31 Video Blogging Tips for Beginners in 2024

Reading Time: 28 minutes

Video blogging. Your auntie loves it; your daughter wants to give it a go; even the postman’s got one – everyone seems to be going crazy over vlogging!

One reason people are looking to launch a video blog is the potential rewards. The top vloggers earn vast incomes from shared advertising revenue, sponsorship, and affiliate sales.

And, fortunately, video blogging is open to anyone who wants to give it a go.

Vlogging may be the business with the lowest startup cost of any online venture – all you need is a smartphone and social media account.

So, if you’re itching to get started video blogging but don’t know where to begin, here are 31 tips for newbies to help you plan, prepare, and execute your own vlog effortlessly.

Stage 1: Establishing Your Channel

Step one in your journey of building a successful vlog is creating a channel and a place for people to find your vlogs.

1. Choose Your Platform

First of all, you need to decide which is the best platform for hosting your video blog. Most wannabe vloggers will first think of YouTube, and it may be the best choice for most, but there are some alternatives to consider depending on who your audience will be.

Facebook and Instagram, while both owned by the same company, are popular social media outlets you can vlog on.

Facebook is the right choice if you want to vlog live, and, like YouTube, they also have an advertising revenue sharing service. Instagram is perfect for those who aspire to be an influencer or want to produce vlog content that is visually striking.

And if you are thinking about launching a vlog that you charge people to access (because you can create compelling content with value), you can use sites like Vimeo or Patreon to host vlogs behind a paywall.

Generally speaking, the best choice for hosting your blogging videos is YouTube, and a few of the tips in the rest of this guide are geared towards YouTube specifically.

2. Define Your Niche

So, what is it that you want to vlog about? Nowadays, there are video blogging channels out there for almost every conceivable niche. But those that do succeed long term know what niche they fit into.

It’s all well and good branding your channel around yourself and starting by producing video blogs that focus on you and your life. However, if you want to grow a loyal fanbase (more tips on this below) you need to know what sort of niche you fit into.

It also makes developing content ideas a LOT easier. If you are really unsure of what your exact niche is, then don’t worry. Many successful YouTube stars started out just making generic videos about their lives before realizing what sort of content most resonated with their audience. They then tweak their exact niche over time.

Watch my video to learn how you can generate an endless supply of content ideas:

Still not sure what niche you want to fit into? Okay, well answers usually this … what is your biggest passion? Just following your passions and creating videos most closely related to those enable you to create the best sort of content.

Don’t choose a certain niche just because you think the audience is there and you have a lot of knowledge of it. Especially if you don’t really like actually talking about that topic. It will make creating content for the following months and years extremely tedious.

3. Know Your Audience

It’s impossible to create content that appeals to everybody under the sun. Instead, your vlog should be aimed at a specific subgroup of people, and you should develop a precise idea of who your ideal viewer will be.

Knowing this ideal viewer, and as an extension, your audience, will help you choose the right words for your scripts and the best topics for your videos.

Set aside some time to build up a profile of your perfect vlog viewer. Are they male or female? Young or old? What are their interests and what job do they have?

Compile these attributes into a list, and give the imaginary person a name. Then have this picture of your ideal viewer at the front of your mind every time you begin to record.

4. Clearly Decide What Content You Will Produce

Your vlog content needs to dazzle your audience. If your content is top-notch, viewers will forgive tinny sound or amateur camera work; you must plan all of your video content thoughtfully.

• What is your desired aim for your vlog?
• Do you want to make people laugh, learn, or buy something?
• Perhaps you want to help people to grow spiritually.

Whatever your objective, stick to your story. All of your content needs to remain on topic.

There is no point in jumping around with different types of content. If you vlog about food, don’t throw in an update about fashion.

People tend to follow vloggers that provide niche-specific content in a topic they’re interested in. And people only have enough spare time to watch a handful of vloggers. So if you aren’t hitting their content sweet-spot with each and every video, you may struggle to grow your audience.

If you are struggling for inspiration, do a deep dive into your favorite vlogger’s back catalog. Spend a few hours watching lots of their videos. See what topics they cover, and build-up a list of content ideas; just jot down everything you can see yourself doing.

Finally, take your list and circle the ten content ideas that are right for you, then start scripting each video. For scripting, you don’t need to write out all of what you are going to say, but a list of headings you can refer to while filming will keep you on track.

Do you find it hard to create a consistent content strategy? Watch my video:

5. Create A Content Schedule (And Stick To It!)

Where most video bloggers fail is in them never establishing a proper content schedule. What does this mean?

Well, it’s a carefully curated list of what topics your videos will be on and when they will be released. Just saying “Okay, I’m going to put out 50 videos this year”, isn’t really good enough.

Instead, you need to know WHAT videos you will be making and WHEN they will be released. As a rule of thumb, at least 1 video a week is a good starting point. And don’t worry, you don’t need to decide a whole year’s worth of content in one go.

Instead, you can plan out the first 2 or 3 months now and then go from there. It is perfectly normal for a content calendar to change slightly. Especially as you start making videos live and begin to realize what content works best.

• Check out my detailed guide to developing your content plan.
• Listen to Amy Porterfield’s podcast episode explaining how to create a consistent 3-month content calendar.

BONUS TIP – Batching!

Just because you plan to publish one video a week, it doesn’t mean you film just one video a week. Instead, I recommend batching videos wherever possible. This means filming the talking for a few videos all in one go.

Then, you can edit them all together into separate videos and schedule each one to go live when planned. This can help to save a LOT of time, as you only need to set up your film equipment once.

If you plan to release a weekly life vlog, then this isn’t really possible as you need to film content as the week goes on.

If you want to learn more about video content batching, check out this video by Vanessa Lau:

Stage 2: Getting ready to vlog

Okay, so you’ve defined your niche and your audience, now you are at the stage of getting ready for the vlog. These video blogging tips all focus on preparing your equipment in order to produce the highest quality videos possible.

6. Video Blog Sound

One of the first things to consider when preparing for vlogging is the sound. I’ve purposely not included a tip in this section that talks about cameras. Because most smartphones can film in an acceptable resolution, as long as your camera can shoot HD video, it will be suitable to get you up and running.

Blue Yeti USB microphone

One thing that your smartphone lacks, however, is a good inbuilt microphone. Smartphone microphones are sufficient for making a call, but do lack the necessary quality to record audio for broadcast – you’ll need to invest in an external microphone.

The type of external microphone you choose to buy depends on the kind of vlogs you want to shoot. If you will always film sat still at home, then you may decide to get a boom mic that hovers over your head and out of the shot.

For the same type of vlog filming, some people favor desk microphones instead and are happy to have them in the picture as part of their set. But, if you are moving around, then it’s worth investing in a lapel microphone that maintains the same sound level whatever movements you make.

Just be sure to film at a quiet time of day when there is no other outside noise to mess up the sound quality. If you plan to film outdoors, you’ll also need special mic covers to protect your investment from the elements and cut down any wind noise.

As your sound is recorded separately, you may need to sync your audio with the picture when you edit your video. So just before you start talking clap your hands like a Hollywood movie clap-board.

The claps will show up as audio peaks in your editing software, and let you easily match up the images and sound.

Amazon or eBay are the places to purchase reasonably priced sound equipment. You can get something that functions OK for $30-$40 but try and stretch yourself to a $100 budget to buy something of quality.

7. Video Blog Lights

Lighting is a key element in vlogging. While your first screen tests may be shot in your dingy backroom, when you record something you want to upload ensure you’ve thought about the lighting.

If you’re on a tight budget and can only afford one light, get a ring light to ensure your face is adequately lit. A ring light is for illuminating your face while minimizing any shadow. Place your camera in the center of the ring for best results. Ring lights are sometimes called selfie or diva lights too.

Budget video lighting kit from Foxin. See on Amazon.

If you have space and the budget you can go to town with your lighting. Key lights, fill lights, and backlights are all essential pieces of an impressive lighting solution.

Video lighting kit from Arri. See on Amazon.

An alternative to using a professional lighting setup is to film in natural light – it’s what lighting equipment tries to recreate anyway. So if you have a place to film with plenty of natural lighting that could be an option for you. The only downside is you can have your filming schedule restricted, either by weather or the time of day.

I recommended you also experiment with your lighting and sound. Try filming some test vlogs to try out different setups and locations.

8. Create A Vlogging Space / Studio

When choosing a space to film your vlog, you really have three options. First, you can just film naturally and give no real thought to what’s showing in the background. Second, you can construct a mini-set in a corner of your home. Third, you can buy a background that you can hang up behind you for filming.

Let’s take a quick look at all three options.

The Selfie Vlog

Simply holding your camera wherever you are and starting to film is a rough-and-ready style that may suit some vloggers.

It’s more casual, hyper-personal, and may result in deeper engagement from your viewers. Here is top-vlogger Casey Neistat filming on the streets. Though there is nothing to stop you selfie-vlogging around your home.

Source: Casey Neistat’s Twitter.

The Mini Home Set

Many vloggers choose to build a mini studio set at home. Using cheap self-build furniture from somewhere like Ikea, plus a few well-chosen home furnishings, make it easy to construct a professional-looking background to your vlog. Be sure to pick up a decent tripod so that you can position your camera in the exact way you like.

Here is a home set constructed for the channel of the Chrome extension for YouTubers, vidIQ. Some basic shelving, ornaments that align with the vlog’s image, and some low-key backlights combine to create an excellent vlog setting.

Source: vidIQ YouTube channel.

Hanging background

If you don’t have space to construct a home vlog set or want to get up and running quickly, then you could choose to use a backdrop.

You can buy backdrops from eBay and Amazon that have white, black, and green color options. And if you are tech-minded, you can use the green background to edit in a digital backdrop later.

Alternatively, you can use a specially printed backdrop that you can hang anywhere when you want to vlog. Reezy Resells, the popular eBay and Amazon reseller, has a logo and tagline printed on a yellow background he uses for his vlogs.

Source: Reezy Resells YouTube channel.

In the end, you may want to test a couple or all of these options, to see which is the right fit for your vlog style.

9. Dress To Impress

Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean putting on a fancy dress or suit. But what it does mean is to create a professional-style that suits the audience you are trying to appeal to. Sure, if you want to vlog about personal finance, then a suit may be a good idea.

But if you’re talking about travel or sports or tech, then general daily fashion is fine. It’s all about creating a look that your viewers feel comfortable with and that fits the tone.

But as a basic rule, at least freshen up your face and hair; and certainly no vests with old food stains!

10. Write A Rough Script

Before you start rolling the cameras, you need to have a good idea of what it is you are going to say. The best video bloggers out there are usually very good at thinking and talking on the spot. But I can guarantee that even the best have at least a rough bullet point outline of what they want to say.

By developing a rough script ahead of time, you can be sure that:

• You have enough content to talk about in the video
• You talk about the right things in the video, and don’t ramble
• You save time by being able to get on and talk
• You tell an engaging story

Ultimately, those video bloggers that use scripts end up producing video content that is to a much higher standard and that is much more useful for their viewers. Don’t worry about your script being too specific, otherwise, you risk coming off as a robot when you open your mouth.

Stage 3: Recording Your Video Blogs

Okay, so your recording equipment is all set up and you know what you want to say. These tips will help guide you in perhaps the most important stage of video blogging. Which is creating awesome content that can eventually be edited and packaged up into top-quality videos.

11. Make The First 15 Seconds Count

Easily the most crucial part of any video is the first 15 seconds. In this time, your job is to hook the viewer and give them a reason to watch the rest of your video. What happens if these first 15 seconds are boring? Well, they leave and go watch someone else’s video! That simple.

People are impatient and they want to be entertained, especially when there are so many other videos out there they could be watching. So if someone has made the first step and actually clicked one of your videos, then it’s important you keep them there. The best method I have come across for this is H.O.T.

H.O.T.: Hook, Outcome, Testimonial

Sunny Lenarduzzi is a prime advocate of this and follows the method in most of her own videos. It stands for Hook, Outcome, Testimonial; a simple three-step process to encourage your viewer to watch on. The Hook is an exciting titbit or preview that immediately grabs the viewer’s attention.

The outcome showcases what it is the viewer will learn as a result of watching the video. And the testimonial where you demonstrate any evidence or proof that what you are saying is true or worth listening to. For a demonstration of this in action, check out this video from Sunny herself:

12. Compose Your Video Blog Shots

Good photography, whether video or still frame, follows some tried and trusted composition techniques. One of the first techniques taught to new photographers is called the rule-of-thirds.

Essentially, the camera viewing window is divided by two horizontal and two vertical lines, creating nine equal-sized rectangles. You can then use this grid to compose your shot.

Source: vloggerpro.com

Many new vloggers make the mistake of being in the dead-center of the frame. This composition can appear awkward and amateur. It looks much better to be slightly off to one side with your forehead in the top third of the screen.

Similarly, be sure to look directly towards the lens when recording; not any screen your camera may have. Most smartphones and all quality video cameras have viewing window grid lines you can turn on to help you compose your shot using the rule-of-thirds.

13. Shoot Your Vlog in Short Sequences

A further vlog filming tip is to shoot your videos in short sequences. It’s much easier to memorize a brief bit of what you want to say then say it to the camera. You can then edit the vlog together from these shorter sequences.

But, before you press record, practice what you are going to say first. Most people can’t speak off the cuff and deliver vlogging gold time after time. So practice each short segment first with your vlog plan or script, to iron out any tricky spots and get your delivery right.

14. Keep Recording

As well as this, get into a habit of continuing to record a clip, even if you didn’t get it quite right the first time. It can be tedious and frustrating needing to keep turning the recording off and on every time you mess up … which you will by the way. That’s normal. It can all be ironed out in post-production when you come to stitching the video together.

15. Utilise Screen Capture Software

A unique tool for creating engaging and interesting video blogs is screen capture software. This records what you see on your computer screen. This may not be relevant to all types of video bloggers, but certainly most.

Rather than filming yourself search through your computer, instead, use this to more professionally show viewers what it is you are doing on your laptop. There are a bunch of different screen capture software tools out there, but a personal favorite of mine is Loom.

I use it in all facets of my business and is really useful for making quick videos to members of my team to better illustrate a point. And it doubles as a fantastic tool for helping to create additional footage for video blogs.

Recording and sharing video messages of your screen & cam

16. Be Personable And Engaging

Another essential video blogging tip is to make a conscientious effort to be both entertaining, but also yourself. The most successful vloggers out there are those that make you feel like they are just being themselves. They get across their personality and don’t mind showcasing their quirks or flaws.

You might need to make slight adjustments to how enthusiastic you normally are, but fundamentally get across you as an individual. Just pretend like you are at home talking to your friends.

Do you have any quirky mannerisms? Great, embrace them! Show people the real you, they will love you for it.

Head through YouTube now and look at 10 or 15 different successful vloggers. You’ll quickly notice that they are all just as engaging and enthusiastic, but they each do so in their own unique way.

17. Know What Your Message Is

Every video should have a purpose behind it. You should be trying to convey a clear and memorable point to your viewer.

Say, for example, you are making a video on getting started in real estate investment. What should the takeaway be?

How they can get started in real estate investment that day.

Sounds simple? Of course, it is!

So be aware of your purpose in the video and reinforce that takeaway message throughout. Don’t go off on a tangent or stray away to related topics. Being aware of your video blogging message allows you to clear away the waffle and hone in on exactly what it is your viewer wants to learn from you.

18. Interact With Your Viewers

Rather than just talking at your viewers, try your best to be engaging and create some sort of dialogue. Doing so with a pre-recorded video may seem counter-intuitive, but trust me, it’s not.

Popular video blogging platforms, YouTube, in particular, are created with this exact purpose in mind; to allow your viewers to engage with you. Such as by liking your video and leaving a comment.

The more comments and likes you receive directly correlates with how engaged your viewer feels. They go from being a bystander to a genuine part of the experience.

You can interact in a number of ways, but a very easy tactic is to ask simple, clear questions two or three times in each video. Say you are talking about baking a chocolate cake. Ask your viewers questions like …

• “Have you ever baked a chocolate cake?”
• “Would you do anything differently when you bake a chocolate cake?”
• “When will you be baking the recipe I’ve just shown you?”

These questions are super simple to answer but help initiate an interaction, in turn letting you build a much deeper relationship with your viewer and build a larger subscribed fanbase.

Stage 4: Post Production – Getting Your Video Blogs Ready For Release

Now that you’ve recorded your video footage, it’s time to turn it into something that your viewers can watch and enjoy. This part of the video blogging journey is called post-production, and here are my top video editing tips to get you started.

19. Get Yourself The Right Tool for Video Blogging

There is no way around it; you will need to get to grips with video editing if you’re set on launching a vlog. You may stutter in the middle of shooting what is otherwise a perfect segment and need to trim it out. Plus at some stage, you’ll undoubtedly want to add in a title or some graphics.

If you choose to vlog on YouTube there is a basic editor built-in to the YouTube Studio. This is only for basic editing, though, best used for adding in video introductions and end screens. If you own an Apple Mac you have free software bundled in with the operating system that edits video well, called iMovie.

Apple iMovie

iMovie is a decent video editing solution and some experienced vloggers say it’s all they’ve ever needed. You can edit clips together, add titles, fix sound levels, and more.

Windows users have a range of free options to download and install that are similar in capability to iMovie. Of all the options available, the one I recommend is Openshot. It’s open-source software, which means it’s produced by software coders free of charge. For Windows users, it’s the best option to get you started.

OpenShot Video Editor – main interface

If you find yourself taken to the art of editing and want to achieve more with your videos, then you need to step up to professional video blogging software. It comes at a price, though – at least several hundred dollars.

Apple users should choose Final Cut Pro X, and Windows users Adobe Premier Pro.

20. Include Visuals

Vlogging is maturing as a medium, and you’ll find all levels of vloggers adding titles, graphics, and b-roll footage to their videos. Let’s take a quick look at each type.

Titles

At the very least, you’ll want to add a title to your vlogs. Displaying your name or logo helps increase brand recognition and title communicating the topic of the vlog doesn’t hurt either.

Marie Forleo always begins her vlogs with a caption in the corner of who she is and what she does.

Watch videos by Marie Forleo on her YouTube channel

Graphics

Graphics can enhance viewer enjoyment of your vlog, and serve to highlight an important point, or encourage action from your viewers like following your social media channels.

Amy Landino, a YouTube vlogger, uses graphics to introduce each segment of her vlogs. Graphics like these are not too difficult to do with a little practice, using third-party tools like Kapwing and Wofox.

Kapwing – add image to video

B-Roll Clips

B-roll clips (sometimes called stock footage) are clips you edit into your video to add clarity to the words you are saying or underline a point. The clips don’t have to be ones you filmed yourself, but you must have copyright permission to use them in your video.

There are lots of online stock video websites that provide footage that is either copyright free, or for a fee, licenses you to use it. Pixabay has copyright-free video footage you can edit into your vlog. Story Blocks is a paid service that contains many more videos than the free alternatives.

Pixabay – Free video footage

Bumper

Bumpers are a fantastic way to help build your personal brand, and add a higher level of professionalism to your videos. These are short clips, usually less than 10 seconds, that highlight your personal brand or the company responsible for the video.

You can include bumpers anywhere in a video, though they usually do well at the start after you introduce what’s coming up. You can have a decent bumper made through sites like Fiverr for as little as $5. Though it’s probably worth investing a little more as this will be present in every video you come to produce.

Results for “bumper video design” on Fiverr

Subtitles

Subtitles are a must in today’s easily distracted world! Not only will they help with SEO, but you’ll also see an instant boost in engagement.

Luckily for you, subtitles are now super easy to add with apps such as Zubtitle and Typestudio.

Simply upload your video into one of these tools and your audio will be automatically transcribed. You can then easily edit the text, the style, and placement of the subtitles. You can even download the text to use in your blog posts, as more content, or to upload as captions on youtube.

Right now for being a reader of my blog you can get a 20% discount off of the Typestudio pro account by entering the code ‘YOURLIFESTYLEBUSINESS20‘ at checkout!

21. Use Royalty-Free Music

It’s usually a good idea to use some sort of music to accompany your videos. However, it’s important to only ever use royalty-free music. YouTube in particular has cracked down on any video bloggers using copyrighted music in their videos.

If you intend to make ad revenue through your videos on YouTube, then you cannot do so with videos that contain copyrighted music. But don’t worry, there are tonnes of great royalty-free music for video blogging out there, with more and more being released every single week.

Two great starting points are YouTube itself. The first being the YouTube Studio Audio Library, which is home to thousands of tracks of royalty-free music, as well as different sound effects to complement your footage.

The other thing you can do is simply search YouTube for “Royalty-Free music”, and you’ll quickly discover a number of channels all dedicated to releasing new royalty-free tracks. You can use these in any videos you make, just be sure to credit them in your video’s description.

Royalty Free Music – No Copyright Music

In the long run, I recommend signing up for a service like Epidemic Sound. For a flat monthly subscription, you get access to thousands of royalty-free tracks and even more sound effects. Best of all, you don’t need to credit anyone.

Epidemic Sound – Royalty free music and sound effects

22. Create Click-worthy Thumbnails

Another important part of the video-making process is creating a thumbnail. This is the image that appears to showcase your video. Your job here is to make this thumbnail as click-worthy as possible.

It needs to stand out from the other videos around it and encourage viewers to click that video instead of anyone else’s. How do you do that? Well, a lot of it is trial and error. I recommend creating different thumbnail styles for each video you make, and over time get a feel for which ones work best.

A good starting point is to head to YouTube and do a search for videos related to your niche. Have a look at what sorts of results appear. From this, you should be able to pick up on …

1. Common themes and styles that the target viewer obviously likes
2. Ways in which these current thumbnails are lacking

There is no hard and fast rule in creating a click-worthy thumbnail, but as a rough guide, here are a few things you may want to include:

• A bold color scheme – Choose one that is different from YouTube’s own main colors of red, white, and black.
• A picture of yourself – Helps to reinforce your personal brand.
• Limited amounts of text – A few words in bold can help showcase what the video is about, but avoid using much more. Many video thumbnails are seen on mobile devices and large amounts of text won’t be possible to read.

To get started, I recommend signing up for Canva. Unlike most design subscription tools, their free version is actually amazing! You get access to more than 250,000 templates for designing all kinds of social media graphics.

This includes hundreds of YouTube thumbnail templates which you can easily customize to suit your own branding.

Discover awesome YouTube video thumbnail templates on Canva.com

23. Use Attention-Grabbing Titles

Which of these do you think sounds better?

1. “Chocolate cake recipe that I made”
2. “You HAVE to try this chocolate cake recipe [Warning: You WILL get hungry!]”

The second title is making a much better attempt to generate some sort of emotion and give you a real reason to click the video. Much like thumbnails, there isn’t one exact way to create titles, but there are some guidelines to follow in helping to make them click-worthy:

• Use numbers – Numbers have been shown to increase click-through rates in titles everywhere, particularly on sites like YouTube.
• Use emotion – Phrases like “this will make you cry” or “shocked us to see” are filled with emotion and when used appropriately, can boost clicks.
• Use search phrases – Otherwise known as keywords, these help you to generate organic traffic to your video (more on this in the next vlogging tip).

Stage 5: Growing Your Audience

If you are keen to make money video blogging, then you will need to grow your audience. Successful vloggers have tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of subscribers, and these tips will help you in reaching that level of success.

24. Target Keywords In Your Videos

YouTube is officially the world’s second-largest search engine. So you should approach it with many of the same SEO principles you use in trying to rank in Google. And perhaps the biggest is including keywords in your videos.

Whenever you create a new video, it’s a good idea to do keyword research and see what sorts of videos your audience are searching for.

MOZ Keywords Explorer

Now that you have your keywords, use them strategically in your videos; this includes:

• In your titles – Ideally towards the start.
• Throughout your video – YouTube analyses and understands what you say in your video, so use your keyword (and variants of it) throughout the video.
• In the video description – Write a short description of the video of around 100-200 words, and include the keyword as well as variations here as well.

25. Consistency Is King

Video blogging platforms favor those channels that regularly produce new content. So rather than creating videos as and when it’s good to be consistent in your approach. This also helps in growing a loyal following, as people like to know when to expect new videos of yours to watch.

26. Comment On Other Vlogs And Blogs

A simple way to increase exposure for your video blog is to take time to comment on other people’s videos and blog posts. I’m not talking about writing typical spammy comments that you see plastered all over YouTube these days.

I’m talking about making real and interesting comments that offer insight into what you have just read or watched. Don’t leave a comment for the sake of it, as it is easy to spot someone who is not so genuine.

But leaving useful comments and thoughts helps increase your exposure to other viewers, whilst also initiating a relationship with the creator of that video.

It’s best to focus on commenting on other video blogging channels that are most closely related to your own. That way you can be sure that the viewers and creator are more closely aligned with you.

27. Grow Your Other Social Media Channels

The great thing about social media is that all platforms complement each other. If you can grow a successful Instagram channel, then it’s natural that you can direct your followers from there over to your vlog. If you have a blog, then start embedding videos into blog posts.

A vlog is a great way to complement the content you produce on these other platforms. If you don’t already have any other social media channels, then there’s no time like the present! But rather than trying to do everything at once, pick one or two other platforms to grow alongside your vlog and expand from there.

28. Collaborate With Other YouTubers

Just because you are trying to become a successful vlogger, and so is everyone else in your niche, it doesn’t mean you are all trying to beat each other. On the flip side, YouTube’s audience is so vast these days that there is room for plenty of successful vloggers in every niche.

So there is a lot to be gained in collaborating with fellow YouTubers and helping to build each other’s audiences. A great way to do this is with a regular interview segment on your vlog. Once a month, you could host an interview with a fellow vlogger about their experience in your niche.

Check out iJustine’s video sharing some great examples of collaboration with fellow YouTubers:

It is a win-win as they get exposure through your channel, and you get to create new and interesting content. Better yet, they should hopefully share the interview with their audience, so their followers can check you out and hopefully subscribe to your vlog.

Find some tips for prolific content creation in my video:

29. Focus On Your Brand

As your vlog starts to grow, be aware that what you are really trying to build is a brand. That brand could be a company name, or the brand could be you. It doesn’t matter. Either way, make sure that your brand is front and center and obvious to everyone visiting your channel.

We have discussed earlier the use of graphics and buffers in your videos. But you can also produce professional logos and other channel art which will help attract more subscribers by making you appear much more sophisticated.

30. Look For Feedback

When you start your vlog, you are going to make mistakes. It’s that simple. It certainly won’t be perfect and you will do all sorts wrong. That is 100% natural and to be expected. And when others give you criticism, you need to take it on board.

In fact, I would go so far as to actively encourage criticism and feedback, especially from friends and relatives. Ask them to check out your videos and tell you what they think.

Without realizing it, your video quality may be a little sloppy, or maybe the audio is patchy, or perhaps your whole branding sucks. It doesn’t matter, but what does matter is spotting these things early on and fixing them.

31. Test, Test, Test

This is perhaps the most important video blogging tip of all. Always be testing!

Whenever you have new ideas for your channel, give them a go. If you’ve spent 6 weeks putting out the same videos and you’re not seeing any results, it’s time to mix things up and try something new.

Change the camera positioning, change your location, change your titles, change your color schemes. Keep testing different aspects of your vlog until you find things that do make a change, and then double down on those.

Pros and Cons of Video Blogging for Beginners

Pros:

1. Attract Viewers with Compelling Content:
   • Crafting engaging and compelling content helps attract viewers and build a loyal audience over time.
2. Enhance Video Quality with High-Quality Camera:
   • Investing in a high-quality camera contributes to producing visually appealing videos, improving overall video quality.
3. Improve Audio Clarity with a Good Microphone:
   • Using a good microphone ensures high-quality audio, enhancing the overall viewing experience for your audience.
4. Encourage Viewer Interaction with Captions:
   • Adding captions not only boosts SEO but also caters to a wider audience, including those who prefer or require text-based content.
5. Use Free Online Tools for Content Creation:
   • Leveraging free online tools like Kapwing and Wofox simplifies the creation of graphics and enhances the visual appeal of your vlogs.
6. Create Consistent Branding with Graphics:
   • Incorporating graphics, including logos and segment introductions, helps establish and reinforce your brand identity.

Cons:

1. Challenges of Expensive Equipment:
   • Acquiring an expensive camera and audio equipment may pose initial budget constraints for beginners.
2. Dealing with Background Noise:
   • Managing background noise during recording can be challenging, impacting the overall audio quality of the vlog.
3. Balancing Light Sources for Key and Fill Light:
   • Achieving proper lighting, including key and fill light, requires careful setup and may pose challenges in certain filming conditions.
4. Overcoming the Learning Curve of Creating Videos:
   • For beginners, the process of learning video editing, content creation, and mastering the technical aspects can be time-consuming.
5. Choosing the Best Platform for Content Sharing:
   • Deciding on the best platform for sharing content involves considerations such as audience demographics, algorithms, and discoverability.
6. Ensuring High-Quality Audio Despite Computer Screen Recordings:
   • Recording computer screens may introduce additional challenges in maintaining high-quality audio, requiring extra attention to sound quality.

31 Video Blogging Tips for Beginners – Summary

Challenge yourself today to give vlogging a go. Write down a quick plan of what you’d like to say, then record a short vlog just holding your smartphone like you’re taking a selfie.

I’m sure you’ll find it’s not as bad as you expected. Like most endeavors, vlogging is a skill you can learn. And the first videos of some of the best vloggers today were not masterpieces, with many still available to watch on YouTube.

In fact, here’s one of mine from 9 years ago!

Browse your favorite vlogger’s account and scroll back to when they first started. You’ll see some amateur attempts with all sorts of mistakes. Watching these early videos will give you the encouragement you need to give it a go yourself. So work through the tips in this article and start your vlog today!

Good luck!

31 Video Blogging Tips for Beginners – FAQ’s

What is a video blogger?

A video blogger, often called a “vlogger,” creates video content instead of traditional text-based blogs. They typically share these videos on platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, or even on their own blog. The videos can cover a wide range of topics, just like a traditional blog. If you’re a fan of telling stories, sharing knowledge, or just chatting about life, video blogging could be for you!
How do you start video blogging?
Starting a video blog is simpler than you might think. Here’s a quick guide to get you rolling:

1. Choose Your Niche: Decide what your videos will be about.
2. Select Your Gear: Basic digital cameras or even smartphones can work.
3. Plan Your Content: Think about your first few vlog entries.
4. Create a Video: Use your camera to record your content.
5. Edit: Use simple software to polish your video.
6. Upload Content: Choose a video sharing platform and upload your masterpiece.
7. Promote: Share it on social platforms to attract viewers.

Do video bloggers make money?

Absolutely! Video bloggers can make money through various methods such as ad revenue, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing. However, the amount of money you’ll make can vary based on your viewership, content quality, and how well you market yourself.

What is a video blog with example?

A video blog is essentially a series of video clips, also known as vlog entries, focused on particular topics or themes. For example, if you’re into cooking, your video blog could feature different recipes, cooking techniques, or kitchen hacks.

Can I earn $1000 from blogging?

Earning $1000 or more from video blogging is definitely possible, but it won’t happen overnight. Consistency, quality content, and a loyal viewership are key. Also, diversifying your income streams can help you reach your financial goals faster.

How much money does 1,000 views make on Blogger?

The amount you’ll make for 1,000 views can vary depending on factors like your audience’s location and the ad types displayed on your blog. Generally speaking, you could make anywhere from $2 to $10 per 1,000 views.

Is daily vlogging worth it?

Daily vlogging can be both rewarding and demanding. While it offers the opportunity for more traffic and engagement, it’s also a daunting task that requires commitment and planning. Make sure you weigh the pros and cons before diving in.

How much do first-time bloggers make?

First-time bloggers often face a learning curve and might not make a lot initially. However, with dedication and the right strategies, you can start earning a decent income within a year or so.

How do I start a blog with no experience?

Starting a blog with no experience isn’t as scary as it sounds. The key is to take the first step. Decide your niche, select a simple platform for hosting content, and make your first post. As you go along, you’ll learn and improve.

How do you make an effective video blog?

To create an effective video blog, focus on compelling content creation. Craft engaging videos that attract viewers by using a high-quality camera for clear visuals and a good microphone for crisp audio. Additionally, add captions to enhance accessibility and viewer engagement.

How do I become a successful video blogger?

To become a successful video blogger, start by creating consistent and high-quality content. Invest in a fantastic camera and microphone for professional production, and encourage viewers to interact with your content through comments and shares. Building a great personality on camera and utilizing free online tools for graphics further enhance success.

How can I start video blogging?

To start video blogging, choose a niche that aligns with your interests, select basic equipment such as a smartphone or digital camera for content creation, and create a plan for your initial vlog entries. Utilize free online tools for graphics and explore platforms like YouTube, ensuring you attract viewers with compelling content.

Do video bloggers make money?

Yes, video bloggers can make money through various channels, including ad revenue, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing. Success often depends on factors like consistent content creation, building a loyal audience, and diversifying income streams.