Creating impactful content is crucial for your coaching business. But a common problem is choosing between short and long-form content. 

There’s a presumption that today’s fast-paced world only has room for brief content. But is that really the case? While short snippets keep information crisp and captivating, there’s still space for more extensive material. 

In this article, we’ll discuss the nature of short and long-form content, understand their ideal scenarios, and uncover the distinctions that can help you craft a balanced content and digital marketing strategy.

What Is Long-Form Content?

Long-form content is about depth, detail, and providing comprehensive information. 

For written materials like a blog post, these are pieces that go beyond the 2,000-word count. YouTube videos and podcasts that are 30-60 minutes long also fall into this category. 

Long-form content comes in different forms, from in-depth blog posts and videos to whitepapers and ebooks. 

As an online coach, you’d recognize the value of such content. It’s immersive, allowing your readers and target audience to dive deep into topics and gain a better understanding. This content type builds authority and showcases expertise, which is essential for gaining trust with your potential clients.

When Is Long-Form Content Useful?

The richness of long-form content shines through in specific scenarios: 

• Explaining Complex Topics: When you guide your audience through intricate life or business strategies, a longer format ensures you cover all bases.
• Storytelling: Detailed narratives are more emotionally engaging, whether it’s about your journey or success stories from those you’ve coached.
• Building Authority: Detailed articles and comprehensive guides demonstrate your expertise and commitment to providing value and help you stand out in the coaching industry.

And if you’re wondering about niches where long-form thrives, it’s almost applicable everywhere. Whether health, finance, or tech, there’s always room for comprehensive materials. 

Regardless of what you hear about shortening attention span or the preference for bite-sized content, remember that there’s a vast audience hungry for well-researched and detailed insights.

What Is Short-Form Content?

Short-form content is the espresso shot of the content world—quick, direct, and impactful. It is your ally when you need to get straight to the point. 

When we talk about written content, it refers to pieces under 1,000 words. It’s that concise email newsletter you skim over breakfast or that brief blog entry you read for quick tips. 

Meanwhile, short-form video content spans just a few seconds or minutes. Think of those catchy TikTok videos, YouTube shorts, or Instagram reels people view on their mobile devices.

Leveraging short-form means you can stay connected with your audience regularly. It allows for consistent touchpoints without the heavy commitment that long-form content demands. 

When Is Short-Form Content Useful?

Short-form content excels when immediacy and engagement are your key priorities. As an online coach, it’s the perfect format for those times when you want to:

• Share a quick announcement or update.
• Offer a bite-sized tip or strategy.
• Engage followers with a thought-provoking quote or question.

Because it’s quick to digest, people are more likely to engage. Not only does it cater to shorter attention spans, but it also allows you to maintain a consistent presence in your followers’ lives. 

Short-Form vs Long-Term Content – 3 Key Differences

Depth and Brevity

Depth and brevity are both pivotal in content creation.

Depth ensures comprehensive coverage of a topic. It helps you showcase your expertise to your audience. In comparison, brevity is about being concise and direct. It’s when you offer quick insights without overwhelming your reader or viewer.

Let’s say you’re creating a case study on the success of a specific coaching method. You’d naturally lean towards long-form content as it lets you delve into details, share testimonials, and outline methods.

But if you share a timely announcement, like an upcoming webinar or a limited-time offer, short-form content, like quick social media posts or newsletters, do the trick.

Finding which format fits your purpose and resonates with your audience is crucial. Understanding when to go in-depth or when to keep it brief is essential in crafting effective content. 

As an online coach, the key here is to have a mix that caters to your audience’s varied needs and preferences, as well as which format is more enjoyable and sustainable for you in the long run 

Format Flexibility 

When it comes to format, both long-form and short-form content have their pros and cons.

Short-Form Content:

Pros:

• Quick to consume, making it a favorite for on-the-go audiences.
• Easily integrates multimedia, like GIFs or images.
• Short-form social media content is typically delivered on platforms with restricted character limits and/or video length, such as Twitter, Instagram stories, or reels.
• Short-form content encourages direct audience engagement and more direct access to your community.

Cons:

• Limited space to delve into topics in depth.
• It may not always convey the whole message or context.

Long-Form Content:

Pros:

• Provides a thorough understanding of a topic.
• It can be more immersive, allowing for detailed discussions and explanations.

Cons:

• It requires more time and attention from your audience.
• It’s not always the go-to for a quick answer or solution.

Consider a 30-minute-long tutorial video versus a 30-second reel. While the tutorial offers deep insights and step-by-step guidance, the reel gives a quick snapshot or a highlight.

Format flexibility can influence how engaged your audience is and how well they retain the information you share. Always match the content’s depth and format with the audience’s needs and the platform’s nature.

One great way to approach this is to create long-form content, extract snippets or highlights for short-form distribution, and then link it to the original detailed piece. By doing this, you serve two primary goals:

• Reach a broader audience.
• Drive traffic back to your primary content hub.

SEO Impact

Long-form content ranks better in search engines. By catering to users’ search intent and explaining a topic in-depth, you can rise to the upper part of search engine results pages (SERPs), attract the right audience, and encourage backlinks. 

Short-form can work for articles like quick tips or FAQs, which aim to provide immediate value. But it doesn’t help much with SEO. Its true strength lies in social media posts.

Although they don’t directly affect your search engine rankings, they are still an excellent addition to your content marketing strategy. 

Social posts can help you boost brand awareness across a wider reach and drive more organic traffic to your website through shared links and discussions. 

Conclusion

Short-form and long-form content have distinct roles in your content strategy as a coach. 

While long-form establishes your expertise, short-form boosts your online visibility. Knowing your audience and aligning with your coaching niche are essential steps. Ultimately, it’s not about choosing one over the other, but using them together for a well-rounded approach.

We’d Like to Hear From You!

Do you prefer long-form content to short-form or the other way around? Let us know in the comments below!