Motion Graphics and their Role in the Future of Content Marketing
By Stanley Meytin
All About Motion Graphics
No matter where you go on the Internet, chances are that you will come across motion graphics. In case you’re unfamiliar with the term: Motion Graphics are animated representations of data. They’re a great way to express important ideas, create awareness, and to call prospective customers to action. Whenever you see a bar graph come to life in a TV ad, or news report, it’s likely a type of motion graphic.
The most important variable in a good motion graphic is accurate data. This means data that is backed up with easily accessible sources and links that serve as a bibliography.
Once your data is sorted and attributed, your imagination is free to run wild. The best motion graphics tend to use tastefully applied animations to make the information more visually appealing or comprehensible.
There are several reasons why motion graphics are increasing in popularity all over the web. Let’s take a look at a few of them:
Why use motion graphics?
Motion graphics are effective at communicating a lot of information in a short amount of time. Content creators and marketers everywhere are embracing the idea of motion graphics to maintain the interest of the ever-shortening attention span of Internet users.
A good deal of video content is created and consumed every day by Internet users. Roughly 72 hours of video content is uploaded to YouTube alone every minute. That’s a lot of raw content but many of us can admit to squibbing going through longer videos to get to the most relevant portions or quitting altogether if the video goes on a little longer than we’d like. This is exactly where motion graphics come in. They condense a great deal of information into a short and visually appealing presentation. They’re a great way to help decrease the risk that a viewer will miss a call to action because they’ve skipped through portions of a longer video.
How do motion graphics come to life?
One of the reasons why motion graphics are becoming so popular is because they are easy to make, especially when compared to other types of video content such as a live-action commercial. Animators tend to use one of two methods when creating motion grahpics:
- They build the animation from the ground up (which is more time-consuming and therefore more expensive)
- They begin with a “flat” graphic and animate it from there (the easier and cheaper option)
Starting off with a static graphic and animating it is easier as long as you make the right preparations as you create the design. You should create the flat image(s) in vector format if possible, which allows them to be enlarged without any loss in quality. This gives editors better control when it comes to animating.
Starting from scratch will require forethought and vision. Creating an animated storyboard is usually a good first step. You don’t want to have to do a bunch of hard work later on if your vision, or the needs of your project, change along the way.
The tools to create motion graphics are readily available, although they are costly. Adobe After Effects and Apple Motion are some great choices as they make it easier to layer your content and add 3D effects to give the impression of movement.
Remember, motion graphics are infinitely more appealing to the average viewer than static content.
Where are Motion Graphics Headed in the Future?
Although trends tend to move faster on the Internet than anywhere else, the growth in popularity of motion graphics may well be here to stay. According to a study by the folks over at Invodo, the average web user watches about 19 hours of Internet video per month. In terms of shopping on the web, 60% of shoppers regularly watch product videos. Doing so makes shoppers an astounding 174% more likely to buy the product in question.
Motion graphics tend to be the perfect middle ground between overwrought and overproduced live-action videos and simple static content. They are short and they communicate their message simply and effectively and they don’t make any great demand of the viewer beyond the goal of getting shared.
To sum it up, they’re everything that ideal content marketing should be.
Motion graphics are a brief and singular experience that not only provide information but also tell a story. Content that is both stimulating and shareable will create great word-of-mouth buzz. This means that motion graphics can easily become some of the most viral content out when executed well. Even so, motion graphics aren’t the be-all and end-all solution for marketing. They’re a powerful tool but they aren’t the only option available. If you would like additional information or assistance, contact True Film Production now.
Reading Time: 4 minutes
By Stanley Meytin
All About Motion Graphics
No matter where you go on the Internet, chances are that you will come across motion graphics. In case you’re unfamiliar with the term: Motion Graphics are animated representations of data. They’re a great way to express important ideas, create awareness, and to call prospective customers to action. Whenever you see a bar graph come to life in a TV ad, or news report, it’s likely a type of motion graphic.
The most important variable in a good motion graphic is accurate data. This means data that is backed up with easily accessible sources and links that serve as a bibliography.
Once your data is sorted and attributed, your imagination is free to run wild. The best motion graphics tend to use tastefully applied animations to make the information more visually appealing or comprehensible.
There are several reasons why motion graphics are increasing in popularity all over the web. Let’s take a look at a few of them:
Why use motion graphics?
Motion graphics are effective at communicating a lot of information in a short amount of time. Content creators and marketers everywhere are embracing the idea of motion graphics to maintain the interest of the ever-shortening attention span of Internet users.
A good deal of video content is created and consumed every day by Internet users. Roughly 72 hours of video content is uploaded to YouTube alone every minute. That’s a lot of raw content but many of us can admit to squibbing going through longer videos to get to the most relevant portions or quitting altogether if the video goes on a little longer than we’d like. This is exactly where motion graphics come in. They condense a great deal of information into a short and visually appealing presentation. They’re a great way to help decrease the risk that a viewer will miss a call to action because they’ve skipped through portions of a longer video.
How do motion graphics come to life?
One of the reasons why motion graphics are becoming so popular is because they are easy to make, especially when compared to other types of video content such as a live-action commercial. Animators tend to use one of two methods when creating motion grahpics:
- They build the animation from the ground up (which is more time-consuming and therefore more expensive)
- They begin with a “flat” graphic and animate it from there (the easier and cheaper option)
Starting off with a static graphic and animating it is easier as long as you make the right preparations as you create the design. You should create the flat image(s) in vector format if possible, which allows them to be enlarged without any loss in quality. This gives editors better control when it comes to animating.
Starting from scratch will require forethought and vision. Creating an animated storyboard is usually a good first step. You don’t want to have to do a bunch of hard work later on if your vision, or the needs of your project, change along the way.
The tools to create motion graphics are readily available, although they are costly. Adobe After Effects and Apple Motion are some great choices as they make it easier to layer your content and add 3D effects to give the impression of movement.
Remember, motion graphics are infinitely more appealing to the average viewer than static content.
Where are Motion Graphics Headed in the Future?
Although trends tend to move faster on the Internet than anywhere else, the growth in popularity of motion graphics may well be here to stay. According to a study by the folks over at Invodo, the average web user watches about 19 hours of Internet video per month. In terms of shopping on the web, 60% of shoppers regularly watch product videos. Doing so makes shoppers an astounding 174% more likely to buy the product in question.
Motion graphics tend to be the perfect middle ground between overwrought and overproduced live-action videos and simple static content. They are short and they communicate their message simply and effectively and they don’t make any great demand of the viewer beyond the goal of getting shared.
To sum it up, they’re everything that ideal content marketing should be.
Motion graphics are a brief and singular experience that not only provide information but also tell a story. Content that is both stimulating and shareable will create great word-of-mouth buzz. This means that motion graphics can easily become some of the most viral content out when executed well. Even so, motion graphics aren’t the be-all and end-all solution for marketing. They’re a powerful tool but they aren’t the only option available. If you would like additional information or assistance, contact True Film Production now.
What story would you like to share?
Whether you want to launch an idea, spark a movement or simply get people talking about what you do, you have one shot
at delivering your message in a way that matters. Let’s make sure you do it right.
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