Create Interactive Video Using these 9 Tools for Better Engagement

Video content has become increasingly popular in marketing and brand building. However, plain linear videos may not be as engaging anymore. This is where interactive videos come into the picture.

Interactive videos allow viewers to engage with the content by clicking on elements within the video. This creates a more immersive and memorable experience. Studies show that interactive videos have much higher completion rates and longer watch times compared to regular videos.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore what makes interactive videos effective. We will also recommend 9 excellent tools to create engaging interactive videos without any technical skills.

What are Interactive Videos?

Interactive videos incorporate interactive elements like buttons, annotations, quizzes, 360-degree views, etc. within the video. Viewers can click on these elements to either get more information, choose the story path, or get a product demo.

Some common interactive elements used in videos include:

• Hotspots – Clickable spots on the video that link to more information.

• Annotations – Overlays with text, images or buttons that viewers can click.

• Quizzes – Questions that prompt viewers to select an answer.

• 360 Videos – Allows viewers to pan around and explore a scene from all angles.

• Product Tours – Showcase products by allowing viewers to click for more details.

• Ecommerce Integration – Add direct shopping functionality into the video.

• Live Polling – Get instant feedback by adding polls within the video.

Adding these interactive elements provides some major benefits:

• Higher Engagement – Interactivity gives viewers control, keeping them engaged for longer.

• Better Storytelling – Choosing a story path makes the narrative more immersive.

• Increased Conversions – Viewers can click to purchase products featured in the video.

• Improved Branding – Interactive product demos build trust and promote recall.

• Data Collection – Interactions allow gathering insights about viewer preferences.

With interactive videos gaining immense popularity, many tools have emerged to make creating them easy for everyone.

Top 9 Interactive Video Maker Tools

Here are the top 9 interactive video creation tools recommended for marketers and businesses:

1. Mindstamp

Mindstamp is an interactive video maker that makes it easy to add hotspots, CTAs, quizzes and more to existing videos. It‘s integrated with marketing tools like MailChimp, HubSpot and Marketo.

Key Features:

• Simple drag and drop editing

• 250+ interactive templates

• Integrates with marketing automation tools

• Detailed analytics and reporting

• Multi-lingual and white label options

Mindstamp is great for adding interactivity to marketing, sales and training videos. It has a forever free plan along with premium plans starting at $16 per month.

2. Tolstoy

Tolstoy allows recording interactive videos with choose-your-own story functionality. Viewers can respond via text, audio or video to shape their path.

Key Features

• Customizable choose-your-path stories

• Viewers can respond via text, video or audio

• Easy-embed code for website

• Integrates with marketing and sales tools

• Tracks viewer engagement data

Tolstoy is great for sales teams to deliver personalized product pitches. It costs $40 per host user per month.

3. Spott

Spott allows adding interactive tags and pins to videos. It also provides shoppable video functionality.

Key Features:

• Add interactive tags and pins

• Built-in ecommerce capabilities

• Customizable call-to-actions

• Detailed analytics on interactions

• Social media scheduling and publishing

Spott is ideal for ecommerce businesses to drive product discovery and sales through video. It has a free plan along with paid plans starting at $29 per month.

4. Wideo

Wideo provides 100+ templates and a drag-and-drop editor to create all kinds of interactive videos online.

Key Features:

• 100+ video templates

• Drag and drop editing

• Library of characters, backgrounds, props etc

• Interactive elements like buttons, end screens etc

• Direct video embedding and sharing

Wideo is great for marketers looking for an easy interactive video maker. Paid plans start at $39 per month.

5. Eko

Eko allows building interactive stories with branching narrative based on viewer choices. Creators can add decision points within videos.

Key Features:

• Tools for building branching stories

• Progressively disclose content

• Quizzes and interactive elements

• Detailed analytics on viewer choices

• Easy sharing on social media

Eko is ideal for creating cinematic, choose-your-own-adventure style videos. It has customized enterprise pricing.

6. ThingLink

Initially an interactive image tool, ThingLink expanded into video as well. It allows adding interactive tags, pins and icons on both images and videos.

Key Features:

• Interactive tags and icons

• Built-in image and video editor

• Hotspots for 360 content

• Embed interactive media on websites

• Mobile apps for easy creation

ThingLink is great for marketers to drive engagement on social media with interactive video posts. Paid plans start at $10 per month.

7. Wirewax

Wirewax is a full-featured interactive video creation and analytics platform. Videos can be made interactive without editing the original.

Key Features:

• Clickable hotspots and buttons

• Customizable interactive overlays

• Dynamic scene-based interactions

• Automatic speech-to-text transcriptions

• Integrates with ecommerce platforms

Wirewax provides advanced interactivity suitable for enterprises. They offer custom quotes based on needs.

8. Cinema8

Cinema8 allows adding interactivity to videos through their widgets and tools. You can also gamify and add ecommerce capabilities.

Key Features:

• Library of interactive widgets

• Developer portal to build custom widgets

• Gamification tools

• Built-in ecommerce capabilities

• Analyze viewer interactions

Cinema8 is suitable for bigger brands looking for advanced customization and analytics. Pricing is quote-based.

9. Engajer

Engajer provides an end-to-end solution for creating, distributing and analyzing interactive videos.

Key Features:

• Drag and drop interactive authoring

• Detailed interaction analytics

• One-click social media publishing

• Dynamic calls-to-action

• CCTV and IP camera integration

Engajer is easy to use yet powerful. It starts with a free plan and goes up to $199 per month.

Best Practices for Creating Interactive Videos

Here are some tips to create effective interactive videos:

Have a Clear Objective

Outline what you want to achieve from the video. Is it to demo a product, collect data, or drive conversions? Align the interactions to the goal.

Keep it Simple

Don‘t overcomplicate with too many interactive elements. Use them sparingly only to guide the key story or message.

Give Control to The Viewer

Interactions like 360 views and story choices make viewers feel in control. But don‘t go overboard where they feel distracted.

Align with Branding

Maintain visual consistency with your brand style guide. This helps in reinforcing brand recognition and recall.

Make it Discoverable

Use annotations, tooltips or visual cues to highlight interactive elements. Make sure viewers can find them easily.

Make it Actionable

Every interactive element should aid decision making and move the viewer towards a desired action.

Test Extensively

Preview your videos across devices. Check if interactions work smoothly and trigger the right actions.

Promote Interactivity

Educate your audience on how to engage. Give a small tutorial if it‘s a complex or unconventional interaction.

Analyze Insights

Use built-in analytics in the tools to see which interactions work best and which need improvement.

Conclusion

Interactive videos provide brands an innovative content format that drives higher engagement, conversions and recall. The right interactive elements can deliver information in an immersive way while collecting audience insights.

Fortunately, it‘s easy for anyone to create interactive videos using intuitive SaaS tools like Mindstamp, Wideo, Eko and others mentioned in this guide. These require no technical skills or editing experience.

Try adding interactive videos to your content strategy. They work excellently for marketing, ecommerce, education and training. Just ensure the interactions are purpose-driven and the videos are thoroughly tested.

So boost viewer engagement on your next video. Add interactivity using one of these excellent tools!