Last Updated on April 8, 2025 by admin
In the 2024 HubSpot State of Marketing Report, we found that short-form video is king. It‘s the top format marketers are using, and it’s set to grow the most in 2024.In the 2024 HubSpot State of Marketing Report, we found that short-form video is king. It‘s the top format marketers are using, and it’s set to grow the most in 2024. No surprise there — short-form videos are everywhere. With Google and other popular platforms boosting their short-form content, how can you tap into this trend to grow your business? And what trends should you watch for in the coming year? In this post, I’ll share advice from video marketing experts. Read on to discover how to make short-form video content work hard for your brand. Table of Contents What are short-form videos? Why use short-form video? How do short-form videos fit into your content strategy? Short-form Video Content Strategy Short-form Video Trends to Look Out For Short-form Video Best Practices Takeaways for Video Marketers Best Platforms for Short-Form Videos Brandon Sanders, former digital marketer for HubSpot Academy, notes that the definition of short-form can vary by platform. With the rise of TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, “short-form video is actually getting shorter, leaning towards 60-second to two-minute videos,” Sanders explains. Before YouTube Shorts, the 10-minute mark was the “sweet spot because content on YouTube tends to be more comprehensive.” But now, you’re limited to 60 seconds if you want to be featured in Shorts. According to our 2024 State of Marketing Report, opinions on the optimal length for marketing videos vary: 36% of video marketers believe the sweet spot is one to three minutes, 27% prefer four to six minutes, and 15% think seven to nine minutes is best. Regardless of the duration, one thing’s clear: shorter videos really are the star of 2024 marketing trends. Why use short-form video? People are short on time, but that doesn’t take away their desire for content. They want it — just faster. Here’s how investing in short videos can impact your business: High Engagement Rates We’ve all heard about the shrinking attention span. And with various studies supporting it, it’s fair to say short-form is the way to go. During my time at Videowise, I discovered that one client had over 250,000 videos watched on their site. Each visitor spent an average of 1 minute and 40 seconds watching these short-form videos, adding up to 5,800+ hours of total viewing time. Impressive, right? Enhanced Brand Recall Concise, multisensory video content is a game-changer because it sticks with you. By blending visual, auditory, and textual elements, these videos tap into multiple cognitive channels, making the information more memorable. I’ve noticed that these videos grab attention effortlessly, engaging our brain’s intuitive and quick processing networks. The result? A richer, more engaging experience that’s hard to ignore. Frequent exposure and repetition of brand elements further solidify brand recall. Increased Reach and Visibility I strongly believe that social media platform algorithms favor short-form content, pushing it out to a broader audience. Just look at the latest features — YouTube’s Shorts, Meta’s post-loop ads, and Reels, or even the entire premise of TikTok. They’re all about quick, engaging content. Another reason is shareability. The brevity of shorter videos makes them perfect for social sharing and boosting brand awareness. Influencer Vipasha Malhotra shared her experience with The Economic Times, confirming this preference: “If I get 10,000 views on long-form YouTube videos, I receive 500,000 views on Shorts. Even on Instagram, my reels typically get over 100,000 views on average.” Higher ROI According to our survey, short-form videos have the highest return on investment (ROI), outperforming other marketing trends. This isn’t surprising when you consider consumer preferences. Your audience craves quick, effective access to useful information, and short-form content delivers just that. From my experience, investing in short-form video has always paid off by meeting this demand and driving higher returns. How do short-form videos fit into your content strategy? HubSpot’s Marketing Trends Report for 2024 found that short-form video is the top leveraged media format in marketers’ content strategies. We already know video content is increasingly essential for every brand’s content marketing strategy. However, when we look at short-form video specifically, the data (gathered from the HubSpot 2024 State of Marketing) speak for themselves: Short-form ranks #1 for ROI. 56% of marketers using TikTok will increase their investment next year. 25% of marketers plan to invest more in short-form video in 2024. 30% of marketers who aren’t currently using short-form videos plan to start in 2024. Short-form videos offer a unique way to showcase content. Sanders notes, “The growth of social media is shortening human attention spans. Leveraging short-form content will give you a competitive edge and engage your audience.” Aside from length, one thing that sets short-form videos apart is the trend culture. On TikTok, for instance, viral songs, trends, and challenges dominate. To get on the “For You” page, brands must join the fun. TikTok and similar apps are also influenced by AI, offering tools like AI-narrated voices and the Creative Assistant. As with any new trend or platform, former HubSpot Senior Content Strategist Amanda Zantal-Wiener says you should always consider your audience first: “It all goes back to an ancient question: Which channels are your audiences using and for what? And therefore, for which channels does it make the most sense for your business to create this short-form content?” This means that while short-form video is known for its entertainment value, you can adapt it to align with your brand. If you consider your audience and sufficiently prep for your short-form videos, there’s no trend you can’t tackle in 2024. Short-form Video Content Strategy A short-form video content strategy is a well-thought-out plan aimed at leveraging the power of brief, engaging videos (typically under 60 seconds) to achieve specific marketing goals. It covers creating, distributing, and analyzing video content to make the most impact. Here’s how to create a robust short-form video content