Is Video Blogging Worth Trying?

Video blogs, or vlogs, are not new on the Internet. Long before YouTube, people shared their news and opinions in the form of a video. Still 10 years ago it was rather expensive. Today, with cheap web cameras, camcorders, free video capturing and editing software, and numerous platforms to share video posts, video blogging should be flourishing. However, this is not true. Most bloggers are wary of getting into video blogging and the reasons are well understandable. Let’s explore the main of them and try to figure out if video blogging is worth time and effort.

Online Blog

Topic for Video Blogging

The first thing you have to decide after the blogging format is the theme of your video Blog: traveling, cooking, tech tips, politics, social media optimization, or any other of the kind. Note that the topic should be captivating and you must feel an expert in it. Try to record a trial video post and estimate if you sound convincing enough to speak upon this topic all the time.

Self-presentation

Those who are not afraid of cameras and confident enough to speak in public, may benefit from the so-called “talking head” posts. However, not all people are “videogenic” and feel comfortable in front of a camera. If you belong to that group, it’s better not to start, or at least think about some alternative way of video presentation. E.g., you may make software reviews or how-to’s by capturing your desktop, use free video tools to produce slideshows, cartoons, short clips, etc. Here is the list of helpful resources:

  • Snaggit to capture video screen;
  • YouTube video creating tools to make cartoons, funny animations, etc.
  • Animoto to make slideshow with music.

Hosting

If you’d like to store videos on your website, you should consider hosting expenses. To convert video into web format and get ready embed code, use Freemake Video Converter, it’s free and easy to operate. Alternatively, you may keep your videos on YouTube, Vimeo or other video hosting site. Thus, your videos would be easily found on YouTube and Google and you’ll get additional traffic to your resource. The drawback is that your videos could be ripped and used on other sites, and you’ll be always dependable on YouTube broad width capabilities.

Video making skills

Though you may find a good video making and editing software, you have to skilled enough to use it. Nobody speaks of Adobe Premier or AE mastery, still a good knowledge of at least Windows Movie Maker is a great bonus.

Video marketing

Don’t think that you’re done as soon as you published a video post. What differs video content from a regular text post is that all you’re going to say will remain only as video frames. This is in terms of search engine optimization isn’t good, because an HTML page should contain text. One workaround is to publish a script of your video. Another is to combine the video with a short text description highlighting the key posts of your post.

It’s also advisable to add each new post into video sitemap. This will guarantee better search engine results for your videos. Take care of creating a SEO-friendly title and description and add social sharing buttons under the video.

Bottom line

In total, you should try video blogging if you:

  • are 100% sure in your knowledge of the chosen theme;

  • feel comfortable in front of a camera;

  • can afford video hosting or trust YouTube to host your videos;

  • are capable of video editing or at least can pay for it;

  • know how to market your video posts.

These are 5 components of a successful video blog start. However, a good beginning isn’t even a half battle. Content is the king, so the key point here is to be interesting to your readers and find inspiration for new creative posts. Good luck! :)

27 thoughts on “Is Video Blogging Worth Trying?”

  1. I have started to do a whole series of videos about 5 minutes long, every day, about day one of my new marketing business for people to watch and learn at the same time. I then upload them to youtube and made a playlist and channel and am starting to get loads of hits now, although it is early days!

  2. Nice article alena. I have just started video blogging . can you say which desktop recording software is good ? Currently i am using camstudio free desktop recording software.

  3. Kharim Tomlinson

    I want to start video blogging (vlog) so that I can show myself more to my visitors and blog readers. This is a great way to market online as well.

    Thanks for the lovely tips

  4. Great advice. Although I have more of a face for radio rather than a vlog. I wish I was more confident to try something like this out.

  5. yes, with the help of video blogging bloggers can make a lot of money online. But as you said, knowledge is matter for any working field. article is great, shared on my personal fb account.

    thanks
    gagan masoun
    blogs daddy

  6. I don’t do enough videos but they don’t take long, can be left up for years and shared across loads of websites so it is an incredible and often free way to generate traffic for years to come.

  7. Hey, Elena.

    Nice post. I do make Vlogs everynow and than and include a link to my blog in the video. And it’s a great way to bring some traffic especially if that video becomes really popular. Though, most of my vlogs have only gotten from 500-4000 views :(

  8. Video Blogging should be taken seriously by bloggers to generate more traffic from the worlds second search engine youtube. Also Video distribution helps to share the video to other video networks as well. Quality traffic is what all we need :) and vlog can be the best medium.

    Good article.

    Robin.

  9. Nice article Elena. Video Blogging is perfect to promote affiliate products or paid reviews through videos. I’m little bit confused in video blogging and YouTube marketing.

  10. I am infact looking to make a micro-niche site on Video blogging. It won’t have content but it will have hell lot of videos. I will share the project once, I come out with it.

  11. Elena Vakhromova its more than useful to use video s for promotion and free traffic. I started using youtube some 3 years back and at that time it was the biggest source of my blog traffic.

  12. Agree with Elena, all bloggers need to try video blogging.
    Giving a video review about an affiliate product and keeping a hop link can make you earn more money.

  13. Raaj Trambadia

    Great Article Elena. Even I was once thinking about video blogging, but thought that “Lemme focus on writing for now” :D

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