7 Advantages of Concise Content

Read Time:  2 - 3 minutes

The current trend in content marketing is toward ever-longer articles, which are said to offer greater benefits to the reader and the marketer alike. Studies have shown that in-depth content is more effective, providing more reader value, and long-form content has search engine ranking advantages, which are all excellent benefits; however, shorter content still offers plenty of value. Here are seven (concise) reasons you may want to go short from time to time.  

1.  Fast-Paced World

From social media status updates to 24-hour news soundbites, it's a fast-paced world. Consumers are used to reading messages which get straight to the point and will tend to skip over lengthy pieces that seem like an effort to read.  

2.  Skimmable Information

Those who do take the time to read your content often skim through it first before deciding if it's worthy of closer attention. Shorter content makes this easier and makes a favorable decision far more likely.  

​3.  Greater Impact

A short piece which focuses on a single point will have a greater immediate impact than a longer article covering broader ground. If you have an important message to deliver, don't dilute its power by introducing too many competing concepts.  

4.  Mobile Accessibility

Although today's smartphone technology is awe-inspiring, the fact remains that a reader doesn't want to be confronted with a wall of tiny text on a small screen. Shorter content is far easier to consume during the morning commute or in other on-the-go situations.  

5.  Resource Efficiency

Simply put, shorter content is usually easier, quicker, and cheaper to produce than longer pieces, while still offering value for the reader. Save the more resource-intensive long format for your blockbuster posts which explore ideas in greater depth.  

6.  Topic Range

This relative ease of production means you can cover a wider range of topics within your niche, testing for popular angles which you can expand upon later.  

7.  Focused Writing

​Lastly, aiming for shorter content encourages writing that focuses on the message instead of an arbitrary word count. Tighter content without padding is always stronger, whatever your ultimate aim.  

Conclusion

Great content comes in a variety of formats, styles, and topics, and an effective marketing strategy will use as wide a range as possible. Long-form content has many benefits, but it's not always better - sometimes, shorter really is sweeter.

Thank you for reading! Comments are welcome.

-- Anne Albright