In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, video has become an indispensable tool for businesses aiming to engage audiences, explain complex ideas, and boost conversions. But when it comes to creating video content, brands face a crucial decision: Should they use pre-made video templates, or should they invest in a custom explainer video that’s uniquely tailored to their needs?
This choice can significantly impact your video’s effectiveness, engagement, and overall success. So, which option is best for your brand? Is it better to go the cost-effective route with templates, or should you invest in custom videos that provide a more polished, unique approach? The answer isn’t always clear-cut and depends on a variety of factors ranging from budget and timeline to customization needs and long-term marketing objectives.
In this blog post, we’ll break down everything you need to know about template videos versus custom explainer videos. From key differences to costs, timelines, engagement value, and customization options, we’ll help you decide which approach is right for your brand. Let’s dive in and explore these two options in detail, providing you with the tools to make an informed decision for your next video marketing campaign.
What Are Template Videos?
Template videos are pre-designed video structures created by designers or video production companies that are readily available for use. These templates often come with predefined animation styles, transitions, and layouts that you can easily customize by adding your content—logos, text, images, and sometimes voiceovers or music.
The appeal of video templates lies in their affordability and speed. Because these videos are pre-made, you don’t have to start from scratch. You simply plug in your branding, product details, and key messages, and you’re good to go. Template-based videos can be found on various online platforms that specialize in selling or licensing ready-made video designs.
The options available range from simple animation-based templates to more complex, dynamic, and highly stylized video templates for a variety of industries and purposes. Whether you’re looking for an explainer video, a promotional video, or a social media ad, there’s likely a template available to suit your needs.
Key Advantages of Template Videos:
- Affordable: The upfront costs of video templates are significantly lower compared to custom video production.
- Quick Turnaround: Template videos are fast to produce because the design work is already done. All you need to do is customize the template with your brand-specific details.
- Ease of Use: Many platforms that offer video templates are user-friendly, making it easy for anyone, even without design experience, to create videos quickly.
- Scalability: Templates can be used repeatedly, allowing brands to create multiple videos with minimal additional effort.
Key Disadvantages of Template Videos:
- Lack of Uniqueness: Because templates are available to other businesses, your video may look similar to those created by competitors, which could affect brand differentiation.
- Limited Customization: You’re limited to what the template allows. If you have a very specific vision for your video, the template may not be flexible enough to meet your needs.
- Generic Feel: Despite customization options, template videos can still feel impersonal or generic, lacking the tailored elements that make a brand stand out.
What Are Custom Explainer Videos?
A custom explainer video is an entirely original video created from scratch. From concept development and scriptwriting to animation, voiceover, and sound design, every aspect of the video is crafted to suit your brand’s unique identity and messaging. Custom explainer videos are typically created by a professional video production team that works closely with you to bring your vision to life.
Unlike templates, custom videos allow for complete creative control. You can influence every aspect of the video, from the animation style (2D or 3D) to the colors, fonts, music, and overall tone. This flexibility ensures that your video is unique and perfectly aligned with your brand’s personality and messaging.
Key Advantages of Custom Explainer Videos:
- Fully Tailored: Every aspect of the video is designed specifically for your brand, ensuring that it fits perfectly with your brand’s voice, values, and style.
- Higher Engagement: Custom videos often perform better in terms of engagement because they are created with a specific audience in mind, making them more relevant and appealing.
- Creative Freedom: Custom videos offer the opportunity to include unique storytelling elements, branding strategies, and interactive features that aren’t available in templates.
- Stronger Brand Identity: Since the video is tailor-made for your brand, it can more effectively reflect your company’s unique identity and message, helping you stand out from competitors.
Key Disadvantages of Custom Explainer Videos:
- Higher Cost: Custom videos are more expensive to produce because they require more time, expertise, and resources from a dedicated production team.
- Longer Production Time: Custom videos take longer to produce, typically requiring several weeks from initial concept to final delivery. This could delay your campaign if you’re working with tight deadlines.
- More Effort: The process of creating a custom video is more collaborative and may require multiple rounds of feedback and revisions to ensure that the final product aligns with your expectations.
Template vs. Custom Videos: A Detailed Comparison
Now that we have a general understanding of template videos and custom explainer videos, let’s dive deeper into the factors that matter most when choosing between the two options. This section will explore key elements like engagement value, costs, production timelines, and ROI to help you decide which option best suits your needs.
1. Engagement Value: Capturing Attention
Engagement is crucial when it comes to video content. A video that doesn’t capture attention early on is likely to lose viewers before it finishes, which means it won’t have the desired impact.
- Template Videos: Although template videos can be visually appealing, their generic nature often results in a lower level of engagement. Since these templates are commonly used by various companies, they may lack the originality needed to grab your audience’s attention and keep them interested throughout the video. A template video may not be compelling enough to create a deep emotional connection with your viewers.
- Custom Explainer Videos: Custom videos have a significant edge when it comes to engagement. Because they are specifically designed to align with your brand’s identity and audience, they are more likely to resonate emotionally with viewers. Custom videos also allow for unique storytelling, visual styles, and interactive features that can captivate your audience, improve retention, and increase shares.
Verdict: Custom explainer videos offer higher engagement value because they are specifically tailored to your brand and audience.
2. Production Costs: Budget-Friendly vs. Investment in Quality
Let’s face it: budget is often one of the primary considerations when deciding between template videos and custom explainer videos.
- Template Videos: Template videos are cost-effective and affordable, making them ideal for businesses with limited budgets or those looking to quickly produce content for short-term campaigns. The cost of using templates is typically much lower because the work has already been done, and you’re essentially licensing the design and structure of the video.
- Custom Explainer Videos: Custom videos require a larger investment because the process involves hiring professional video creators to develop the video from scratch. The cost can vary depending on the complexity of the video, length, level of animation, and additional elements like voiceovers and sound design. While custom videos are more expensive upfront, they often deliver a higher ROI due to their ability to engage the audience and boost brand recognition.
Verdict: Template videos are the more affordable option, but custom explainer videos offer more value in the long run, especially for businesses focused on building brand awareness and engagement.
3. Turnaround Time: Speed vs. Quality
Time is money, and your ability to produce content quickly can make or break your marketing campaigns.
- Template Videos: The turnaround time for template videos is fast. Since the design work has already been done, the only task left is to customize the template with your brand’s content. Depending on the complexity, this can be completed in as little as a few hours or a few days, making it an excellent option for time-sensitive campaigns.
- Custom Explainer Videos: Custom videos take more time to produce. From the scriptwriting process to storyboarding, animation, and revisions, a custom video can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks to complete, depending on the scope and complexity. This is a significant time investment, but the final product will be a high-quality, fully customized video that aligns with your brand’s messaging and goals.
Verdict: Template videos have the advantage when it comes to speed. However, if you have the time and resources to invest in a custom video, it can yield much better results in the long run.
4. Customization: Tailoring to Your Brand’s Needs
The level of customization is an essential factor to consider when deciding between template videos and custom explainer videos.
- Template Videos: Template videos offer limited customization. While you can adjust some elements, such as colors, text, images, and logos, you’re constrained by the pre-designed structure and animation style. If you need highly specific design elements or want to tell a unique story, templates may not be the best option.
- Custom Explainer Videos: Custom videos provide endless creative flexibility, allowing you to tailor every aspect to your brand. Whether it’s choosing the animation style, incorporating specific design features, or telling a highly personalized story, custom explainer videos offer complete control over the final product.
Verdict: Custom explainer videos win in terms of customization, offering complete flexibility to align with your brand’s voice, values, and marketing strategy.
5. Long-Term Value: ROI and Brand Building
While template videos may be great for short-term projects, custom explainer videos often provide better long-term value due to their high-quality design, engagement, and ability to strengthen your brand.
- Template Videos: Because template videos are generic, they don’t offer the same potential for long-term brand recognition or emotional engagement as custom videos. While they may work well for a specific campaign or promotional push, they don’t build as strong a connection with the audience as custom videos do.
- Custom Explainer Videos: Custom videos are a significant investment, but they pay off over time by strengthening your brand’s image and creating a lasting impression on your audience. These videos are more likely to be shared, remembered, and revisited, which contributes to higher long-term ROI.
Verdict: Custom explainer videos provide a better ROI and long-term value for your brand.
When Should You Choose Template Videos?
Template videos are a great option when:
- You’re on a tight budget.
- You need a video fast for a short-term campaign.
- You’re working with simple concepts that don’t require a unique design.
- You’re looking for a scalable solution to create multiple videos quickly.
When Should You Choose Custom Explainer Videos?
Custom explainer videos are ideal when:
- You want a high-quality video that reflects your brand’s identity.
- You need a unique video that stands out from competitors.
- You’re focused on creating a long-term impact with your video content.
- You need a video that speaks to your audience in a highly engaging and tailored way.
Conclusion: Template vs. Custom Videos—Which One is Right for You?
Ultimately, the decision between template and custom explainer videos boils down to your specific needs, goals, and budget. Template videos are a great choice for quick, cost-effective content with limited customization, while custom explainer videos provide more creative freedom, engagement, and long-term value for your brand.
If you’re looking for an affordable and speedy solution, template videos might be the right fit. But if you want a high-quality video that reflects your brand’s identity and builds a deeper connection with your audience, investing in a custom explainer video is likely the best option.
Ready to create a video that truly represents your brand? Book a free consultation with us today and let’s discuss how we can bring your vision to life!
Key Takeaways:
- Template videos are affordable, fast, and great for simple content needs.
- Custom explainer videos offer higher engagement, creative flexibility, and long-term ROI.
- Choose template videos for quick, budget-friendly projects; choose custom videos for high-quality, unique campaigns.
- At Wenimate, we specialize in both options, ensuring you get the right solution based on your specific needs.