What Does a Simple Explainer Video Script Template Look Like?
A simple explainer video script template has four parts: a hook that grabs attention in the first few seconds, a problem that names the pain your viewer feels, a solution that shows how your product or idea fixes it, and a call to action that tells the viewer exactly what to do next. Keep it to roughly 150 words for a 60-second video, write the way you talk, and you have a script you can reuse for almost any product, service, or process.
Below is the full template, a line-by-line breakdown of what each section does, and a worked example you can adapt. Once the words are ready, you drop them into an explainer video maker and match each line to a scene.
What are the four parts of the script template?
Here is the skeleton you can copy and fill in. Each blank is a prompt, not a rule, so change the wording to fit your voice.
Hook (0 to 8 seconds): "Struggling to [specific task]? You are not the only one."
Problem (8 to 20 seconds): "Right now you [describe the frustrating workaround]. It costs you [time, money, or stress], and it happens every [day, week, launch]."
Solution (20 to 45 seconds): "[Product name] fixes that. It [does the one thing that matters most], so you can [the outcome the viewer actually wants]. Here is how it works: [step one], [step two], [step three]."
Call to action (45 to 60 seconds): "Try it free at [link], or [book a demo / sign up / reply to this email] today."
Notice the timing. The hook is short on purpose, because most viewers decide whether to keep watching in the first few seconds. The solution gets the most room. The call to action is a single, concrete instruction, not a list of options.
How do you write each section so it actually lands?
The hook should name one specific frustration, not a broad theme. "Struggling to get your team to read long update emails?" beats "Communication is hard." Ask a question or state a surprising fact, then stop. Do not explain yet.
The problem earns trust by proving you understand the viewer. Describe the clumsy thing they do now: the spreadsheet they copy every Monday, the files they email back and forth, the tool that needs a designer. When people recognize their own situation, they keep watching.
The solution is where new writers overload the script. Pick the one benefit that matters most and lead with it. Then give two or three plain steps so the viewer can picture using it. Resist listing every feature. A 60-second video cannot carry ten ideas, and trying will lose the viewer.
The call to action works best when it asks for exactly one next step. Decide what you want: a free trial, a demo, a reply, a click. Say that and only that. If you give three choices, most people choose none.
How do you adapt the same template for different videos?
The structure stays put. The wording and tone shift with the audience and the goal. Here is how the same four parts flex across common uses.
| Use case | Hook angle | Solution focus | Call to action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product explainer | The task the buyer dreads | The one feature that removes it | Start a free trial |
| New-hire training | A moment of confusion on day one | The correct process, step by step | Complete the next module |
| Internal announcement | What is changing and why now | What it means for the viewer's day | Read the doc or ask in Slack |
| Sales follow-up | The prospect's stated goal | How your offer hits that goal | Book a 15-minute call |
A marketing team writing a promo will lean into the hook and the call to action. An HR or internal comms team writing an announcement can soften the hook and spend more time on what changes for the viewer. A trainer can turn the three solution steps into three literal instructions. Same bones, different muscle.
What does a finished example look like?
Here is the template filled in for a fictional scheduling tool, kept to about 55 seconds of read time.
"Still building next week's staff roster in a spreadsheet? You are not alone. Every Sunday you copy last week's grid, chase people over text to check who is free, and still end up with a gap on Friday night. Shiftly fixes that. Staff set their own availability in the app, and Shiftly builds a conflict-free schedule in one click, so you get your Sundays back. Add your team, set your rules, hit generate. Try it free at shiftly.com today."
Read it aloud and you will hear whether it flows. If you trip over a sentence, your viewer will too. Cut any word you would not say in a real conversation.
How do you turn the script into a video?
Once the words work, break the script into scenes, roughly one idea per scene, and match each line to something on screen. The hook might be a bold text card, the problem a quick shot of the messy old way, the solution a few frames of the product, and the call to action your logo with the link.
You do not have to start from a blank timeline. Pick a layout from the library of video templates, paste your lines into the scenes, and swap in your own footage, colors, and logo through a brand kit. If you would rather see a rough draft first, the AI video assistant can generate a starting point from your script prompt, which you then edit. For more writing and video walkthroughs, the Biteable blog has plenty to work from.
Frequently asked questions
How long should an explainer video script be?
Aim for about 150 words for a 60-second video, since most people speak at roughly two to three words per second. If your script runs long, cut from the solution section first by dropping any feature that is not essential to the main benefit.
Do I need a professional writer to use this template?
No. The template exists so you can write a solid script without a copywriter. Fill in the blanks, read it out loud, and cut anything that sounds stiff. Plain, conversational language beats polished jargon every time.
What should the call to action be if I am not selling anything?
Ask for the single action that matters most to you. For a training video that might be "finish the next lesson," for an announcement "read the full policy," and for a team update "reply with your questions." One clear ask always outperforms several.
Can I reuse one script across several videos?
Yes. Keep the four-part structure and rewrite the hook and call to action for each audience. A single launch can become a promo, an internal update, and a sales follow-up just by changing tone and the final ask.
Last updated: August 2026