You should consider starting a vlog if you wish to share your life and special ideas with others or if you are an expert in a particular field and want to share your knowledge with the world.
However, all the popular and most engaged platforms for vlogging are already saturated, with thousands of videos uploaded every minute and dozens of vloggers creating thousands of hours of videos every year. So how can you possibly be heard and seen in this highly saturated space? This guide will teach you how to start and run a vlog successfully.
What is a Vlog?
A vlog is a short term for a video blog; it is a form of blog in which the contents are in a video format. A vlog is a social media account or website where you can post videos regularly. You can think of it as your own little TV show and create videos of anything you want to share with the world.
Your vlog can contain anything you want as long as it can convey valuable information and people understand what the video is about. Also, there are many platforms where you can create and upload videos, but YouTube is the most viewed and engaged. So here are some of the best vlogging platforms you can try, with YouTube topping the list.
Best Platforms for Vlogging
YouTube
YouTube is more than just a site for watching funny or entertaining videos; it is a digital powerhouse and the second most popular and visited website on the internet, with Google being the first.
Years back, people used YouTube to create video diaries for themselves and their families, but now it is a multi-million dollar industry where many people make millions daily just by creating and uploading videos.
The most fantastic feature of YouTube is that anyone can access the platform. So whether you just want to share your memories with others or be a professional vlogger, YouTube is an excellent platform to do so.
Tiktok
As vlogging is becoming more popular, people are now looking for better and more modern platforms to create and upload videos. Tiktok is the fastest-growing social media app; although it was created in 2016, it now has over one billion users across the globe due to its many unique features.
You can create short videos ranging from 15 seconds to 3 minutes on Tiktok, and you will have access to filters, effects, soundtracks, and even trendy challenges or topics you can follow to make your own videos.
Instagram has a large user base and is popularly known as a photo-sharing platform. However, Instagram has introduced reels and videos that allow you to create and share video content on the forum.
You can now share videos about anything; it could be your daily routine, educational content, travel videos, etc., on Instagram. Instagram reels also allow you to share shorter clips to draw your audience’s attention to your vlog.
You can also take advantage of the live video and stories option on Instagram to gain trust and create a special bond with your followers. In addition, Instagram features a wide range of advertising options to help you grow your brand and increase visibility.
Facebook is one the oldest and most popular vlogging platforms, although most people do not consider it for vlogging because they underestimate its usefulness due to over-familiarity.
Facebook has a large user base with billions of people worldwide engaging in activities like buying and selling, uploading photos and videos, blogging, etc. This extensive user base can offer you a good rate of exposure when you vlog on the platform. Facebook features, live streaming, paid ad campaigns, personalized pages, photos, video library, etc.
Vimeo
Vimeo is one of the best platforms for vlogging; it offers the freedom and flexibility for users to showcase their creativity and skills. Vimeo is well known for high-quality videos, and the platform also provides tutorials for users to learn how to make good videos.
There are no ads on this platform, you can track the engagements on your videos using the analytics dashboard, and you can also get advanced privacy control options on Vimeo. However, some of its best features only come with subscription packages.
How to Get Started With Your Vlog
Get your Equipment Ready
To successfully start and run a vlog, you must invest in durable and reliable equipment to create high-quality videos. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on getting these things; you just need a camera, mics, a tripod, and good lighting.
When purchasing a camera, you can check out this guide on the best vlogging cameras to get a good camera for your Vlog videos.
Starting a successful vlog doesn’t stop at getting a camera; you also need to create videos with good sound. So it is recommended that you get at least a simple external microphone to create high-quality videos with crisp and clear sounds.
Furthermore, it would be best if you also got a tripod to hold your recording device and lights to brighten up your videos. A simple ring light can give you a very bright and clear video.
Discover Your Target Audience
All vlogging platforms are accessible to everyone, but everyone has different things and ideas that can capture their interests. Therefore, to run a successful vlog, you must start by understanding your audience and their expectations.
Your target audience will inspire your content and help you decide on a niche you want to focus on. For example, your target audience can be youths, older adults, children, students, or workers.
Choose Your Niche
When you understand the wants and needs of your audience, then choose a niche or topic you want your content to be about and stick to it.
Choosing a niche is simply selecting a subject your audience is interested in. For example, if your target audience is students, your video content can be about things students love to watch. Also, do not forget to choose a niche you love and are passionate about so your videos can appear more natural and interesting.
Read also: 20 Content Ideas for YouTube in Nigeria
Choose a Platform
There are numerous vlogging platforms you can choose to start your vlog on. Some of the best have been discussed in this guide. So you should go through their features and decide the one that suits you best. Then, create an account with this platform and familiarize yourself with its features.
Create Your Brand
If you choose YouTube for your vlog, you must do more than just create an account; you need to create a captivating brand. Likewise, if you choose any other platform, you must take time to personalize your profile so it can attract followers and viewers.
It will also be best to separate your personal social media account from your vlogging account to ensure that other activities do not interrupt your business or ruin your account.
To build your brand, you just have to provide some personal information and use an attractive profile picture, especially one that describes your vlog; it can be a banner, logo, or photo. Then, you can also add links to your other social media handles since you can run a Vlog on multiple platforms.
Write an Outline
Once you have set up everything you need to start your vlog, it is time to write your outline. Again, you can make it simple or complex; but it just has to contain the details of what your video contents would be.
You can also search for the most trendy topics and write your unique script on them. This outline will keep you on track when you are creating your video.
Create Videos
Now that you have a detailed outline of your video content set up your camera, mics, and lighting and start making your first video. This step can be challenging for some people because they want the video to be perfect and impressive.
However, while you may want to impress your audience with your first video, you should remember that there will always be room for improvement. So feel free to have fun, create multiple videos, and only upload the best one. It will also help if you have someone that can watch your videos and give you a second opinion on which one is best.
Edit Your Videos
To run a successful vlog, video editing is one of the most vital things you shouldn’t miss out on. Some vlog platforms have video editing options, while others don’t. So if your vlogging platform does not offer any video editing option, you can use some other software to edit your videos and make them look more professional.
You can cut out unnecessary parts when editing your video, especially awkward silences, and mistakes. Then, you can implement some colors, effects, or graphics and also try to balance the audio. You will find many other editing options you can use but make sure you focus on making the videos better and don’t do too much.
Upload and Optimize
When you are satisfied with your editing, you can now upload the video. Uploading videos on YouTube or any other platform is pretty simple, and the time it will take to upload the video depends on the video size. In addition, you can use search engine optimization techniques to increase your video engagement and exposure.
Engage Your Audience
Don’t expect to see a large influx of viewers, followers, or subscribers for your first video. Just remember that as time progresses, you will be able to retain viewers and keep them coming back for more if your videos are creative and interesting.
In addition, it would be best to reply to as many comments as possible, follow other vlogs, and interact with your audience. Furthermore, not everyone will like your content, so there is room for criticism, but you shouldn’t take it personally because you can’t please everybody.
You might also like: 10 Importance of Branding in Business
Now that you know how to start your vlog, what are you still waiting for? You, too, can own a Vlog, share your life and ideas with the world and build a connection with other people. There is no better time to start your vlog than now.
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