Vlogs, short for video blogs, are a very popular genre of online media in which the creator keeps a vlog in the format of video. Vlogs exploded in popularity in the 2010’s on YouTube, opening the door for anyone to become a successful influencer. While anyone can pick up a camera and start vlogging, these tips can help you cover all the bases of a successful vlog.
Upgrade Your Equipment
While the camera and microphone in any smartphone will do, a high-quality video starts with how it’s recorded. A more professional camera will produce a brighter and clearer image, keeping your audience engaged and boosting your algorithm on most sites. My pick for a budget-friendly and easy-to-use video camera is the Sony ZV-1F video camera, a small, portable video camera specifically designed for vlogging. Check out the Sony ZV-1F on Amazon here.
Another simple upgrade to your vlog arsenal is a microphone. A high-quality microphone can block wind noise, pick up your voice clearly, and augment the professionalism of your videos overall. The RODE VideoMicro 2 can connect to any camera or smartphone, and packs a punch for its compact size. It’s available on Amazon here.
Tell a Story
If you want viewers to take time out of their day to live through yours instead, you need to engage your audience and tell them a story. Whether you’re taking your audience to the grocery store with you, going on a hike, or traveling to a different country, a boring vlog is boring! Take your audience through a story in your vlogs by making the focal point an activity, and creatively film the process.
Open Up
A successful vlog must include a par asocial relationship between you and the viewer. Your audience needs to feel like they know you as a friend, forgetting they’re just numbers on your screen. Let your personality shine through commentary, be detailed but entertaining in vlogging your daily life, and fully embrace your Vlogging character. Showing relatable content on your vlogs will help viewers identify with your videos. Most importantly, the best way to be engaging and personable in your vlogs is to be yourself!
Be Consistent
You can’t just make one successful vlog. Viewers want to regularly check in and see what you’re up to next. Posting your vlogs on a predictable schedule will encourage your audience to see new content and know when to expect it. Posting consistently will also force you to practice your vlogging and editing skills.
Hopefully, these tips motivated you to pick up a camera and try out vlogging! By getting the right equipment, telling a story, and being yourself, you can have a social media following of your own in no time.
Teaching Social Media 