Tal Hacmon
January 16, 2022

Short-form videos: tips and tricks to grow your social media

According to a recent study, most buyers prefer video learning about a product or service. Is your business able to satisfy this requirement? Video content on social media is increasingly becoming a critical tool for expanding your network and telling your brand's narrative. Thanks to a rising number of video features on various platforms, there's never been a better moment to start generating high-quality social media videos. When it comes to publishing videos on social media, uploading short-form videos may be an excellent method to offer content to your prospects and current clients. Short-form video is undoubtedly the future of social media, and it has already started. The short-form video platform TikTok swiftly climbed to become one of the lead generations in social media platforms in 2022. In the same way, YouTube has launched Shorts, many of which are hilarious. Short-form videos are a growing trend that might help you promote your brand as well as Facebook Reels and Instagram Reels.

Do you know what a "short-form video" is?

Anything under two minutes and thirty seconds in duration may be called a short-form video. The length of a video may be defined as "long-form" if it exceeds that limit; however, this varies per platform. The most popular videos on TikTok and Instagram Reels are generally 15-60 seconds long or the 2-minute YouTube shorts Boomerangs that you've seen all over social media. In general, short-form videos are under 10 minutes long. This short-form video format is ideal for brief creative storytelling and is particularly well suited to explainer videos and educational videos. Long-form videos and micro-videos are not the same as these shorter videos. To communicate a brief message or engage your target audience in a matter of minutes, short-form videos may be a helpful tool.

Advantages of short-form video marketing

Short-form videos are the social media marketing strategy that is growing rapidly in a wide range of sectors, including travel agencies and institutions, and other businesses. Take a look at the advantages of the short video.

Short films are easier to make

Generating a longer video takes more time and resources than a shorter one. On the other hand, short-form videos take far less time to produce, allowing you to cover a wider variety of subjects in less time. They take up less of the audience's attention span as a bonus.

As attention spans shorten, this is ideal

Nowadays, people like short videos since they are over quickly. Because of this, 58% of viewers will stop viewing videos within a minute of their start time. If the video is longer than 20 minutes, just 24% of viewers will watch it. In the world of fashion and style, things change swiftly. In addition, with a smaller amount of free time and a higher level of stress, time is in short supply... For us, if something isn't enjoyable, we tend to give it up quickly. On the other hand, compelling information entices our attention for a much more extended period.

Aren't only about being aware but also taking action

A successful marketing strategy aims to raise awareness of the brand and spark the intended audience's attention. It's no secret that every company's ultimate objective is to grow its customer base. Your call to action in short-form video marketing can help you achieve this in a matter of seconds.

Excellent for sharing on social media

Short-form video is a big hit on social media. Since it's so widely used on major social media platforms, Giphy has become a regular source of enjoyment. To put it another way, short-form video is a must-have in this space. YouTube alone includes a large number of shorter videos. Additionally, there is a wide range of social media platforms to choose from, based on your target demographic and product lines. Social media sites like Instagram and YouTube are where customers are most likely to seek out new goods and services. In the grand scheme of things, this makes perfect sense. When you think about it, this makes perfect sense. It's easy to relax and socialize on any of these platforms. At the same time, individuals share videos, thoughts, and things they like.

Short-form video content is high on-trend

Short-form videos are not only quick to view. Short-form video trends are also addicting and shareable. It is possible to increase the number of people who see your work by creating excellent content and promoting it. Finally, social media algorithms visibly favor this information since it's so popular.

Try these Short-Form Video Ideas

A short-form video is supposed to be snappy, entertaining, and user-driven. With the use of this medium, your company may grow your online community, attract new customers, and increase customer loyalty. Here are a few pointers to consider while developing a plan for a short-form video:

A Product Demo Video

You may find it more difficult to create short-form how-to videos for tasks or products that need a lot of time to accomplish. Consumers may learn how to utilize your product or use your services in a practical setting with the help of product tutorials. Cooking, professional development, auto repair, and many other topics are now being taught through video. Video tutorials on social media are popular with those who want to learn how to do things on their own. You'll probably need to use quick frames, as if the viewer were fast-forwarding the video, in order to create these short-form how-tos. Confusion may be avoided by using voice-over explanations or visually appealing information on the screen.

User-Generated Content

Since most short-form video platforms distribute material created by their users, it makes important to give your brand content as genuine a look as possible. Your clients and audience may have a voice and speak on behalf of your business by capturing material from your followers and brand lovers and using it in your short videos. Chipotle has started utilizing TikTok to showcase user-generated content (UGC) from its feed. When it comes to their TikTok account, they rely on the talents of their consumers to speak for them. Because customers are more inclined to believe user-generated material to be legitimate than brand-created material, gathering leverage user-generated content is an excellent concept.

Customers' Queries Addressed Through FAQs

Your followers and other members of the brand's community will enjoy participating in these. Create a contact form or use Twitter or Facebook to gather inquiries. Make a video to answer the most frequently asked questions. In addition, because they are videos, they tend to get more attention than textual FAQs. It's easier to provide valuable material for your viewers when your videos are brief and to the point. FAQ videos are an excellent way to drive visitors to your website because of the SEO value they provide. It is also important to limit yourself to answering only one question at a time. This strategy will keep your videos brief, but it will also provide you the opportunity to produce more content.

Informational And Educational Content

Instructional information with short-form videos is an excellent starting point if you're unsure where to begin. Whether it's a fashion instructional, a cosmetics tutorial, or a list of the best travel advice for a certain location, your company may use these opportunities to draw attention to itself and the goods and services it provides. Helping people in their day-to-day lives and influencing their purchasing decisions are two of the most effective ways to reach an audience. Suppose a customer is unsure about which brand to buy. Which brand do you think they'll go with? Does an entertaining explainer video or an ordinary product page make a better first impression on customers? Because you're delivering answers to individuals who may not even be customers, your educational material helps establish trust and brand loyalty.

Behind-The-Scenes View

Customer expectations of brands have risen sharply in recent years. When it comes to choosing businesses to like and support, almost all customers value authenticity above all other considerations. A big part of what has made short-form videos so appealing to consumers is that they have a strong sense of authenticity. Short-form films are a great way to show people what goes on behind the scenes of your company, whether you're utilizing TikTok, Instagram Reels, Snapchat Spotlight videos, or any other platform. So don't be scared to display your brand's more authentic side. It's the kind of material that people clamor to see the most. As a result, you'll be able to create stronger connections and create a sense of community around your company.

Live-Streaming

Unedited videos streamed in real-time are known as live streaming. Video live streams are one of the fastest-growing social media trends. It's easier for fans to engage and watch your event in real-time when it's streamed live. Most live streams events occur on Facebook and Instagram, although some brands provide live stream videos directly on their website. Several firms publicize these video live stream events in advance to build excitement. The popularity of live streaming extends to corporations and individuals who broadcast live streams without notice. Viewers have the option of tuning in live or watching the recorded footage once your live broadcast concludes. A live stream allows viewers to feel more connected to the person featured in the video and to respond to the video material in real-time.

Review And Testimonial Videos

The best way to display your product in action is via client testimonials and reviews. The consumer needs to be knowledgeable about your product or service in order to be able to emphasize its positives in a video review. Viewers will be able to witness how your answer improves their lives. Using testimonials to convey a story is a great way to draw in new customers, but only if you can do it in a few minutes or less. These short-form films, when done well, are great examples of real content. The video's message is more impartial since it is delivered by a person who is not part of your company. As a final point, these short-form videos are simpler for customers to watch and understand.

Short-Form Video Clips May Be Used As Advertisements

Five to sixteen seconds is the typical video length of short-form video ads. You may use these short video ads to generate brand recognition or maintain and enhance your market position. If you'd want people to take action, employ the Tease-Amplify-Echo approach.

Tips For Social Media Short Form Video

Here are some tips for social media short-form video:

Boost the visual appeal of your video

Make sure your videos adhere to your brand's design requirements in order to maintain a consistent appearance and feel (colors, fonts, etc.). Consumers will also find it simpler to remember a brand's name. Use transitions, motion design, graphics, and text overlays to provide some variation to your social media video content. In order to draw attention to your video's most important points, include these design elements in it.

Keep the length to a minimum (under 2 minutes)

Both you and your audience are busy with commitments. Viewer interest begins to wane after two minutes. So unless you're producing long-form video content, keep your videos under that threshold. The primary objective is to hold the human attention span for as long as possible so that they can catch and retain the main message of your video. That's exactly what short, straightforward, and innovative material accomplishes.

Add music to make your videos more interesting

Make sure that the soundtrack you chose not only matches but also improves the overall feel of your video. When it comes to lyrics, even if you have great music and trending music, improper or unnecessary lyrics might detract from your video's message.

Focus on the story's narrative structure

It doesn't matter what your topic is; a strong narrative is the key to a captivating video. Take the time to flesh out a captivating storyboard with characters or events that your intended audience can identify with and care about. The goal isn't simply for viewers to hear your message; it's also for them to remember it once they do.

Make sure you have a script

A fundamental thing to remember is that every video must have a screenplay. Writing out each scenario is a vital part of setting the basis for your video, and it will save you a lot of time when it comes to recording.

In your marketing plan, should you employ short-form videos?

You may use short videos to connect with your audience and increase brand awareness. As a bonus, they're a low-cost marketing tool that can be included in almost every social media or blog post. A great example of this sort of material is Instagram Stories' short-form video snippets, which provide just enough information to let the viewer know what's going on. Short-form videos may be used in various ways for digital marketing strategy. They are certainly worth a try.

Conclusion

For your content marketing plan, short-form videos are an excellent way to expand your younger audience and better connect with your current social media followers. It's also a lot of fun to build them since there are so many creative options. Recent research shows that relevant, well-produced videos get more views than textual or image-heavy postings. The more concise your video is, the more probable viewers are to stick around until the end.