Why is short-form video so popular?

Why is short-form video so popular?  It’s a top choice for lots of viewers.  Read on to see how you can leverage it as a creator to satisfy your audience.

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While this form of content is popular, make the most of it.  Alongside the gains of short-form videos, develop skills.  These equip you in better content creation and reaching set goals.

I’m primarily a blogger, but started vlogging more recently.  I create original Instagram Reels.  It took me years to take the leap into videos. 

Shorter content has numerous gains, both for the creator and their audience.  I initially started making reels to diversify my traffic sources.  In the process, I found an enjoyable activity that I look forward to.

What is short-form video content?

Short vlogging content is often in the form of Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts.  They’ve been popular for a while, even a few years already.  

Short-form video length is interesting.  These videos normally last a few seconds.  Duration can vary, depending on your post relevance and specific platforms.

Most of my reels last 5 seconds (although 3 minutes is the longest possible).  Talking reels and voiceovers normally need enough time to convey my message effectively. 

Short-form vs long-form

Short-form vs long-form video content durations vary; however, short content is often most preferred.  Long-form is best on YouTube.  People go there with the intention to spend time.  On Instagram and TikTok, things move faster and work best that way.

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Short content pros and cons

While the value of short-form cannot be underestimated, there are pros and cons.  I’ll highlight both sides of the coin for creators.  I’ll also illustrate the same for audiences generally.

Creator side of the story

Pros

1. I started on a budget, no gear.  Lighting, audio, and editing aren’t complicated.  There are free ways for beginners.
2. Instagram and TikTok adore short-form.  The algorithms tend to show such content to new audiences.  It’s a great opportunity to go viral and grow your account.
3. They’re quick and easy to create.  I record my b-roll footages anytime.  Using my phone makes things easy.
4. Viewers tend to welcome a few-second video more than several minutes.
5. Everyone tends to prefer them, especially the younger generation.
6. Using what’s trending often makes things work best.  Just keep up with the new features and use them.  For me, following Instagram’s Creators account is handy.

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Cons

1. It can feel limiting to express yourself.  For example, I tried a 5-second voice-over, which wasn’t the best idea.  Certain storytelling even takes several minutes, not just 3 minutes.
2. While reels are easy to create, everyone’s doing them.  They’re therefore competitive.
3. A few seconds of content suit trending visibility.  After a few hours or days, they’re gone from the feed.  You need to create new videos almost every day.
4. You can get penalised by platform algorithms.  The dependency is a drawback.  You don’t own your audience on social media, in any case.
5. It’s often more difficult to monetize in a few seconds.  It takes more time to pitch your own product or service.  The same goes for affiliate marketing.

Creator’s audience side

Pros

1. Complex learning can be broken into smaller chunks for easier assimilation.  For example, several 3-minute videos are better than a single 30-minute video.
2. Fun and entertaining content is more desirable.  Don’t bore your audience necessarily as time is precious.
3. Scrolling their feeds, your audience can discover lots of interesting accounts quickly.  A few-seconds videos are easier than having to go through long ones for this purpose.
4. Quickly browse new content and find the right ones to watch fully.  This saves time.
5. It’s a convenient format to discover products and services.

Cons

1. The habit of consuming short-form videos affects attention spans.  As humans, we’re worse than goldfish, it’s often said.
2. Scrolling for hours can be addictive.  Family time can be compromised.
3. It can be counterproductive and lead to procrastination.
4. The younger generation can struggle to enjoy reading books.
5. Shorts can be confusing to viewers, especially when not comprehensive enough, created in a lack of time.

How to make short-form videos, you ponder?  If you’re new, vlogging can seem impossible.  I thought so too.  However, once I started, it’s easier.

What’s better with short content, you don’t have to be perfect.  Look at Instagram Reels or TikTok.  Creators embrace their imperfections, and their followers accept that.

Start vlogging in a few steps.  Take your phone, record, and post.  It’s that simple to start, and you can improve on it over time. 

Conclusion 

Short-form video content is often most preferred.  Although it has its pros and cons, it’s valued.  Leverage this format whenever relevant, for the better.

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