Explainly

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the VP of Content of a nonprofit

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

A domestic violence nonprofit creating educational content and resources to provide information to intimate partner violence victims

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Create "About Us" video

SOLUTION

How did you find Explainly?

they contacted us

Why did you select Explainly over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

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

We asked Explainly to help us create a video that informed viewers of information about domestic violence, and then explain how our site is a solution. We wanted an animated video with characters that had a similar style to those on our website, voice over narration, and two versions of a CTA.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• The video was completed within our timeline, was of high quality, and included both versions of CTAs we needed. They even kindly added a gif and video version of our logo at no additional charge.

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

They delivered every check-in item (scripts, storyboards, VO auditions, etc) either on time or before the deadline. The one time they needed a few extra days (for the final delivery), they were communicative and transparent. It was not an issue. When we had a significant number of rewrites and edits to the script, we were able to get on a call with our Explainly team and walk through the script together, working on it until it was exactly where we wanted it to be.

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?

How quickly they were able to create what we needed, especially when we needed some surprise updates a few months after the final delivery of the video. Explainly was always extremely quick to respond, really communicative, and happy to make changes we needed throughout the process.

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

Not that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Marketing Associate of a financial services company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We operate a nationwide network of Bitcoin ATM kiosks to allow people to buy and sell cryptocurrency with cash.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• To create an product launch video
• Help explain a niche product to our audience

SOLUTION

How did you find Explainly?

• Referral
• Other

Why did you select Explainly over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget

What was the size of Explainly’s team?

I worked very closely with 2-3 of their reps (mainly Evan), but unsure how many total Explainly team members helped out.

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

Throughout the past handful of months, our team worked with the Explainly team on scripting, storyboarding, and overlook and feel of the video. Everything was organized, scheduled, and on time.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• There were many milestones and measurables throughout the experience. Including but not limited to: Scripting, sketching, illustrated storyboards, voice-over, and animation.

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

Explainly was never - not on time. Any and all delays came from our end, and they were so great about being flexible with us. They are on top of it!

What was your primary form of communication with Explainly?

• Email 
• Messaging App

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

The overall quality of their work was impressive. When you're in the early stages and are only seeing sketches, it's hard to imagine the final outcome of it all. But as the time goes on, and the updates keep being delivered, you can see the progress being made. It's truly incredible!

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

None come to mind at the moment, very much so would recommend! They guide through every step of the process seamlessly.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

VP Marketing at an IoT technology provider

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Explainly, and what were your goals?

Looking for a 90-second explainer video to help customers and prospects easily understand our business and value prop

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

Interviewed a couple of companies, liked Explainly for their straightforward process and pricing model, and examples they provided of other work.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

We provided high-level story, and we mutually built out a script, storyboards, etc. We had some visuals we liked (icons and diagrams), Explainly was able to incorporate that into the video.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

Explainly had a project manager and designer, the process was very smooth as we communicated mostly over Slack and I was able to provide comments and feedback in their tools.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Just launched it so too soon to tell, but the video has been very well received by everyone at Rigado and will be incorporating it into our website and social.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Very good management, we used Slack and responsiveness was very prompt!

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

They were very fast at incorporating my feedback into revisions of the work. I had no problems getting changes in.

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

Everything was great. I probably should have just written the script myself to begin with since our solution is rather complicated vs. having them try to do it, but in the end we arrived at something we are happy with.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I support the Marketing and Experience Design team for a weight and health management company seeking to expand our new services with a new integrated care model.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Explainly, and what were your goals?

To reach a new group of healthcare providers and increase both brand awareness and introduce a new service, the goal was to synthesize 40 years of experience and expertise into a 60 second explainer video. The goal was to use the explainer video in a targeted Linked In ad campaign.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We selected Explainly as our vendor based on recommendations, reviews, and the initial proposal.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

The beginning of the process started with our team completing an in-depth questionnaire which helped us narrow our focus, and helped the Explainly team better understand our goals. That was followed up with a live kick off meeting and then we were off and running.

The entire process was very efficient and followed the timelines to the letter, with steps such as script drafting (several iterations and feedback sessions); sketches, style frames and voice over selection (with again, ample time for feedback and iteration); storyboarding; and then animation and music. As mentioned, the entire process was smooth and efficient with Explainly building in time for feedback and incorporating our feedback.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked with a project manager and team of creative professionals on the Explainly side, and the feedback process was efficient and effective. Not only was our feedback incorporated, there was a true understanding of our product, challenges, and the story and message we wished to convey.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Unfortunately, upon completion of the video the decision was made to pause the Linked In ad campaign, so we do not have outcome data at this time.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The entire team was easy to communicate with, especially impressive given west coast/east coast time differences. Supportive accountability was provided by our project manager to keep our team on the timelines. Slack was our preferred method of communication, and it worked beautifully.

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

The Explainly team was able to quickly get up to speed about our company and service and then distill a vast amount of information down into a 60 second video that checked all the boxes in terms of the information wanted to convey to our audience. We were thrilled with the results!

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

We don't have any next steps to suggest.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the founder of a SaaS startup that delivers go-to-market (GTM) software for GTM teams.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Explainly, and what were your goals?

We are launching a software product in a new category that requires not only explaining the solution in a simple way but also educating the market on the problem and how we are solving it. Our goal was to have a video prior to launch that could help align all stakeholders around the brand positioning and solution.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I met the Explainly team at SaaStr, and after reviewing their portfolio and receiving a quote, decided they were a good fit for what we needed.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

The creative process was mapped into a project management tool that outlined the steps, milestones, and responsibilities. The milestone deliverables were packaged into online review tools for feedback and iteration. They had a collaborative and efficient process. They delivered a video on time and on budget.

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked with a project manager and creative lead throughout the project. The project manager was the main point of contact for keeping us on track, collaborating, and working through iterative feedback. The creative lead took our positioning, product, and brand concepts and weaved them into a spectacular storyboard and final animated video.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have not launched our website and product yet, but feedback on the animated video from all stakeholders has been excellent.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The project manager kept everything updated in a shared online project management tool and communicated with our team in Slack. Milestone deliverables were presented online in a storyboard format that was intuitive and easy to provide feedback on broad concepts or detailed features.

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

The creative team's ability to quickly capture several disparate ideas around brand, solution and tone and weave that into a high-quality, sixty second animated video.

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

I would suggest adding in more live, online meeting check-points into the project plan to discuss the milestone deliverables and feedback. Sometimes I just wanted to hear the creative teams thoughts on some feedback points.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Communications Director for Spoken Worldwide, a global ministry that translates Bible passages and stories into oral formats for people who can't or don't read, and who have yet to hear the gospel.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Explainly, and what were your goals?

Our mission is oftentimes difficult to convey to someone unfamiliar with us. We hired Explainly to create a 2D explainer video that succinctly described our mission. The end goal was to have a marketing asset that we could use on our website and digital media campaigns.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

From our very first conversation with the Explainly team, we knew they were the right team for us. The Explainly team is extremely professional and committed to understanding the needs of their clients, so that the final product is exceptional.

Describe the video(s) and the process in detail, including the project steps and all stages of production.

Our 2D video walks viewers through our mission, describing what we do at Spoken Worldwide and why we do it. The Explainly process is very specific and well-designed. We always knew the next step and never had to wait on the Explainly team for the next deliverable - if anything, they had to wait on us, as our team reviewed. The Explainly team also did a great job of getting our message right - we had very few revisions,

Who did you work with and what was the feedback process like?

We worked with Evan Falco and Scarlett Bush. Both team members are professional and friendly - a great combination to work with.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

No success stories to share at this time, but we expect the video will quickly generate interest and ideally, new donors.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Professional, succinct, efficient. The have a well-oiled machine in place for project management!

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

It's hard to pinpoint just one aspect. The entire experience was impressive!

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

None that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the co-owners of Shasta Power, a private equity-funded solar development company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Explainly?

We needed someone to provide us with video production services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Explainly provided us with three tiers of animated video production, including two-dimensional animation, video length, and additional production services.

Their process had us pick a tier, decided on the length of the film, and negotiated an agreement. They then set us up with a Trello account as the main project management dashboard with the entire timeline of the project, as well as the storyboard, script, voiceover progress, animation drafts, and design.

We then collaborated on the entire production process and once that was done, they edited the video and delivered the final product.

What is the team composition?

Our main point of contact was Madhuri (Senior Project Manager), but we also worked with a large team of about 12 people.

How did you come to work with Explainly?

We started with an internet search, but we also had an ad consultant who helped us decide on our explainer video’s production team.

We decided to go with Explainly based on their positive reviews, pricing, and quality of production.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested about $13,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from November 2021–January 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our feedback for the quality of the video is high as they did a phenomenal job of providing us with great content and opportunities for changes along the way.

Moreover, we really liked the video as there were some clever nuances to the animation and they were always willing to edit some aspects of the video.

How did Explainly perform from a project management standpoint?

They were spot-on from a project management perspective despite having some organic delays like the holiday season.

Trello was our centralized location for communicating, providing feedback, and identifying edit points, but we also used emails and video conferencing to interact.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I would say it’s the quality of their process, as it also encapsulates their efficiency and value. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything they need to improve on, other than reassuring their client that they can help produce their ideas even if they lack the creative skills to do so.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would advise them to have a clear vision of what they’re trying to accomplish beforehand so they can achieve better results.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I run a production company which does live action and animation for clients. I'm the president of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Explainly?

To do an animated explainer video for one of my clients.

What were your goals for this project?

To deliver a high-quality 2D animated video that met the clients' creative vision.

SOLUTION

How did you select Explainly?

I interviewed about 6 different animated companies and was impressed with the professionalism and immediate understanding of what I needed to accomplish.

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

The video was an explainer video for the non-profit organization that is a client of mine. It was a 2:15 video with a script that I provided and visuals I suggested. We worked closely to match the visuals the script and went back and forth on style frames and illustrations until I and the client were happy.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

They provided a clear way to leave feedback, addressed the feedback quickly and effectively. I was impressed with the smoothness of the process.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don't have any data on viewership yet, but the client was thrilled with the project and the way it turned out. The success for me is predicated on my client being happy with the process and product, and they are.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective. They were quick, responsive and understood my notes right away.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The professionalism, the quick changes, the initial grasp of the concept and the great communication with the project manager.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Just regarding billing. They expect payment very quickly; I would suggest a Net 15.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am VP of client services at a scientific engagement agency serving the pharmaceutical industry, also spearheading our marketing function.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Explainly?

We needed a video that introduced our firm and services to a new audience for lead generation purposes.

What were your goals for this project?

We sought to create a compelling video that easily explained how we address client pain points.

SOLUTION

How did you select Explainly?

Explainly came recommended from a colleague.

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

We already had a vision, script and assets but needed a partner who could bring it to life - from storyboarding to animation to production -- in a quick timeframe.

What was your vendors' project management or feedback process?

The project management process was so smooth via Trello, to easily share assets, see the timeline, get notified when things were ready for review, and log approval. We worked smoothly through the three rounds of feedback.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are about to launch the video with our marketing campaign and new website, and am confident it will generate interest in our services as well as serve as a great tool for brand awareness.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our project manager at Explainly was super responsive and flexible. We also had a clear view of timeline and next steps at every juncture of the project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Our team was very patient and flexible, and overall it was a very positive collaborative experience. They have their process down pat!

Are there any areas for improvement?

We were very satisfied with this partnership.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the marketing manager of a career management platform for executive talent.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Explainly?

We hired Explainly to create a product video that succinctly described our main tools and resources and how we're unique in the market. We wanted the video to motivate potential members and position our company as a solution to the career challenges they may be facing.

What were your goals for this project?

We had various goals for this project - firstly we wanted to be able to provide a visual explanation into the company that we could use across a range of social media platforms (mainly LinkedIn) as well as on our website and in our email campaigns.

We anticipate the video will have a positive impact on increasing our brand awareness and membership sales moving forward.

SOLUTION

How did you select Explainly?

We researched various companies for this project - ultimately Explainly offered a great mix of creativity and quality and were within budget. The team were extremely helpful and responsive and it felt like they understood our vision from the get go.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

Once we decided on the scope of the project (overall budget, length etc). we were asked to fill out a questionnaire. From there, the Explainly team created a script for the video.

We were able to provide edits to the script and once that was finalized the design process started. We were shown style frame options to make sure the video was going to be in line with our brand standards. We provided screenshots of our product, to be used for the animation.

We also were able to choose the voice over which we thought would be most fitting. We were given multiple review options for each stage of the process which allowed us to ensure the video was exactly what we wanted it to be.

What was the team composition?

We worked with two points of contact on the Explainly team. Any feedback we had was addressed extremely quickly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've received really positive feedback thus far - internally and externally. We've had high engagement rates on social media and expect this to continue.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Extremely effective. The Explainly team always stuck to their timeline and were very patient when we were delayed in moving to the next stage.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They took the time to understand exactly what our company offered. It can be somewhat confusing explaining our USP and the Explainly team were able to understand exactly what we were trying to convey in the video.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not that I can think of