There is only one side in the video content war between short and long forms. 

It’s a proven method to increase customer and prospect engagement by creating videos. 

It is not about whether to use shorter-form or longer-form videos to promote your brand. 

Definitions: Short-form vs. Long-form video content

It is easy to tell the difference between short-form and long-form videos. Short-form videos tend to be shorter while videos with longer durations can be long-lasting.

Short-form videos usually last less than 10 minutes, while long-form videos can take up to 10 minutes.

Social media users love short-form videos. This format can be used on other channels as well. Target, for example, uses it to promote its products via Instagram.

More videos will be displayed on a website or YouTube than on a business’s YouTube channel. Wistia, a video, and podcasting company, uses long-form videos to inform its audience about the costs of video production.

Video marketing: A brief history

Video is a popular medium to build relationships with viewers.

YouTube was a dating site in 2005.

YouTube is a great example of how to combine long and short videos. You must know how many people have watched the videos.

YouTube’s shorts feature limits video length to 60 seconds. This was done to compete against short-form giants such as TikTok or Instagram.

Creators and businesses can now share short and long content via YouTube.

Because there are so many video marketing channels, your strategy should be flexible.

You cannot choose between short-form or long-form videos if you want your content strategy to be successful in 2022. Both short-form, as well as long-form videos, can be used in your content strategy. 

Continue reading for more information about the various types of video content and how you can use them to grow your business.

5 factors to consider when choosing between short-form or long-form video content

How do you know when to use short-form and long-form video content? There’s a lot to consider.

1. Your audience

You can read the articles on which video type to use but it is up to your audience to choose between short- or long-form videos.

YouTube might not be able to display long-form videos well. Videos that are longer than 10 minutes may get more engagement on social media. However, YouTube might not be able to display long-form videos well. This is perfectly acceptable.

You must get your viewers to like your videos, no matter how long they are.

Kobe Digital has achieved success with many video lengths. We ensure that the content is appropriate for our audience.

The main, long-form video was then split into smaller segments. You can learn more about particular subject areas and share teaser videos through social media.

This series was a huge success and shows that you don’t need to use a specific length of the video to succeed.

Look back at your past videos and take note of their length. To get people’s attention, you should make shorter videos.

It doesn’t matter if you have to keep your video to a certain length. You can choose what’s most effective for your audience.

2. What is the purpose of your video?

It’s easier to determine what your video should accomplish. Are you looking for a compelling story to inspire your audience, or to showcase your product? 

It is easier to decide the style, format, and budget of your video.

You can reverse-engineer your videos and determine how long it takes for you to achieve your goals.

3. Type of video

The video you choose greatly influences its length.

An educational tutorial on how to install a sink can take more time than listening to customer testimonials. 

This is not ideal.

These videos are great in a longer format:

• Documentaries (ex. Content Marketing Institute’s The Story Of Content: Rise of New Marketing

• Event videos (ex. AtlanticLIVE’s Event Coverage

• Tutorial videos (ex. Home Depot’s tile installation tutorial)

These videos are great in a brief format:

• Product videos (ex. Dyson’s Lightcycle Moph feature
• Culture videos (ex. Our Best Workplace in PA recap

These lists are meant to be a guide, but not definitive. Home Depot is an example. You can find tutorials that last longer than 10 minutes on their YouTube channel.

The purpose and complexity of the content will affect the length of the video.

4. Your budget

The budget element might be the easiest among the five discussed in this blog post.

A longer video will have a higher production cost.

If you are looking to hire a professional video marketing team to create a 20-minute documentary about your company’s history, you will need to be prepared to invest substantial amounts.

Video clips are not all that you pay for. This includes the time and effort needed to edit the footage.

You should consider the time and cost of creating a finished product, even if your videos are managed in-house.

If you don’t have the budget for a professionally-produced masterpiece, use the tools in your pocket–literally.

You can capture amazing footage with your smartphone. You can trim or add effects to your video on some social media platforms.

User-generated videos are the best way for social media to succeed.

5. Your marketing channels

Wherever you share your videos, it has a major impact on whether or not you select short-form and long-form video content.

It is possible to break the status quo of content type for a marketing campaign, but only if it works.

Some platforms limit the length of your videos.

These platforms don’t allow you to upload long-form video content.

The platform’s features limit the videos that you use to promote your ads.

Before you start thinking about how long your videos should be, you need to research the platforms where you intend to share them.

Don’t invest in a video that isn’t working where it’s needed

Our team of marketers can assist you with your research and video creation.

You can play with different lengths of the video until your favorite one is. You have the option to adjust your video until it reaches its best.

This doesn’t mean that one type of video is better than another. Video marketing strategies must be adaptable to people’s viewing habits to maximize their impact.