Hey YouTube – TikTok may be coming for your gig.
It comes as no surprise that TikTok is taking over the world – the platform’s come-up has been revolutionary. But TikTok has made a rather insane update that has the potential to change the game in terms of how we consume and enjoy content on the app.
Okay, the elusiveness is up! TikTok has announced that they’ll be releasing an option for you to record long-form video content – as in you can now film a 10-minute TikTok, edit it on the app and post it immediately. Crazy right?!
As a generation, we crave authenticity, knowledge, and the exchange of reliable information. We want to know everything about the topics that interest us, and we want to know it now. That’s why long-form content is so appealing to us – we get to do a deep dive on the things we care about and even some that just bring us pure joy. That means no more, “Part 2” everyone! Oh, what a joyous occasion. But anyway, I digress. We get to explore topics in-depth and learn something new every time we watch a video.
So, what does this mean for marketers? Here are a few things you need to know about how it will affect you and why this so great:
- DEPTH
Long-form content on TikTok means that content creators need to adjust their strategies to cater to our thirst for knowledge. For long-form content creators, this is music to their ears! Short-form content creators, however, might be quaking a bit because with this move, it makes their content a little less desirable. Long-form videos will allow creators to be a bit more expansive with their content. Instead of focusing on summaries and quick points, you can now discuss topics in more detail. For instance, if you want to share a story time, you can do it in one video, instead of 16 parts. What marketers need to do now is focus on creating content that is informative, engaging, and thought-provoking. - CONVENIENCE
As opposed to editing in an external app or finalizing your content in YouTube, on TikTok you can record, edit, and post your long-form video all in one place. Although, some may say that it makes YouTube vulnerable, I would disagree. YouTube offers a different value to its users and what the typical YouTube audience enjoys, does not automatically translate to what that audience group will enjoy on a different platform, such as TikTok. - SHAREABILITY
Marketers also need to focus on creating content that is shareable. As a generation, we love to share content that we find interesting or informative. We want our friends and followers to know what we know, and we want to spark conversations about the topics we care about. So, if marketers create content that resonates with us, we’ll be more likely to share it with our networks.
In conclusion, long-form content is making a comeback, and we’re here for it! We want to learn and explore topics in-depth, and we want marketers to create content that caters to our thirst for knowledge. So, if you’re a marketer, it’s time to ditch the clickbait headlines and shallow content and focus on creating informative, engaging, and shareable long-form content. And who knows, it could be the gateway so many long-form creators have been hoping for which is to earn more revenue on the platform, and honestly, we’re here for it.
