Vlogging Guide: How to Start a Vlog

Vlogging (short for “video blogging”) means blogging in a video format. Vloggers use video cameras to film content and upload videos to their own website’s vlogging channel or platforms and search engines. The types of videos that vloggers film cover various genres, including daily activities, comedy, informative, instructional, video podcasts, and performance art.

Aside from being a fun way to share your interests, a video log possesses some tangible benefits. You can:

1. 1. Access equal opportunity: You don’t need to be an experienced filmmaker to start vlogging. Anyone with a digital camera and access to the internet can get started quickly and easily.
2. 2. Connect with people: Many vlogs focus on a particular area of interest, such as fashion, entertainment, or technology. Creating a vlog connects you with an audience of like-minded people interested in you and your subject matter.
3. 3. Join a popular form of entertainment: Many people watch online videos as their primary entertainment source, even over movies or television.
4. 4. Profit: Successful vloggers with large followings can earn a good living from advertisers, subscriptions, and sponsored content.

Follow this step-by-step guide to becoming a video blogger:

1. 1. Research vlogs. Before getting started with your vlog, research popular vloggers to see what works. Get an idea of what you’d like your vlog to be about and how you’d like your vlog to look and sound. Watch some vlog tutorials to learn tips on how to make the best videos you can.
2. 2. Choose the type of vlog you want to make. You can choose anything that interests you, including talking about the events of your own life. Many vloggers focus on specific areas, such as cooking, sports, or beauty.
3. 3. Gather your equipment. Staying within your budget, choose a vlogging camera and equipment that delivers the best video quality you can afford. You can use a simple webcam, a smartphone, or a more expensive mirrorless camera or DSLR camera with autofocus, 4K video, and an external microphone. You might want a tripod for stabilization, lighting gear (check out Marques Brownlee’s tips for best lighting for video recording), and a dedicated video editor; however, you don’t need the best camera or more than a phone and access to the internet to get started.
4. 4. Film your vlog. Have a clear idea of your vlog content before you get in front of the camera and hit the record button. Check the footage to ensure you approve of the quality, sound, and content.
5. 5. Edit your vlog. If you don’t choose to edit your vlog or lack video editing software, keep your video brief (under ten minutes). Add an intro and music if you like, and keep the content interesting by changing shots and angles when possible.
6. 6. Upload your vlog. Upload your vlog to your website or vlog channel. You may choose to post it on multiple platforms or post short clips on social media that direct traffic to your vlogging channel.

Once you have your vlog up and running, you’ll want to work on expanding your viewership. Consider these tips for building a wider audience:

1. 1. Appeal to your target audience. Based on the subject matter of your vlog, your audience will come to expect specific topics and engagement from you. Gear everything you do on your vlog toward that audience, such as the look, graphics, and attitude that will appeal to them. If your vlog focuses on embroidery, it will look, sound, and feel different from a vlog about skydiving.
2. 2. Be consistent. Publish new videos regularly to build and retain your audience. Audiences look forward to regular posts, and inconsistencies can lose audience interest.
3. 3. Be patient. Building a successful blog takes time, especially for beginners. Keep it fun for yourself, and be patient with your progress.
4. 4. Engage with your audience. Part of vlogging means communicating with your viewers through comments and messages. Focus on positive engagement, replying to questions, concerns, or feedback in your video content.
5. 5. Promote on other platforms. You can use other social media platforms to promote your vlog. Create specific social media pages to market and direct traffic to your vlogging channel. Professional gamer and popular livestreamer Tyler “Ninja” Blevins uses his social media channels to share moments from his livestreams that he thinks are funny, entertaining, or particularly representative of his stream’s style. “Take that, put it into a clip, and push it across all of your social media accounts,” he says. Learn more about how to build your social media presence with tips from Ninja.
6. 6. Provide a valuable product. Viewers rely on you to deliver quality videos that either inform or entertain. Be sure your vlogs consistently deliver whatever they come to expect, even if your vlog focuses on your personal life.
7. 7. Separate yourself from the pack. Use your unique personality and distinctive style to separate yourself from other video bloggers who cover the same genre you do. You might create a trademark look, intro, or catchphrase to popularize with audiences.
8. 8. Use search engine optimization (SEO). Optimize your vlog for search engines by using frequently searched words in titles and thumbnails when uploading video files. Learn more about SEO strategy.

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