The Ultimate Guide To Short-Form Video Trends In 2024

90% of marketers will be investing in short-form video content this year.

So, the short-form video trend isn’t going anywhere.

But why so much interest in short-form videos from marketers?

Over the last few years, the world has experienced fast digitisation.

Add to this a decreasing attention span, and it’s easy to see why this trend is on the uptick.

Yet, the short-form video content landscape is rapidly evolving.

Filming a quick TikTok video or Reel is no longer enough.

Competition is fierce, and you have to stand out.

And to do that, you need to keep up with the latest short-form video trends.

So, to help you stay one step ahead, we’ve listed the top short-form video trends in 2024 below.

Microlearning Videos

As discussed, the average attention span is decreasing.

In fact, studies show that the average attention span these days is between 8 and 12 seconds.

This means that capturing your viewers’ attention has never been harder.

So, how can you educate your viewers in just a few seconds?

The answer is by using microlearning videos.

Microlearning videos are short, bite-sized video-based learning resources.

They’re designed to deliver specific information on a particular topic or skill.

These videos are typically brief and range from 5 seconds to 5 minutes.

They’re a great form of content because they allow viewers to grasp and retain information quickly.

Here are some of the benefits of using microlearning videos:

• Time efficient

We all live fast-paced lives with busy schedules.

Microlearning videos offer a time-efficient learning solution.

The fact that they’re so short allows viewers to access and complete the video within a few minutes.

• Engaging and interactive

Microlearning videos often incorporate visually appealing elements, including:

• Graphics
• Animations
• Storytelling techniques

This interactive approach helps capture viewers’ attention.

And this, in turn, makes the learning experience more enjoyable and effective.

• Easily digestible

Microlearning videos deliver key information in bite-sized portions.

This format makes it easier for viewers to consume information without feeling overwhelmed.

Here’s a great example by Aron Sogi showing how to edit a TikTok video in under 1 minute!

Brand Challenges

Videos featuring a brand challenge have gained tremendous popularity over the last few years.

These challenges involve companies or brands creating a specific hashtag or concept.

They then encourage users to participate by sharing their own videos related to the challenge.

Here are some of the main benefits of creating brand challenges:

• User-generated content (UGC):

Brand challenges heavily rely on UGC.

UGC requires social media users to create and share their own videos in response to the challenge.

This helps generate buzz and create a sense of community around the brand or campaign.

• Virality and social sharing

When executed well, these types of challenges can go viral!

That’s because when users take part in a brand challenge, they often share their videos across their social media accounts.

And this can lead to viral growth as more people join the challenge and share their own content, further increasing the visibility and reach of the brand.

• Creativity and engagement

Brand challenges encourage users to showcase their creativity.

That’s because they have to record their unique interpretations of the given theme.

Now, this is fantastic for you as a brand because this level of engagement generally fosters a deeper connection between the brand and its audience.

Why?

Because users actively participate in shaping the content and brand narrative!

• Influencer involvement

A great way to promote your challenge is to collaborate with influencers or content creators with a substantial following to promote your challenge.

These influencers can help kick-start the challenge by creating their own videos and promoting the challenge to their audience.

And this will naturally amplify your campaign’s reach and impact.

Here’s an example of the #Pepsichallenge on TikTok, which generated millions of views. Besides, half a million videos were created using the hashtag.

Branded Documentaries

Branded documentaries are one of the most underrated short-form video trends.

As a brand, you shouldn’t be selling a service.

Or a product.

You should be selling a story, an experience, an emotion.

And that’s why video storytelling has been on the rise over the last few years.

Consumers crave a deeper connection with brands.

Therefore, brands have been looking for new ways to connect with their audience on a deeper level.

And one of the most effective ways to do this is through branded documentaries.

While still relatively niche, this type of content has the potential to help you stand out from your competition.

And it can also help you connect with your audience through authentic and emotional footage.

But what’s a mini-branded documentary, exactly?

It’s a short-form video combining storytelling, documentary-style filmmaking, and branding.

This video aims to create an emotional connection with the audience while subtly promoting your brand and services.

This is a great example produced by Mailchimp and part of the Mailchimp Presents series. The idea was to highlight the unique stories of artists who have revolutionised their field.

Syre, the series isn’t about Mailchimp itself. But it draws a parallel with the brand by highlighting pioneers in their field, just like Mailchimp was when it revolutionised email marketing years ago.

Need Help Creating Impactful Short-Form Videos?

Now that we’ve established that short-form videos aren’t going anywhere anytime soon and reviewed the biggest trends this year, you might be wondering what the next step is.

Sure, you could latch onto these short-form video trends and create your videos yourself.

But as mentioned before, for your videos to be effective, they have to be impactful.

They have to convey emotions.

They have to sell an experience or a story.

And to do this, you need to be able to tell stories in a visual way.

And you also need to create enough content to keep your audience engaged.

So, if you don’t have the time, resources or expertise, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Creating highly-converting videos is what we do 😉

And we’d love to help you!