Is Short Form Content Automatically Less Valuable?
Marketers often debate whether long form or content is better. Some of short content’s harshest critics of concise content go as far as to say that social media trends represent some kind of “dumbing down” of our culture. Aside from being close-minded, this is simply a flat-out ineffective way of looking at message sharing. There’s a time and place for all kinds of content — long and short, simple and complex, you name it.
Cut to the Chase!
In a world where content is coming at you from all directions, all the time, in so many forms, many people value content that is direct and to the point. Give a clear take away, a powerful call to action, or a reason to pay attention and your audience will be happy. Sharing good ideas in a concise way makes them easy to digest — which is precisely why a good pithy tweet can be so unforgettable.
If You Want to Know, Ask
On the fence about short versus long form content? It’s never a bad idea to start with your customers. Understand what they are looking for and how they are using content relating to your product or service. If your audience shows a need for an occasional in-depth discussion about your area of expertise, then a long form article every now and then is totally appropriate. But most of the time, you will find that what your audience is really looking for is a quick and easy solution to their problems — and your online marketing efforts should focus on the fact that you solve those problems, not on the nitty gritty details of how you solve them.
It All Adds Up
According to an article in SEJ, short form content is more likely to receive social shares. Want to spread your message far and wide? Keep things short and sweet, and trust that lots of short, smart posts across a range of different social media platforms have a cumulative effect. Don’t discount the value of a Instagram caption, a catchy Facebook post, or a to-the-point LInkedIN story.
Time is an Important Factor When Considering ROI
If you are doing your own content marketing in-house, then you already know that short form content is more affordable to produce — even the stuff you write yourself consumes your most valuable personal resource, time. If your goals are to attract new customers, generate leads, and get the word out about your product or service, then consistent, more frequent short form content offers the most bang for your marketing buck.
Let Us Help!
Excited by what you could accomplish with short form content? Get in touch with Scotch and Ramen to learn more about maximizing your return without breaking the bank or spending all your spare time writing content that isn’t doing much for your bottom line.
Originally published at www.scotchandramen.com.
