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Short vs. long, which form of content is better?

Short vs. long, which form of content is better?

We've seen a significant shift in the form of short content in recent years. This is primarily due to Tik Tok and its social media popularity. However, before introducing this new social media king, there has been a lot of talk regarding people's attention spans, particularly the infamous "Gen Z."

Even before Tik Tok, there was a massive trend of Vines, short and humorous videos that quickly grew in popularity. Afet Vines, the next big thing for short content forms was Snapchat.  Although it has been said that short content would eventually fully outpace long content, it is a fact that with every short content trend, long content has remained constant.


Which is which?

Most Tik Tok videos, memes, tweets, and so on are short-form content, while blogs and podcasts are more long-format content. Copy, tweets, short video shorts, or Tik Tok videos, all under 1000 words or 15 – 30 seconds, could be considered short content, depending on the format. On the other side, everything above it is regarded as long content.


So the question remains: is short content becoming a new dominant force on social media? Well… The answer is not straightforward; therefore, let us express our views.


How and when to use short content

Although there is a statement that this format requires little effort and is significantly less expensive to produce, there is, of course, a catch. Let's look at it from a different perspective. What do you think would be easier if we gave two persons the task of creating a piece of content, either in video or text style, where they had to explain a specific topic, one in a short format and the other in a long-form?


We know you have a great message to deliver, whether it's about your business, journey, or aspirations, but telling the entire story in just 15 seconds is difficult. We know from experience that both ways require a lot of effort, but you have less room to explain everything when developing short-form content without missing the point, what to say and what to keep out.


So, to make most of your short content, you must use it wisely. This form allows you to be straightforward, which is a great way to express a clear message. Also, if you're targeting a younger audience who consumes media content on their phones, this method is ideal because we presume they're looking for quick entertainment.


Although it has been said that short content would eventually fully outpace long content, it is a fact that with every short content trend, long content has remained constant.


How and when to use long content

Long content, on the other hand, should not be overlooked. When it comes to SEO, it is a much better option because Google often places it at the top of search results. Furthermore, it boosts conversion rates and, most significantly, establishes credibility, which encourages your audience to trust you. However, if there is one thing to keep in mind when developing long-form content, it is QUALITY! As the name implies, this type requires thorough investigation and understanding of the subject at hand.


Yes, everyone is watching Tik Tok videos, and we are not arguing that videos aren't entertaining. However, people still listen to 3-hour podcasts and read 1000–2000 word blogs because they bring value and quality. Consumers want entertainment but also wish for high-quality material that will benefit them. Short content, like Vines, comes and goes. Even Tik Tok, which started with 15–30 second videos, is now stretching its length to 60 seconds.


How do we do it?

After hearing everything we've stated, you're probably wondering which option is best for you. We integrate both versions depending on the customer, its market, and the subject at hand. We done long form content such as blogs, which you are reading right now, but also we have experience with shorter video formats, both for Instagram and Facebook.


Don't be a stranger and contact us if you need help deciding which strategy is appropriate for you.

Author:

inspiracija.com

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