Is short-form video better than long-form? Not really — it’s not about choosing one over the other. The real win comes from knowing how to use both. Video content, no matter the length, is a powerful way to connect with your audience. It can boost everything from engagement and brand recall to conversion rates and even email click-throughs. So instead of asking which one to pick, focus on how to use short and long videos together in a smart, balanced strategy.
Short-form vs. long-form video content: Definitions
The difference between short-form and long-form videos is pretty straightforward: it comes down to length. Short-form videos usually run under 10 minutes and are commonly found on social media platforms — like how Target promotes its products on Instagram. Long-form videos, on the other hand, go beyond the 10-minute mark and are often used on websites or platforms like YouTube. For instance, Wistia uses longer videos to dive deep into topics, like explaining video production costs to their audience.
A brief history of video marketing
Video has come a long way since the early 2000s. Believe it or not, YouTube actually started in 2005 as a video-based dating site — not the video giant it is today. Back then, there was no TikTok, Reels, or IGTV. But YouTube’s evolution shows why a mix of short and long videos is so important. For years, long-form content dominated on YouTube, with the algorithm favoring watch time — which is why brands like Apple still post hour-long event videos. But with the rise of short-form platforms like TikTok and Instagram, YouTube introduced Shorts — quick videos capped at 60 seconds — to stay in the game.
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