Creating Impactful Short-Form Content as Technology Influencers

Since 2020, short-form content has taken over social media. From TikToks and YouTube Shorts to Instagram Reels and Stories, research shows us these quick videos get 2.5 times more engagement, and 96% of users prefer them.?

Short-form content isn’t just one of the fastest ways for technology influencers and creators to grow on social media — it’s a powerful way to connect, tell a story, and make an impact.

Taking only an hour a week to do this can make a significant impact on your brand!

What is Short-Form Content?

Short-form content is any type of content you can watch, read, or view quickly — typically videos less than 1-minute long.

Essentials of Short-Form Content: How to Make Instagram Videos that Stop the Scroll

Here are the basics of how to make Instagram videos, YouTube shorts, TikToks, and other short-form content to engage your audience as technology influencers and creators:

????Start with 3 ‘Hooks.’

How will you stop the scroll? Technology influencers know how to capture their audience’s attention with a ‘hook.’?

When creating short-form content, you should aim for three hooks:

1. One in the caption (Ex: One year ago today, everything changed…).
2. One in the video’s text (Ex: How I Asked for a Promotion in Tech).
3. One in the video (Ex: The start of the video is visually intriguing).

????Make it Accessible.

Champion inclusivity by learning how to make Instagram videos and other short-form content that’s accessible: If you’re talking to the camera or doing a voiceover, include closed-captioning.

????Be Entertaining.

You want to be an expert. You want to provide value and educate your audience. But while you’re doing so, entertain them! This is what we call “edu-tainment,” and it’s the key to creating engaging short-form content. Use humor, share your personality, and keep it real.?

????Make Trends Your Own.

Hop on the trends! Use the music or audio from other videos getting a lot of buzz. Get inspired by other technology influencers’ content and spin it to match your own style.

????Tell Stories.

People want to connect on social media — and there’s no greater tool for connection than authentic storytelling.?

Record yourself telling a story, weave your story into the caption, or share ‘behind-the-scenes’ videos of your life and career to make it feel real.

????Include a Call to Action.

What do you want your viewers to do after they watch your video? Do you want them to comment? Share the video with their friends? Take action and get inspired??

Choose one “call to action” and invite your audience to take it, both in the video and caption.?

????Expound in the Caption.

15-60 seconds isn’t much time to compile all your thoughts. So, throw all your extra thoughts in the caption. Captions give you the opportunity to provide context, tell your story, and bring it all together.?

????Be Consistent.

If you want to learn how to make Instagram videos that reach your audience, you must be consistent. Short-form content only pays off when you stick to a consistent posting schedule and find your “thing” or niche to post about.?

Examples of Short-Form Content

Need some inspo? Here are examples, straight from Repped in Tech, of how to make Instagram videos using different types of short-form content:

• Talking Head: Example?

Record yourself talking! It’s as easy as that.?

• Voiceover: Example

Add a voiceover to an existing video (like a tutorial) to take it to the next level.??

• Green Screen: Example?

Use CapCut’s Chroma Key feature or Instagram’s “Green Screen” filter to record yourself in front of an existing video or picture.

• B-Roll: Example

Add music to the background of multiple video clips.

• Trend: Example 1, Example 2

Put your personal spin on a trend, catering it to you and your message!

Your Next Steps as Technology Influencers & Creators

Short-form content can spread like wildfire. It’s your ticket to reaching more people and drawing people into your community.

So? Let’s make it happen:

?? Take Action:?

• Step 1: Design an engaging Canva post showcasing a recent tech accomplishment.?
• Step 2: Edit a 30-second video about a recent accomplishment you’ve had in tech. Use Capcut to help.
• Step 3: Post the content you created, and be sure to tag @ReppedinTech and use the hashtags #getreppedintech and #reppedintech so we can reshare it on our platforms!

• Want to start learning and growing? Join our learning communities and begin repping, influencing, and thriving in tech.
• Ready to become a tech creator and share your magic with the tech world? Apply to be on ReppedFLIX! (Coming Soon).
• Support the work and join us on any of our social media platforms: Twitch, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

??? I’m Dr. Teresa Vasquez, but you can call me Dr. T!

With over 20 years of professional experience at all levels in tech, I’m a Tech Leader and Educator who’s been through it all.

Yep, I’ve been there, done alla dat, and I don’t sugarcoat the experiences I’ve had.

As the founder of Repped In Tech?, I’m all about helping diverse creators amplify their voices in the tech world through our three pillars:

???? REPresentation and REPutation

???? INfluence

???? TECHnological skills

Join me on this journey of self-discovery and growth and #GetReppedInTech

#ReppedInTech

#BlackInTech

#diversityintech