A How-To: Short Form Video in Digital Marketing

Ever been stuck in a cheeky doom scroll on Tiktok or Instagram? We’re certain you’ve been guilty of the good ole instant gratification that comes from watching short form videos online. In today’s modern times, short-form isn’t always suitable for all brands, but it is ideal for businesses’ that are looking to be bold, show personality and engage with a growing audience of younger people.

So if you’re considering adding short form video into your strategy, let us share with you a little rundown!

What is short form video?

It’s exactly how it sounds! Simply put, they are videos  that last between 5 and 90 seconds, as this length is preferred on Instagram and TikTok. Keeping them short and to the point often aligns with users’ brief attention spans. Even though the videos are short, they still need to tell an attention grabbing story and have a clear narrative flow. More often, they can link to current social trends so that they’ll resonate with viewers. 

Why use short form video?

So, could short-form video be the secret sauce to supercharging your brand? Here are some extra reasons why they should be a part of your strategy. 

Engage and Expand: Every snappy video you share is an opportunity to find out what works with your audience and to reel in new fans. Think of it as casting a net for engagement and reach!

Create with Ease: Short-form videos are like the fast food of content creation – quick to whip up and deliciously easy to make with just your phone.

Build Your Community: It’s key to use these bite-sized videos to address your audience’s burning questions. You can turn social media chatter into engaging content.

Boost your Brand Awareness: A standout video can elevate your brand especially if it is getting shared far and wide. Any form of being able to boost your brand visibility and establishing your presence is vital. 

Additionally, it’s a captivating way to gain attention, guide an audience in and potentially lead to conversions of some kind. When executed effectively, they can serve as an endless supply of enticing hooks, leading your audience to your website and engaging with your products or services. 

How to position yourself for success!

So how can you position yourself with your short-form videos? It’s key to plan before posting, so make sure to choose the right platform for your business goals, and be guided by the 5 C’s. 

Commitment – How much can you commit to? Be realistic about how much effort you can devote to creating and promoting your videos.

Creativity –  Ensure you know where and how you’ll produce the ideas.  You may be able to create perfectly suitable videos yourself or you might have to outsource to a creative agency. 

Content – It’s important to create the right content for the right platform. Research what types of video work best on each platform. 

Consistency – Have a set consistent posting schedule and stick to it. 

Community –  Make sure the community you are trying to target is on the platform.

Find out what’s working: Learn what works for your social media marketing – and, more importantly, what doesn’t work. This will help you understand how to reach your social goals faster. 

Ultimately it’s about looking at what made your short-form video perform. Did you use a trending song? Was it the video quality? Was the shoot set-up better? Was the lighting better? Did you use a professional camera over an iPhone?

Like any digital marketing campaign, short-form video requires time, effort, and creativity. So make sure you’re providing value, tell a story and keep your audience engaged.