How to Select the Best Whiteboard Animation Company

1

They take the time to understand your needs

Before they jump into production, the best whiteboard animation company takes the time to understand a few fundamental things about you and your project. For example:

• Who your viewers are–from the problem they’re trying to solve to the type of language and visuals that resonate with them.
• Your objectives for the video. How do you want your viewers to feel when they watch it? What actions do you want them to take after watching the video?
• Your organization’s personality, so that they can reflect it in everything from the video’s language and examples to the colours and fonts.

3

No subject matter is too complicated

It’s easy to make an entertaining video if the subject matter is, in and of itself, approachable and entertaining.

But what if your topic is dry and complicated? What if it’s highly technical or scientific?

In that case, you should look for an animation company that has worked with other clients in your industry, or that has at least shown they have the skills to absorb very complicated information and make it easy to digest.

5

They create custom illustrations just for you

One of the ways that low-end whiteboard animation companies keep their pricing down is by using illustrations from an image bank, rather than creating them specifically for your project.

In some cases, that can work out fine. Especially if:

• The illustrations are all in a consistent graphic style. Otherwise, the video can look unprofessional.
• The illustrations are formatted to whiteboard animate in a natural way. (This is pretty rare unless the image bank was assembled specifically for whiteboard animation purposes).
• The visuals you need are fairly generic

If any of the following conditions apply, you’re better off with a company that can custom create your illustrations for you:

• You need a specific illustration style to go with your topic. (For example, steer clear of a comic style if your subject is serious or sensitive. In that case, a semi-realistic style that conveys emotion is a much better pick.)
• You want to showcase proprietary products.
• You want a character who looks like a leader in your organization.

7

They have access to great voiceover talent

The best animation company for you knows how to find exactly the right voice actor for your video, which means someone whose voice will resonate with your viewers and fit with your topic, including their 

• Gender
• Tone
• Accent
• Age
• Delivery

And on the subject of delivery: Just because they’re professional voiceover actors, doesn’t mean they’re good at delivering the voice that your video needs. Even pros sometimes sound like they’re orating or reading a script. What whiteboards need is a natural, conversational delivery, similar to what you’d expect to hear if someone were scribbling on a whiteboard while talking you through something.

Find a whiteboard animation company that knows how to find the right voice actors and coach them on their delivery.

9

They pride themselves on delivering an outstanding customer experience

With the wrong animation company, you can encounter two sorts of problems:

• They communicate very little along the way and you risk ending up with a video that doesn’t meet your needs, but it’s too late to do anything about it.
• They count on you to make all the decisions. You feel out of your depth and the process is onerous and time consuming.

When you’re working with one of the best animation companies, the process is fun. They steer the entire process, letting you feel like you’re in good hands. 

But they also present you with options and recommendations, making sure you see the video through its different stages and have the chance to weigh in on how it’s progressing. That way, there are no unpleasant surprises at the end.

10

They go above and beyond

As in every field, there’s a difference between a supplier and a partner. The best whiteboard animation companies have people who care about you and your success–beyond the narrow scope of their mandate.

A solid partner should be able to provide added value in one or several of the following ways:

• Have the skills to create complementary visual communication assets (such as website landing page, presentations or infographics).
• Provide guidance on the different ways you can use and promote your new video to make the most out of it.
• Create derivative art from the video, including thumbnails for your social posts or printable posters that show your video content at a glance.

11

They have been producing quality whiteboard videos for years

I’ll make this point by sharing the true story of one of my clients, a not-for-profit with a small budget to produce a whiteboard video.

They came to me on the heels of a terrible experience with another so-called whiteboard animation company.

Between the way this company managed the process and the quality of their work, it became very clear that this was the first whiteboard video they had ever produced.

My client quickly extricated themselves from the agreement, but only after having lost a chunk of their budget to a deposit for the project.

The story has a happy ending. We were able to produce a whiteboard video that supports their cause on a daily basis.

But their story serves as a cautionary tale.

Make sure not to entrust your project to a company that hasn’t earned its stripes. A few tips:

• There’s no substitute for time. Any company that’s been producing whiteboard videos for years, and that makes it a point to up their game with every project, will pick up the skills. Conversely, it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to produce a showstopper for you when they’re brand new to the craft.
• Ask to see some references and sample projects.
• Animation awards from legitimate organizations that aren’t pay-to-play are always a good sign.