A Marketer’s Guide on Short-Form Videos and How to Leverage Them

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Over the past couple of decades, social media has changed the way people consume information. Today, many individuals, particularly the younger generation, seek amusement and news through short-form videos. However, what began as a fad has now become a permanent aspect of how society interacts with the world.

Short-form videos have grown more important in the field of marketing in recent years, and companies are capitalizing on them to widen their customer reach further. Data can back this up, with 93% of marketers saying that video is an integral element in their marketing strategies. On social media, video content surpassed all other sorts of media for being the most valuable resource for achieving marketing goals, with images coming in a close second.

Short-form videos are all the rage these days, and as a marketer, you need to remain on top of trends to be competitive. So, if you haven’t yet incorporated them into your marketing strategy, this article will teach you all you need to know.

Here are five short-form video trends to look out for in 2022 and how you can implement them into your business.

What are Short-Form Videos and How Do They Work?

Short-form videos last from 20 seconds to two minutes on average. However, depending on the message of the content and the platform where it will be posted, its duration might be shorter or longer. These videos are popular because they’re immersive, giving the viewer an impression of a one-on-one conversation.

Brands and producers can use short-form clips to feature products, distribute information, or express new ideas. It challenges the limits of conventional media and gives individuals a fast and simple method to receive entertainment and information all in one. The format encourages a more creative approach to communication that aims to excite and inspire as many people behind the screen as possible.

Why Use Short-Form Videos to Market Your Business?

Short-form films make a conversation more relevant, participative, and engaging for target audiences. Consumers are more ready to trust a firm if they see sincerity and empathy in short-form sponsored materials.

It’s a great way to get people’s attention and encourage them to spread the word about your business. It also forces marketers to cut the time it takes to connect with their target demographic. Below are just a few of the benefits of using short-form video marketing.

In today’s fast-paced environment, people desire bite-sized chunks of information that they can consume immediately. Most viewers just watch a few seconds of a video before switching on another, and 58% would only finish content if it’s under a minute. If the clip is longer than 20 minutes, merely 24% of them will carry on viewing it until the end.

With these figures in mind, short yet appealing and uncomplicated videos might help you deliver your message more effectively. It can also keep your target viewer’s interest and guarantees that they get to the very end of your content.

short form videos engagement
  • It generates more engagements

A message is more powerful if it’s short, concise, and straight to the point. Moreover, leaving “food for thought” might increase the impact of your content. The same principle goes for short-form videos. When uploaded on social media, they get more likes, shares, and responses than static visuals.

Most algorithms also show video material since it holds a viewer’s interest for longer. Videos on Instagram, for instance, get 10x more interactions than any other form of content on the platform, and Instagram Reels is one of the biggest growth hacks on the app right now.

  • It helps improve SEO ranking

Short-form videos may help your website’s search engine optimization (SEO) performance by keeping viewers browsing your online channels for longer amounts of time. Google ranks your website higher when visitors spend substantial time on your website and other platforms.

After seeing a brand’s video on Pinterest, customers are 2.6x more likely to complete a transaction. Around 93% of marketers reported that a video on social media helped them get new customers. In recent years, many have started to pay greater attention to short-form video content marketing due to the strong conversion rates connected with it.

Every day, the typical person spends more than an hour viewing videos on social media sites like Facebook and YouTube. So, while presenting your items to buyers, a well-planned and high-quality video may help you sell more and improve your return on investment (ROI).

Best Social Media Platforms that Feature Short-Form Videos

TikTok, a short-form video network, swiftly became one of today’s top social media channels. It gained over 91 million monthly active users from the United States alone, just six months into the pandemic. Many other major social media platforms have followed TikTok’s lead and added their features and algorithms to meet the demand for short interactive clips.

To reach out to new customers and retain old ones, you must be able to utilize different social media platforms for your short-form videos. Some channels are best for conversion, while others work best for building brand awareness. With that in mind, here are the social media platforms you should consider for short videos and how you can know if they’re a good fit for your business.

TikTok is by far the most popular avenue for short-form videos today, even garnering the most downloads of any app in a quarter. Users watch a continuous stream of videos on the “For You” tab, tailored by the TikTok algorithm rather than following particular accounts. This addicting algorithm of the channel allows your brand to reach more prospects.

The typical TikTok user spends approximately 26 minutes each day on the network. You can engage in trends and social challenges to appear on the “For You” page as a brand.

Tiktok
Source: TikTok

Similar to how TikTok enables users to make 15- to 30-second video snippets set to music, Instagram Reels does the same. This works nicely with Instagram’s other features, allowing the users to share their Reels as a Story or as an actual post on their profile. Instagram also compiles all these short-form videos into its “Explore” page, where the contents can differ after every refresh.

Instagram-Reel
Source: Instagram

Anyone who wants to create short, snappy films using just their mobile phones may use YouTube’s Shorts function. Like the platforms mentioned above, YouTube’s very own short-form segment enables users to combine numerous video clips, modify video speeds, and record hands-free while listening to music. In terms of duration, YouTube Shorts videos have increased from 15 seconds to one minute.

True to its mission of “Putting the Spotlight on Creators,” the new feature on Snapchat, Spotlight, aims to highlight its very own users’ most popular videos and photos. It functions like TikTok’s “For You” page and provides a random video selection for the person at the other end of the screen. Snaps go through an algorithm-based verification procedure before being posted and made publicly visible.

Source: Snapchat

Another platform in the game is Triller, a music-based short video software that allows users to upload clips of themselves singing or dancing to a famous song or their favorite jam! Unlike TikTok, which has expanded to include various short-form video types, Triller only focuses on music.

Triller
Source: Triller

5 Short-Form Video Trends Marketers Can Capitalize On

Keeping up with short-form video trends can help your company increase profits and expand its market reach. Already, 30% of social media marketers are expected to raise their investments in short-form videos this year, for this type of content offers a better ROI than any other social media marketing campaign. Continue reading to learn about the greatest short-video trends you can apply to your marketing plan.

short form video trends

User-generated media is more trustworthy than traditional kinds of marketing as Individuals prefer to trust other users of similar items more than marketers. By incorporating user-generated content in your marketing efforts, your message will more likely be well-received, gaining valuable feedback and approval from fans of your brand.

  • Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Customers can locate brand or company information more easily with the help of FAQ videos. Making a summary of answers to the common questions asked by consumers—whether it’s about typical inquiries presented to your firm or broad industry concerns that people often seek solutions to—may help your audience’s purchase journey go more smoothly. 

A behind-the-scenes look into your company’s procedures may show customers that the products or services they support are made by people who work hard to deliver their orders with the best quality.

You can use many approaches when creating behind-the-brand clips, like a tour of your plant or a demonstration of how your goods are made. Blooper reels or team-building activities might also increase the value of your brand and, as a bonus, entertain your customers.

Product teasers efficiently generate excitement and interest within your customer base for your products. Because of the limitations of short-form videos, they make the perfect content to share just enough information about any of your upcoming brand projects. You can also easily get the word out about your business through these clips, as they can be highly shareable when produced right. 

Educational videos are an excellent approach to communicating difficult and sensitive subjects to a wide range of viewers. Prioritizing education in a social media strategy may help you generate more leads and strengthen your customer’s brand loyalty. If a well-made explainer clip is used, it can significantly influence the decision of those who are considering a purchase.

Additionally, making instructional materials accessible across your social media channels can pique your audience’s interest and encourage them to learn more about your company. It provides consumers the information they need to make an informed choice, helping your organization establish itself as the go-to resource for people who want to solve problems.

Stay Ahead of the Competition

Without video content, marketing initiatives are incomplete. There are many types and formats to choose from, but short-form clips are definitely one to look out for today! Brief as they may be, they are packed with the potential to grow your brand effectively by improving your online presence and getting your message out quicker.

Using short-form videos as part of your content marketing plan can help you reach a wider audience and better interact with people who already follow your business on social media. Making them is also fun since the creative possibilities are infinite! It’s a new way for marketers to be innovative, so now might be the best time to consider it if you haven’t already.

By understanding each platform and employing some of the techniques outlined above, you can interact with your audience on a more personal and enjoyable level. As a result, you’ll be getting stronger impressions, better engagement, and more conversions.

If you want top-notch assistance to enhance your marketing strategies, consulting with a digital marketing agency like Spiralytics to help you stay ahead of the competition.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can grow your brand online!

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