It seems that every YouTuber around- no matter what the topic- has at least one vlog on their channel. Vlogging is a trend that has been around for quite some time, but more recently, it seems like every YouTuber has a vlog video.
But vlogging is not as easy as videography your daily life. There are a few things you should know before pressing the record button and in this article, we are going to talk about them.
What is a vlog?
A vlog is a video that documents a person's life. The name comes from the merger of the words video and blogs, so basically it's video blogs. Consider it to be a visual depiction of blog posts.
The main difference between vlogs and other types of videos is that vlogs are meant to connect with audiences on a more personal level. Let's get one thing straight: even if vloggers are YouTubers, not all YouTubers are vloggers. In fact, some vloggers aren't even on YouTube.
For example, a travel vlogging would show the YouTuber's experience in a particular country, often with scenes shot in transit, while a travel video would be more location-focused and narrated.
How long should a vlog be?
Vlogs typically last five minutes on average, although you may find some on YouTube that lasts as long as forty minutes. A longer vlog needs a lot of dedication from both you and your viewers, so we advise keeping it on the shorter side. In other words, the interest level of the viewer in your life must be higher for them to watch the entire 40-minute film.
Can you make money as a blogger?
This is the question most people want to know and the answer is yes. But like everything online, it takes a lot of time. If you've read our article on how to make money on YouTube, you know that monetizing a YouTube channel takes a lot of work, consistency, and patience.
What are Vlogs about?
There are two types of Video marketing: “talking-head” and “follow me around”. The first usually involves a fixed camera, where the vlogger talks about a certain topic. Common examples of this type of vlog are the “get ready with me” Vlogs, where they do their hair and makeup while chatting.
Follow me around Vlogs, on the other hand, usually show a day or a week in life. A day in the life during video blocking was huge in the past year due to the pandemic, while others have focused these videos on their careers or around a special event of a future bride.
Some ways you can make money from Vlogs:
Videos for advertising: If you are posting a video on YouTube or a website, you can always allow ads on your videos or channel. They come in the form of banners or video ads, but the downside is that you have little control over what they are about.
Subscriptions: YouTube also allows you to have members on your channel who pay a small fee to access special features.
Affiliate Marketing: Occurs when a brand or company partners with you to encourage their followers to buy a product from them using a special discount code.
Sponsored Content: This is a big deal for all online content creators as it is the way they to make the most money. Sponsored content can be product placement, a mention, or even a review, and the price depends on the type, duration, and of course, your rates should be based on the number of subscribers, viewers, and most importantly, engagement that you get.
How to start a vlog?
As we said, creating a vlog or video marketing is not an easy task. You will not only need special equipment, but also a concept, a lot of recording time, and some editing skills to leverage your content.
The concept The first thing you need to decide is what kind of content you want to create. Having a theme will help you choose specific themes and will also help you build an audience. There is always an audience willing to watch other types of videos as well, including food, unboxing, fashion, fitness, travel and beauty. Choosing a category doesn't mean you'll have to follow it forever, but it will be very helpful to get started and set your path. Start by browsing the category you're interested in, check out other people's Vlogs, and see how the audience reacts. Doing this market research will help you strike a balance between the content you want to create and the content people want to watch.
The equipment After setting the theme, it's time to record. The type of equipment you need depends on the type of content you want to create. If you are going to do a vlog where you are moving around, you will need a good vlog camera that is easy to carry and not too heavy to carry. You will also need a good camera stabilizer otherwise the footage will be very messy. On the other hand, if you're recording a vlog where you don't need to move, you can have a bigger camera with a microphone and tripod. In that case, you should also invest in some lighting equipment to make the set even more professional. No matter what type of vlog you decide to do, you will always need good editing software to edit later. Even if the Vlogs are long and show a whole day or a week, you will still need some editing tricks to make them dynamic. As honest as you want to be in your video, there will always be some footage you don't want to use and this is where editing comes in.
The music Music is a huge part of any type of video, and Vlogs are no exception. Where can you get music for your vlog, then? You need to download an app where you get a royalty-free music library, where you'll find thousands of tracks perfect for setting your Vlogs to music. You can add music throughout the entire video, just in parts, or as an intro or ending to your videos. Be creative and take the time to choose the perfect background music for your vlog.
