If you want to bear virtual witness to life’s many wonders and absurdities, short-form video is where it’s at. And for aspiring creators or performers, learning how to harness the power of this content is a great way to connect with your audience and grow your brand. Want to be the next viral sensation? Let’s dive into the short, sweet, and often silly world of short-form videos.
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How long is a short-form video?
These videos can range anywhere between a few seconds and a few minutes long, and usually they stand at five to 90 seconds.
What kind of content is best for short-form video?
- Behind the scenes (BTS): an invitation backstage, off-camera, or to the nitty-gritty of the production process, such as this look at the creation of the robot doll’s dance in “M3gan” from FilMonger:
- Challenges: various dares, dances, or tasks, such as the #celebritylookalike challenge done by Eli (@doosheli):
@doosheli Who is my celebrity lookalike?
♬ son original - ???????? ???????????????????? • 歌
- Get ready with me (GRWM): an inside peek at a creator’s life through the lens of their daily routines, such as this one by model Sara Sampaio (@sarasampaio):
View this post on Instagram
- Point of view (POV): filmed from the point of view of the creator—or sometimes a fictionalized perspective, like this one about being a newbie theater kid by Tyler Joseph Ellis (@tylerjosephellis):
@tylerjosephellis just looking out for the freshies ???? #fyp #foryou #comedy #theatrekid #theaterkid #broadway #actor #highschool ♬ original sound - Tyler Joseph Ellis
- Reactions: genuine responses to outside content, as exemplified by much of the content produced by deadpan reaction king Khaby Lame (@khaby.lame0996):
@khaby.lame0996 khaby.lame reaction video❤ #viral #khabylame #foryou #foryoupage #fypシ゚viral #usa #usa_tiktok #usa???????? #usarmy @nyc40000 @khaby.lame @funwith.family @usabasketball ♬ 原聲 - bbyy
- Sketches: short, highly shareable funny scenes or skits, often featuring exaggerated characters and strong finishes like this one by Brooke Averick (@ladyefron):
@ladyefron “How’d everything work out for you today” my a$$
♬ Elevator Music - Bohoman
- Tutorials: how-to guides and life hacks that teach skills and solve problems, like this one in which Emily Kessler (@emilymeditates) walks viewers through a calming technique:
@emilymeditates How do you feel? ???? save this for later + share it with a friend. Find many more short guided practices in a playlist on my profile ???? #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussustemhealing #fightorflightorfreeze #fightorflight ♬ What Was I Made For (Piano) - T I H H
How to make a short-form video
Learn more from these articles on how to create and post attention-grabbing instant-gratification content on various short-form platforms.
- How to Make Instagram Reels in 5 Steps
- Understanding Instagram’s Algorithm: How to Make Sure Your Content Is Seen
TikTok
YouTube
Short social media videos are the most popular type of content out there today. Ninety percent of consumers watch it in their free time, with an engagement rate 250% higher than that of long-form videos. It’s not hard to see why: Short-form videos are versatile, easy to create, and prioritized by algorithms, making it easier to go viral and just maybe have your big break. They allow you to:
- Connect with viewers: Because we reportedly have goldfish-like attention spans lasting eight seconds these days—four seconds shorter than when the “mobile revolution” began in the year 2000—brief clips are a great way to catch viewer attention and increase engagement.
- Go viral: Users are more likely to share concise, catchy content (that 250% engagement rate is no joke!), increasing your chances of going viral. You could be the next Drew Afualo (@drewafualo), Andrew Bachelor (@kingbach), or Tefi Pessoa (@hellotefi), who were all able to turn TikTok notoriety into mainstream success.
- Save money: Long gone are the days of creating major budgets for each video posted; short-form videos take less time and resources.
- Gauge audience response: You can quickly assess audience response and respond accordingly.
How to Make an #ActingChallenge TikTok 1. Plan it out, but leave room for creativity.
“Map out talking points, but omit a formal script,” advises social media strategist Alex Cattoni (@AlexCattoni). “Remember, you want your videos to feel flowy and conversational, not forced and scripted.”
“When planning what I want to post, I brainstorm ideas, write them down in my notes app, and then I start recording,” says actor and content creator Maggie Bera (@maggiebera). “I’m more likely to stay creative when I act on impulse quickly!”
2. Grab viewers’ attention immediately.
The secret to ensuring viewers watch your entire video? “Grab attention with a hook right away—whether it’s humor, a bold statement, or something visually striking,” Bera says. “The first three seconds are crucial to making people stop scrolling.”
“You have to say something crazy in the first three seconds,” said short-form video phenom Megan Boni (@girl_on_couch) in an interview with Philly Mag. And she should know: Her satirical short—“I’m looking for a man in finance, with a trust fund, 6'5", blue eyes”—went viral nearly instantly, landing her a music deal with Universal and multiple brand collaborations.
3. Use the funnel method to grow your audience.
The more views and followers you get at the beginning, the better; from there, encourage deeper audience engagement by leaning into your specific talents and style.
Cattoni recommends using the funnel method, or starting with “ideas that typically appeal to a broader audience… content that draws in the most amount of people, usually because it’s controversial, maybe a little quirky or enlightening, or it challenges a common belief.” This gets viewers to follow or share your video and increase your reach. Once you’ve amassed a decent following by addressing these broad topics with mass appeal, post more pointed content to “get them to further engage with you and your brand,” she says.
4. Optimize your content.
“Get online and see what kinds of hooks and headlines are getting high engagement,” Cattoni says. “Brainstorm ways that you can piggyback on those concepts with your content.” Leverage popular audio and visuals and participate in trending challenges and hashtags to increase discoverability.
5. Keep it simple.
“It’s easy to overcomplicate things. Don’t try to do too much in one video,” Bera says. “I focus on relatable content that sparks a strong response, usually something funny that people feel like they want to share with their friends. The algorithm loves that!”
6. Don’t be afraid to pivot.
Lip-syncer Ariel Rebecca Martin (@babyariel) began posting her videos on the now-defunct Musical.ly. When it transformed into TikTok as we know it today, she didn’t hesitate to adapt as well by adding insights into her personal life, GRWM videos, and other types of content. Similarly, influencer Larri Merritt (@larrayeeee) went from Vine popularity to YouTube and TikTok success after the former was discontinued.
7. Avoid burnout.
“Every YouTuber and creator is always like, ‘Post frequently, post religiously,’ but I’ve always posted when I wanted to,” Merritt told Elite Daily. “I think my subscribers really appreciate that. A lot of creators do get burned out quickly because they want to post weekly, but I’m a strong believer in quality over quantity.”
8. Showcase your authenticity.
“Trends can boost visibility, but I will always stand by the thought that originality is what makes people want to follow you,” Bera says. “My most viral content is always my most original!”
Merritt similarly finds that being his authentic self helped his content take off. “My content creator journey started with me finding myself in high school,” he said. “I saw a lot of creators who were a part of the LGBTQ+ community who were posting, being themselves, and just having fun with it…. I was obsessed with how they were so happy, youthful, and living their best lives, so I tried making content.”