We’re living in the 21st century, the digital age. A time where almost anything is possible, a time where marketers have a lot of options when it comes to engaging their target audience. From the chatterbox that is social media to innovations in advertising data and tracking, to even virtual reality.
While this is wonderful, it can become quite loud in marketing. There is a way that marketers can engage their target audience without having to learn how to use virtual reality for marketing, or spend a fortune on new tech. Motion graphics are modern, easy to use, and a wonderful way for brands to spread their message.
In this blog, we’re going to explore what motion graphics are and how you can use them in your next marketing campaign.
What are motion graphics?
Motion graphics are designs in motion…literally. Think about the beginning sequence of Star Wars–”In a galaxy, far, far away”-- the moving yellow letters against the starry black background, seemingly disappearing to a point far, far away. This is motion graphics.
Think about those old commercials you watched when you were a kid at your grandparents’ house. The bubbly letters, the quirky cartoons, and those funny visual effects. This is also motion graphics.
The easiest way to remember what they are is by remembering that motion graphics are animated graphic designs.
Why you should use them
Did you know that brands that used motion graphics in their campaigns saw a 80% increase in engagement over brands that didn’t use them? Yes. This is accurate, and no, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
The simple truth is that animation and motion graphics open limitless possibilities for companies that don’t have the time or budget to film a full-scale production. Instead of another marketing ad with an actor explaining the benefits of that cool spatula, why not create a full-blown superhero sequence complete with awesome 3d animation? If you were your prospect, which one would you rather watch?
We’ll bet you said the superhero sequence.
How brands are using them
Brands utilize many different types of animation for their campaigns. The reason for this is that live video productions can be expensive and limiting. Motion graphic designers and graphics software isn’t as costly as hiring actors, renting a place to film, filming equipment, etc.
The most common uses for motion graphics that you’re likely to see are for:
- Explainer videos
- Title sequences
- Marketing videos (ads, commercials, and social media)
Think of Coca-Cola’s Christmas commercials with the polar bear and Santa’s workshop. Although these are considered 3d animations, that motion design style has been extremely effective with audiences over the years and has made them a beloved brand, even if everyone who enjoys their commercials doesn’t always enjoy their drink.
Another great example of how big brands use motion graphics is Uber’s Year With Uber from 2017. This is a great example of what is possible when brands embrace motion graphics video as a way to engage with their target audiences while staying on brand.
How to use motion graphics in marketing
You don’t have to be a part of a large brand in order to make waves with great animation and motion graphics. Here are some cool ways to use motion graphics in your next marketing campaign.
Explainer videos: Check out this one by Wells Fargo. This is a great usage of branding, beautiful visuals, and great video editing to get the point across in snippets. A great explainer video doesn’t have to be a huge production, but it should look like it was.
Ads: Take a page out of advertising circa 1950. Do you know what made those short commercials so much fun to watch? You got it! The animations. Not everything has to be animated but adding cool graphics in the form of moving words or interesting colors can take that boring old ad to new heights.
Sales collateral: We recently completed a project with Lighthouse Financial where we created motion graphics as an engaging video for their sales team. What was initially supposed to be a one-page sales document turned into a full-scale video production, complete with illustrations, voiceover, and creative script writing.
The result is something that takes center stage on kickoff calls and engages prospects to move to the next step.
<div class="c-blog_comp-cta cc-component-1"><div class="c-blog_comp-cta-left"><div class="c-blog_comp-cta-left-wrap"><img src="https://global-uploads.webflow.com/61cdf3c5e0b8155f19e0105b/6334d81a29c751ccd8c26638_brain-orchestra.png" loading="lazy" alt="" sizes="(max-width: 479px) 93vw, (max-width: 767px) 96vw, 363px" srcset="https://global-uploads.webflow.com/61cdf3c5e0b8155f19e0105b/6334d81a29c751ccd8c26638_brain-orchestra-p-500.png 500w, https://global-uploads.webflow.com/61cdf3c5e0b8155f19e0105b/6334d81a29c751ccd8c26638_brain-orchestra.png 500w" class="c-blog_comp-cta-left-img"></div></div><div class="c-blog_comp-cta-right"><div class="c-blog_comp-content"><div class="c-text-wrapper cc-mb-32"><div class="c-title-4 cc-bold">Ready to engage your audience on a whole new level?</div></div><div class="c-text-wrapper"><div class="c-text-2">Stay ahead of the latest design trends and stand out in your market, no matter how saturated it is.</div></div></div><div class="c-blog_comp-wrapper"><a href="/2022-life-changing-design-trends" class="c-button cc-primary cc-inverted w-button"><strong>Download Latest Design Trends</strong></a></div></div></div>
Making motion graphics accessible
Computer graphics used to be considered an inaccessible tool unless you were a large brand with an unlimited budget. Now, the world of motion graphics and computer animation is accessible to all companies, regardless of size. You just have to know where to look.
Designity takes a once complex art form and turns it into something accessible for all brands, no matter your size.
The moment you sign up with us, you will have access to a designated creative director whose job is to help you navigate the creative process and allocate creatives to your team from our creative pool. The best part is that your creative director remains your only point of contact: no managing, no delegating, no clogged calendar.
When you join Designity, anything is possible. Free up your calendar by signing up for your two-week trial today!
