When diving into the creation of an explainer video, there's a natural tendency to want to pack it with details. You're passionate about your field, eager to share not just the "what" but the critical "why" behind your scientific or technological advancements. It's this depth of information that you believe will bring your audience to a full understanding of your work's significance.
However, while the desire to cover comprehensive introductions and delve deeply into your developments is understandable, it's also essential to recognize when to pare back or, alternatively, when it's crucial to include a wealth of information.
The Dilemma of Depth vs. Duration
Introducing your audience to novel concepts or tools, especially those that mark a significant departure from conventional approaches, does indeed require a thorough exposition. You're tasked with not only unveiling a new direction but also demonstrating its viability and efficiency. However, there lies a challenge—a 6-minute deep dive risks overwhelming your audience, diluting their ability to grasp and retain the information presented.
The reality is, attention spans are limited. Expecting viewers to maintain high levels of concentration and interest over an extended explainer can be optimistic, if not unrealistic. Research and experience suggest that after three minutes, engagement can begin to wane, leaving much of your carefully curated content lost in the void of information overload.
after three minutes, engagement can begin to wane, leaving much of your carefully curated content lost in the void of information overload
A Surprising Solution: Divide and Conquer
If the depth of information is non-negotiable, consider dividing your explainer into two distinct parts. This strategy harnesses the power of focus, allowing for a more effective explanation of each aspect of your story.
This approach entails introducing the necessary background at the beginning of your presentation, followed by a concise explainer video that encapsulates this introduction. Subsequently, you delve into the specifics of your developments, capped off with a second explainer that highlights your achievements. This modular structure enables your audience to absorb information in manageable, bite-sized chunks, ensuring clarity and enhancing retention.
Case Example: Quantum Source
Take, for instance, the quantum computing startup Quantum Source. They faced an ambitious challenge: to acquaint the audience with the concept of photonics-based quantum computing—a novel and less familiar approach within the field—and then showcase their pioneering technology that positions them as leaders in this niche.
Quantum Source's ambition translated into a significant volume of information that needed to be communicated effectively. The solution? We broke the content down into two explainer videos. The first video, lasting two minutes, focused on elucidating why photonics presents a smart approach to quantum computing. The second video, three minutes long, demonstrated how Quantum Source's innovative design is setting new standards of efficiency in the sector.
Part one: Introduction to Photonics
Part two: Their unique approach
By adopting this two-part structure, we achieved a high level of understanding among their audience. The first explainer set the stage, introducing the fundamental concepts and rationale behind photonics in quantum computing. The second video built on this foundation, showcasing Quantum Source's specific contributions and technological breakthroughs.
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