Top 10 Explainer Videos From CES Exhibitors

With more than four decades of success, the International CES reaches across global markets, connects the industry and enables consumer electronics innovations to grow and thrive. Every year CES draws attendees from around the globe ready to do business.

When it comes to introducing new products and services, start-up businesses must focus on distinguish themselves and their products from similar companies.

It is crucial to explain why should people choose you. As we believe in explainer videos, we went through the websites of this year's exhibitors to see how often and how well they are using their explainer videos.

We took the opportunity to rate each video by Video, Audio, Concept and Coherence. Placement is very important. We gave 5 points if the video appeared on the main page. For each click it took to reach the video we subtracted 1 point.

Bazaarvoice

Video: 4
Audio: 4
Concept: 4
Coherence: 4
Placement: 3

Using various visual techniques nicely, the video is engaging despite it is a bit long. Voice over and music works very well together, having a good pace and mood. Regarding the visual: mixing info-graphics with the actual website in this case a good choice, and we really like the almost 3d connections between the brand logos.

Alkilu

Video: 4
Audio: 4
Concept: 5
Coherence: 5
Placement: 5

We really like this video, brief, engaging, makes people curious. In just 45 seconds, we know what the product is made for, we know the advantages and when the video ends, we feel desperate to get some.

Of course it is not a high-end production, but as you see, it is absolutely possible to make an explainer video even on lower budget, that does the job! Yes, this is one.

Squint Browser

Video: 3
Audio: 3
Concept: 4
Coherence: 4
Placement: 4.5 (main page, but need to scroll down)

This product is great, it provides something most of us are looking for: ignoring useless content, only reading what we care for. It is like a relief. And this is why we think this video could be better... shorter, funnier, with happier music and better voice over.

Let's

Video: 2
Audio: 2
Concept: 2
Coherence: 3
Placement: 5

Well, the explainer video is on the main page, which is great!

Not having voice over works sometimes - depends on the concept. We found this video quite slow, while not really discovering the basic idea of the product. Music is too out of style, the StarWars-like text animation at the end is a bit corny, really fast and hard to read. After seeing the video, we actually had to scroll down and read what this application is all about.

But we have read it, so the video, in a way, worked after all.

Bsquare

Video: 4
Audio: 4
Concept: 4
Coherence: 4
Placement: 4

Everyone likes black and white, "hand-drawn" videos. This is a good one with nice characters. Introduction-problem-solution-details. It is all in place, but a 3 minutes long video will only engage someone desperate.

Insteon

Video: 4
Audio: 4
Concept: 5
Coherence: 4
Placement: 5

Really good product, clean explanation, we instantly know quite a lot about the product.
Showing details of the actual application, info-graphics, pictographs as well. After seeing this, your only question is where to buy it and on what price.

And it doesn't feel like it's 1:47 long, so well done!

Invisage

Video: 4
Audio: 4
Concept: 5
Coherence: 5
Placement: 5

Black and white, hand-drawn again, and in quite a short time we get what it is all about, despite the product itself is really technical and sophisticated. Very well done.

i-Sai-So

Video: 2
Audio: 2
Concept: 3
Coherence: 3
Placement: 5

The product obviously has determined the screenplay, but not bad at all for a low-budget video. Voice overs are not the best ones, some music would be nice, but this is a great example to see how important placement is!

On main page, very big window with a play button, impossible not to click on it! And it worked. Of course it did.

Qfactor

Video: 5
Audio: 5
Concept: 5
Coherence: 5
Placement: 5

Wow. So network. Much explained. Many cute birds. WOW.

PixeSocial

Video: 3
Audio: 1
Concept: 2
Coherence: 2
Placement: 5

2:21 long, and at the end we were not sure about the service. The voice over is noisy. If only there were some music along with it to cover the poor quality of the recording.

But it is placed on the main page of their website and so we watched it! Twice, actually (to understand what it is all about)

We aren't saying this video is very bad, it is just made for a product that NEEDS to be explained much better.

And there you have it. Is your explainer video meeting the right criteria?

This guest post was written by Gabriel Sarkadi of Easy Explain Video and was reprinted with permission.