Although starting a vlog might seem like an easy process, in fact, it isn't the case. Before you start to shoot videos and post them on video-sharing web sites, you might want to learn the field from inside out so as to be ready for all pitfalls that might appear on your way. One of the first things you need to understand is that starting vlogging means spending money. If you want your videos to be of high quality, you'll definitely need to invest in one of the best vlogging cameras that will both ensure stunning videos and make the process of shooting hassle-free and convenient under any conditions. Another thing to take into account is that this hobby will require a lot of your time. Vloggers' success largely depends on their self-management as they're expected to have schedules and post their video materials at a certain interval of time on a regular basis. Finally, it's important to understand that once your videos will become accessible on YouTube, you'll become a public figure, meaning you'll have both fans and admires, and haters. So be ready to read critical comments under your videos and react to them in the proper way. Some comments can be really useful and help you improve your vlog while others can be groundless and even offensive.
All of these things might seem like a lot of challenge for some people and you may wonder why to become a vlogger in the first place. Well, it's all about the satisfaction that vloggers obtain when they see the number of their followers increasing, when they know that people are actually interested in what they're doing and expect to see for what they've got for them next. And of course, it's the satisfaction coming from the realization that vlogging activity may generate a very good revenue. It’s quite a pleasant compensation for all the difficulties, isn’t it?
Once you've decided that you're ready for all the changes that may descend upon you, the preparation stage starts.
- Carry out market research. There are thousands of bloggers all over the world and they cover almost any topic you can think of. A quick analysis of the vlogging topics that already exist will show you that each field has its leaders - the most successful vloggers who have millions of followers. The competition on YouTube is stiff, so, you need to be extremely creative when starting a vlog.
- Plan your schedule. Every successful vlogger posts his/her videos at equal periods of time. It gives them a chance to gather the needed material for the next post and keeps viewers intrigued, especially if a small announcement of the next vlog topic is made.
- Think of a name for your vlog. It can be your real name or nickname but it definitely should be unique and memorable. Be creative when thinking of the name since there are thousands of them already yet, you want your name to be noticed. It would be great if it is visual – some people don’t remember names, they remember “faces”, so creating a logo for your vlog will also be a great idea.
- Promote yourself via social media. It will help you become recognizable among a greater number of people.
- Work on your confidence. Once you start your vlogging channel, your videos will be watched by dozens, hundreds, thousands, and maybe, if you manage to succeed in such a competitive field as vlogging, millions of people. That’s why you want to look confident, funny or serious (depending on the format of your vlog), and of course, attractive so your viewers like you and wait for the next vlogs eagerly. Practicing in front of the mirror, especially when you prepare your first vlog, will help you understand how other people perceive you.
It's likely that you already know what topic you'll talk about in your vlogs. It's a matter of preference, and you can choose absolutely any topic, from food to music, to sports and environmental issues, but there's one thing you want to keep in mind - whatever topic you choose, you should be passionate about it. When you talk about what you're really interested in, you’ll be able to inspire other people with your ideas, as opposed to speaking on a popular but boring topic for you. So if you don't want your vlogging career to end soon, select only those subjects that motivate and inspire you.
With the development of technologies in the modern world, you can use almost any camera for video recording. Every new launched smartphone has better camera specifications than previous models, allowing you to capture any moments of your life wherever and whenever you want. However, speaking of vlogging, you might want to buy a special camera that has more features than a smartphone one. In general, a vlogging camera is the one that allows you to shoot in high resolution and supports the latest video recording formats. You should also pay attention to the memory and power source of your camera to be sure it won’t let you down when you least expect. And those who’re going to shoot videos on travel and sports topics should pay close attention to accessories such as wrist/shoulder straps, tripods, or adhesive mounts to be able to use their cameras on the go with the maximum convenience.
One of the latest technologies that let you make unusual videos and show your viewers new angles of shooting is camera drones. These appliances are more expensive than vlogging cameras but if you want to add some elegance to your vlogs, you might be interested in trying them out. Perhaps, travel vloggers will be interested in these appliances the most since with the help of camera drones, they’ll be able to show great landscapes from the sky discovering unreal nature of our world. If the topic of your vlog isn’t traveling, you still can use drones for making your videos, just be creative.
If vlogging is more than one-day hobby for you, paying close attention to the quality of your videos is a must. By this, we mean not only high resolution that will be provided by your camera but also interesting plot. That’s why uploading video without editing isn’t really a sensible decision. Here's where video editing software comes in handy. Thanks to these programs that can be used online or offline depending on your needs, you’ll be able to improve the image quality, reduce unwanted noise, and choose the most suitable shots to make a coherent short film from separate recordings. You can also add various visual effects to make your videos more interesting.
If you haven't heard the name of Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, you're likely to have heard the name of PewDiePie, his YouTube channel. This vlogger is one of the lucky ones who've entered the niche at the right time and managed to hit the records of all vlogger ratings gaining over 62 million followers during one year. The man started his vlogging career by playing computer games and giving commentary on how to play them. What made him different from the crowd is that he expressed his emotions in a funny way which added a certain charm to his videos. Given how many fans of computer games are there all over the world, he managed to quickly turn a simple hobby into a real and, what's more important, profitable job. That way, in 2017, PewDiePie channel had more than 62 million people already, bringing it over $12 million of profit a year.
There are more YouTube video bloggers out there. Not all of them are as famous as Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, but you can find leaders in each field. Perhaps you're following some of them already, and if you're not, you should definitely look up this way and find your favorites that will be interesting for you. Watching the other vloggers will help you to establish your own presence online, devise your own vlogging style, and become a constant source of inspiration. You certainly shouldn't butt into plagiarism copying every single detail, but gaining the insight in what they do so they can be where they are can help you create your own vlog that will be successful.
As you can see, starting a vlog on YouTube can become more than a hobby. If you succeed in making your YouTube channel popular, you’ll be able to make it a stable source of income. You’ll also get a chance to make new friends and possibly even cooperate with those people you could only dream of meeting one day. Once you develop in this sphere, gain some experience and find your own followers, you may then want to turn to new vlogging directions, like, for example, a daily vlog.
Of course, everybody can fail but even if you do, you should look at it this way - you've learned from it and now can either try something new or proceed with the vlog you've already built by improving it - both options are beneficial for you. So whatever outcome you get, it’s worth trying. Stay positive and be hard-working, and we hope to hear about your own YouTube channel soon.