If you are planning an enterprise-related video, make sure to choose between a customized video or a template video. Both options have their unique advantages and disadvantages. Custom videos are created to meet the company’s requirements, but require more time and resources to make. Template videos, however, can be made quickly with pre-made assets, but they offer only a few options for customization.
This guide provides an in-depth comparison between custom videos and template videos based on various key factors like budget, engagement value, timing, personalization, customizations, etc., to help businesses choose the right approach based on their unique requirements and constraints. The article explains the nuances of both options while stressing how custom videos, though more expensive, are generally a better fit if the budget allows for showcasing the brand effectively through memorable visual storytelling.
A Detailed Comparison
Explore the differences below between custom videos and template videos on different terms to help you proceed ahead with clarity.
1. Budget
Template videos have a clear advantage when it comes to budget requirements, as they can be created using free or low-cost online animation software and video editing tools. Businesses get to leverage readily available animation, motion graphics, and character assets to speed up the production process and save substantially on costs. However, these template options also come with predefined storylines, graphics, duration, etc., limiting opportunities for customizations.
On the other hand, custom videos require hiring trained video professionals like animators, designers, editors, etc. This translates to substantially higher production costs ranging anywhere between tens of thousands to several lakhs depending on video duration, visual complexity, required capabilities and team sizes. However, the freedom of creating unique storylines, imagery, characters, etc., from the ground up as per the precise business needs outweighs the expense. It allows for the authentic incorporation of brand elements for perfect visual identity synchronization.
While templates seem like an easy budget-friendly choice, any customizations required to make the predefined assets align with the business often end up negating the initial cost advantage. It is wise to account for total costs including potential revisions while comparing custom vs template videos.
2. Engagement Value
Template Videos carry a limited advantage here due to their generic predetermined nature. Audiences can easily identify if a video doesn’t look crafted specifically for a particular brand/product but is merely an amalgamation of predesigned elements. This affects perception of quality and uniqueness negatively impacting viewer attention and engagement.
On the flip side, well-conceptualized custom videos have proven their ability to intensely engage viewers through cohesive visual storytelling in sync with the business identity. Right from strategy and concept development to production of each visual and audio element, custom videos are tailored holistically for target audiences. Immersive brand narrative, realistic characters and aesthetics complementing the business philosophies keep audiences hooked till the end. Higher engagement, in turn, influences important metrics like recall value, sharing and conversions. Even lower production costs are justified for custom videos compared to templates if they generate better leads and sales.
3. Timing
Template videos can be created fairly quickly on the back of preexisting assets, simply requiring arrangement and minor tweaks. Basic animations, infographics or product demos may need just a few hours of work. This makes templates a suitable rapid prototyping option when needing a baseline video on an urgent deadline.
However, these videos are limited by predetermined runtimes, scenes, transitions, etc. Any required changes warrant additional design and development effort, potentially doubling original timelines. On the contrary, custom videos, though taking 2-4 weeks on average to develop, can be flexibly designed with optimal durations and flows as envisioned. Additional iterations are also faster for custom videos since they don’t rely on preexisting assets. Advanced 3D animations would require months with templates but weeks with custom solutions owing to ground-up creative freedom and control. Ultimately, deadlines should factor in total turnaround times, including changes, for fair comparisons.
4. Personalization
The very nature of templates restricts personalization possibilities due to their “one-size-fits-all” format reliant on universal stock elements. While basic details like company name, logo or product images can replace placeholders, their impersonal default animations, illustrations and characters fail to represent the uniqueness of individual businesses.
In contrast, experienced animators focus solely on deeply understanding each client’s brand identity, target demographics and communication goals to craft hyper-personalized visual solutions from scratch. Distinctive characters, environments and storylines surface brand values organically through visual storytelling. Even impactful details like colour psychology and subtle brand imagery come together authentically for that “wow” factor. Personalized videos feel like they were expertly designed only for that particular business, increasing ownership and affinity. Both sales and support videos tailored distinctively for personae generate optimum results. While templates may work for some, personalized videos strengthen longer-term brand recall and perception.
5. Customizations
Herein lies the biggest advantage of custom videos – limitless creative freedoms afforded during production. Every single visual and auditory element right from characters, backgrounds, motions, and transitions to dialogues is tailor-engineered as envisioned. Post-briefing, clients have active participation in iterative refinements until deliverables perfectly represent the communicated goals. Even post-production optimizations are faster and more impactful for custom videos.
In sharp contrast, templates come with predefined animation sequences, stock visuals, character behaviours, etc., essentially constraining the director’s vision. While basic object/icon replacements and minor edits are possible, substantial deviations from template blueprints require disproportionately high effort. Varied requirements across industries and sub-industries also pose challenges. Templates hardly ever align flawlessly as-is and often need rework, weakening the value proposition. In some cases, it may just be easier to start from scratch.
Custom videos resolve all such compromises by uniquely designing to the last detail for each client and project. And that creative leverage positively impacts the effectiveness of the entire video production.
6. Variance
Video templates, regardless of quality, fail to inherently encourage variety and novelty important for sustaining viewer interests across properties. Repetitive usage of similar stock animations, characters and visual treatments across industries diminishes uniqueness even when basic customization overlays differ. Additionally, audiences also get accustomed to common templates over time, impacting the freshness and effectiveness of videos.
On the contrary, custom video development upholds a synergistic balance between consistency and variation. Core elements establish recognizable brand identities, while uniquely artistic executions sustain attention. Storyline nuances, vivid characterizations and creative visual metaphors present fresh perspectives with each new video. Even recurring elements retain invigorating novelty through modern reimaginations. Overall, custom videos stimulate and engage diverse audiences far more effectively than templates over the long run.
7. Video Quality
Stock template assets lack the finesse and production values of bespoke creations due to their one-size-fits-all designs. Often basic animations, character motions, background textures and visual effects fall short of professional cinematic standards compromising overall quality perceptions. Low-resolution, pixelated or repeating placeholder assets become further apparent during final video compositions.
Compared to this, experienced animators, illustrators, 3D designers and motion artists collectively produce high-fidelity polished custom videos. Flawlessly rendered characters, detailed environments, smooth animations and seamlessly integrated visual and auditory effects surpass even the most demanding quality expectations. Significant importance is given to aspects like resolution, frame rates, colour grading, etc. Extensive design iterations and quality checks also ensure zero compromises. Unmatched video qualities aptly represent any brand in its best light, strengthening credibility and authority.
8. The Effectiveness
The key purpose of any business video remains – to drive targeted outcomes. And effectiveness is best judged based on tangible metrics like engagement, leads and conversions rather than production efforts alone.
While template videos seem economical, their impersonal stock nature, limited scope for iteration and diminished uniqueness fail to optimise key goal-oriented metrics in the long run compared to well-conceptualized custom videos. Even if a template drives nominal results initially, superior customized storytelling keeps audiences engaged consistently, solving larger business problems through memorable brand experiences.
Rich visual narratives, nuanced characters and vivid productions have far-reaching impacts on brand recall and perception translating directly to revenues. Personalized videos designed factoring personas and buyer journeys convert better by addressing user-pain points. Iterative enhancements also optimize results continuously based on data-driven insights inaccessible to templates.
In the bigger picture, well-conceived custom videos designed for optimal effectiveness get far greater returns on investments than immediate production outlays through impactful results. An agile production approach with requisite resources yields the best long-term results.
Final Thoughts
While template videos are efficient for certain basic needs, their inherent limitations around customizations, quality, engagements and effectiveness make custom videos a preferable choice – if budget permits. However, any organization regardless of budget can release high-impact custom videos through step-by-step production. More importantly, organizations must assess their communication goals and audiences thoroughly to determine the most impactful approach to balancing requirements with available resources for optimal long-term outcomes. In the end, the solution should optimally serve business objectives over immediate budget comforts.
NEXT POST
