How Long Should Your Next Video Be?

by Ana04
4 replies
From "Wistia".


It is important to note that human beings usually have short attention spans. It is now quite difficult to get internet users to concentrate on one thing at a time as they tend to get distracted easily. You must be aware that attention span has a direct impact on video and content marketing. According to SumoMe, from 650,000 numbers of sessions, only twenty percent of users actually read full articles. It has been noted that there is a drop off in video engagement.


Video Length vs. Engagement


As you know every video is available with different length. So, it is essential to check engagement vs. video length.

How long should videos actually be?








Here are a few important points from this data:


1. Videos with two minutes length will get tons of engagement
It is important to note that short length videos with duration up to approx 90 seconds will be useful in getting viewers attention. This particular information is actionable and surprising for video marketers. If you are making short length videos then make sure to keep it under the length of two minutes. Making a short video is a safe strategy.


2. Significant drop-off between two to three minutes





After completing two minutes video length, you need to count every extra second and try to reduce the length if possible. It does not mean that you will cut video of 10 minutes length into two minutes. But it will be better if you will cut 30 seconds from a two minutes video.


If in case you are new to videos then you need to start with two minutes video. It is important for you to understand before investing in a longer content for users.


3. Six to twelve minutes is sweet spot





Engagement of users will become less after the six minutes mark. Every second, you should count between two and six minutes. If in case your video will end between eight minutes rather than seven minutes, then it will not have a significant effect on engagement.


So after two minutes length of the video, it is important to check the content and try to make it as short as possible as well as interesting for users. If it's not possible for you to reduce it because of useful and interesting content then don't cut it and make it short.


4. Proceed with caution after twelve minutes





It is important to note that similar to writing, a video also must be as long as required. It is usually noted that videos beyond twelve minutes length will be either an intense tutorial or narrative-driven stories. As you know, longer length videos are also time-consuming and expensive.


You need to focus on engaging people in your video and focus on making it as short as possible which can increase the number of users for your particular video. The length of a video depends on the context, content, as well as viewers. So, you need to study engagement graphs and make it is interesting and short.


You can check the full details of content marketing on "How Long Should Your Next Video Be?"


What are different strategies you would apply to increase the number of viewers on your video?
#long #video
  • Great post and GREAT information.

    I have around 300 videos out online.

    For my latest project I'm helping small business increase their online sales through digital marketing - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsf...cjZBY2LX1eSm9A

    My average video watch rate is about 3 minutes and 30 seconds which corresponds with what is mentioned in this video guide.

    My push back however from being in sales for 10 years is to be aware of the drop off rate but your video should be as long as it needs to be to explain what you are wanting to explain.

    The reason VSL's are so long is because they convert. You are not going after those 80% of people who are not interested. You just want those people who are very interested as they will become your loyal fan followers if that is your goal.

    If you want a viral video and that is the goal then I would agree that just a minute is all you should be doing.

    I have a review of a product in one channel that is 24 minutes long. The first 6 minutes talk about the features of the product and the rest is how best to use the product.

    I know 97% of all people are not watching the full video. Those that do however now fully understand how best to use the product and they convert at a really high rate.

    With my live weekly hangouts I try to make the videos no longer then 20 minutes so I can leave 10 minutes for Q/A questions. While this 100% violates what the article above says to do, it takes 20 minutes to cover the material and talk about it in an intelligent manner.

    I'd rather have 20 minutes of in-depth content that only 5% of people will watch over 3-6 minutes of content that does not dive into specifics about how to do something.

    I wonder what the stats are for podcasting and how long a podcast show should be?
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  • Profile picture of the author JasmineIPassmore
    These graphs are pretty interesting I must say. Incidentally, out of all the web products I have put out over the years, the programs that did the best overall loaded auto-play videos in the 10 minute range. So yes, I would agree that 6-10 minutes sites right in the sweet spot.
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  • Profile picture of the author AronParker
    Honestly I think this is BS, you're videos can be as short or long as they have to be to convey the point you want to make.

    You shouldn't condense your entire info+pitch into a specific time-frame just because the metrics says people don't watch videos after a certain point of time on average.

    Ace Reddy runs long 2-3 hour webinars and there's people watching it right till the end everytime lol, so you know it all depends on the point you're trying to make and what you're trying to teach.
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  • Profile picture of the author superowid
    What kind of video is it all about? The number doesn't tell the truth! I need to know the conversion more than the engagement factor. Conversion is a 100% engagement! But to engage don't always mean to convert. IMO.
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