Explainly

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Grin Influencer Marketing is the all-in-one software platform to find and recruit social media influencers, manage influencer relationships and measure success. I am a sales manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Explainly?

We are a fairly new company in a newer industry, so it's important for us to quickly and concisely explain what we do - so we wanted a slick looking visual explainer video that we can host on our website, and to send prospective customers.

What were your goals for this project?

Educate on what GRIN does and generate more sales leads.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After speaking with Alex at Explainly, it was clear he understood our business and how content marketing words. He's a bright young entrepreneur that listens well and worked within the constraints and criteria we imagined. Other vendors made us work within their program and weren't willing to work around us.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Write scripting for the video, come up with visual designs for what will be shown in the cartoon explainer video and when, many phone calls to review our company's philosophy and what is "on brand."

What was the team composition?

Multiple people involved from idea, to design and execution. It was very clear who we should be talking to at each step and who our main POC was.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We have had numerous prospective customer and active customers tell us they were interested in evaluating GRIN based on the Explainly video. We know it has driven pipeline generation and helped influence revenue. Internally, our team compliments it all the time and helps us stand out against our competitors.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Extremely effective. They worked within our business hours (which were the same as theirs) and nothing was every confusing or misinterpreted.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Aside from the final product that we are ecstatic about, it's Explainly's drive and willingness to get to know our business was impressive. They helped create a vision as if they actually worked for us. It did not feel at all like we were outsourcing this project.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the department chairwoman for a hospitality management program at a University on the West Coast.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Explainly?

We hired Explainly to create a marketing video for our hospitality major.

What were your goals for this project?

To create a video that we could use for external marketing purposes that was fun, to-the-point and catchy.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

My team selected Explainly because they were referred to us. They came highly recommended.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

The video is very short - about a minute - and is animated. It tells the story of a high school graduate contemplating where to go to college, the choices in front of her. The process from script to images to sound to the final video was fairly seamless and Explainly created everything. They sought feedback at every stage of the process.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Explainly provided us with an extensive questionnaire at the beginning of the process that sought to get sense of our mission, purpose of the video, what our students were like, what sort of images we envisioned in the video, what our messaging was, etc.

From that point on, at each step of the process, they sought input about the script they had created, images used, voices, timing/speed of the video, the music, colors, etc. It was very easy to make comments directly in the video, second by second, if needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The feedback that we have received from students has been 100% positive, and the ultimate end product is beyond what we were expecting.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

As mentioned above, they communicated with us at every stage of the project. Although the video took some time to create, the team was timely with new information, updates, or edits. We sometimes had trouble keeping up with their expedient service!

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Explainly's knowledge and willingness to work with us so extensively. I also appreciated how thoughtful they were in making sure that the video was true to our expectations and our vision.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No - all was good!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing coordinator at a transportation company. The company includes many parts, a relocation sector, moving & storage component, and moving logistics. I primarily work with relocation services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Explainly?

The challenge we were trying to solve was being able to explain the complicated service we provide to those looking to relocate within the home marketing assistance program. We needed to explain the program in a corporate sense but also needed it to transfer well for audiences to take us up on the program.

We also wanted them to see the benefits of hiring us as a relocation company. We would potentially use this video as an extra tool to explain our products and services in an appealing way to our clients.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team at Explainly worked with us to make sure that our script, storyboards, videos, and animations all reflected the concept of the program engagingly and accurately. Their team worked with us on creating the whole project. They helped with animation and scripting. We already had a script, but they reworked that with us a few times.

What is the team composition?

I only worked directly with Andy (Project Manager, Explainly) and Alex (CEO & Founder, Explainly).

How did you come to work with Explainly?

We came across Explainly through Upwork. The reason why we ultimately chose them was that they offered customized animations for a reasonable price. We also wanted to work with an agency that would have their own opinions, but also let us have a say in the product.

With explainer videos, it can be challenging to find precisely what you’re looking for. We wanted to be able to customize the video according to the tone and animations we wanted. We saw on Explainly’s website that they offered a lot of personalized services.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested around $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with Explainly in October 2019, and the video was completed that December.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We had an internal focus group to show people within the company. We plan to keep the video private because the concept itself is relatively private.

Internally, everyone was happy with the animations. There were a few edits made to the script based on their suggestions, not a reflection of Explainly’s work. Explainly worked well with us to ensure the fixes matched the focus group’s thoughts. Overall, everyone was impressed with their work.

How did Explainly perform from a project management standpoint?

From a project management standpoint, they did well for a smaller company. Sometimes things took longer than expected, but that was on both ends. At times, we took a bit longer to give feedback than anticipated. Despite that, I appreciated how hands-on their team was.

What did you find most impressive about them?

From what I’ve seen from other explainer videos, the customization that Explainly puts in stands out. We used one video for a specific example of what we wanted to follow. When we compared the two videos after the project was done, their work was of higher quality and much more detailed. Their attention to detail was top-notch. The team at Explainly also has the ability to make products unique.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There were timing issues for both of our teams. But in the beginning, we had given them specific feedback involving the video’s tone. The script went a bit awry, so it had to be reworked entirely. Ultimately, that was fixed with more specific feedback. It’s hard to say whether that was because of how we worked as a team or how Explainly themselves did.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend working with Explainly. As far as explainer video companies go, they’re the best I’ve seen.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Safe & Sound is a San Francisco based nonprofit that provides direct services to families while advocating and educating for the safety of children. Our mission is to prevent child abuse and reduce its devastating impact. I work on the fundraising team focused on individual giving and events, while collaborating with our communications officer on marketing projects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Explainly?

We hired Explainly to create an explainer video that communicated our services in a clear and friendly way for donors, partners, companies, volunteers, and families.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal for an explainer video was to communicate one message about our organization that we could use to reach all of our stakeholders.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

The team at Explainly came to visit our organization and learn more. Our conversations together showed they really cared about helping a nonprofit and wanted to adapt their corporate model to fit our needs. They were also really friendly and thoughtful in their approach.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail.

The video is one 2.5 minute animated video. The process started with answering a list of questions for Explainly and they drafted a script for it. We provided feedback and got the script to an approval point. We then provided photos of our actual buildings (interior and exterior) and provided important elements that we needed - diverse and inclusive people (both staff and clients) to reflect the reality of our organization. Explainly provided storyboards and we went through a back and forth feedback process to make sure the elements all fit. Once that was complete, we received animation and voiceovers. This went through a feedback cycle until we were all set. Throughout the process, we never needed more than 2 back and forths in feedback. Explainly nailed the edits/feedbacks very well every time.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

Explainly used Trillo to manage the feedback process, which was really helpful. We utilized the Google Suite to provide notes and then emailed any additional items that were needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We have only received positive feedback so far from the project. We're currently releasing it to different stakeholders.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was really effective between Explainly and my team. Everything was clearly communicated. There were no surprises and all timelines/deadlines were met by both sides. Explainly never threw a curve ball. We knew how things were moving along every step of the way because of their clear communications.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was really impressed by Explainly's attention to detail and commitment to excellence. You can tell they really cared about getting everything right and were always willing to work with us to ensure we were happy.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I honestly can't think of any.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the VP of Product Marketing of CloudAexis Technologies

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We built powerfull SaaS solutions

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Explainly to accomplish?

• Animated Product Explainer Video

SOLUTION

How did you find Explainly?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select Explainly over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Explainly were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

We hired Explainly ahead of a major platform launch because our software solved a complex workflow problem that prospects didn't immediately understand. Their team led discovery workshops, refined our messaging, wrote the script, created storyboards, designed custom animations, recorded professional voiceovers, and delivered multiple versions for our website, sales team, and social channels. They challenged several assumptions in our original messaging, which ultimately made the final video much stronger.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

After launching the video, our sales team reported shorter product demonstrations because prospects already understood the core value proposition. Website visitors spent more time on our product pages, and the marketing team incorporated the video into product launch campaigns and customer presentations with positive feedback from both prospects and existing customers.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The project followed a structured process with clear milestones, weekly updates, and fast responses to our feedback. Every revision cycle stayed on schedule, and the team was transparent about timelines throughout production.

What was your primary form of communication with Explainly?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their biggest strength was simplifying a complicated SaaS platform without oversimplifying the technology. The finished video explained our product in a way that both technical and non-technical audiences could understand.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Explainly could have done differently?

More alternate animation styles during the concept phase would have given us additional creative options, although we were very pleased with the final result.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Marketing of a real estate company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Our goal is to help home builders sell more homes more profitably. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Explainly to accomplish?

• Provide video brochures for various events to help sell our solutions and services.

SOLUTION

How did you find Explainly?

Company

Why did you select Explainly over others?

High-Quality Product

How many teammates from Explainly were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Explainly was able to deliver a high-quality brochure in a quick turnaround. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

They helped us produce an excellent asset that we successfully utilized at a trade show. Their quick turnaround exceeded our expectations, and the final product played a key role in helping us generate valuable leads.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

We had a short turnaround, and they worked with us to adapt to our needs. We received the product in time, and the representative we spoke with exceeded expectations. 

What was your primary form of communication with Explainly?

Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The team was incredibly understanding, professional, and a pleasure to work with throughout the process.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Explainly could have done differently?

Nope! 

UPDATED REVIEW

This review was published on March 9, 2023.
Animated Explainer Video for Real Estate Company

Chris Laskowski
Director of Marketing, New Home StarReal estate

Chicago, Illinois

201-500

Dec 2022 - Jan 2023

$10,000 to $49,999

Project summary

Explainly provided video production services for a real estate company. They were tasked with producing a 120-second animated explainer video within a strict deadline.

Feedback summary
To the client's delight, the video was completed in a timely manner. Explainly worked very efficiently, delivering reliable services without sacrificing the quality of their outputs. Moreover, their strong project management and communication skills helped pave the way to a seamless engagement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Marketing of New Home Star

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

New home sales enablement technology and consulting.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Explainly to accomplish?

• 120 Second Explainer Video

SOLUTION

How did you find Explainly?

Other

Why did you select Explainly over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing first our budget

What was the size of Explainly’s team?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

They did an amazing job for New Home Star with our tight deadline for a show. Very organized and delivered a high-quality design. The video consisted of 120 second of live animation.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• On-Time Completion

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The project management was excellent. We had daily updates via email. Everything was managed through the PM system. They were very quick to deliver on all needs.

What was your primary form of communication with Explainly?

• Email
• Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The quality of their work was impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Explainly could have done differently?

More ideas on how to showcase the idea.

STAR RATINGS

Overall rating: 5

Quality: 5

Cost: 5

Schedule: 5   

Willing to refer: 5   

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the GTM Lead of HarperDB

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We sell a technology solution that combines database, cache, application, and messaging functions into a single high-performance technology.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Explainly to accomplish?

• Create an animated explainer video

SOLUTION

How did you find Explainly?

Online Search

Why did you select Explainly over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Explainly were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

They delivered a 1 minute long, completely custom explainer video. Offering full-service work including copywriting, storyboarding, voice-over, animation, and sound design. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Everyone liked it. We have not gone public yet with it, so I can't tell you clicks. 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Amazing project management; they even pivoted the whole project when a new CMO came in and wanted something different. 

What was your primary form of communication with Explainly?

Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

How well they managed the project and the quality of work they delivered. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something Explainly could have done differently?

No, they did great all around. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Product Marketing of Arity

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Driving behavior data

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Explainly to accomplish?

• Create a product explainer video for the Arity Marketing Platform

SOLUTION

How did you find Explainly?

Online Search

Why did you select Explainly over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Explainly were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Explainly created a beautiful 90-second product explainer video for our product, which turned out exactly as we wanted it. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We have not published and promoted the video on our website yet.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The Explainly team was super professional, creative, helpful, patient, and timely, plus extremely communicative every step of the way. My team and I are thrilled with how the video turned out, and we will definitely consider working with them again to produce more videos. I highly recommend Explainly for all video needs.

What was your primary form of communication with Explainly?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The team was friendly, responsive, helpful, and creative. The constant communication about deliverables and timing was incredibly appreciated.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Explainly could have done differently?

I can't think of any improvements.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Growth Marketing of Aspiration

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Climate-friendly banking provider.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Explainly to accomplish?
Create an animated video explaining and promoting a new rewards program

SOLUTION

How did you find Explainly?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select Explainly over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Explainly were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The Explainly team was contracted to create a 60 second, 2d animated video overviewing Aspiration's new rewards program. 

Key deliverables included:

• Video concepting
• Mood boards
• Scripting
• Storyboarding
• Voice talent sourcing and coaching
• Animation and music
• Sound editing

The outcome of all this was a video, and 2 shorter social cutdowns

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The video is already performing well on our social and paid media platforms, driving qualified traffic and helping acquisition efforts.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Everything was delivered on time and often even ahead of schedule. The team was extremely responsive and quickly navigated through the challenges presented by working with a regulated product like ours was.

What was your primary form of communication with Explainly?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The quality of the animation, and also how they were able to distill all our different needs into a final product.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Explainly could have done differently?

No, I am completely satisfied with every element of the engagement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Chief Revenue Officer of Solar Negotiators

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Solar energy installation contractor

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Explainly to accomplish?

• Video Creation
• Animated Design

SOLUTION

How did you find Explainly?

Online Search

Why did you select Explainly over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget

How many teammates from Explainly were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

We were very happy with the end result which was a beautifully animated video used to explain new changes in our industry to potential clients. Thank again to Aaron and the team at Explainly for all their hard work on our project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

New Leads Captured

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

From beginning to end, Explainly was amazing. Our rep Aaron made sure to ask all the right questions to make sure our needs were met throughout the process. They kept things on track by sending nudges and requesting zoom appointments to resolve any pending items-- as as busy executive I greatly appreciated that.

What was your primary form of communication with Explainly?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Great follow-up and questions to make sure goals and needs were clear.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Explainly could have done differently?

NA