The phrase “instant gratification” has long been used to describe digital natives, whether they are categorized as millennials or Generation Z. This demonstrates how technology has influenced and molded every facet of their everyday interactions and lives. As reliance on Google Maps grows, fewer hardcopy maps are being used. It gets harder to remember friends and family’s phone numbers. Most people now consider entertainment to have become an on-demand habit. Siri and Alexa are constantly available to customers, ready to offer their preprogrammed, non-offensive life lessons. The short form content is now beneficial for Gen Z and millennials who cannot stick to longer videos.
56% of marketers stated that short form video content was the top trend they were interested in investing in in 2024, while 73% of customers like to watch short-form videos to learn more about a product or service.
Keep exploring to learn more about short-form content and how it is a perfect option for Gen Z and Millennial audiences.
Table of Contents
What is Short Form Content?
As the term implies, short form content refers to brief digital content marketing pieces intended to grab the audience’s interest swiftly. Videos, podcasts, blogs, and infographics are just a few of the formats in which short-form content assets may be found. All of these formats are designed to quickly and effectively convey a particular idea.
Short-form content examples include:
- Posts on blogs
- Articles about news
- Emails
- Infographics
- Memes, Instagram posts, and TikTok videos are examples of short form social media content.
Getting the point across fast is frequently the aim of short-form material without overpowering the user.
Short-form content may be crucial to the consumer experience when paired with long-form content and a strong content development plan. It more than merits a spot in your content marketing toolkit, from motivating leads to reading a bit more about your company during the awareness stage to urging potential buyers to complete the purchase during the decision-making stage.
What are Different Types of Short-Form Content?
Now it is the time to discuss the major types of short-form content. Here we go:
Short-Form Blog Posts
A short-form blog article is, as you may remember, less than 1,000 words.
Despite being quick readings, short-form blogs shouldn’t sacrifice quality. Actually, including helpful information while maintaining clarity and conciseness is one of the secrets of successful short-form blogging.
You must swiftly get to the point before distributing the value in the ideal ratio.
All of that is expertly handled in this essay from Enchanting Marketing, which uses nearly precisely 1,000 words.
But it doesn’t seem hurried or short. Although it is a short read, it is not without content. Instead, it’s full of excellent writing tips and examples.
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Podcasts In Short Form
An easy method to provide your audience with helpful content that they can listen to while multitasking is through short form content podcasts. As they are commonly referred to, mini-podcasts are also an excellent format for co-hosting with thought leaders and influencers in your industry and for creating enduring relationships with your clients.
Mini-podcasts might become a fantastic option for companies that might not commit to long-term production because large-form podcasts can take a long time to produce.
Best advice:
- Make sure your episodes are educational and targeted to the interests of your target audience.
- Start with a theme and stick with it. A daily or weekly journal on your team or brand, or a set of pointers, could be influential.
Social Media Posts
The platforms’ limitations force social media messages to be brief, but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring.
Instead, a genuinely engaging social post tends to feature a trifecta of superb writing, a captivating image, and a helpful link.
Sometimes, a fantastic shot and a few words are all you need to get folks interested.
Short Videos (YouTube Shorts, Reels, And TikTok)
When you consider short-form content, do you instantly think of short videos? You’re not by yourself.
TikTok, a platform for short videos that have amassed around one billion active users in only six years, has grown in popularity at the same time as short form content video.
Due to TikTok’s popularity, other sites joined the video craze, such as YouTube’s (owned by Google) Shorts and Meta’s (which is the parent of Facebook and Instagram) Reels.
A short form video content may last as short as a few seconds, and if it’s longer, it often doesn’t exceed three minutes.
How Did The Popularity Of Short-Form Content Come About?
Following the launch of Vine, a social networking site where users could submit looping 6-second videos, short-form became popular. It soon rose to become one of 2013’s fastest-growing social media networks. Viners, or prominent content producers, soon started appearing and making money from their work. The app was authoritatively shut down in 2017 because Vine was unable to keep up with the growing number of rivals.
Similar to Vine, TikTok prioritizes short form content and achieved comparable popularity in the first few years, amassing over two billion downloads overall. Users may choose between “Following,” which allows them to see the videos of individuals they follow, and “For You,” which displays films based on an algorithm. At the moment, TikTok is one of the most well-known sites for short-form material, and young people are almost addicted to it.
Researchers discovered in a 2021 study that young people use social media sites to alleviate “perceived stress.” The report claims that while these apps might temporarily reduce stress, the issue occurs when users use them for extended periods, leading to what the researchers refer to as a “Short Form Video Application Addiction.”
Although TikTok’s addictive qualities are nothing new, what distinguishes it from its rivals is its content-based algorithm and the creation of its “For You page.” The idea behind short-form video applications is called random reinforcement, which keeps you browsing even if the video you’re viewing isn’t enjoyable because you think the next one could be. Similar to gambling, addiction develops from the desire to wait for the successive “win” or amusing video.
But this time, social media’s popularity of short-form content continued to grow. Rather, the trend was adopted by other social media sites. Most notably, Instagram launched video reels in 2020. Reels are now a crucial component of Instagram’s algorithm, giving accounts that employ them priority in users’ feeds and establishing them as a distinct entity outside of TikTok’s impact.
Short Form Content and Attention Span
Millennials have an average attention duration of 12 seconds on average, while Gen Z has an attention span of an astounding 8 seconds. This formula and environment are ideal for 15-second short-form videos. Depending on their choices, users have the freedom to find more films more quickly. In short, this approach works for their social media habits and lives. Additionally, watching and sharing short-form films on other social media sites like WhatsApp uses less mobile bandwidth.
There are several disadvantages to having a shorter attention span. One of the most significant issues is that it might become more difficult to engage an audience fully. For instance, a person with a limited attention span might not be as inclined to sit through an entire film or television program. Long-form material may see a decline in audience as a result.
In addition, there is a greater chance of inaccuracy with short-form content. Short form content might not consistently deliver enough space for precise and validated information in its pursuit of brevity. This makes it possible for rumors, false information, and partial facts to spread quickly. Misleading material is easily shared and spread without the proper context or sources, which can cause misunderstandings or even injury.
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Pros and Cons of Short-Form Content
Pros:
The following are some of the most substantial reasons for using short-form content:
- Users may consume more easily
- Usually responsive to mobile devices
- It is less challenging to scale and needs fewer resources to generate than long-form content
- It is sharable because of how succinct and frequently punchy it is
Cons
Short-form content’s drawbacks include:
- It prevents you from delving deeply into a subject, which may result in oversimplification or the omission of essential nuances.
- It may quickly become monotonous if not created with a carefully thought-out approach.
- Its relevance can soon wane since it frequently has a shorter shelf life over evergreen material.
- Given the restricted area, it could not establish your legitimacy or long-form information.
Best Practices For Creating Short-Form Content
Here are the best practices for you if you own a short form content agency:
Cut Right To The Chase And Hook Them
You must swiftly get to the point of your piece, regardless of the type of short-form material you’re producing.
Why should your audience pay attention to you, and why should they care? Use a text overlay, a brief explanation, or a well-chosen frame in your video to tell them right away, or include it in your blog post’s written intro.
It’s crucial to get right to the point of your material since it’s also your hook, the part that draws readers in and keeps them interested.
For instance, if you watch the opening few seconds of the YouTube video like “How to Make Fajita Pasta.” As the host slices the bread, you can see the cheese seeping out.
That’s why you should watch it! The first thing that viewers think is, “Yum! “How do I make it?” – and stay put to learn.
Therefore, explain your “why” to readers or viewers immediately away so they understand the content’s worth upfront.
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Don’t Be Too Long
Make sure that every sentence in your short form content offers value and that it goes right to the point. To leave a lasting impact, include your main content audience right away. Here are some tips to follow:
- Create eye-catching headlines and introductory phrases that clutch readers’ attention right away.
- To inspire feelings and consent to a long-lasting impression, employment narrative tactics.
Add Visuals & Graphics
Short-form content material is more appealing and remembered when it includes visual components. Verify that they enhance the textual material rather than take away from its meaning.
Put Quality Before Quantity
When it comes to short-form material, quality is always more important than quantity. To connect with your audience, every piece of content needs to be carefully created. Here is the tip to follow:
- Spend money on expert editing services to keep your writing clean and businesslike.
Remain Current With Your Audience And Brand
Whether you’re making a quick video or writing a brief blog post, whether you’re following trends or disregarding them, always remember to keep your audience and brand relevant.
Specific short video trends, for instance, will blend in well with your personality, while others will be entirely out of place. Before you follow a trend, consider whether it aligns with your brand personality and consumer preferences. Don’t follow trends just because they’re famous.
You may determine whether a topic is pertinent and whether writing a brief article about it is the best course of action for short blogs by conducting keyword and audience research.
Also Read: Content Strategist: Responsibilities And Job Description
Maintain A Regular Publishing Schedule
Building an audience and keeping them interested in your material need consistent publishing. Building a devoted following and generating a feeling of anticipation are your goals.
Conclusion
With TikTok at the forefront, short form content has become the most popular way to grab the attention of this age. Businesses may provide engaging content that appeals to Gen Z’s tastes by embracing authenticity, narrative, trends, comedy, music, and engagement.
Businesses may develop effective marketing strategies that connect with Gen Z viewers by using TikTok’s many capabilities, working with the right influencers, and producing genuine, trend-driven content. Keep in mind that TikTok marketing is about more than simply making videos; it’s also about sharing stories, igniting dialogue, and building a feeling of community.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Is TikTok Short Form Content?
Yes. Content on the ever-changing TikTok platform may now be anything from little 15-second videos to 10-minute “TED talks” or even threads with 35 images in a carousel. Nonetheless, the short-form video—which usually lasts between 30 and 60 seconds—remains the core of TikTok.
How To Write Content In Short Form?
The best practices for producing short-form content are as follows:
- Hook them and get right to the point.
- Videos: Keep an eye out for patterns.
- Remain pertinent to your audience and brand.
- Videos: Don’t worry about their quality.
- Put value first: Inform, teach, or entertain.
Is Short Form Content Good Or Bad?
Short form video content addiction is a relatively new kind of mental health issue that puts people’s social lives and mental health in danger. Poor vision, a decline in physical fitness, and potentially chronic illnesses and other problems are also physical consequences of short-form video addiction.
What Is Short Form Content On Instagram?
Videos that are between five and ninety seconds in duration are considered short-form content on Instagram. Instagram Stories and Instagram Reels are two instances of short-form content on the platform.