Why Every Small Business Should Create Short Form Content

Read all the way through this blog post to learn everything you’ll need to make content for your business! It’s time to start and you will thank yourself for taking this first step! Some questions we’ll answer are:

What is short form content for a business?
Why should I use short form content to grow my business?
How much does it cost to launch a social media platform?
What do I need to be a social media content creator?

What is short form content for a business?

In simple terms, it refers to concise, bite-sized pieces of information that businesses create to captivate and engage their target audience.
Short form content comes in various formats, such as social media posts, blog posts, infographics, videos, and podcasts. The key characteristic of this type of content is its brevity.
One of the primary advantages of short form content is its ability to quickly grab attention and leave a lasting impact. With shrinking attention spans and information overload, businesses need to communicate their message effectively within a limited timeframe.

With the rise of social media platforms, people are more inclined to share content that resonates with them. Brief, impactful content has proven to be highly shareable, helping businesses expand their reach and increase brand awareness. By creating captivating short form content, companies can amplify their message and potentially reach audiences beyond their immediate network.

Furthermore, short form content lends itself well to mobile consumption. With the majority of internet users accessing content through their smartphones, businesses must adapt and optimize their content accordingly.

For a thorough guide on how to get the most out of your iPhone Camera for your business, check out our iPhone Filmmaking Guide!

Why You Should Use Short Form Content To Grow Your Business

1. Increased Reach and Engagement

With shorter content, you can make a strong impact in a limited amount of time. People are more likely to click on a quick video or read a short blog post during a brief break in their busy schedules. By capturing their attention with concise and engaging content, you create an opportunity to forge a connection and build brand visibility.

2. Enhanced Shareability

Short form content is highly shareable and easily spread across different digital platforms. Whether it's a snappy tweet or a captivating Instagram story, shorter content pieces have a higher chance of being shared by your audience. The ease with which they can be consumed and shared makes them more likely to go viral, exponentially increasing your brand's reach.

3. Improved User Experience

Short form content is ideal for delivering valuable information without overwhelming your audience. People appreciate content that conveniently fits into their busy lives and doesn't demand excessive time commitments. This leads to higher levels of satisfaction and increased loyalty to your brand.

4. Enhanced Visibility in Search Rankings

Short form content is not only user-friendly, but it is also search engine-friendly. By creating succinct content, you increase your chances of ranking higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). With a solid content strategy, incorporating keywords and optimizing meta tags, your short form content can attract more organic traffic to your website and boost your visibility online.

5. Better Adaptability to Multiple Platforms

Another benefit of short form content is its adaptability across multiple platforms. Not everybody uses Facebook AND TikTok AND Instagram. This is a great way for you to make one piece of content and upload it to multiple platforms so that you reach a wider net of people. By customizing and repackaging your content, you can maximize its impact and reach a wider range of potential customers.

6. Cost-Effective Content Creation

Creating long-form content can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. Conversely, short form content requires less time and effort to produce, making it a cost-effective strategy for businesses with limited resources. With shorter content pieces, you can consistently deliver high-quality, valuable content to your audience without putting excessive strain on your budget or workforce.

For a thorough guide on how to get the most out of your iPhone Camera for your business, check out our iPhone Filmmaking Guide!

7. Increased Conversion Rates

Short form content can generate higher conversion rates for your business. By presenting your message concisely and capturing your audience's attention, you make it easier for them to take the desired action—whether it is making a purchase, subscribing to a newsletter, or signing up for a free trial. Make sure your messaging is on point and clearly states what you want your audience to do.

Are Social Media Platforms Free?

Short answer, yes! There’s a quote that goes something along the lines of “if you aren’t paying for it, then YOU are the product.” Most social media platforms are completely free to create an account and start posting content. This is why it’s the best time to gain brand awareness online because the barrier of entry is next to nothing. Obviously each platform has paid features for both viewers and creators including ads and boosting posts, but none are a necessity to begin building an audience.

It used to be when you would meet someone or tell someone about your business, you would end the interaction with an exchange of business cards. Now you ask, “what’s your IG?” We’re in the digital age so take advantage of it. Make sure your customers know about your social platforms and make it super easy and convenient for them to find your pages. If they’re supporting you in real life, they’ll most likely also be willing to support you online.

What do I need to start social media content creation?

To start creating short form content, you will need a few essential tools and resources. Everything you’ll need to get started:

1. Camera (MUST HAVE): A decent camera is the primary requirement for capturing video footage. While smartphones often have high-quality cameras these days, investing in a dedicated camera can provide better image and video quality. Look for a camera that suits your needs and budget. If you have an iPhone with ProRes capabilities, you can use that or my go-to budget camera is the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera but it usually depends on your content creation needs. For most people a good mobile phone camera is enough or a camera bundle that comes with a lens and everything needed.

For a thorough guide on how to get the most out of your iPhone Camera for your business, check out our iPhone Filmmaking Guide!

2. Tripod: A stable shot is crucial for creating professional-looking videos. A tripod helps eliminate shaky footage and allows you to position your camera at various angles. Ensure your tripod is compatible with your camera and provides stability for different shooting environments. For the iPhone I like to use the MOFT Tripod.

3. Microphone (MUST HAVE): Good audio quality is arguable more important than the video. Built-in camera microphones may not deliver desired results, so investing in an external microphone is essential. Depending on your preferences and budget, you can choose from lavalier microphones, shotgun microphones, or USB microphones. I use the RODE Wireless Pro lav system.

4. Video Editing Software (MUST HAVE): After capturing your footage, you will need a reliable video editing software to turn raw clips into a finished product. Popular options include Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or iMovie (for Mac users). DaVinci Resolve is also becoming more popular these days. These software programs provide a wide range of editing tools and effects. If you’re solely using your phone there are also a great number of apps for quick social media editing templates. My favorite is an app called mojo. They just added the option to add captions and they have the best tiktok and reel templates!

Check out the DaVinci Resolve Course if you’re interested!

5. Computer and Storage: A computer with sufficient processing power is necessary for editing videos smoothly. Make sure it meets the minimum requirements for the video editing software you choose. Additionally, having ample storage, either on your computer or external hard drive, is crucial for storing your video files.

6. Lighting: Good lighting can significantly enhance the quality of your videos. Natural light is always the best option (and free!), but investing in affordable lighting setups, such as softboxes or ring lights, can help you control the lighting conditions and add that professional touch to your videos.

7. Script or Outline: Before shooting, plan what you want to convey in your videos. Create a script or at least an outline to guide your video creation process. This will ensure that you stay on message and have a clear vision for each video.

For a thorough guide on how to get the most out of your iPhone Camera for your business, check out our iPhone Filmmaking Guide!

Remember at the end of the day, the worst thing you can do is not start. While this article hopefully provided a lot of value and ideas for equipment that would be very helpful for getting started. If all you have is a phone at the end of the day, that’s enough. So don’t delay anymore and just get started.