Why SaaS Teams Should Stop Relying on UI Alone and Start Using Explainer Videos
From onboarding to retention, the way your users interact with your platform defines their journey and your growth. SaaS teams often pour significant resources into building amazing, intuitive UIs, believing this alone will guide users effortlessly through the product. But the truth is, UI alone isn’t enough anymore.
If your team is relying solely on the interface to explain how your product works, you might be unintentionally losing users to confusion, frustration, and churn. Explainer videos, however, are not a replacement for great design but are a powerful complement that makes the complexity simple.
Why SaaS teams should stop depending solely on UI and embrace the power of explainer videos to elevate user experience, boost engagement, and drive growth.
1. UI Can’t Always Tell the Full Story
.jpg)
No matter how well-designed your UI is, it still has limitations. Interfaces can show options, suggest actions, and provide tooltips, but they often fail to contextualize the "why" behind a feature or the ideal use case.
Without context or guidance, users are left to figure out:
- Why should I use this feature now?
- How does this action affect other parts of the platform?
- What’s the most efficient way to get started?
2. Explainer Video Breaks Down Complex Concepts
SaaS platforms often solve complicated problems or offer layered functionalities. Even the best interfaces struggle to explain processes, workflows, and integrations clearly.
However, explainer videos can:
- Break down multi-step workflows in under 2 minutes
- Use visuals, narration, and storytelling to make abstract concepts easy to grasp
- Demonstrate real-world use cases to spark user understanding
- Speed up the learning curve by showing, not just telling.
When you combine visual storytelling with direct guidance, users are far more likely to get it, and more importantly, use it.
3. Explainer Videos Reduce Churn
Frustrated users don’t stick around. Many churn issues stem not from product quality but from a lack of understanding. If users don’t grasp how to use a feature or why it matters, they’re likely to abandon it altogether.
Explainer videos help by:
- Preventing early-stage frustration during onboarding
- Showing users the value of features quickly
- Offering just-in-time learning for new updates or capabilities
- Empowering users to self-educate without needing support tickets
By keeping users informed and confident, explainer videos lower the risk of churn and increase long-term retention.
4. Explainer Videos Support Scalable Growth
As your SaaS product evolves and gains traction, supporting every user manually isn’t scalable. Live demos, 1-on-1 walkthroughs, and long-form guides are valuable, but they can’t match the reach or consistency of video content.
Explainer videos offer:
- 24/7 accessibility: They’re always available to guide users across time zones
- Consistent messaging: Every user receives the same high-quality explanation
- Reduced support load: Fewer tickets, fewer repeat questions
- Reusable content: Great for onboarding, marketing, sales, and customer success
Think of explainer videos as your best support rep who never sleeps and never miscommunicates.
5. They Boost Feature Adoption
Have you ever put out an amazing feature that barely anyone used? It’s not always about awareness, it’s about understanding. If a user doesn’t know how a feature benefits them or how to integrate it into their workflow, they’ll ignore it.
Explainer videos can:
- Announce the feature with excitement and clarity
- Show step-by-step how it works
- Share real use cases to spark user ideas
- Highlight the “why now” so users feel urgency to try it
This is especially useful for cross-sells, upsells, and newly released tools. A video can make the difference between a dormant button and a widely used feature.
6. They Enhance Trust and Brand Connection
Video isn’t just educational, it’s emotional. The voice, thoughtful animation, and storytelling format allow SaaS brands to create a more personal, trustworthy connection with users. Users don’t just want information, they want to feel confident in your product. They want to know they're not alone in the journey. Explainer videos humanize your brand, making it feel approachable and user-focused.
Whether it’s a product tour narrated by a friendly voice or an animated walkthrough with helpful tips, the tone you set in your videos plays a role in building user trust and loyalty.
7. Explainer Videos Improves SEO and Conversion
If you’re thinking explainer videos are only for current users, think again. Adding explainer videos to your homepage, feature landing pages, or pricing pages can significantly:
- Boost time-on-page
- Lower bounce rates
- Improve conversion rates
- Drive organic search traffic (when properly optimized)
In fact, embedding a video on your landing page can increase conversions by up to 80%. Plus, platforms like YouTube and Vimeo also serve as search engines where users actively look for solutions, why not meet them there?
8. You Only Have One Chance to Make a First Impression
When a user signs up for your SaaS product, their first few minutes decide everything. Are they confused? Are they engaged? Do they see the value? A well-timed, well-made explainer video during onboarding can:
- Increase activation rates
- Reduce drop-off
- Make your product feel instantly approachable.
Why risk that first impression on UI alone when a friendly walkthrough video could turn confusion into excitement?
Conclusion
To be clear, UI design is still critical. Clean, intuitive interfaces reduce friction and help users navigate. But a great UI is only part of the puzzle. It tells users where to go but not always why, how, or when.
Explainer videos fill those gaps. They don’t replace your interface, they enhance it. By combining a well-thought-out UI with clear, engaging video content, SaaS teams can dramatically improve user understanding, drive adoption, and reduce churn.
Get in Touch