In a world where the advertising market has been trending towards shorter, more over-produced ads for decades, there has been a swing back towards long-form content in recent years.

Docustyle advertising might seem like an ambiguous concept, but it's simple, really. It's a type of advertising that tells a story about a brand or product in a longer, more documentary-style format. And while it may seem counterintuitive in our fast-paced, attention-deficit world, long-form advertising actually has some serious advantages. Here are a few statistics to prove it:

Long-form ads are more memorable.

According to a study by the Association of National Advertisers, long-form ads are more likely to be remembered by consumers than shorter ads. In fact, long-form ads were twice as likely to be remembered than their shorter counterparts.

Long-form ads can build brand affinity.

When a brand tells a story in a longer format, it allows consumers to get to know the brand on a deeper level. A study by Demand Metric found that 82% of consumers feel more positive about a brand after reading custom content, like a long-form ad.

Long-form ads can be cost-effective.

While it may seem like creating a long-form ad would be more expensive than a shorter ad, that's not always the case. According to a study by Video Brewery, the cost per minute of a long-form ad can actually be lower than that of a short-form ad, due to economies of scale in production.

So does that mean you should use long-form advertising all the time? Probably not. It’s a great tool, but it’s most effective when paired with one of a few different use cases. Here are some of the ways we’ve found it to be most effective:

Launching a new product.

A long-form ad can be a great way to introduce a new product to the market and tell the story of how it came to be. Consumers are more likely to buy a product when they feel an emotional connection to it, and a long-form ad can help create that connection.

Building brand awareness.

If your brand is new or not well-known, a long-form ad can help build awareness and tell the story of who you are and what you stand for. This can be especially effective in industries where trust and credibility are important, like finance or healthcare.

Rebranding.

If your brand is going through a rebranding or relaunch, a long-form ad can help explain the changes and build excitement around the new brand identity.

Long-form docustyle advertising may seem like an unconventional approach, but it can be a powerful tool for building brand awareness, affinity, and loyalty. So next time you're considering an advertising campaign, don't be afraid to think outside the 30-second box and embrace the power of long-form storytelling.

Curious how you might be able to incorporate a docustyle campaign into your brand’s marketing strategy?