Loooong Form Media
The good. The bad. The “yeah, you definitely need that.”
If you're reading this blog right now we're going to assume it's not the ONLY thing you've read this week – you've probably done your fair share of scrolling and somewhere along the way you heard the term “long form media" but you're not really sure what part it plays in the social landscape as a whole.
Allow us to break it down for you. But we first want to start by saying that it’s not for EVERYONE in this very moment, there are some businesses/creators that would benefit from it strongly, but on the same hand… some that may not.
Let’s dive in.
Long form media is in its name —
Long: measuring a great distance from end to end
Media: the main means of mass communication
Some examples of this include: a blog (like the one you’re reading), a Podcast, Email Marketing, YouTube videos, etc.
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Our 3 step roadmap to determine if LFM is something to add in, ASAP.
If you’re someone who has MORE to say.
Amplify realized this first-hand about 5 months into business, that social media alone wasn’t ENOUGH to really get word out about our offerings, experiences and ultimately who we ARE as a team. The blog was born as a way for us to share topics that we are having real-world conversations about with coffee in hand. The Podcast strategy launched 3 months later as an option to take the blog verbal (eek, stay tuned!) You might be nodding your head with your hands in the air saying “I FEEL THE SAME.” Maybe 60 second instagram stories and over-filtered/edited reels aren’t allowing your audience to see the YOU behind your brand… and if so, you’re a perfect contender for long form media.
If you’ve mastered your current social platform of choice.
We will say it until we’re blue in the face… the social media plan that is right for you is the one that you can STICK to. But if you haven’t mastered that, then adding something MORE in is probably not the best idea. Our tip would be to get GOOD at being consistent the way YOU can, not how the person that inspires you on social does, YOU. Meaning… set a weekly roadmap (have you read our blog on “The Power of Plug & Play” yet?) & stick to it, do it again the next week, then the next… by week 4 it’ll be a habit. Then return back to this blog for your LFM help!
& finally, if your business has sharable, teachable content.
Where the Pinterest girlies at?! Have you ever wondered where all of the pins that exist in your wedding, home decor, baby shower, etc. boards came from?! Humans. Like you. Like us. These posts are a snapshot into their long form media and a way to visually stop their audience’s scroll and draw them INTO their hosting platform.
Picture this, you’re a new mom to a 3 month old and your baby is showing signs of their first tooth coming through… it’s 2am and ALL you want is someone else to relate to. You head to Pinterest and type in “3 month old teething help” and come across a mom of 4 who has BEEN THROUGH IT & you click the visual that drives over to her blog. She tells the story of her sleepless nights, which lessens the weight on your chest instantly & digs into 3 holistic ways your can help your tiny human feel relief. You were her audience in that moment and she wrote that blog for YOU in mind.
Alternatively, picture this. You’re in a corporate job & you have these tugs left and right to find more meaning in your life outside of your four walls of the office. You’re eager to start a passion driven side hustle but you have no idea where to start. You know you love making art work & you hand create all your friends/family greeting cards but you are clueless on how to turn it into a business. You search on Spotify “Turn passion into business” & you come across a chick in her late 20s (like you) claiming that she did exactly the thing you’re looking to do. You listen to her podcast where she tells her story, gives a step by step & instantly you feel both LESS alone and ready to at least start THINKING about the first step. She created that content for you in mind, her audience.
These consumer driven moments all lead to a source and as a creator… YOU can be that for someone!
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If you’re still reading this, then welcome to the world of LFM. Now it’s time to dig into your inner Carrie Bradshaw…
Whether it’s starting with an email list that you write weekly love notes or starting a podcast… start MESSY as you figure it out. That’s right, just start.
xx,
A+A