How to Build an Explainer Video That Speaks to Non-Technical Audiences (Even Your Grandma Gets It)

If you’ve ever tried explaining your product to someone who isn’t technical, you already know the pain.

You start with confidence.
Halfway through, they give you that look.
By the end, they’re nodding politely… but you can tell they’ve understood nothing.

Now imagine putting that same confusing explanation into a video.
That’s how most explainer videos fail.

The good news?
You can fix this.
A great explainer video doesn’t simplify the product; it simplifies the experience of understanding it.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to create an explainer video that your customers, investors, team members, and yes, even your grandma can understand.

Let’s start building.

Step 1 — Know Who You’re Talking To (Clarity Starts Here)

Most technical teams skip this part because they assume their viewers “will get it.”

But non-technical audiences think differently. They don’t care about features, algorithms, or dashboards. They care about:

What problem does it solve for me?
How does it make my day easier?
Why should I remember this?

Before writing anything, define:

The Viewer’s Baseline Knowledge

Are they complete beginners? Industry outsiders? Decision makers who want outcomes, not details?

Their Real-Life Pain Points

People don’t remember specs. They remember problems and relief.

For example:

“Automated invoice processing using NLP and OCR”
vs.
“Stop spending weekends matching bills manually. Here’s how to automate it.”

Simple wins.

Step 2 — Strip Down the Message (Keep Only What Matters)

Your product probably does 25 things.
Your viewer only needs to hear three.

A good explainer video answers three questions:

What is it?
Why does it matter?
How does it help me right now?

Everything else is noise.

Think of your message like packing a suitcase.
If you don’t need it on the trip, leave it out.

Step 3 — Use Analogies and Everyday Examples

This is the secret sauce.

Your grandma doesn’t need to understand cloud storage.
But she understands cupboards.

So instead of saying:

“Our platform stores and syncs your data across distributed servers.”

say:

“Imagine your files live in a magic cupboard that follows you everywhere, so you never lose anything.”

Analogies convert complexity into clarity.

Examples:

“Machine learning is like teaching a toddler with examples.”
“An API works like a waiter taking your order to the kitchen.”
“A CRM is basically your digital diary for customer conversations.”

The moment you anchor a concept to everyday life, it becomes memorable.

Step 4 — Structure Your Explainer Like a Story

Here’s a simple storytelling formula:

1. The Problem

Show the frustration clearly. Make the viewer say, “That happens to me.”

2. The Solution

Introduce your product like a helpful friend, not a superhero.

3. How It Works

One or two sentences. No jargon.

4. Why It’s Better

Focus on the outcome, not the mechanism.

5. Call to Action

Tell them what to do next.

This story format works because humans understand stories faster than instructions.

Step 5 — Choose Visuals That Explain, Not Decorate

Good visuals don’t look pretty.
Good visuals make the message easier to digest.

Visual guidelines:

Use simple icons, not complex dashboards
Show real-world scenarios
Use arrows, labels, and highlights to guide attention
One idea per shot
Avoid cluttered scenes

If your viewer has to pause the video to understand what’s happening, the visuals failed.

For high-clarity explainer videos, you can also explore AI explainer videos that match your brand style:
➡️ Internal link: AI explainer videos → https://wilygecko.com/explainer-videos

Step 6 — Write in Plain English (Pretend You’re Talking to a 12-Year-Old)

It means “make it easier to get.”

Replace jargon with simple words:

Technical Term	Simple Version
Optimize workflow	Make work faster and smoothly
Deploy	Start using
User acquisition	Getting new customers
Backend	Behind-the-scenes part

If your viewer needs Google to understand your script, the script needs rewriting.

Step 7 — Storyboard Before You Produce

Your storyboard is your safety net.

It helps you:

Catch confusing moments early
Visualize the flow
Keep messaging tight
Save production time

Think of storyboarding as organizing your thoughts before speaking.

If you need help producing polished explainers, here’s the page you can explore:
➡️ Internal link: Custom video for your SaaS product → https://wilygecko.com/

Step 8 — Use AI Tools to Enhance Clarity

Even if you’re not a designer or editor, AI can help you:

Generate scripts
Create simple animations
Produce AI avatars
Clean up audio
Auto-edit scenes

AI tools remove the barrier of “I don’t know how to make a video.”

If you want fully done-for-you explainer videos for your tech product:
➡️ https://wilygecko.com/explainer-videos

Step 9 — Test It With a Non-Technical Person

This is the ultimate filter.

Show the video to someone:

outside your industry
outside your company
who knows nothing about your product

Ask them:

“What does this product do?”
“Why do you think it matters?”
“What part confused you?”

If they hesitate… fix the script, visuals, or pacing.

This step alone makes your video twice as clear.

Conclusion: Simplicity is a Superpower

Creating an explainer video for non-technical audiences is not about reducing information.
It’s about reducing friction.

If your viewer walks away saying:

“Ohhh… now I get it.”

You’ve won.

If you want a team that builds these kinds of clear, conversion-friendly videos for SaaS and service businesses, you can explore our work:
➡️ https://wilygecko.com/

And if you’re interested in working with us:
➡️ https://wilygecko.com/join-our-team

Your product deserves to be understood.
Your audience deserves clarity.
And your explainer video can deliver both.