A Beginner's Guide to Vlogging

Learn about the right equipment to become a vlogger

Do your research
Get the right vlogging gear
Keep your vlog interesting
Market yourself thoroughly
Interact with your audience
Edit your vlogs

What is vlogging? Vlogging is creating a video blog that captures aspects of your life, your hobbies, your passions, or your opinions. Video blogging is an exciting and fun way to get your thoughts and experiences out there into the world. If you're new to the vlog game, you may find it difficult to know where to begin. You need the right knowledge, the right techniques and, of course, the right camcorder and gear to make it all work. Once those basics are secured, all that’s left to do is figure out what you want to say and the best way to say it, and you're ready to start vlogging.

Do your research

The first step is deciding what kind of vlogger you want to be. There are food, travel and beauty vloggers, as well as a huge number of other genres to pick from. If you have something in mind, check out other vloggers in that genre and learn from their techniques. How do they say things or show them to the audience? How do they dress, and what catches your attention? Take notes on their techniques and then create your own voice and style before you start filming.

Discovering what's trending now is also a good place to start. Learn about current terms, memes, video types and clothing that seem to be popular. Try to predict where these trends may head next. Also, check out current and emerging platforms. Familiarize yourself with these platforms so you can know how to start vlogging on YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram with ease. If you still feel uncertain about how to begin, try reaching out to vloggers you enjoy for a little personal advice. They may be busy, but who knows? You might get a helpful response.

Get the right gear

If you want to vlog like a pro, getting the right gear is vital. The correct equipment creates an experienced and polished appearance for vlogs, which helps spread your content effectively. You'll need a quality camera, sound equipment, studio lighting and other accessories, depending on what genre you focus on. Record your vlogs in good lighting and make sure your sound quality is clear, with no background noise. For on-the-go vlogging, utilize tripods and action cameras that are helpful for quality outside recording.

Keep it interesting

While it’s important to be in step with current trends, you still need to have something fun and unique to say. Write a script and practice filming episodes before you begin to ensure smooth monologues and seamless segues without awkward pauses. Go to places you wouldn't usually go to for a fresh visual perspective and use your smartphone to capture any unusual or exciting events.

Once you pick a genre, make sure you know your stuff. It's helpful to cover topics that you have a passion for or where you have lots of personal experience. If you have specialization in a topic or line of work, highlight your authority on the subject when you share your unique point of view. In the process of picking your niche, look for ones that have a lot of interest. This helps the search algorithms work in your favor. Most of all, make sure you film yourself as well as events around you. That way, you remain the main character and drive focus to yourself.

Market yourself thoroughly

After you film your content, it's time to let the world know about it. Create a recognizable brand or phrase that's easy to promote in short, simple language. Make sure the way you advertise speaks to your specific chosen audience for more targeted marketing. Before you release your content, drop short video clips or still shots from the content on various social media accounts to create hype. Talk about your vlog in related groups on your personal Facebook and X (Twitter) accounts. On the vlogging platform itself, make sure you optimize with keywords and other metadata so that it shows up in more searches. If you have a little extra cash, consider paying for ads on social media in the days leading up to your content release.

Interact with your audience

Your audience is the lifeblood of your vlog, especially if you want to make money from your venture. If you can make your viewers feel included, they're more likely to keep coming back with each video you produce. Ask questions in your vlogs and invite people to respond in the comments. Use your audience's suggestions in future videos so they feel like a part of the process. Help them feel attached to you by giving your fan base a name or term, then create places where they can interact with you and each other, such as Discord or Facebook groups. You can even create a funding account for your vlog, where viewers can support you financially. Just remember to offer rewards that show your appreciation for their donations, such as including their names at the end of your videos and saying thank you.

Don't forget to edit

Any vlog beginner's guide should mention editing. Because even if you have great ideas and footage, it won't get views without some thoughtful video editing. Buy computer software that allows you to add special effects, music, clips and other features with ease. There may also be some online editing platforms that help you with this for a minimal fee. Make sure you only include clips that contribute to your message and branding. Don't leave in any awkward pauses or mistakes unless it's for a blooper reel. Once you finish editing, create attractive cover art and thumbnails that will display when you upload the vlog. These images will be what show up in searches and can attract more clicks than a simple screenshot.

After you learn all you can about your genre, get the right equipment, then decide what you want to say like the best camera for vlogging, start creating the highest-quality content you can. Continue to keep your viewers entertained and included and enjoy watching your viewer count rise with each video.