make sure that they are open about this video production process and what the essential steps in that process are.

This process should include scriptwriting, storyboarding, animation, voiceover, and music as well as sound design work. The workflow may be different in every agency as to the placement of those pieces of the process, but these should all be somewhere in there.

The animators and other staff at the agency should be able to easily express this process so that you are confident that they have a plan that will ensure deadlines and budgets are met. They should also be able to give you a rough estimate of the time it takes for the completion of the project.

Able To Tell A Story

A good animated explainer video will always have a story behind it. No matter how elegant the graphics are or how much work is put into the sound design if there is no story the animated explainer video will not be able to deliver your message properly.

So when looking at the portfolio make sure that you are not only paying attention to the animation and quality of the product but also the story that the videos are telling. You want to look at how the story is structured, the pace and tone that is used when relaying the client’s message. Does all this combine together to build a value proposition that is easy to understand and entertaining?

If the answer is yes then this is an agency that may work well with your project. If however you love the visuals but there is no storytelling behind it then perhaps you might want to continue your search for an agency that fits the needs and creative ideas you have for your explainer video.

Easy To Work With

When you’re looking for a creative professional to animator video chances are you’re paying attention to the actual physical product as well as the experience of the people you are going to end up potentially working with. But one thing you can’t overlook is how easy it will be to work with them.

Any relationship whether it’s personal or business-related is best suited when it is between two individuals (or companies) that find it easy and fun to work together. This is one of those considerations that solely has to do with your gut reaction.

So when you meet with the agency representatives to begin discussing your project listen to your feelings and look to see if you guys share similar work values and styles as well as company ideas. If you do then it is probably a good bet that you will work well together. If you don’t it may be time to move on to the next agency.

Good Communication

In any relationship communication is key, In fact, it may be the most critical aspect especially when it comes to working on a creative project for your business. This comes two-fold – ease of communication and comfortability of communication.

When it comes to ease of communication you have to look at whether you feel comfortable relaying honest and open feedback to the agency you’re choosing to work with. This is another one of those gut feeling situations that when sitting down for initial consultation you need to pay attention to.

You also need to look and see how much communication is open to you. Do they primarily want to do business through emails? Or are they open to video chats every now and then? The more open the agency is the more you’re likely to feel comfortable when it comes to communicating your needs as well as your feedback.

Of course, all of this relies on your chosen means of communication. So if you are someone who only wants to deal with emails then you don’t want to choose an agency that likes to use video calls or even communicate through text. This won’t be comfortable for you, and it will make for an unproductive work relationship.

Working Hours

Because animation explainer videos are very much a collaborative project you will want to find an agency that you can deliver feedback and revisions at any stage of the production. Most typical production takes between six and eight weeks and has many steps in the process.

At any time if there is a communication breakdown due to time differences this could lead to delays in the production and significant waste of both your and the animators time. So when looking at an agency you want to look at their working hours and make sure that it corresponds with your work schedule.

Finding an agency that is either in your same time zone or within a couple of hours will also make it easier to set up meetings so that you can ensure the animators have everything they need, and you can be involved in every aspect of the production process.

Workload Capability

Last but certainly not least you will want to make sure that the agency you are looking to employ can handle the workload of your project. Most agencies will be very honest with you.

However, some may tend to bite off more than they can chew. Depending on the size of your project or the number of explainer videos you’re looking to have created the agency may or may not be able to take on your project.

For instance, if you have a project that has several lengthy animated explainer videos then a smaller agency may not have the manpower or the available time to do this. That means when looking for an agency you will want to look for one that is a medium to large-sized company.

Final Thoughts

Like with any creative project finding the right partner is crucial for success. Animated explainer videos are a great addition to your marketing strategy and may end up being a key aspect of it. So you want to find an agency that she would be willing to work with time and time again.