There’s no doubting that vlogs are the hot content right now. You could be thinking that you should start one, but you are also wondering if it’s too late to learn how to vlog.
How can your vlog stand out when YouTube already has over 300 hours of content posted per minute?
As with blogging and podcasting, there is always space for your distinct voice and story to be heard through video content. Here’s why you should start a vlog and how to get started.
What Is Vlogging?
First and foremost, what exactly is a vlog? How does it differ from other types of video?
As you may have guessed, ‘vlog’ means ‘video blog,’ and it is precisely that: stuff that you would normally write about in a blog post, but instead you chat to a camera about it.
There are two types of vlogs: a “talking-head” video in which the camera is mounted on a tripod (or a stack of books depending on your equipment budget!) and remains steady while the vlogger talks about a subject, and a “follow me around” vlog in which the vlogger takes a camera with them and films clips as they go about their day or week.
The Growth Of Celebrity Vloggers
It’s easy to get caught up in the extravagant side of YouTube that we see in the media:
- YouTubers are selling out arenas throughout the country in nationwide tours.
- YouTubers securing book deals and reaching the bestseller list.
- YouTubers are earning six-figure incomes only from pre-roll advertising, not to mention brand sponsorships and retail earnings.
However, for every member of the YouTube elite, there are uncountable numbers of content creators that work tirelessly to record and publish to a more, shall we say, realistically sized audience.
If fame and fortune are your only motivations for starting a vlog, you are setting yourself up for failure. Only about 4,000 of the millions of YouTube channels have more than one million subscribers. However, the beauty of vlogging is that you don’t need a million followers to provide and receive a lot of value through your videos.
The Advantages Of Vlogging For Audience Growth
If you already have a blog or a podcast (or both), a vlog could introduce you to a completely new audience. People absorb content in a variety of ways; some like to read or listen to stories or advice, while others prefer to watch it.
1. Create A Personal Relationship
Vlogging allows you to engage with your audience on a far more personal level than writing or podcasting. There’s something special about seeing someone speak to you, even if it’s via video! When you vlog, you are allowing someone to see a small portion of your life or ideas.
2. More People Are Watching.
YouTube is quickly becoming a popular source of entertainment, with an increasing number of people preferring to watch YouTube videos over traditional television or even Netflix. On YouTube, we see real people and their actual lives most of the time, making the video much more relatable.
3. Increase audience loyalty
If you have already established a following elsewhere, vlogging will help you retain them by interacting with them on a more intimate level. If you are new to the content game, vlogging on YouTube is a terrific place to start because it’s also the world’s second largest search engine.
Every day, almost one billion hours of video are watched on YouTube. That is, you will post your content to a location where others are already looking for it.
I’ll mention here that the one disadvantage of growing a YouTube following is that, unlike with your own website or email list, you don’t own your audience. The only way to reach them is to submit videos or use YouTube’s chat system, both of which have faults.
However, this just means that you must put in the effort to convert a YouTube member to an email list subscriber. Because of the loyalty you will develop through vlogging, your core audience will follow you to other platforms, so consider YouTube subscribers to be warm leads for your other projects.
The most effective technique for a rookie vlogger to grow an audience
Growing on a new platform can be difficult, especially with so much noise and hundreds of thousands of videos added to YouTube every day. So, instead of attempting to appeal to everyone, the best approach to stand out is to focus on a certain niche.
Did you know you have the ability to select your audience? By creating films that appeal to a specific target market, you will attract people who are part of that niche and establish a following of people who perceive you as their go-to source on the topic.