10 Ways Businesses Use Explainer Videos to Increase Conversions

The software landscape in 2026 is faster, smarter, and more crowded than ever before. With the Getting traffic to your website is only half the battle. The real challenge begins once a visitor lands on your page: how do you turn that casual browser into a paying customer?

In today’s digital landscape, modern consumers don’t want to wade through dense pages of text to figure out what you sell. They want answers fast, and they want them to be engaging. This is where explainer videos become your ultimate conversion tool. By combining visual storytelling with a clear value proposition, a well-placed video can break down complex ideas in seconds and guide users smoothly toward a purchase.

If you want to maximize your return on investment (ROI), you need to think beyond a simple homepage upload. Here are 10 highly effective ways businesses deploy explainer videos across their entire marketing funnel to skyrocket conversion rates.

1. Above the Fold on Key Landing Pages

“Above the fold” refers to the portion of a webpage that is visible before a user scrolls down. Placing your 60- to 90-second explainer video right here gives visitors an immediate, effortless way to understand your business. It dramatically reduces your bounce rate by instantly capturing attention and giving users a reason to stay on your site longer.

2. In Welcome and Onboarding Emails

The moment someone signs up for your newsletter or creates a free account, their interest is at a peak. Capitalize on this momentum by embedding an explainer video into your welcome email sequence. Emails that include the word “Video” in the subject line experience significantly higher open rates, and including a video thumbnail can increase your click-through rates (CTR) by up to 300%.

3. As Paid Social Retargeting Ads

Not everyone buys on their first visit. When users leave your site without completing a purchase, you can use retargeting ads on platforms like LinkedIn, Meta, or Instagram to bring them back. A short, punchy animated explainer video serves as the perfect reminder of your value proposition, addressing common buyer hesitations directly in their social media feeds.

4. Inside Product Pages and E-Commerce Carts

If you are selling a physical product or an intricate digital service, a dedicated video on the product page can show the item in action from multiple angles. For software or service businesses, placing a brief testimonial or micro-explainer near the checkout cart helps eliminate last-minute buyer friction, combatting cart abandonment right at the finish line.

5. Capturing Exit-Intent Popups

When a user moves their cursor toward the close button on their browser, an exit-intent popup triggers. Instead of offering a generic discount code that cuts into your profit margins, try serving an engaging 30-second video that summarizes your absolute best feature. It’s a highly effective, low-friction way to save a bouncing lead.

6. Empowering Sales Team Pitch Decks

Conversions don’t just happen online; they happen in sales meetings, too. Equipping your B2B sales development representatives (SDRs) with a concise explainer video ensures that your brand’s core message is delivered perfectly every single time. It warms up prospects before a discovery call, allowing your sales team to spend less time explaining what you do and more time handling specific objections.

7. Optimizing App Store Listings

If your business relies on a mobile app, the App Store or Google Play Store is your primary conversion funnel. Users browse these stores at lightning speed. Adding a stylized animated preview video directly into your listing makes your app look professional and instantly communicates its utility, resulting in a higher tap-to-download rate.

8. Deflecting Customer Support Tickets

A conversion isn’t just about the initial sale—it’s also about converting a trial user into a lifetime brand advocate. Placing visual “how-to” explainers inside your customer support center or FAQ pages allows users to self-solve common technical hurdles. By visually answering their questions before they feel frustrated enough to submit a support ticket, you protect your retention rates.

9. Looping at Event and Trade Show Booths

If your business participates in offline marketing, trade show floors are incredibly noisy environments. A vibrant, colorful animated explainer video looping on a large screen at your booth acts as a passive crowd-magnet. It stops foot traffic, pre-educates prospects while your staff are busy chatting with other clients, and increases total lead capture.

10. Driving Upsells on Post-Purchase “Thank You” Pages

The easiest person to sell to is someone who has just bought from you. Once a customer completes a checkout or books a consultation, redirect them to a custom “Thank You” page featuring a quick video. This video can introduce a complementary add-on product, invite them to join a premium tier, or offer a referral bonus, boosting your average customer lifetime value (LTV).

The CRO Takeaway: You don’t need ten different videos to get started. A single, high-quality animated explainer video can be sliced, diced, and repurposed across multiple channels—from your homepage to your email marketing—to maximize your conversions at every touchpoint.

Ready to start converting more of your website traffic?

At Animation Explainers, we create bespoke animated videos custom-built to drive business growth. Contact our team today to discover which video style will move the needle fastest for your business.