2016: A Vlog Odyssey

Happy Thursday! This morning as we continue to fulfill our daily blogging ritual, we were struck by a bit of news that has our word processors a bit worried. As 2015 comes to a close and we enter into 2016, we’ve been told the new year will spark a new trend; 2016: the year of video.

Now, we’re all aware of the ubiquitous presence of video on the web. And frankly, it shouldn’t be surprising video is about to have its time in the sun. It’s a long time coming. And for those of us daily bloggers who’ve been reliant on the written word for so long, this upcoming year will certainly shake things up a bit.

With reference specifically to the rise of the vlog (video blog), let’s take a look at the perks of vlogging, tips for creating a successful vlog, along with some examples to consider.

Perks of the Vlog

First things first. Vlogs are meant to be a creative medium. As a visual element, the vlog has the potential to offer much more value to your audience than text. Here’s why:

• Readers are less likely to finish long form text without any visual aids to break up the boring.
• We are visual learners. Images and videos help readers understand a point and clear up any confusion surrounding an idea or emotion conveyed
• More people are likely to retain information seen in a video than from text.

Videos are also very easy to share. This helps with e-commerce and SEO. People are more likely to watch a video already embedded on their social media page rather than follow a link. Vlogs are the
ideal medium for selling yourself as an industry thought leader. How-to procedures, cooking, DIY arts and crafts, repairs, and the like are all types of successful vlogs out there.

Their success hasn’t gone unnoticed either. Any reputable SEO company today will, at one point or another, suggest a client attempt to vlog as a campaign tactic.

Tips on Vlogging

Pick a Location: It’s important to choose the best environment for your vlog. A popular advantage of the vlog lies in its adaptability, meaning you don’t actually have to own a website or blog in order to post. Easily showcase your vlogs on YouTube or any other video-sharing website. Sometimes this is the better option since it’s easier to embed videos from YouTube on blogs, websites, and social media.

Base your domain around your Vlog: If you do decide to own your own domain, design your entire page around your vlog to complement the featured video. Such an option gives you the ability to add supplementary images and text to better contextualize your message.

Plan the format: A common denominator for all the successful vlogs out there is their consistent format. Be it a voiceover with b-roll for how-to videos, a lecture format, or even a voiceover on a PowerPoint presentation. You also want to make sure you conduct some good ole’ fashioned writing beforehand. Even though you are producing visual content, planning the intro, body and conclusion are still important to maintaining consistency for your audience.

Here are a few successful vloggers to consider:

OlanRodgers

Internet Killed Television

The Annoying Orange

And Campaign Creators of course!

If video marketing seems intimidating to you, or maybe you feel like you don't have the budget or resources to devote to it, watch our on-demand webinar, Low Budget In House Video Production.