Short-form Video Isn’t Going Anywhere

The Shift in How People Watch

Getting someone’s attention is harder than ever. Look up in line at the store, at stoplights, or even in meetings, and you’ll see faces plastered to screens.

People are on their devices everywhere. Short-form content uses that fact to your advantage.

With our attention spans in decline, short-term videos have never been more important. In fact, you could argue that they are the best way to get someone’s fleeting attention.

A short-form video is defined as a clip that’s under a minute. These clips spark curiosity, connecting you to your target audience. That’s why platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts have exploded. The best marketing plays into this trend by matching the pace of the average consumer’s everyday life.

Local and big businesses alike have to meet people where they already are—on their phones and in these apps. Long-form content still has its place, but short video is now the handshake that starts the customer relationship off in a positive direction. It’s the first impression you make in their crowded feed and what gets them thinking about your brand.

Short Video Works

Short-form video is so effective because it respects the customer’s time—something we all can appreciate in this busy world. People know they won’t have to commit more than a few seconds to see what you’re offering, and that lack of pressure encourages views and clicks.

This style of content also mimics conversation in that it’s quick and to the point, sharing a huge amount of information without overwhelming the viewer. A ten-second video of a barista pouring an espresso shot says more about a coffee shop’s vibe than a paragraph of text or five minutes of background footage.

And short video is easy to repurpose. A single shoot can create dozens of clips because we can separate out parts of one take. One day of filming provides you with material to fuel weeks of posts across different platforms, extending your reach without draining your time and budget.

Let The Numbers Narrate

Statistics back up the short-form trend. According to HubSpot, 73% of consumers prefer to learn about a product or service through short video. Brands that use it see higher engagement rates compared to written or long-form posts.

Think about your own habits. When was the last time you stopped to watch a few-second clip of a new product or an influencer online? Probably this week. Those seconds create connections with target customers, and the brands behind them are benefiting from the attention.

How To Leverage It

The idea is to use short videos in practical, creative ways. Think of it as farming versus hunting and gathering. You don’t make a sale with a single impression (usually). You plant seeds in customers’ minds that grow into sales with time. So many types of businesses can leverage the fruits of planting these small seeds. 

• A cookbook author can film behind-the-scenes clips of their kitchen to build appetite and aesthetic. 

• A law firm can post thirty-second tips that answer common questions, showing the benefits of their services. 

• A golf resort can create quick shots of the beauty and breadth of its course.

• A fitness studio can film micro-workouts to show exercises people can try at home. Those videos build a following online and bring new members through the door. 

Giving viewers an idea of what they can expect as your client/customer is the target message of any short-form content.

The value is immediate to your target audience, and the connection means translatable results, aka customers and sales.

Creating Clips That Work For You

Effective short videos share a few key characteristics. Firstly, they start strong, often with a bold visual that catches the eye before someone scrolls past. The idea is to snag someone’s attention just long enough that they keep watching. Next, these videos have clear messaging. You want to give the viewer accurate information about your product or services to keep the message positive. And lastly, your short-form content should leave the viewer with a next step to either visit or follow your site for more, so that they can do something with what they just learned.

Sound also plays a significant role. Even ten seconds can feel static or awkward without the right audio. A well-chosen beat, voiceover, or natural sound makes a clip memorable and fun.

Editing is where the story fully takes shape. Pacing and transitions carry more weight when time is limited to under a minute. A professional team can turn raw footage into a series of clips that each stand on their own while still working together as part of a bigger, long-term campaign.

Opening images in short-form video snag attention by being bold or inciting curiosity.

Your Brand

Short video isn’t just a trend at this point, but a communication style that matches how people consume information and make decisions about their purchases today. Brands that ignore it risk being invisible.

We understand you don’t want to chase the latest platform. This is more about using a format that works across all of them. Short clips can introduce your team, show your process, highlight your culture, spotlight a product, and so much more. These are all building blocks that shape how people see you.

For Phoenix businesses, short-form video is also a way to stand out in our local market. Audiences want to see something real. A video of your team in a downtown office, a product demo with desert saguaros in the background, or even a quick client/customer testimonial filmed outside your storefront carries authenticity to potential new business.

Ready to Get Started?

We create short-form video content for businesses across Phoenix that engages, informs, and inspires. We can help you create product demos and relatable footage designed to engage your social media followers. We know how to capture what will make your business stand out.

Contact Myers Media today for a free consultation! Call us at 623-694-5997, or fill out our online contact form. 

Every brand has a story. Let’s tell yours.