Long Form vs. Short Form: Are You Creating Content Backwards?

Are attention spans really shrinking, or are content creators simply approaching their audiences the wrong way?

On this episode of Not The Smartest Guys In The Room, Tom Langan and Dominick Domasky explore the business of content creation, storytelling, video marketing, and the ongoing debate between long-form and short-form content.

Should you start with a podcast, video, or longer story and break it into smaller pieces? Or should you focus on creating short clips to capture attention? Tom and Dom discuss why long-form content can be the foundation of an effective marketing strategy and how businesses can get more value from the content they already produce.

From YouTube and Adobe's branded content strategies to practical tools for repurposing videos, the guys examine what works, what doesn't, and why perfection sometimes gets in the way of progress. They also challenge the idea that people no longer have the attention span for longer content.

Along the way, the conversation takes a few unexpected turns, including Dom's plumbing disaster, fish and burgers as a marketing lesson, civic engagement, and Tom's book Legendering.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, business owner, podcaster, marketer, or content creator, this episode explores how to create meaningful content, connect with your audience, and build a strategy that works across multiple platforms.

Because creating more content isn't always the answer. Sometimes it's about making more of the content you already have.

Tom Langan is the founder of Talex Media, a mission-driven media production company focused on humanizing the world of business through better communication. A veteran entrepreneur, producer, and business strategist, Tom brings decades of experience in leadership, media, marketing, and business development. As co-host of Not The Smartest Guys In The Room, he combines practical insight, curiosity, and humor to break down trends in AI, business, technology, media, and current events, helping audiences think critically and communicate more effectively.

Dominick Domasky is the founder of Motivation Champs, a full-service publishing and media company dedicated to developing stories that elevate humanity. An author, publisher, entrepreneur, and storyteller, Dominick helps individuals and businesses share their stories, build their brands, and amplify their impact. He also co-hosts The Creative Entrepreneur Podcast, a regularly number-one-ranked Apple Business News podcast that explores the intersection of business, media, and current trends.

00:00 – Introduction and Episode Overview

02:24 – Dom's Plumbing Disaster

05:51 – Why Long-Form Content Should Come First

08:45 – Attention Spans and Social Media Platforms

12:01 – YouTube and the Democratization of Content

16:51 – Why Brands Need Long-Form Content

20:39 – Adobe's Branded Content Strategy

25:42 – Tools for Repurposing Content

30:21 – Fish, Burgers, and Content Formats

36:55 – Planning Your Content Strategy

45:10 – Editing Tools and Creating Short Clips

48:47 – Outlines, Story Beats, and Preparation

55:44 – Voting and Civic Engagement

58:58 – Tom's Book Legendering

01:02:45 – Start With the End in Mind

01:04:11 – Final Thoughts