2025 might be gone, but short-form video is here to stay. These bite-sized pieces of video content allow consumers to connect and engage with your brand. With intentional marketing, they can help you build trust, grow your audience and even increase revenue. As we dip our toes into 2026, here are the upcoming trends we anticipate seeing when it comes to short-form video that will impact your brand the most.
Creator-Style and UGC Content
If 2025 was about AI use in marketing, 2026 is about authenticity. Creator-style content increases trust with your audience. Consumers want videos they know a person made for them, instead of overly produced or AI generated content.
Another way to increase your brand’s authenticity (and its reach) is by adding user generated content (UGC) to your feed. By creating a process that allows you to offer a prompt, collect footage, and edit images that align with your brand, you can have valuable UGC that resonates with your audience.
Serialized Content
When you create a content series rather than one-off videos, you are making it easier to create, engage and measure your impact with consumers efficiently and effectively. Series are great for utilizing short-form videos for educational and storytelling purposes. Storytelling allows you to create a connection with your audience, building brand loyalty and trust. Series allow you to go deeper with your audience, creating lasting relationships and viewers, who will keep tuning in to see what you have to say next.
There is no need to reinvent the wheel each month. Create a list of editable series that align with your brand and target audience to make this process repeatable. Looking for easy series ideas to get you started? Create three-part videos capturing the before and after of a project, behind the scenes at your job or a problem your consumer might face and how your brand offers the solution.
Vertical Video
People naturally hold their phones vertically, a habit that TikTok and Instagram’s Reels capitalize on. While horizontal videos dominate the big screen, even big brands such as Disney+ are making the move to vertical video capabilities this year. The utilization of quick videos keeps viewers’ attention and works to engage younger demographics. Vertical video makes content easier to consume, creates an immersive experience and is ideal for creator-style content.
Social Media Search
Your audience is already using social networks to search for information, products, trends and reviews. You need to capitalize on this now. Younger consumers use UGC to discover trustworthy information and products with social searches impacting purchasing choices.
As the need for authenticity increases, so will the social searches. Treat your social media content like other content that is findable on search engines. Short-form social video allows you to create content like unboxings, tutorials and reviews that can boost trust and increase engagement. Clear, searchable words on profiles and hashtags are additional ways to help consumers find your account.
As consumers continue looking for real, human connections online, you can position your brand to meet your audience where they are. Combining these trends allows for seamless, brand-aligned content that builds trust and gains traction with your audience.
