A Not So Short Post About Effective Short Content ✍️

How are attention spans doing these days? Seemingly shorter than ever. Let’s roll through a variety of short content marketing content options to give you the longest of benefit windows. Get it? Ok good, here’s a list of the eight content types we’ll cover.

  • Short AI video with Veo 3.1
  • Short Nano Banana Graphic for Social Media Punch
  • Short Short (get it?!)
  • Short Dataset Built by Claude
  • Short Elevenlabs Audio Snippet
  • Short “Image Quote” Social Post
  • Short Helpful Nugget Post and/or Newsletter
  • Short SEO/AiO KW Blog Post

All content examples courtesy of my beachwear company, Coastal Fleece.

Short AI video with Veo 3.1

Using Google Flow via Google Labs on the paid pro plan I created a surfshop-style ad with Veo 31 fast.

The prompt was based upon the t-shirt design, and reads “Model comes off beach. Model walks into store, puts shirt on. Looks at camera and says, “The Most Beautiful Place in America, Hog Inlet, South Carolina.” Model walks back to the beach.”

Currently Veo 3.1 is limited to 8 seconds of video generation at a time. While this seems limiting at first blush, it actually creates a nice boundary, to build something that will quickly catch the eye.

Here is a slightly reworked prompt with a woman promoting the shirt.

And finally, after a dozen or more fails, we have an ad with someone my age in it.

All of these have been generated with Veo 3.1 Fast “ingredients to video” feature. Most of the outputs were wonky and not worthy of primetime. But it does seem like the more detailed the prompt, the beter the output.

Short Nano Banana Graphic for Social Media Punch

After a few tries we get this image, which I then cropped with Mac Preview on my desktop. The grains of sand, the sunset in the background, the perfect lighting on the shirt, all of this would be very hard to do compose in a shot. Even the almost perfect fold of the shirt.

Short Short

Simple prompt in Veo 3.1 w/ the new “ingredients to video portrait” feature. This would be much smaller on YT, TikTok, etc.

Short Dataset Built by Claude

Most Popular Southeastern US Beaches (2020-2025)
COASTAL FLEECE
Where Comfort Meets the Coast

Most Popular Beaches in the Southeastern US

Comprehensive Data Analysis: 2020-2025

The Southeastern United States boasts some of America’s most beloved coastal destinations, drawing millions of visitors annually with pristine white sands, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant beach communities. From the party atmosphere of South Beach to the serene natural beauty of the Outer Banks, these beaches have consistently topped travel lists and search trends over the past five years.

Top 20 Most Popular Southeastern Beaches

Rank Beach Destination State Annual Visitors Key Attractions
1 Myrtle Beach South Carolina 19+ million 60-mile Grand Strand, boardwalk, golf courses, family attractions
2 South Beach (Miami Beach) Florida 15+ million Art Deco district, nightlife, turquoise waters, celebrity sightings
3 Virginia Beach Virginia 10+ million 3-mile boardwalk, Atlantic/Chesapeake Bay meeting point
4 Clearwater Beach Florida 4-5 million Pier 60 sunsets, soft white sand, clear turquoise waters
5 Panama City Beach Florida 7+ million 27 miles of beaches, Pier Park, family-friendly activities
6 Siesta Key Beach Florida 3-4 million 99% pure quartz sand (cool to touch), calm Gulf waters
7 Daytona Beach Florida 8+ million 23 miles of drive-on beach, Speedway, boardwalk
8 Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Alabama 7+ million Sugar-white quartz sand, Gulf State Park pier, family-friendly
9 Hilton Head Island South Carolina 2.5+ million Upscale resorts, golf courses, pristine beaches, biking trails
10 Outer Banks North Carolina 7+ million Historic lighthouses, Cape Hatteras, unspoiled natural beauty
11 Destin Florida 4+ million Emerald-green waters, Henderson Beach State Park
12 St. Pete Beach Florida 3+ million Endless white sands, versatile for all ages, highly rated
13 Tybee Island Georgia 3+ million Near historic Savannah, laid-back vibe, lighthouse
14 Jekyll Island Georgia 1+ million 8 miles of pristine coast, Driftwood Beach, sea turtle nesting
15 Pensacola Beach Florida 5+ million Gulf Islands National Seashore, sugar-sand, turquoise waters
16 Sanibel & Captiva Islands Florida 2+ million Famous shell-strewn beaches, laid-back vibe, no high-rises
17 Folly Beach South Carolina 1+ million “Edge of America,” bohemian vibe, excellent surfing
18 Carolina Beach North Carolina 1+ million Classic boardwalk, amusement park, Venus flytrap habitat
19 Wrightsville Beach North Carolina 1+ million Near Wilmington, beautiful teal waters, vibrant coastal community
20 St. George Island Florida 500,000+ Unspoiled barrier island, clearest Gulf waters, pristine dunes
Data Sources: Visitor estimates compiled from Beach.com research (2025), Newsweek tourism reports, Visit Florida/Visit Myrtle Beach official statistics, and search trend analysis by PrivacyJournal (2025). Figures represent annual visitor estimates and may vary by reporting methodology.

Key Insights & Trends (2020-2025)

Florida Dominates

Florida claims 12 of the top 20 spots, with its combination of year-round warm weather, theme park proximity, and diverse coastal experiences. The state welcomed over 143 million visitors in 2024, with beaches being a primary draw.

Search Trends

Myrtle Beach topped search queries in 18 states in 2025, making it the most sought-after beach destination. Clearwater Beach ranked second in search popularity across nine states.

Water Quality Leaders

Recent NASA satellite analysis identified Delray Public Beach in Palm Beach County as having the bluest and clearest water in the Southeast, while Gulf Coast destinations like Pensacola and Destin consistently rank for water quality.

Recovery & Growth

Beach tourism has rebounded strongly post-pandemic, with 2024 visitor numbers exceeding 2019 levels at destinations like Destin. The Palm Beaches alone saw 9.9 million visitors in 2024, up 4.6% from 2023.

Family-Friendly Focus

Panama City Beach, Myrtle Beach, and Gulf Shores continue to lead in family-oriented tourism, offering attractions ranging from amusement parks to water sports and educational experiences.

Luxury & Serenity

Destinations like Hilton Head, Sanibel Island, and Kiawah Island attract visitors seeking upscale, tranquil beach experiences with limited commercial development and pristine natural settings.

Regional Breakdown

Florida Gulf Coast

Top Beaches: Clearwater, Siesta Key, St. Pete Beach, Pensacola, Destin, Panama City Beach, Sanibel & Captiva

Characteristics: Emerald-green to turquoise waters, sugar-white quartz sand, calmer waves ideal for families, spectacular sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico.

Florida Atlantic Coast

Top Beaches: South Beach (Miami), Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale

Characteristics: More active surf, vibrant nightlife, Art Deco architecture, drive-on beach access (Daytona), urban beach culture.

South Carolina

Top Beaches: Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms

Characteristics: Grand Strand stretching 60 miles, extensive golf courses, boardwalk entertainment, shag dancing culture, proximity to historic Charleston.

North Carolina

Top Beaches: Outer Banks, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach

Characteristics: Wild, windswept beauty, historic lighthouses, excellent surfing and kiteboarding, barrier islands, famous for wild horses (though not in Rodanthe).

Georgia

Top Beaches: Tybee Island, Jekyll Island

Characteristics: Laid-back atmosphere, proximity to historic Savannah, unique Driftwood Beach, sea turtle nesting sites, preserved natural habitats.

Alabama

Top Beaches: Gulf Shores, Orange Beach

Characteristics: 32 miles of sugar-white sand from eroded Appalachian quartz, family-friendly attractions, excellent seafood, more affordable than Florida neighbors.

COASTAL FLEECE | Est. 2025

Your trusted source for coastal lifestyle insights and beach destination guides

Data compiled from Beach.com, official tourism boards, NASA satellite analysis, and visitor trend research (2020-2025)

Short Elevenlabs Audio Snippet

So much potential with this tool. Took a Japanese voice artist and had him read the script, and it was very interesting to hear. That said, this is a more native sounding clip.

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Let’s look at lessons learned.