Short-Form Video Marketing: A Massive Shake-up to the Social Media Status Quo

Who would’ve thought that dancing, lip-synching, and short skit videos could make such a significant impact on your brand? And who would’ve thought that providing consumers with personal entertainment could also offer an excellent opportunity to create a powerful tool for market return? This is what short-form video marketing can do to your business in today’s world.

Well, what is a short-form video? “Short-form” refers to fast-paced, quickly and easily consumed content. The idea is to keep the content not too lengthy to engage viewers from start to finish. However,  A short-form video does not have a proper definition in terms of running time. This is because the definition of “short” differs from platform to platform. On Tiktok, a short-form video can be anything from 60 seconds to 2 minutes. While on Youtube, it can be a video of around 5 -10 minutes. 

Meanwhile, where these short, “bite-sized” content have become a great source of entertainment, they have opened new gateways for marketers, becoming one of the most powerful social media marketing tools today.

Why it is Strategic to your Content Marketing

Considering that short-form videos already have the highest ROI of any other social media strategy, it also translates as authentic, relatable, attention-grabbing, and highly shareable. 

For example, in the baking industry, brands will share behind the scene glimpses of their production, such as from making the dough to taking the baked goods out of the oven. They also share tips and even the key and “secret” ingredients. The exclusivity of the content creates appeal, sparking curiosity in the viewer. They convey messages in a fun and interactive way that can entice, intrigue, inform, and educate while also leaving audiences asking for more.

Short-form content videos, in particular, are the best at creating interest, showcasing your brand, and attracting new customers when placed and done right on respective platforms. It allows businesses to capture their audience’s attention and convey their message in a concise and visually appealing manner.

Common types of Short-form videos

FAQs – Frequently asked questions answered through video content are popular these days as it is more engaging to the audience; some even do it in real time. 

Behind The Scenes – Taking your audience behind the “camera” is deemed to connect with the viewers in a much more personal sense. Showing them what happens within the business creates an air of authenticity which they love.

Tutorials – The audience prefers complex subjects to be made more accessible; that’s why tutorials are so popular, especially when the product or service is technical.

Unskippable Ads – Youtube and Facebook are taking advantage of the short-form content wave. Instead of the usual, lengthy ads, they created six to 15 seconds unskippable ads for the viewers.

Teasers – Instead of showing everything the brands offer in one sitting, which defeats the purpose of short-form video marketing, teasers are made to discuss or “tease” a specific subject of the service or product.

Best platforms for short-form videos

TikTok –  With over 1.4 billion active users, TikTok has powered into the public image and is now one of the major players on social media. It’s the one that stormed the world since the start of the pandemic and has led the industry into its fame today.

Youtube Shorts – It’s no secret that Youtube always knows how to step up their game. Youtube Shorts is a great platform because it offers a large and diverse audience, high engagement levels, and a built-in community of creators. Shorts also offers various ad formats, including in-stream ads, Bumper ads, and more, making it a flexible and effective marketing platform.

Instagram Reels – Brands can use Reels to showcase their products, share educational content, or promote brand values in a creative and engaging way. Additionally, Reels offers a range of targeting and advertising options, making it easier for businesses to reach their desired audience.

Benefits of Short-Form Video Marketing

Short-form video marketing has become a popular tool for businesses to reach and engage with their audiences. Brands can benefit by simply embracing this medium without being an influencer. Some benefits listed below can be considered for incorporating short-form videos into their marketing strategy.

Digestible Content – Keeping the message simple is essential to video marketing. It is best to focus on one key message and convey it clearly. This will help in retaining the message, and the audience will be able to recall it better.

High Level of Engagement – Videos on social media platforms get the most reactions, likes, and comments. Additionally, watching videos can increase the chances of people taking action, making them more likely to click a CTA after watching your content.

Grabs Attention Almost Instantly – When done the right way, videos can easily entice and intrigue their viewers as videos are a more appetizing form of content for consumers than pictures or text. Sometimes it doesn’t even have to make sense at all. You just have to sprinkle a pinch of creativity to grab people’s attention.

What Does This Mean for the Future of Long-Form Videos?

Long videos are here to stay and can work hand in hand with short-form videos to build your brand. Short videos can serve as your stepping point to engage with the potential customer base, and long videos can maintain brand loyalty. Short videos are best to utilize in the early stages of your business, where you’re just trying to create awareness, whereas, in the longer run, long videos will be the backbone of the business.

Final Thoughts

There is nothing new about content that is less than a minute long. It has a long history with vine, Dubsmash, Snapchat, etc. But why are short videos so popular? The simple answer is that people don’t have all the time on their hands and prefer content that would not take that much of their time in one sitting. And the best part of this is that anyone can create short-form videos. Although the competition is high due to the raised number of content creators, this also means that there are more users, making room for potential consumers, thus keeping the demand high and the opportunities great.

The audience’s attention span is short, and businesses must ensure their message is conveyed within that time frame. Remember that to mark your place in this field, a perfect blend of personalized content in your marketing strategies is deemed necessary– video marketing is here to stay, but less is becoming more.