Long-form Vs. Short-form Content - Which is best?
Alisha Geary
Transforming Your Business with Content that Converts, Web Design that Works, and Accessibility that Matters | Digital Copywriter, Web Designer, Accessibility Specialist
Any content marketer, or marketing manager has had this issue.
They've been approached with a good idea, but they don't know what type of content would best highlight it.
Believe me, I've seen some short posts, that crammed too much information into one tiny space, that should have been a full-length blog post, and I've seen some blog posts, that could have been better sead with less words.
So... that leads us to the question...
Which is better for my situation?
Finding the right type of content depends on a few things.
So, why does all of this matter so much? Let's break it down, so we can see the bigger picture just a little bit more clearly.
The Topic
Different topics have different levels of interest, different demographics, and can be extremely simple, or extremely complex. For example, in the self-improvement industry, a list of good habits to build, would be much simpler than an expert's explanation of the Eisenhower Matrix, and how it works.
The format
This one might stick out to you as ovcious, but just in case it doesn't, a person isn't rushing to Facebook to read a multi-paragraph post about a question they need a quick answer to. They'd be more likely to Google it, and find a blog post or article on the question, that would tell them more. A person isn't going to TikTok to watch a 10 minute video on a really complex topic, they're likely going there to kill time, or for some quick amusement.
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Your target market
Different types of people consume content differently. A younger generation would rather read a short and snappy blog post that gives them the information they're after, watch a short video on the subject, or read a featured snippet on Google after searching for a question, and nothing more, while an older generation, or avid learner, might spend more time on a opic.
Someone who's attempting to grow produce as a small hobby, may not take the activity near as seriously as a farmer who does it for a living, and is really successful at it.
A first time mother will stress about having children much more than a mother of multiple children. A first time mother will be the most likely to over prepare and have way more than they actually need.
So, can I use short-form content to bring traffic to my long-form content?
Absolutely! It's totally ok, and in some cases, can be highly recommended, especially for things like a blog. I've seen many cases where people have used a Facebook post, or linkedin post to showcase a snippet of an article they posted on their blog, or a YouTube Shorts video to promote a longer video they just posted on their channel. It's just a matter of executing it properly, by writing, or speaking, to your target market. This means knowing things like their age range, and how to captivate them using their interests on the subject.
If you're a business owner who needs help with your website content, blog, or email marketing, I can help. Let's talk!
Writer of persuasive, engaging copy for blogs, websites, emails, direct response and more
2 年So they both have their place! One is not necessarily better than the other. I like how you mention that short-form content can bring traffic to your long-form content. Great idea!