Blogging Vs Vlogging: Which Is A Better Online Business for Beginners
The advent of the internet has created a new era for those looking to start their own business.
Blogging and vlogging are two viable options that offer different advantages depending on your goals and skill set. Bloggers and Vloggers are two different types of content creators. Bloggers post articles, while vloggers create videos.
Some people believe that blogging is better for beginners because it’s less time-intensive than video production.
However, some people say the opposite–that vlogging is easier for beginners because you can just talk about what you want to share on camera rather than trying to write an article first.
Which type of online business model do you think would be best for a beginner?
If you were thinking about starting your own blog or YouTube channel, which one would make more sense to choose?
Here we will explore some of the pros and cons of both blogging and vlogging so you can determine which is best for you!
Blogging Vs Vlogging – How Exactly Do They Differ?
Blogs and vlogs can appear very similar to each other and this is why for a long time people used the terms almost to mean the same thing, but this is far from being true.
Blogging and vlogging are the two prominent forms of content creation. They are both personal, but blogging is more like a diary whereas vlogging means video blogging.
A blog is kind of a website that publishes articles about a particular topic or a wide range of topics in primarily the text format. Blogs usually have a reverse chronological order and show the most recent posts first.
A blog contains dynamic content which is regularly updated. And this is where it differs from a website. A website is similar to a blog but has static content which is rarely updated.
Blogs can be shared with anyone who has internet access to read them freely.
A vlog is a video blog that posts updates to video journals or diaries for people to watch online.
Vloggers often post videos on YouTube or social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram as well as on their own blogs. Vlogs are made up of videos that usually last for less than 10 – 15 minutes. They can be recorded using a webcam or mobile phone and uploaded directly to video sharing sites.
The main difference between blogging and vlogging is the medium they use for content creation, which determines how people consume it – writing or watching videos.
In a blog post, there is no visual (video) component or narration from the blogger involved whereas, in a vlog, there are both visual and audio components.
However, one thing they have in common is that both require a lot of time commitment. Blogging requires creativity and vlogging requires spontaneity in order to produce quality content.
Another difference between blogging and vlogging is the investment.
Bloggers don’t need any additional investment except for web hosting and a domain name, but vloggers often invest in cameras and equipment in order to create high-quality videos for their audience.
Blogging or Vlogging – Which Earns More Money?
It’s not always that easy to determine which type of content is the most lucrative. Which makes the most money between blogging and vlogging can be a difficult question to answer.
Both blogging and vlogging can make you money if you know how to do it right. It all depends on the quality and type of your content, your niche, your audience size and engagement.
If you want to make money with blogging or vlogging, you need to think like a business owner.
You don’t “just blog” or “just vlog”. Instead, you create insightful content that drives traffic and makes sales. Or in other words, your blog/vlog is the product.
The most important thing for both blogging and vlogging is to build a community. Your audience will be your best salespeople and your biggest source of inspiration and motivation for your content.
Both blogging and vlogging can make you a lot of money.
Blogging and vlogging each have their own characteristics. One is not better than the other. Both can be used as a way to earn money and build your career as long as you know what you’re doing.
Pros and Cons of Blogging
Blogging is an excellent way for budding entrepreneurs to gain exposure and notoriety. It allows you to showcase your skills and abilities to an online audience without having to invest much money.
For those who are just starting out, blogging can help generate buzz before launching their business. The possibilities through blogging are endless!
Blogging Pros
Here are some great benefits of using a blog as a marketing tool:
Blogging can be used to launch your own business.
If you suddenly feel the need to shout from the rooftops about your business or services, blogging may be for you.
By setting up and maintaining an online journal through which other people and businesses can learn more about you, you can effectively draw attention to what you have to offer.
In fact, blogging has become so widespread that it’s now being used as a launchpad for incredible success stories.
Chris Guillebeau started his blog (Art of Non-Conformity) in the mid-2000s.
Instead of getting a regular job and punching a time -clock for the rest of his life, he wanted to discover and share amazing stories from people who have chosen a lifestyle outside the box.
His blog was such a hit that it got over million visitors in a short period! Nowadays, Chris is well-known as an entrepreneur and bestselling author.
It can help you find your target market.
By creating your own blog, you are effectively starting your very own business. Your target market can easily find you because they’re already interested in the information that you have to share with them! A blog is a great way to advertise yourself without actually advertising yourself.
You can use it to network with people in your industry
Blogging allows you to connect with other like-minded individuals who share the same interests as you do. If there are certain trends that seem popular among online readers, you can use this information to help you decide which content to add or remove on your own blog.
Blogging Helps to Establish yourself as an expert.
Blogs are typically used to discuss information and opinions about certain topics or issues.
If you’re writing about something that few others know about, this makes it easier for people to realise that you are the go-to person when it comes to that particular subject matter.
You can make money.
Blogging is a great way for new businesses to get their names out there, but did you know that it’s also a legitimate source of revenue? Advertisers will pay top dollar just to have their ads shown next to your blog, so why not get in on the action?
Blogging Cons
Of course, there are some disadvantages to blogging as well.
You’ll need to commit a lot of time and effort.
Starting your own blog means that you’re dedicated to regularly updating it with fresh content.
If possible, consider hiring someone else to help you with technical aspects of your website that you aren’t completely familiar with.
This will save you a lot of time and money in the long run!
You’ll have to compete with other blogs.
It takes a lot of skill to come up with original, quality content on a regular basis. Also, you need to compete with other blogs in the same niche for SEO rankings.
If your blog becomes popular, this also means that there will be more people who want to follow it.
You’ll have to work hard just to keep your readers interested, but once you do, it’s a great feeling!
It takes time.
Blogging can be fun, but it’s also very time-consuming. It might take very long to get that initial traction.
You need to regularly publish new content if you want to keep people coming back for more.
If possible, try to reduce the amount of time that each post takes by planning properly and writing your blog posts ahead of time and scheduling them.
Pros and Cons of Vlogging
You may be thinking about starting a vlog to market your products and services. But with so many competing channels, how can you find your voice?
Here are some pros and cons of vlogging that I’ve found that will help you make your decision.
Vlogging Pros
Its reach
YouTube has over a billion users, which makes it the second most visited website in the world. So obviously your potential customers can be in millions.
Can Be Yourself
You can be casual, funny or serious–just be yourself! People love authenticity. They love seeing the real you. And not only that, they’ll see how much your product means to you and want to share that authenticity with others.
It’s engagement
The best thing about YouTube is that people can comment and engage with you in real-time. Your audience will actually take the time to give their opinion and tell you exactly what they think, which means better products and services for them and more feedback to improve your business.
Variety
There are so many ways to utilize YouTube. It can be a great platform for storytelling, marketing, creativity and even comedy.
It’s personal
People love to see the person behind the business and vlogging gives them a peek into what goes on in your life or your company.
Even if you don’t show every step of your business, people will feel more connected because they can better understand why you do what you do and that makes them care about your product and services more.
It’s a connection
The best part about Vlogging is that you can open up the door for new relationships. People love feeling connected to others. Vlogging gives them a way to feel as if they’re walking alongside your journey with positive encouragement along the way.
It’s not just words
Video is a great way to get your message across, while also augmenting the physical experience. You can show people something so they don’t have to imagine it, which is better for all involved.
It’s fun
I know this seems obvious but you’re essentially being yourself on camera and speaking about things that are important to you. Why wouldn’t it be fun?
Money
And of course, the potential to earn upwards of six figures with a single YouTube channel is mind-blowing!
Vlogging Cons
It is a lot of work
You’re not only the face of your business; now you’re the voice too. That means you’re constantly on camera, editing, uploading, marketing it all by yourself.
No Escape
There’s no escape. You can’t say something stupid or make a mistake without the whole world watching (so think before you speak).
Why do I Need a Mix of Both Blogging and Vlogging?
With blogging, you can build a community around your content. With vlogging, you’ll have a personal connection with your followers.
Blogging is more of a long-term investment since it takes time to grow an audience that trusts you and wants to buy from you. Vlogging, on the other hand, is more strategic and immediate.
You can get to know your audience with Vlogging because it’s a conversational format people love. You can vlog on the go or in front of a camera so you don’t need an elaborate set-up.
Blogging generally takes more thought and time since you have to write an entire article for your audience. You’ll want to create lots of content so people stay subscribed to your blog.
That said, both channels are great ways to work together. If you do a mix of blogging and vlogging, you can get the benefits of both.
For example, you can use blogging to build the foundation of your audience and vlogging to share more personal stories that give life to what you’re writing about.
Conclusion
Blogging and vlogging are both excellent ways to reach your audience.
Whether you’re just starting out with a new business or have been blogging for years, it’s important to remember that there is no “one size fits all” approach when it comes to marketing.
Your digital strategy should be tailored towards the types of content you want to produce as well as who your target customer base will be most responsive to.
For example, if you value video over text-based posts then consider adding more videos into your blog-post mix, rather than relying solely on written blogs.
The key takeaway here is not which one is better but what works best for each individual project – so don’t stop experimenting!