Condensing vs. Clarifying: The Key to Crafting Powerful Messages

A few days ago, a new TEDx talk popped up in my YouTube feed. The title grabbed my attention, and for a second, I hovered over the play button.

Then I saw it. 17 minutes long.

And just like that, I scrolled past.

Not because the topic wasn’t interesting. But in 2025, committing to a 17-minute video upfront feels like a big ask.

That moment got me thinking: Do we dismiss content too quickly just because of length?

I posted about this on LinkedIn, and the responses poured in. Most agreed that in today’s fast-paced world, shorter messages win.?

But one comment pushed back:

"Complex topics require more than a 6-minute bounce along the surface. We need to stop playing into the short-form trend and embrace depth where it’s needed."

And they had a point. The real challenge isn’t making content shorter—it’s making it sharper.

If we confuse condensing with clarifying, we risk losing depth—or worse, burying our message in complexity.

Condensing vs. Clarifying: What’s the Difference?

Condensing and clarifying often overlap, but they serve different purposes:

?? Condensing: Cutting content to make it shorter.?

?? Clarifying: Refining content to make it easier to understand.

Some ideas benefit from brevity, while others need space to breathe. The real skill? Knowing which is which.

How Long Should Your Message Be? Ask These 3 Questions First.

Before cutting or expanding your content, ask:

1?. What’s the Purpose?

Different formats serve different goals:

If you're crafting a TED-style talk, social post, or pitch, you need brevity—something people can instantly grasp.

If you’re writing a book, hosting a podcast, or leading a long-form discussion, depth matters—you’re guiding people through an idea, not just grabbing attention.

2?. Who’s Your Audience?

The ideal length isn’t about your preference—it’s about theirs.

A venture capitalist hearing a startup pitch? You’ve got 60 seconds to hook them.

A college student scrolling TikTok? Make your point in 3-10 seconds or they’re gone.

A policy analyst reading a white paper? They expect depth and citations.

A podcast listener on a long drive? They welcome a 90-minute deep dive.

Your audience’s attention span—and expectations—should guide your content length.

3?. What’s the Medium?

Where your message lives determines how much detail to include.

Short-form content: Social posts, TED talks, sales pitches, headlines, elevator pitches.

Long-form content: Podcasts, interviews, books, video essays, live debates.

The Brevity-Clarity Matrix: Finding the Sweet Spot

A message can be too long or too short:

? The Time Vacuum – A rambling talk that covers too many points with no clear takeaway.?

? The Fortune Cookie – A catchy one-liner that sounds profound but lacks real substance.

?? The Transformation – A well-structured book, podcast, or keynote that methodically builds an argument.?

? The Light Bulb Moment – A TED talk, article, or social post that delivers a paradigm shift in under 10 minutes.

The goal? Cut the fluff, but keep the meaning.

The Bottom Line: Clarity First, Length Second

If you start with clarity, the right length will reveal itself.

Some ideas need 90 seconds. Some need 90 minutes. Some deserve an entire book.

The key is knowing when to condense and when to expand.

So, before your next talk, post, or presentation, ask yourself: Does this need to be clearer, shorter, or both?

#Messaging #ContentStrategy #PublicSpeaking