Were you also told the lie that short content is always better?

 

Does anyone want a small bowl of ice cream? Or to go home one day into your beach vacation? What torture to listen to just 15 seconds of your favorite song?

Content works like this too. You consume as much as you enjoy.

STILL NEED CONVINCING?

Have you ever found yourself down a very deep rabbit hole? Suddenly you realize you’ve just watched so many “outfits of the day” on TikTok” that the season has changed?

Or Netflix asks “are you still watching?” and you think maybe you should do something else…and then you think. What’s one more? If so, you know it’s true.

SOMETIMES SHORT CONTENT IS JUST NOT ENOUGH

Similar to a dish, there is a recipe for success with content creation and length is not the only determining factor.

Don’t skimp on the sugar or the story.

The recipe for content has less to do with measuring and more to do with flavor. Infuse your “uniqueness” into everything you create because that is what gives your brand authority and provides the reader with value. Engage, entertain & delight.

THEN, USE THESE CONTENT CREATION GUIDELINES:

Add flavor without spoiling the batch. Think less in terms of character counts and more in terms of presentation.

  1. Be brief in your paragraphs but complete in your thoughts.

  2. Think of headlines as if they were a roadmap. 

  3. Use 2-3 sentences max in each paragraph.

  4. Use numbered and bulleted lists to increase readability.

  5. Always add images and videos.

DID YOU DO IT RIGHT?

  • Can you skim your article and get the gist?

  • Can your reader dive deeper?

  • Did you link sources or link to other blog posts on your site on similar topics?

  • Do you care about what you have to say?

SHORT CONTENT TRUTHS

Now obviously, some content IS better in brief. For instance, I wish Pinterest bloggers wouldn’t tell their life stories before they posted a recipe. But, If you’re passionate and saying something original, you shouldn’t be afraid to be verbose.

  • Joe Rogan’s podcast is frequently 3 hours long and we all keep tuning in. 

  • Taylor Swift’s ten-minute version of her hit song ”All Too Well” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard hot 100 chart.

  • Titanic was the first film to reach the billion-dollar mark and it was also one of the longest movies in history.

The truth is, length doesn’t matter. Content just has to be good. 

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