It’s no surprise that the video revolution has helped the blogging industry evolve into what is now known as vlogging. For those of you who may not familiar, social media sites, such as YouTube, have provided a platform for users to create video blogs, or respectively, vlogs. A quick glance at the various channels on YouTube will result in a variety of content ranging from health and fitness, makeup tutorials, automotive repairs, tarot card readings, computer programming / technical tutorials, and the list goes on. In short – you name it, they have it.
The main benefit to a successful vlog, of course, is the ability to monetize. More subscribers and clicks results in more money YouTube paying out to the user. In a moment, I will share a few examples of vloggers that I have followed since day one, witnessing their incredible success making vlogging a full-time career.
Whenever I get a little downtime, I browse around YouTube channels and catch up on all of my subscriptions. The information I have learned has helped me gain a number of skills ranging from website development, nutrition / fitness tips, and overall, learning that there is an art to vlogging. One can immediately sense the connection the user has with their followers. The comment section below each video is often full of engaging conversation. I believe the use of video is what makes that connection stronger. Unlike a blog, there is a face, a voice, and emotion behind it all.
Here at LDV, we are gearing up to revamp our video podcast program for 2017, and I plan to bring some of my vlogging influences and ideas to the table. In the meantime, for those of you considering moonlighting in the ole vlogosphere, or just wondering what it takes to hit the ground running, here are a few tips that you should know!
Never Underestimate the Power of a Catchy Title
Yes, this seems like a no-brainer, but not all vlogs are created equal. Let’s use Maxx Chewning as an example. He is a local guy from my neck of the woods in Washington, DC. Maxx has over 650 videos and nearly 200,000 active subscribers. He makes a full-time living off his channel. I remember when he first started his channel as a hobby. He would just get on there and talk about his diet, document a day in the gym or a day of his eating regimen. He made the “Full Day of Eating” videos a trend that most fitness channels have followed – pretty cool! The progression from his first videos to now is literally like night and day. His video titles and thumbnail cover photos are exemplary and that’s why we are talking about him now.
With titles such as “Worst Luck Ever”, “That Could Have Been Bad”, “Learning My Lesson” to name a few, what do they have in common? They are what we call “click bait”. These are titles that pique the interest of the user. These are titles that could mean so many things, bring on so many questions. If you’re a subscriber you especially want to know what is Maxx talking about now! The suspense is so much, one can’t help but to click. The thumbnail cover photos are also strategically designed with an image that sort of hints at the vlog content, the font stands out, strongly posing the question in a way that cannot be ignored. Genius! Well played, Maxx.
Link Your Social Media Pages to Your Channel
There are many benefits to this. For one, as you start to get a following, people will start to search for you online. Having other social media pages that all link back to your channel will ensure that no matter how a user searches for content, your channel will be found. This opens the door to other great perks, such as getting content shared from all social media avenues. The best side benefit, of course, is that this allows your current subscribers to follow the other pages and stay connected.
Mingle with the Vlogging Community
The most valuable tool you have is the power of referrals and word-of-mouth. Start following other channels that are similar in content and reach out to them. A very popular (and fun) way to gain followers is to do what is known as a “collab” between you and one or more vloggers. You each upload your videos to your respective channels and then encourage viewers to follow and provide a link to your channels in the video description.
The comments section is a great way to engage subscribers in a discussion. Post some questions and be sure to reply to the feedback received. As you continue this trend, eventually, the discussions will take off on their own and users are now interacting with one another on your channel.
If you want to see a great example of a collab and interaction with subscribers, check out the MegSquats channel. She interviews popular athletes and due to the success of her channel, has also started a clothing line based on the brand of her channel. Meg is another local from Washington, DC that started by sharing her fitness journey with the world. Her ability to candidly connect with hundreds of thousands of people all over the globe using video speaks volumes of what our little industry can do.
And there you have it, a few tips to get you well on your way to vlogging. Have any more tips you’d like to share? Please comment below!
