Why You Need Medical Explainer Videos

A couple weeks ago we talked about the importance of explainer videos for finance so this week we thought we should cover another important industry: Medical explainer videos. From patients seeking to understand their conditions to medical professionals needing clear instructional content, the demand for simple, yet engaging, educational materials is at an all-time high. Medical explainer videos have emerged as a powerful tool to address this need.

A medical explainer video is a short, engaging video that simplifies complicated medical topics, procedures, or products. These videos are commonly used by hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, and healthcare providers to educate patients, employees, or the general public.

Why Medical Explainer Videos Are Important

The healthcare industry is driven by the need for clarity, trust, and accuracy. With so much medical information available online, it can be difficult for patients and professionals alike to discern accurate, relevant data. This is where medical explainer videos come in.

The importance of these videos lies in their ability to:

• Simplify complex concepts: Medical terminologies and processes can be overwhelming. A well-crafted explainer video distills complicated ideas into easily digestible content, helping patients understand their diagnosis, treatment options, or medical procedures.
• Enhance patient education: Educated patients are more likely to adhere to treatment plans and make informed health decisions. By providing clear, visual explanations, medical explainer videos can significantly improve health literacy.
• Build trust and credibility: Professionally produced videos demonstrate expertise and care, building trust between healthcare providers and their patients. A medical explainer video can establish your authority in the field while showing that you prioritize patient understanding.
• Save time for healthcare professionals: Doctors and nurses often struggle to find the time to explain procedures, medications, or diseases thoroughly to patients. Medical explainer videos offer a time-saving solution, allowing patients to watch and rewatch content at their convenience.

Key Elements of Effective Medical Explainer Videos

Creating a medical explainer video that resonates with your audience requires more than just medical knowledge. Here are key elements to focus on:

• Clear, concise scripting: The script should break down complex medical information into simple language without losing accuracy.
• Engaging visuals: Whether through animations, real-life footage, or a mix of both, visuals should support the explanation and make it more compelling.
• Tone and voice: The tone should be professional but approachable. Medical content should be delivered in a reassuring, calm voice to foster trust.
• Interactivity and storytelling: Adding a narrative element or making the video interactive can increase engagement and retention, especially when addressing sensitive medical topics.
• Accurate information: Double-check all medical information for accuracy, and ensure it’s compliant with healthcare regulations.

Common Uses of Medical Explainer Videos in Healthcare

Medical explainer videos are versatile tools used across various sectors of the healthcare industry. Here are some common applications:

• Patient education videos: Used in hospitals and clinics, these videos help patients understand medical conditions, procedures, or treatments. For instance, a video on how to prepare for surgery can reduce patient anxiety.
• Pharmaceutical marketing: Pharmaceutical companies use explainer videos to explain how their drugs work, potential side effects, and how to take the medication properly.
• Medical device tutorials: Medical device manufacturers create videos to demonstrate how their products work, both for healthcare professionals and patients.
• Healthcare employee training: Medical explainer videos can be an essential tool for training hospital staff on new procedures, equipment, or policies.
• Public health awareness campaigns: Government agencies and NGOs often use explainer videos to raise awareness about public health issues, such as vaccination campaigns or the prevention of disease outbreaks.

The Role of Animation in Medical Explainer Videos

One of the most effective tools in creating medical explainer videos is animation. Medical animations can explain physiological processes, drug mechanisms, or surgical procedures in ways that live-action videos cannot. Animation has the following advantages:

• Simplifies complex concepts: Medical animations can visually break down intricate biological systems or microscopic processes that would be difficult to capture otherwise.
• Visual appeal: Animation can be more engaging than traditional video, making it easier for viewers to focus and understand.
• Enhanced precision: By using 3D animation, medical devices or surgical techniques can be depicted with high accuracy, providing a better understanding of their operation.
• Versatility across audiences: Whether addressing medical professionals, students, or patients, animation can be tailored to different knowledge levels.

How to Tailor Medical Explainer Videos for Different Audiences

One of the key strengths of medical explainer videos is their ability to communicate with diverse audiences. However, tailoring the content to each audience is crucial for maximizing engagement and effectiveness. Here’s how you can customize your videos based on the target group:

• Patients: When creating explainer videos for patients, focus on simplicity. Avoid medical jargon unless absolutely necessary, and provide clear, actionable information. Patients often feel anxious about their health, so your tone should be reassuring, and the visuals should help alleviate concerns. Use storytelling to make the content more relatable and understandable.
• Medical Professionals: For healthcare providers, explainer videos need to maintain a level of sophistication and technicality. You can incorporate more medical terminology, detailed visuals, and in-depth explanations. Since professionals are likely using these videos for training or staying up-to-date, clarity and accuracy are paramount.
• Investors or Stakeholders: When addressing potential investors or stakeholders in the medical industry, your video should emphasize the commercial and technological advantages of the product, procedure, or service. Present clear evidence of efficacy, market potential, and return on investment, supported by visually appealing graphs and data.
• The General Public: For public health campaigns, the message should be broad, clear, and memorable. Focus on creating videos that are easy to share on social media platforms. The tone should be neutral and informative, with eye-catching visuals and simple calls-to-action to promote awareness.

By customizing your medical explainer videos to your audience, you can ensure that the message resonates and drives the desired action.

Best Practices for Creating Engaging Medical Explainer Videos

To get the most out of your medical explainer videos, follow these best practices:

• Know Your Audience: Before creating the video, conduct audience research. Knowing the audience’s demographics, concerns, and level of medical understanding will help you craft a video that addresses their needs.
• Keep It Short and Focused: Medical topics can be complex, but it’s important to keep the video concise. Break down information into short, digestible sections to avoid overwhelming the viewer. As we’ve said time and time again, 60-90  is the sweet spot for keeping your audience’s attention.
• Use Visual Analogies: Analogies can be helpful in explaining difficult concepts. For example, you could compare the heart’s function to a pump or liken the immune system to an army defending against invaders. These visuals help simplify abstract concepts.
• Include a Call to Action (CTA): Every medical explainer video should end with a clear CTA. Whether it’s scheduling an appointment, learning more on a website, or following a prescribed treatment plan, the CTA guides the viewer’s next steps.
• Leverage Subtitles and Translations: Subtitles are essential for accessibility and ensuring your message reaches a broader audience. Also, consider translating your videos into different languages if your target audience includes non-English speakers.
• Maintain Medical Compliance: It’s essential that any information in your explainer video complies with healthcare regulations, such as HIPAA in the U.S. Ensure that the content is reviewed and approved by medical professionals and legal teams to avoid potential legal issues.

These case studies show how medical explainer videos can be utilized to educate patients, build trust, and promote medical innovations.

Optimizing Your Medical Explainer Video for SEO and Visibility

Creating a high-quality medical explainer video is only part of the equation. To ensure your video reaches your target audience, you must optimize it for search engines and visibility. Here are some strategies:

• Keyword Optimization: Just like written content, videos need to be optimized with relevant keywords to rank higher on search engines. Make sure your video title, description, and tags include your main keyword, such as “medical explainer videos,” as well as any other relevant terms.
• Video Transcripts: Including a transcript of the video on your website or YouTube page will allow search engines to index the video’s content, improving its searchability. This can also improve accessibility for users who prefer to read the content.
• Host Videos on Multiple Platforms: Don’t limit your video to just your website. Host it on YouTube, Vimeo, and social media platforms to increase its reach. Each platform has its own audience, and wider distribution helps attract more views and engagement.
• Embed Videos in Blog Posts: Including your medical explainer video in relevant blog posts, especially those focused on healthcare topics, can improve the blog’s engagement and encourage users to stay on your website longer.
• Add Video Thumbnails and Schema Markup: Choose an attractive thumbnail that represents the video’s content well. Also, use video schema markup to help search engines understand the video and increase its chances of appearing in search results.
• Use Email Marketing: Embed your explainer video in email newsletters to engage with existing patients or healthcare professionals. Videos tend to increase click-through rates, making them an effective addition to email campaigns.

By combining video optimization techniques with a well-thought-out distribution strategy, you can maximize the visibility and impact of your medical explainer videos.

Brewing Medical Explainer Videos

Medical explainer videos offer immense value to healthcare organizations, patients, and medical professionals alike. They simplify complex medical concepts, enhance patient understanding, and foster trust between healthcare providers and their audiences. By following best practices in production, tailoring content to different audiences, and optimizing your videos for SEO, you can make the most out of these powerful tools.

As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, the importance of clear, concise communication will only grow. Whether you’re explaining a new medical device, educating patients on a specific condition, or promoting public health initiatives, medical explainer videos are an essential part of modern medical communication strategies.

We know, Digital Brew has been in the game for more than 12 years and medical explainer videos are one of our specialties. If you think you’re ready for a video, or even want to just know a little bit more about our process and everything we can bring to the table, we’d love to hear from you. You can always reach out to us here.

Let’s Brew This!