It should come as no surprise that Google has started to favour videos in its search results. Market research shows that approximately 96% of consumers have watched a video to learn about a service or product. Video shorts are also incredibly popular on social media, as evidenced by the massive success of TikTok, which boasts over one billion active users worldwide.
If you want to keep up with your competition and attract new customers, video shorts should be a part of your digital marketing strategy. Not sure where to start? Here’s everything you need to know about video shorts on social media, their value, and how to make shorts that have an impact on your viewers.
The Value of Video Shorts in Online Marketing
A study by Microsoft found that the human attention span has dropped to just eight seconds. Many people have developed a strong preference for short-form videos. That means long-winded ads will likely become less and less effective as years go by.
Of course, shorter attention spans are just one of the many reasons why they’re so popular. These videos are also a great way for businesses to showcase their products, share information, connect with their audience, and personalise their brand, especially on social media.
YouTube vs Facebook vs Instagram vs TikTok Shorts
Social media is a valuable tool for any modern business. Platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok can help you promote your products while connecting with customers. One of the best ways to do this is through video shorts. All of these platforms allow you to post shorts, but they have their own rules, restrictions, and advantages.
Here are a few things you should know about these social media platforms before creating shorts for them.
- YouTube: YouTube offers its users a lot of control, as they can easily select “Do Not Recommend This Channel” to adjust their feed. That said, people can also use YouTube Premium to remove ads, which may not be ideal for your brand.
- Facebook: Like YouTube shorts, Facebook reels have a maximum time of 60 seconds. Facebook also makes it very easy to add music and effects to your reels.
- Instagram: When it comes to video shorts, Instagram is pretty similar to TikTok. The main difference is that TikTok has a three-minute maximum time and Instagram has a 90-second maximum time.
- TikTok: TikTok has the best usability, in part because the platform is centred almost entirely on short-form video content. It also offers lots of great tools, such as stitching, live videos, reacting, and filters.
How to Make a Great Video Short
If you don’t have a marketing agency to make video shorts for you, don’t worry. You can plan out your own stories. Just remember that you have a very limited amount of time to catch a viewer’s attention. Everything needs to be quick and attention-grabbing while still being coherent, informative, and appropriate for your brand.
You can seriously enhance your search engine marketing (SEM) and pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns with video shorts. With this advertising model, the advertiser only pays when people interact with their ad.
Include Shorts in Your PPC Campaigns
These ads are very cost-effective and help you to reach your target audience. Google has recently allowed advertisers to include video shorts in their PPC ad campaigns, which could prove to be a very effective investment.
Not sure how to proceed? Contact our digital marketing agency! We’re a trusted local SEO company for businesses in need of digital marketing in Sydney and beyond. Our experienced team can assist you with SEO, web dev, PPC campaigns, and much more.