In case you haven’t realized yet, short-form video content has become significant in digital spaces and in the world of digital marketing. Nowadays, if you want to capture the attention of your audience, a short-form video is a good choice. Social media algorithms also prefer it, which means short-form video is always a good idea for social media content creation.
So if you’re looking forward to getting into video marketing for your business, then short-form video is an easy start.
What is a short-form video?
A “short-form video”, simply put, refers to a type of video content that is relatively brief in duration, typically lasting between five and 60 seconds. Some can even last up to 90 seconds, but no more than 5-10 minutes. They are also usually characterized by their vertical format, with an aspect ratio of 9:16, especially TikToks and Instagram Reels.
These videos are designed to capture the viewer’s attention quickly and deliver content in a concise and engaging manner. Short-form videos have gained popularity in recent years, especially on social media platforms and apps designed for quick, easy sharing.
One of the most notable platforms for short-form video content is TikTok, where users can create and share videos that are often limited to 15 seconds or less. Short-form videos are also common on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, where users can create and share videos ranging from a few seconds to a few minutes in length.
Compared to long-form videos, the brevity of short-form videos makes them well-suited for a lot of significant factors. This includes capturing moments for the audience, sharing quick tutorials, and entertainment, and even delivering information in a digestible format. They are also popular for their accessibility and the potential to go viral. This is because they can quickly engage viewers and be easily shared across social media networks. This ultimately makes short-form videos effective for digital marketing.
What is the impact of short-form video?
Short-form videos’ popularity continues to grow, and all for the right reasons. A lot of marketers are investing more and more in short-form video content. Meanwhile, audiences continue to consume short-form videos in staggering amounts across platforms and industries.
Here are a few statistics to show the impact of short-form video:
- Consumers find short-form video to be 2.5x more engaging than long-form video. (Sprout Social)
- 73% of customers prefer watching short-form videos to find out about a product or service. (Wyzowl)
- Instagram Reels account for 30% of the time people spend on Instagram. (Hootsuite)
- YouTube Shorts reached two billion monthly logged-in users as of July 2023. (Statista)
- Twenty-one percent of marketers are looking to invest in short-form video for the first time in 2023. (HubSpot)
- Short-form video is the most popular trend among marketers, is also the most effective, and has the highest ROI. (HubSpot)
Short-form video will only continue to be a favorable format or media type for video marketing as time goes on. If leveraged properly, this can do wonders for a business’s digital marketing efforts.
The best short-form video platforms
There are various short-form video platforms that can be integrated into your business’s social media and overall digital marketing strategy. As always, be wise and figure out which platform will result in the most success for your business.
Here are some of the best short-form video platforms:
- TikTok: TikTok was and continues to be one of the most popular short-form video platforms. It allows users to create and share short videos, often set to music, and has a wide range of content, from entertainment to educational content. They also have a variety of features that will help users collaborate or create video content with existing content.
- Instagram Reels: The Instagram Reels feature allows users to create and share short videos, typically up to 60 seconds in length. It is integrated into the social media app Instagram and has become a popular platform for short-form video content.
- YouTube Shorts: YouTube Shorts is a relatively new addition to YouTube that focuses on short-form vertical videos. It was introduced to compete with platforms like TikTok and Instagram. It offers a dedicated space for shorter video content, as opposed to the long-form video content YouTube is known for.
- Twitter: Twitter allows users to post short video clips alongside their tweets. These video clips can be used to share brief insights, news, or funny moments.
- Snapchat: Snapchat is known for its short video and image-sharing format. Snapchat Stories are a popular way to share short, temporary videos that disappear after 24 hours.
- Instagram Stories: Like Snapchat, Instagram Stories are a type of ephemeral content that only lasts for 24 hours. This is a great way to share exclusive video and image content and capture moments instantly for the viewing of the audience or a loyal customer base.
- Facebook Stories: Facebook Stories are also another case of temporary content that can engage your audience. Here, you can share videos as well as images as exclusive content or opportunities for interaction.
Ways to use short-form videos for your digital marketing
Short-form videos can be a powerful tool in your digital marketing strategy. Their engaging and shareable nature gives the audience a lot of reasons to interact and get to know your brand. Meanwhile, its shortness can drive marketers, businesses, and creators to be as creative as they can.
Whether this is your first foray into the world of short-form video, or you need new ideas to liven up your social media, there are creative ways to post short-form video content.
Here are some ways to use short-form videos for your digital marketing:
#1 Product or Service Teasers
Create short videos to highlight the key features and benefits of your products or services. Showcasing a brief, compelling demonstration can pique viewers’ interest.
#2 Behind-the-Scenes Looks
Offer a sneak peek into your company’s inner workings and culture. This can help humanize your brand and build trust with your audience.
#3 Tutorials and How-Tos
Provide quick, informative tutorials or how-to guides related to your products or industry. You can even address common problems and offer solutions. You can break these up into several videos and have the audience anticipate your next video content.
#4 User-Generated Content
Encourage customers to create and share short videos using your products or services, then ask permission to repost them. User-generated content can be highly persuasive since it is from the perspective of a previous customer.
#5 Customer Testimonials
Share short videos of satisfied customers sharing their experiences with your brand. Authentic testimonials can build trust and credibility among prospects and peers.
#6 Announcements and Updates
Use short videos to announce new products, services, or company news. These short-form video content can create buzz and anticipation among your audience.
#7 Challenges and Hashtag Campaigns
Create short-form video challenges or campaigns around a specific hashtag. You can encourage users to participate and generate content related to your brand. This is also a good way to boost exposure.
#8 Event Promotion
Promote webinars, live events, or product launches through short-form videos. Tease the event’s highlights to generate interest and reach more audiences.
#9 Educational Snippets
Share bite-sized pieces of educational content that are relevant to your industry or niche. You can even share your own knowledge about another video. This can position your brand as an authority or thought leader.
#11 Polls and Quizzes
Engage your audience with interactive content. Pose questions, run polls, or create quizzes to boost engagement and gather insights. You can even use the viral filters and quizzes on short-video platforms to boost your exposure even further.
#12 Anniversary and Milestones
Celebrate company milestones or anniversaries with short videos that express gratitude to your customers and followers. In a way, this can help humanize your brand and catch the interest of prospective customers.
#13 Animated Explainers
Use animations to simplify complex concepts or explain your products or services. Animated short videos are often highly engaging for audiences.
#14 Humorous and Entertainment Content
Share funny and lighthearted content that aligns with your brand’s personality. You can even check what trends and funny posts are currently popular among your audience or your industry. Humor can make your brand more relatable and expand your exposure.
#15 Cross-Promotion
And of course, you can promote your short videos across different social media platforms to reach a wider audience. Use the strengths of each platform to your advantage, adjust various elements of your video as much as needed, and cater to your audience’s preferences on each platform.
Keep these in mind the next time you leverage short-form video content for your business. If you need more help, Marketing Experts PH has the expertise that you need! Talk to us now, and let’s talk more about your digital marketing efforts!
Image source: https://unsplash.com/@harrycunningham