Text walls and stock photos once ruled the digital marketing world. But not anymore. Those days are as dusty as dial-up internet. Today’s audiences crave quick, captivating content that gets their attention in a flash. And that’s what short-form videos are here to do. They’re quickly reshaping the way brands connect with audiences, build relationships, and leave a lasting impression. If you wish to master the art of using short-form videos to boost your online presence and turn fleeting glances into loyal fans, read on.
What are Short-Form Videos?
They are videos that typically last a few seconds to a minute. They are shared on popular social media platforms to get the attention of the desired audience. Short-form videos have gained immense popularity in the recent past due to their engaging and easily consumable nature.
What Makes Short-Form Videos Popular?
- Studies show that an average person watches about 100 minutes of online videos daily. These videos are mostly under 60 seconds and act as attention magnets. They hook viewers instantly, making them want more.
- Short-form videos boast the highest lead generation and ROI compared to all other formats. This is because they are easily shareable, and create explosive brand awareness.
- Short-form video content seamlessly integrates into popular social media platforms meeting audiences where they already are.
- It’s an authentic and concise portrayal of your brand, making it effective for boosting awareness, engaging your potential customers, and driving real business results.
What Are the Types of Short-Form Videos That Can Be Created?
- Instagram Stories & Reels- Instagram Stories are short, engaging videos that disappear after 24 hours. Reels can be up to 60 seconds long and are perfect for product demos or behind-the-scenes videos.
- YouTube Shorts- These are videos under 60 seconds that are ideal for quick, entertaining or educative content such as teasers and tutorials.
- Snapchat Spotlight & Stories- These are short videos that disappear after 24 hours, and are best suited for quick, entertaining content that creates interest and curiosity.
- TikTok Videos- These are 15-60 seconds long, and cover content that is educational or entertainment-based.
How to Create the Best Short-Form Videos for Digital Media
- Keep it short, sweet, and simple. The ideal length is 30-60 secs, if you’re aiming to hold the viewers’ attention.
- Capture attention within the first 3 seconds. This short span is the time you get to hook your viewers with engaging and catchy content that can keep them from scrolling down.
- Focus on the intent behind the video, and share a message that resonates with the viewers. This is the golden formula to trigger action.
- Use relatable narratives that resonate with viewers’ emotions and tell stories that create an emotional connection with your audience.
- Make your videos authentic and bold, avoiding imitation.
- Deliver your message efficiently within the first half of your video without wasting precious seconds.
- Improve your video’s reach by adding subtitles to it. This can not only help reach a wider audience by boosting accessibility, but also improves SEO.
- Maximize the visual appeal of your videos by using high-quality, appealing visuals and engage your audience with quick cuts and dynamic transitions.
- Remain relevant by keeping track of the evolving trends and tap into the opportunities they provide for short-form videos.
- Don’t forget ‘Call-to-Action’. Tell your viewers what you want them to do next, like visit your site, subscribe to your channel, sign up for a free-trial, etc.
What You Should Avoid
When creating short-form videos these are some of the common mistakes that most content-creators make. To make the most of this mode of digital media marketing, make sure you steer clear of these mistakes:
- Offering too much information in one video, or stuffing too many visuals. This can result in detracting from the main message, producing the opposite of the desired outcome.
- Providing generic content that does not reflect your brand’s personality. This can lead to losing followers.
- Focusing too much on the product/service rather than what the customers want. Their needs and interests are of primary importance, and addressing them is the only way to gain their continued loyalty.
- Expecting overnight results. This can be detrimental to your efforts. Short-form videos are a long-term strategy, and require time and consistent effort to build a community of followers to see results.
- Posting irrelevant content that does not resonate with your target audience or potential customers.
- Skipping captions/subtitles. This can have a negative impact on your short-form video because captions are necessary for SEO, and better accessibility. Also, since many viewers watch videos on mute, captions are crucial to keep them engaged.
Short-form videos are now an indispensable part of digital media marketing, and they provide a unique and effective way to engage the audience. With a better understanding of the nuances of short-form videos you can avoid pitfalls and effectively create brand awareness. So, begin by harnessing the power of short-form videos on social media platforms and watch conversions skyrocket!
Need help with short-form video creation or other digital media marketing techniques? Get in touch with us today!