From blogging to vlogging.
I’ve been blogging for a number of years now on social media, business education, Dyspraxia and guest blogging as a homeworker. I enjoy it and it has certainly got easier as my style has developed over time.
But then in December 2013 I took part in a video challenge. I didn’t really think it through, but enjoyed pushing myself to make and share a daily 2 minute video throughout the month.
It was really good to experience the discomfort of watching myself on video and figuring out how to make sure I was in shot. (I usually cut my head off!) and then I kind of got hooked.
So now I still blog but I also make a monthly vlog (videolog). They’re not highly polished and I am still lucky if I get my face in the frame but I decided to just go for it.
Why? Well 3 main reasons.
1. Some people pay people to write their blogs for them, so even if a blog is enjoyable you don’ t necessarily know who wrote it unless you know that person’s writing style
2. The written word, as powerful as it is, is removed from the person. There’s really a different level of engagement when someone sees your face and the words coming out of your mouth. If you can talk to the camera the words have more impact and it really does build more of a relationship with your audience.
3. And of course finally , but certainly not least, video is massively popular. YouTube isn’t the 2nd largest search engine by accident. People take in information in different ways and vlogging is an alternative way of getting information over quickly for people that may not read a blog. I know that I will bookmark blogs to read later but I will watch a 2 minute video immediately.
I have a teenage daughter who watches the latest vlogs from people such as Jenna Marbles and Amazing Phil rather than watch TV. And performers like Dan and Dan have made their name through vlogging.
Both are good and I still blog as I love to write. Video blogs take longer but I’m getting positive feedback, despite the less than brilliant editing skills . It takes me a most of a day to get a vlog out from start to finish at the moment, because uploading to YouTube can take 3 hours and I am teaching myself editing – but blogging used to take me that long too when I first started.
One of the things that I really love about social media is that it has enabled people to think about the different ways that people take in information and given them the tools to address that. TV hasn’t replaced reading and blogging remains popular, but it’s great to have the choice.
…..and of course, the next thing for me to learn is the increasingly popular podcasting.
What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this so leave me a comment below.