Short-Form Videos: Why They’re Important & How to Leverage Them to Grow Your Brand

Recently, short-form videos have taken over social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels.

We bet that if you're an average internet user, you've definitely already watched a good number of them. 

They are easily recognized: Usually between 15 and 60 seconds long, they are captured on mobile phones in portrait mode.

Brands should think about utilizing these brief video formats since people are more likely to watch videos than view images or text. 

Users with short attention spans are also catered to by short-form videos, and since these platforms already have a wide range of editing capabilities, marketers can simply create original and captivating content.

In this post, we'll talk about short-form videos and the most widely used platforms for them.

What Is a Short-Form Video?

Any video that is 2 minutes and 30 seconds or less is considered a short-form video. 

But there are a ton of common lengths to investigate inside that time range.

However, there are a lot of lengths and restrictions to try within this short time frame to determine the optimal duration for your short-form video. 

For illustration, a short-form video on Twitter can go on for up to 2:20. 

Videos of 60 seconds in length can be made on TikTok and Triller. 

It's even shorter on Instagram Reels, with 30-second only.

Despite the fact that all durations are regarded as short-form, every platform has its own set of suggestions. 

For instance, a two-minute video on YouTube may seem extremely brief, whereas a video on Instagram may seem much longer.

How Can Short-Form Videos Be Useful?

They can be helpful to leverage in various locations, depending on the subject of your short-form video. 

It's reasonable to say that short-form video may succeed on practically any social media channel you have access to, as well as on your website. 

However, some subjects might do better on particular platforms. A funny and inventive video can be the ideal type of media for TikTok or Instagram. 

It will not go with LinkedIn's more formal preferences though. 

Although a product demo may significantly boost the value of a product landing page, it might not be appropriate for TikTok.

Short-Form Content Platforms

Let’s now take a look at the most important short-form video platforms out there.

TikTok 

With 800 million users globally, Gen Z and Millennial users make up the majority of TikTok's user base. 

A brief, looping video in the TikTok style frequently uses humor or displays ability. 

While choreographed dances and hashtag challenges frequently top the TikTok charts, brands can also include informative, instructional, and promotional content in their videos. 

The 10-minute limit on TikTok videos gives producers adequate time to carry out a vision.

It was initially limited to 60 seconds but changed earlier this year.

Additionally, the platform offers a wide variety of integrated editing tools, filter effects, and creativity prompts. 

TikTok also has a substantial sound collection and, because of its collaboration with Sony Music, provides a wide variety of musical options.

Additionally, marketers have a variety of ad types to select from, including branded takeovers, hashtag challenges, effects, and in-feed advertisements. 

TikTok's in-feed advertising has a high minimum ad spend, which might not be affordable for all businesses.

Influencer marketing, or collaborating with an influencer to market your brand's goods and services, allows brands to pursue a more cost-effective strategy. 

For a wider audience, marketers can cross-post their TikTok films on websites like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

By reaching out to younger audiences, marketers who opt to establish a TikTok presence will have a competitive advantage.

Instagram Reels 

With 1 billion users globally, Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X users make up the majority of Instagram's user base. 

Reels are a relatively recent addition to the platform, and they follow a similar style to TikToks in that they are brief videos that may have music, effects, and several segments.

Reels' maximum movie duration is only 60 seconds, though. 

Reels may be better at grabbing and holding audiences' attention as a result. 

The caption limit is another significant distinction between Reels and TikTok: users on Reels have a caption limit of 2,200 characters, but on TikTok, the caption limit is 100 characters.

Reels, on the other hand, have a lot more text space than TikToks, allowing businesses to be a lot more descriptive in their descriptions.

Reels are a tool that marketers can use to make behind-the-scenes movies, inform users about their products and services, and collaborate with influencers to market their brands. 

Additionally, Instagram offers companies additional alternatives for collaborations due to its more established influencer presence than many other platforms.

Snapchat

The majority of Snapchat's 249 million global users are members of Generation Z and Millennials. 

Snapchat users utilize the app to stay up to date with their friends, current events, and popular culture. 

Users can capture pictures and videos and upload them as Stories, which are accessible for 24 hours to view. A Snapchat video can last for up to 60 seconds.

Brands can create sponsored lenses for augmented reality (AR) and sponsored filters for users to use as advertising alternatives. 

The Discover tab, which features Snapchat-specific material based on users' subscriptions and interests, is another place where they can highlight their work. 

In-Story ads, video ads, and advertisements that display within the platform's selected content are all examples of video-based ad formats. 

Additionally, there is no predetermined minimum ad spend requirement, making Snapchat advertising an affordable and flexible choice for marketers and their budgets.

Snapchat has the most sophisticated AR filters and features of any platform, including item detection, 3D environment interactions, and more.

YouTube Shorts

With 2 billion users globally, Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X users make up the majority of YouTube viewers.

However, as the official Shorts feature is still in testing, it's difficult to predict how well-liked this format will be. 

YouTube's "Shorts camera" format enables users to record videos with their cell phone up to 15 seconds long and with the opportunity to record numerous clips. 

Additionally, Shorts Camera is experimenting with a multi-segment camera to enable combining numerous clips, the ability to record music, speed settings to allow for creative control over the video, and a timer and countdown to enable hands-free recording.

All creators are permitted to publish brief vertical movies that are up to 60 seconds long as long as they use the hashtag #Shorts in the title or description.

The fact that YouTube has the greatest worldwide demography of all the platforms mentioned here is one of its main advantages.

It will be interesting to watch how this format fares on a worldwide scale and whether people decide to stick with TikTok for their short-form videos.

How Short-Form Video Can Help Your Brand

Any content strategy must include video content in some capacity, and short-form content is increasingly important to that strategy.

Let’s take a look at how short-form videos can help your brand succeed.

Higher Engagement

Including short-form video in your social media strategy makes sense given that 81% of marketers cite video as their preferred content type for growing audience awareness and engagement. 

There is no disputing that video has far higher engagement, reach, and better click-through rates than other content forms like articles, stories, and videos, for almost all of our customers. 

It will boost engagement and help you become more visible to your current audience (and beyond). 

Sounds like a win-win situation!

Appeals to the Shorter Attention Spans

Our cell phones and social media feeds make it simple to swiftly switch to anything else since our attention spans in today's society are getting shorter and shorter. 

Keep your writing succinct, focused, and entertaining if you want it to get viewed. 

Both Instagram Reels and TikTok videos are only 15 seconds long, giving users just enough time to get a quick peek at your company and make an impression without wasting their valuable time.

It’s What Your Audience Wants

Ipsos Global Advisor Survey results show that 53% of millennials watch online short-form videos every day, and that number is steadily rising. 

Platforms like TikTok are experiencing tremendous growth in both user counts and engagement periods; the typical UK user spends 66 minutes per day on the app. 

Short-form video is one of the finest methods to connect with your audience where they are online.

Easier Way to Demonstrate Your Product

Have you ever attempted to explain your product to a consumer both in person and through a social media post? 

What was simpler for you? 

Short-form video content on social media and your website is the way to go because it is frequently simpler to explain a product or service in person than to try to do so through textual content.

The vast majority of individuals (94%) who watch explainer films to learn more about a product ultimately make a purchase (84%), according to HubSpot data. 

Also, it's not only about tangible products. 

Eight out of ten people claim to have bought a piece of software or an app as a result of a video. 

Why wouldn't you invest in a short-form video to describe your offerings if the numbers don't lie?

Builds Trust For Your Brand

Given that customers can actually see and hear about a company's products through videos, this allows companies to engage with their audiences more personally. 

And people are considerably more likely to trust a company or somebody when they feel like they know them better. 

Branded short-form video marketing is more successful when it includes actual people, whether it be users offering testimonials or introducing the people behind the company, despite the fact that it may seem contradictory for brands to post personal videos.

Increases Your SEO Score

Video has enormous advantages for website optimization, not just for your Gen Z and Millennial viewers. 

The more you can do to make yourself stand out in Google's search results, to rank higher than your rivals, and to help users find what they're looking for (and convert!), the better.

Adding video content is a simple method to improve your SEO strategy today. 

One keyword per video, include videos that are targeted to the keywords you want to increase your Google rankings for, and then optimize these videos with top-notch metadata (data about the video), such as titles, descriptions, and captions.

Boosts Sales and Conversions

We are aware of the demand for video content among your audience and the role that video plays in building customer trust. 

However, does that actually result in a sale or conversion? 

Research from HubSpot indicates that 80% of marketers who used video saw an increase in sales. 

Therefore, the answer is yes; short-form video content can assist you in effectively showcasing your product and driving sales by quickly turning casual viewers into potential clients.

Tips for Excellent Short-Form Video

Now that you are aware of the necessity for beginning video production, it is time for us to demonstrate how. 

Here are five tips to help you create excellent short videos.

Keep It Informal

The audience will see right through flashy brand graphics and written sentences at this point and become rapidly bored. 

Maintain a true, unscripted, and natural tone. 

Short-form videos thrive in situations like these. 

Understanding the genuine character, purpose, and actions of your business will be crucial to ensuring that your content doesn't come across as stuffy or outmoded.

Leverage The Platform

The finest videos for mobile content are those created on a phone. 

Videos made on the TikTok app are preferred by TikTok, those made on the IG app are preferred by IG Reels, and so on. 

You increase your chances of appearing on an explore page, expanding your reach, and attracting new followers by generating your content on the app you wish to advertise it on.

Keep a Firm Eye on Trends

In addition to assisting you in producing content that viewers desire to see, following trends can assist the social media platform in giving your content top priority. 

If it works for your company, try something a little more silly, like this sports nutritionist, or use a popular song or audio clip as your background music.

Current Trends for Short-Form Video

Here’re some examples of the ongoing trends for the short-form video.

Make Use of User-Generated Content (UGC)

Do you use content created by users? 

If you don’t, then you have to use it! 

User-generated content can serve as favorable reviews and is thought to be more reliable than internal content. 

It also gives your feed more diversity and intrigue.

You can cooperate with your closest followers to develop stuff you can both use if you don't already have any user-generated content available. 

People that promote your product with excitement can boost brand loyalty, encourage product referrals, and assist you in finding other potential social influencers to expand the reach of your business.

Although user-generated content can't be managed as well as internal content, it's where innovation and creativity flourish! 

Allow your team to use their creativity to produce something you could never do on your own.

Fun and Educational Videos

The ideal short-form video for companies that can't release funny videos is one that combines entertainment and knowledge. 

Consider B2B firms, software providers, or any other industry that requires a higher level of professionalism. 

Professional, however, should not be dull or obsolete!

Your followers probably have a keen interest in your sector. 

It's easy to assume that providing tutorials or step-by-step guides pertaining to your sector will make for interesting content.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

FAQs may make excellent short-form video content, while not precisely being a trend. 

They could play a big role in the rising popularity of voice search among consumers today. 

Brands can build a list of frequently asked questions and make a little video for each one. 

These brief movies can then be posted on a company's website, Google My Business page, or YouTube.

Behind-the-Scene Videos

Today's consumers look for brands that are transparent and honest. 

They are highly skilled at figuring out whether a video appeals to their emotions or is only there for commercial gain. 

Behind-the-scenes videos are a short-form video trend that today's online audiences find particularly compelling. 

Brands can introduce their CEOs to their target market or highlight the team behind their products. 

After viewing the CEOs of a business in short-form video content on social media sites, around 70% of customers felt more bonded to that brand. 

As a result, it may lift the management veil and interact with the audience on a more intimate level.

Shoppable Videos

The same thing that we have seen for some time in images, but in a video. 

When you watch a movie, which is typically an advertisement, you can click on the objects displayed to make a direct purchase. 

In the coming years, we might be headed in the direction of all these interactive videos that require active participation from the viewer.

Final Thoughts

If done correctly, a short-form video approach can help you expand your brand today. 

Short-form video is a fantastic method to increase brand exposure in social media circles, but if you don't know what you're doing, you might not get the growth you're hoping for.

These are just some of the best short-form video tactics that you can put to use. You'll create top-notch marketing videos if you embrace them.

And if you need help creating your short-form videos, CFClips can help.

There are countless options to pick from and numerous ways to tailor your short video for a certain social media strategy, producing short-form videos from scratch or even from long videos is a burden for any content creator out there.

We at CFClips are committed to handling this daunting task for you because of this.

Check our website for more information about how we can help you scale your brand using short-form videos.