Short-Form vs. Long-Form Video Content
Video Content
When it comes to video strategy, the battle between short-form vs. long-form video content has been years in the making. With clear benefits on both sides, it’s near impossible to pick a favorite.
Whereas short-form videos demand attention, long-form videos earn attention. Both are winners and both provide content that boosts audience engagement.
The Definitions:
What’s the difference between short-form vs. long-form video content?
Short-form video
Simply put, short-form videos are under 10 minutes in length. This can range from a four-minute music video to a five-minute contact center best practices tutorial digital video. The versatility of short-form makes it an effective tool for spreading creative marketing.
Short-form videos have found instant success on social media. Content that is short, attention-grabbing, and easy to consume is perfect for Instagram and TikTok. Short-form is the most common type of marketing video.
Long-form video
Long-form video is any video over ten minutes. It often comes in the form of Youtube vlogs, TED Talks, branded documentary-style videos, and live Q&A sessions. From a production standpoint, they take more time, efficient production, and cost.
With your marketing strategy, long-form video can have the same effectiveness as topic clusters or keyword research. Even though long-form isn’t as attention-grabbing as short-form, it is more impactful and meaningful to the viewer.
Pros and Cons of Short Video Content
Pros:
- It’s like content candy for those with short attention spans
- Can be a great tool to build anticipation for longer-form content
- Quick. Easy. To the point. Which is perfect for short attention spans
- Good for announcements
- Creates broader brand awareness
Cons:
- The purpose isn’t to provide substantive content
- Hard to create an emotional connection
Pros and Cons for Lone Video Content
Pros:
- Perfect for substantive marketing content
- Storytelling can create an emotional connection
- Paints a more specific brand picture
- Gives room for people to change the way they think
- Great way to provide a peek into the customer journey through things like reviews and demos
Cons:
- Loses short attention spans
- Not effective on certain platforms
Can You Have Both Short and Long Videos?
Deciding between short-form and long-form videos can be a difficult task, but sometimes the answer is both. Consider trimming in-depth, longer videos into bite-sized pieces you can more easily share across social media platforms. You don’t have to choose between the two as long as you repurpose your videos for each marketing platform.
Tell astory, and lay off the branding. Consumers want their brands to be special. Branding is often unavoidably impersonal, but stories introduce a human element that makes people care about your brand.
Are you confident you can tell an engaging story that gets your brand’s message across in a 30-second video? If not, maybe a longer video is necessary to connect with the viewer.
While the length of your video is certainly worth considering, other factors like that of audience, and above all, the quality of the video itself, merit greater attention. Quality video content that adds value to your audience’s lives will always win out.