Do Not Be Long-Winded: Why Short-Form Video Is Taking Over

Social media is now dominated by short-form videos! Are you unsure about how to begin your marketing strategy? Don’t worry, here’s everything you need to know to create a successful plan.

Posted last year

Written by

Mackenzie Taylor

Posted last year

Unless you’re living under a rock, you’ve seen short-form video content taking over the world of social media. Short-form video is one of the most effective ways to get your message across on social (and is definitely one of the things that social platforms love in their algorithm!).

With platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram all about the short-form video format, you will be doing yourself a disservice not adding video into your social media marketing strategy. Unsure of where to start and even why it might be important to your business or brand? Here’s everything you need to know about short-form video and why you need to use it to market more effectively.

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What is a short-form video?
Why is short-form video important for social media?
How to Make Efficient and Effective Short-Form Videos
Tips and Tricks for Creating the Best Short-Form Videos
Using Short-Form Video Platforms to Expand Your Audience Reach

What is a short-form video?

Let’s dive right in, shall we? Short-form videos are little 15,30, or even 90-second videos that you see on social media. Think of TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, or even, Pinterest! All of these videos that you see on those platforms are short-form videos.

Short-form videos are all about delivering your message quickly and in a way that draws people in to make them want more. By using short snappy captions, fun edits, and engaging visuals, you’re more likely to draw in the audience that you want and make them stick around for more—thus helping your overall strategy online and building brand awareness.

When you incorporate short-form video into your social media strategy, you’ll be able to cut through the noise of online much more quickly and hopefully grasp the attention of the audience that you’re looking for.

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A post shared by Flick – Social Media Marketing Platform (@flick.social)

Why is short-form video important for social media?

“Okay, but WHY is it so important?” I can hear you asking.

Firstly, you’re missing out on a large opportunity if you’re not making short-form videos. With the amount of people making video content online, it might seem daunting at first and you might be wondering why you need to be adding your own videos into the feed.

But the truth is, attention spans are a lot shorter these days. The patience people once had to watch a long-form video has diminished and they now want their content quick, entertaining, and to the point.

By leveraging the power of platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, you’ll be able to capture the attention of your audience in seconds. In a way, you can think of this as your 15 seconds of fame, where you can show off your brand, products, services, and more in a way that instantly grabs attention and leaves a long-lasting impression.

However, don’t think of this as only trying to grab attention. You want to be able to grab their attention and also connect with the audience. Short-form videos help you connect with your audience on a more personal level. Show off your brand’s personality, your workspace, and tell a story—however, you want to connect!

Because once you start connecting with your audience, the more they are going to share your content. Word-of-mouth marketing is huge and is going to be the biggest way you will grow on social media in general. So, focus on making short-form content that is attention-grabbing, engaging, and personal.

Not sure where to begin? Let’s learn how to make engaging and personal videos.

How to Make Efficient and Effective Short-Form Videos

Alright, it’s time to get down to business and learn how to make those efficient and effective short-form videos that will have your audience coming back for more. You ready? Let’s get into it.

Keep it short and sweet

This is what we’re all about here. You’ve got to keep those videos snappy. Stick to the point and don’t waste any time. Your audience wants instant gratification, so deliver it to them in 30 seconds or less.

Grab attention from the get-go

You’ve only got a few seconds to make an impression, so make it count! Start your video with something attention-grabbing, whether it’s a catchy hook, a bold statement, or a funny joke (I love a bold statement that gets people sucked in). Grab your audience by the collar and don’t let go.

Flick’s tip: Need help with nailing your hook? Listen to our podcast where we talk all about the perfect hooks to use on short-form content.

Be creative with your visuals

Short-form video is all about engaging visuals that captivate your audience. So get those creative juices flowing and think outside the box. Use eye-catching colors, interesting camera angles, and unique editing techniques to make your videos stand out from the crowd.

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A post shared by Catarina Mello | Travel Creator | SF (@professionaltraveler)

Tell a story

Even in 30 seconds (or less!), you can tell a compelling story that resonates with your audience. Whether it’s showcasing a problem and offering a solution or taking your viewers on a quick journey, storytelling is key. It adds depth and meaning to your videos, making them more memorable and shareable. And honestly? Makes people want to stick around and follow for more.

Flick’s tip: Be sure to use your caption to get the most out of your story! You can expand on your story in a longer format in the caption. Need help writing your caption? Try out Flick’s AI Assistant to help you write the perfect captions for your content.

Use captions

If you’re not using captions on all of your videos currently, you’re doing it wrong. Make sure to include captions in your short-form videos always. Not only will it make your content more accessible, but it also adds a fun and engaging element to your videos. Play around with different fonts, colors, and animations to make your captions pop.

Keep experimenting

Hot dang! We know how annoying it is when your video doesn’t immediately go viral. You spent all this time into it and it just flops? However, the beauty of short-form videos is that you can constantly experiment and try new things. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and test different formats, styles, and ideas. Learn from what works and what doesn’t, and keep evolving your videos to keep your audience engaged.

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Tips and Tricks for Creating the Best Short-Form Videos

Alright, are you ready to unleash your creativity and dive into the world of short-form videos? Heck yeah, you are. Before you get started though, here are some of our tips and tricks for getting the best content each and every single time.

First things first, let’s talk about lighting. While there are some good videos out there that don’t have the best lighting (hello, overhead fluorescent lighting!) Good lighting can make even the simplest videos look like a masterpiece. So, find a well-lit area or invest in some affordable lighting equipment. Trust me, your videos will thank you!
Next up, let’s talk about editing. Editing is like the secret ingredient that makes your videos stand out. It’s like sprinkling a little bit of that je ne sais quoi on top. So, get familiar with your editing software of choice and experiment with different cuts, transitions, and effects (I recommend editing INSIDE the apps as they tend to do better when you edit in TikTok or Instagram).
Now, let’s move on to sound. Sound is a crucial element that can make or break your videos. If your audio is scratchy or barely audible, your audience will click away faster than you can say “short-form video.” Invest in a good microphone and make sure your audio is clear and crisp. And even better? Add trending audio to the background so you have an even higher chance of getting better reach and engagement.
Speaking of spice, let’s talk about captions. Captions are not just for the hearing-impaired, my friends. They can actually enhance the viewing experience for everyone. Play around with different fonts, colors, and animations to make your captions pop. Plus, it’s a great way to ensure your message gets across, even if someone is watching your video on mute.
Last but certainly not least, let’s talk about authenticity. In the world of short-form videos, authenticity is key! Your audience wants to see the real you, so don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. Be funny, be quirky, be yourself. After all, you’re not here to blend in, you’re here to stand out.

what a girl wants gif "why are you trying so hard to fit in when youre born to stand out?"

Using Short-Form Video Platforms to Expand Your Audience Reach

So, you’ve mastered the art of creating efficient and effective short-form videos. You’ve got the snappy editing, the attention-grabbing visuals, and the catchy captions. But now what? Well, my friend, it’s time to take your videos to the next level and expand your audience reach.

Enter short-form video platforms like YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels. These platforms are like a giant megaphone, amplifying your message and reaching audiences far and wide. With billions of users on these platforms, the potential to expand your reach is enormous.

But how do you make the most of these platforms? First things first, optimize your videos for each platform. Each platform has its own unique features and audience, so make sure your videos are tailored to fit. Use relevant hashtags, tags, and keywords to increase your visibility and reach.

Next, engage with your audience! This is SUCH an important thing to do! Reply to comments, ask for feedback, and go into your DMs to talk to your audience. Building a community around your videos will not only increase your reach but also create a loyal fanbase that will stick around for more.

Don’t forget about cross-promotion. Share your short-form videos on other social media platforms to reach even more people. Let your followers know where they can find your awesome content and encourage them to follow you on your chosen short-form video platform.

Collaborate with other creators. Join forces with influencers or brands that align with your content and create videos together. This not only introduces you to their audience but also provides fresh and exciting content for your own audience

And finally, track your analytics. Each platform provides valuable insights into your audience demographics, engagement, and reach. Use this data to refine your strategy, experiment with new ideas, and continuously improve your videos.

Instagram Analytics

Grow your account with best-in-class Instagram Analytics.

Well, you’re now ready to go out and take the short-form videos by storm! Want even more help and guidance to get the most out of your short-form videos? Bookmark our blog page to get even more help!