It is easy to learn how to create a video log (vlog) with the right preparation. You need to decide what type of video content you like and which channel you want your vlog to be hosted on. You then need to edit and promote your video content. You can also start vlogging free of charge if you own a smartphone.
These eight steps will show you how to create a vlog.
1. Do Your Vlog Homework
There are many styles of vlogging. It is important to do some research to determine which style you prefer. You can search YouTube for niches you are interested in vlogging. YouTube is the most used platform, with millions of videos in different styles.
Consider what you like and dislike about each video. Pay close attention to the music and tone. Also, consider whether there is much B-roll. This is additional footage that is added to the main video. Some videos can be very well curated while others are quick to publish on the video platform.
Popular vlog niches include:
- Travel: You can use your travel videos as a way to document your trip, no matter if it's an international trip or a visit to new restaurants in your hometown. The YouTube Channel Epic Family Road Trip is an example.
- Beauty:Videos like tutorials, unboxing and reviews are very popular in the beauty category. Taisha is a popular beauty blogger.
- Lifestyle This category includes travel but can also include parenting, exercise, and daily life. Mossonyi is an vlogger who shares style, travel, everyday life, and other topics.
- Gamer Share your gameplay via a video vlog, but make sure you read the Terms of Service (TOS) for each title before sharing footage. Some people encourage sharing, while others discourage it. The Game Theorists is an example.
Lydia Diga vlogs about both travel and lifestyle topics.
2. Create Your Vlog Channel
Your choice of where to host your blog is more personal than anything. Although your audience might prefer one platform to another, it will feel less like work if the platform is something you enjoy. It's probably not the right platform to spend your time on. Some vloggers share their content to multiple platforms, but they will still do the majority of their work on one platform.
YouTube
YouTube, a platform for video and the oldest of its kind is a popular choice for many bloggers. YouTube is free and you can even make money with ads. You will need at least 1,000 subscribers, 4,000 hours of watched time in the last 12 months to do this.
While Lost LeBlanc has a large following on several different platforms, he enjoys using YouTube the most, so he spends most of his time creating content and engaging with followers there.
IGTV
IGTV is an acronym for Instagram TV. It's the native video platform of Instagram. A video can be as short as one minute within an Instagram feed. IGTV allows you to upload videos up to 60 minutes. Subscribers can sign up to receive notifications whenever their favorite creators upload an IGTV episode.
Instagram accounts have additional tabs just above their feed, and the center tab is for their IGTV videos.
Facebook Watch is the video platform on Facebook. The platform allows content creators to upload both long- and short-form content. Professionally produced content is also available. Watchlists are a way for users to keep track of the channels they like. Although they won't receive push notifications when a new video is posted, it will create a list that users can access whenever they want.
If you have a video channel on Facebook, users can receive alerts any time you post a video.
TikTok
TikTok, a similar video platform to Vine, allows users to create short-form videos. Many users upload comedy, lip-syncing and talent videos with music. Each video loops until the user moves away from it. To download the social media app, you will need an iOS or Android smartphone.
TikTok videos that showcase pranks tend to do well on the platform.
Create Your Own Website
Hosting videos on your site is possible if you have the technical knowledge and the financial resources. You won't get the social sharing benefits of using platforms like TikTok and YouTube.
Video files take up a lot of space on servers which can be very expensive. You might consider hosting your videos on another platform so that you can embed them on your site. You can then have your vlog, and even a blog or website that you can send people to. Learn more about blogging vs vlogging.
Lifestyle Film Blog is a popular YouTube channel, and they also upload their videos to a blog.
3. Order Vlogging Equipment
Vloggers can make videos with their smartphones, but you may feel more motivated to create them if you have the right equipment. To improve the quality of your videos, you can purchase equipment like lights, professional cameras, and microphones. You can buy each item new or used, depending on your budget.
Lighting
Although it is not essential to shoot videos in natural lighting, you will need a separate light source for your videos. Amazon has lights for as low as $30 Some vloggers prefer large ring lights while others use clip-on ring light for their smartphones or cameras. A three-point lighting setup is possible if you have a designated space for your video shoots.
A three-point lighting setup traditionally is used by portrait photographers but works great for video as well.
Video Camera
If you are using your smartphone for video, consider purchasing a DJI Osmo gimbal to stabilize your footage. After seeing my videos, people are often shocked to learn that I have shot amazing footage with just my iPhone XS Max. This setup is what I prefer, as it allows me to travel to remote areas (like the Amazon jungle or rainforest or the Maasai Mara). It's also easy to transport a lot of gear.
You don't have to use your smartphone to make videos. A high-quality camera can be purchased. If you are a vlogger, you may use a digital single lens reflex (DSLR), but you can also use an interchangeable lens camera. Both of these digital cameras have many settings.
If you don't have the technical skills to focus a shot, point-and-shoot camera make it simple to create great videos. The GoPro is a popular choice for adventure or travel vloggers, as it's waterproof and durable.
Microphone
Amazon has a wide selection of quality vlogging microphones starting at $20. You can attach microphones to your clothes with clips, others need to be attached to your desk or camera. A cardioid microphone, also known as unidirectional microphone, is the most popular vlogging microphone. These microphones only record sound in one direction so they won't pick up the neighbor mowing their lawn.
4. Write Your First Vlogging Script
While some vloggers can talk for hours, others prefer complete scripts. Some people prefer to stick to a basic outline, while others may be somewhere in between. It will be easier to look natural and not like you are reading a book on camera. The great thing about filming is that you can always edit out any mistakes.
Three minutes of talking is equivalent to roughly 500 words. If you are writing down every word you want to say, this means you are wasting time. You can fill in the gaps if you stick to a simple outline. This will be easier the more you practice it.
The outline should flow naturally through a series of events. The introduction should tell them who you are and why you're doing vlogging. It also needs to explain what they can expect from watching your video. The intro should be short and sweet. If it takes too much time to get to the meat, viewers will probably navigate away from your video. This is usually less than 15 seconds.
The video should explain what the viewer will learn. Clickbait is a great way to get followers, but it's not a great way to retain them. Clickbait videos use sensational headlines to encourage viewers to click the link to view the video. A viewer will subscribe if you do what you promise in your video.
This section should be followed up with a conclusion. You should summarize the information you have covered, provide some lessons and a call-to-action (CTA). The CTA could be to comment, like, subscribe, or leave a review.
A sample script one might use to tell their story about how they got started in their careers
5. Film your Vlog
These are the key rules to making your vlog more interesting. Talking too fast is not a good idea. Also, avoid rambling and make sure you use the best lighting. You might consider using B-roll if you are shooting a lifestyle or travel video. B-roll is supplemental footage that you can intercut into your video to create transitions and make your audience feel like they are actually in the place you are describing.
These strategies can be used to film your vlog.
- Shoot horizontally. We live in a horizontal plane and spend every day looking at horizontal frames. Except for Snapchat stories or Instagram stories, you don't want to shoot vertically.
- A tripod is a good idea. It's not fun to watch videos where the camera shakes because the person holding it is uncomfortable. A tripod will stop this happening. If you have a tripod, you can also get a stabilizer to help stabilize the video.
- Tell a Story The most successful vloggers tell stories when creating videos. Every story requires a beginning, middle and an end. Your story should be told as if you were talking to your best friend.
- Be you: It is hard to pretend to someone you aren't. You will appear more natural if you act the way you usually do. Be silly, and be funny. You can also impersonate great people if you have them.
- Take a look at the camera. For "talking head", videos where you are talking from your shoulders to the cameras, make sure you look at it. It's not a good idea to stare at the screen as it can make you appear that you are looking down.
Casey Neistat is a master storyteller, which earned him almost 12 million subscribers.
6. 6.
Many new computers are pre-installed in video editing software like iMovie and Windows 10 Movie Maker. DaVinci Resolve 16 is another popular video editing program. It is also free. Although it does offer a paid version, most users will be happy with the free one. Adobe After Effects is also available for purchase.
Editing should be about quality and not quantity. To keep your vlogs short, ask yourself what you should remove from the video. Vlogs are usually between 5 and 20 minutes in length. You can also hire someone to edit your videos if you don't have the time or desire to. Fiverr can be a great place to look for freelancers.
Another option for freelancers is Freelancer.com. Although I have edited many videos myself, I don't have the time or patience to edit them all now. I use Freelancer.com's "contest" feature to do sponsored travel. I upload all my footage and give examples of the videos I enjoy. Freelancers then compete for my prize.
I provide feedback to all submissions throughout the competition, which typically lasts less than five days. This allows me to create the perfect video. Sometimes, I have multiple submissions that I love. Next, I pick one winner and award several runner-up prizes. These videos are great and I am able to share them with you.
My contest prize on Freelancer.com is $200. I offer $100 to the runner-ups I choose. You don't have to pick a runner up. Because I enjoy more than one video, I tend to do so.
Here's an example of a sponsored clip where I uploaded all the footage that I took to a Freelancer.com contest. This was the winning entry.
Music
Music can add emotion to your story. Because most music is copyrighted, you cannot use any mainstream music you hear on the radio. YouTube offers its own music library, and you can also search Google for royalty-free music for your YouTube videos. While some sites offer free access, others require a monthly subscription. The most popular sites are free, so you will likely have the same songs as other Vloggers if that is your choice.
A service such as Epidemic Sound and Bensound can also be used to add music to your videos. These subscription services allow you to access royalty-free music.
Color Correcting Filters
You can color-correct your video using the free DaVinci Resolve 16 software. You can color correct videos to create a cohesive look. Make sure you use the same color correction filters on each video. It's not a good idea to have one video that is very cool (blue, green or purple) and another one that is warm (red, yellow or orange).
Color correct using iMovie, which is a free video editing program for Apple users.
7. Upload your Vlog
After the video is edited, you will need to create the title, description and thumbnail images. Many vloggers create captions using a paid service, or YouTube's auto captioning feature.
Title
Clickbait is effective, but it only works in the short-term. Your video title should convey the essence of your video. You're unlikely gain a new subscriber if you don't.
Some of the most popular titles answer questions such as "Where can I find the best coffee in New York that isn't Starbucks?" or "The Best Books to read if you're a female entrepreneur."
Description
The description should contain keywords and be precise. Search engines and platforms can use keywords to determine the purpose of your video. Your description should also include any links that you use in your video. This allows viewers to follow you on other platforms and tells you where the music is from.
Thumbnail
A thumbnail is a small screenshot or image of your video. These thumbnails can be created using a free program like Canva or Photoshop. Bloggers can simply take a screenshot from a still frame of their video and then use it. As long as the text is large enough to read, thumbnails with text do better than plain thumbnail images.
Captions
Rev.com is the most used service to transcribe your videos. You can also hire a freelancer through Fiverr. Captions allow viewers with hearing impairments or who live in public areas to view your videos.
An example of thumbnails with text on them
8. 8. Promote your Vlog
Vlogging is much more than simply uploading a video to YouTube. To get subscribers and viewers, you will need to market your channel and videos on YouTube. You have many options to promote your vlog. These include collaborating with other vloggers, running ads and interacting with them.
These are the best ways to grow your vlog audience:
- Collaborate - You can work with other vloggers to create videos or even collaborate with brands. Famebit, Perlu, and Izea are all influencer networks you can use for brand collaborations. You can find contact information for your favorite vloggers on their channels if you are interested in collabs with them.
- Comment and like every comment on your vlog. Be social on the platform where you are posting. Commenting on other vlogs can be seen by others and may lead them to your channel.
- Ads - You can advertise on your channel via search engines or social media. Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube are all popular platforms for ads. This is a popular way to make money blogging and vlogging .
An example of a sponsored video collaboration between Dionne Dean and Goodwill; the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires you to disclose sponsored posts.
How to start a Vlog. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
This section answers the most common questions regarding how to start a video blog.
What is the best way to make money as an vlogger?
Vloggers might not make much money. You might spend more time blogging if you make money than you earn. Many vloggers earn a full-time living by creating videos for social media. Success will depend on many factors including your persistence, skills, resources, consistency, and perseverance.
Is it too late for vlogging to begin?
It is not too late to begin vlogging. This is because people will always need entertainment and answers. You won't be able to answer all your questions and entertain people if you don’t create a vlog.
What length should vlogs last?
Vlogs typically last between 5 to 20 minutes. TikTok, for example, allows you to create short videos. These videos usually last less than 15 seconds.
Bottom line
A vlog is an entertaining way to answer questions and entertain people. Vlogging can be done in many niches such as gaming, lifestyle, beauty and travel. Many vloggers host their videos on YouTube, TikTok and IGTV. Some even have their videos hosted on their websites. You can make your first video online in a matter of days and share it across all social media platforms.
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