All You Need To Know About Video Blogging

We know why you are here.

You decided to up your video marketing strategies and came across these two words.

Video Blogs.

Or Vlogs, as everyone lovingly calls them these days.

Well, let us give you the rundown on video blogs. 

What you assumed is right. They are basically blogs in video form. 

With people preferring to watch things than read them, it is no wonder that more and more people are turning to vlog their content.

Marketers have realized the enormous potential video blogging holds and how it can do wonders for their brands.

From helping your business reach a larger number of people to conveying information to your customers, video blogging or vlogging is a very useful weapon to be unleashed ASAP.

We are here to help you with the whole process and in this article, we will be discussing everything you need to know while video blogging- right from picking your topic to distributing your video blog.

Ready to begin your video blogging journey? Let’s go!

The Step-By-Step Guide To Create Amazing Video Blogs

Step 1: Choosing the right topic

This step is very important since your first blog will act as a foundation for the rest of your video blogs and will probably determine the way that you’ll proceed.

• To find a good topic you could rummage through your old blog posts. Find the ones with the highest engagement rates. These are the ones you should be picking. Repurpose these old blogs and create amazing video blogs out of them!

• You could, of course, create entirely original content without having to rely on your previous blogs. Since YouTube is the platform where all Vlogs thrive, find the most searched for YouTube keywords in your niche. There are several online tools like Ahrefs in which you can find what people are searching for on YouTube. 

Let us take a minute to look at how you can use Ahrefs to find popular and relevant keywords.

• Figure out the popular keywords in your niche using your Google Suggestions and enter them into Ahrefs’ Keyword Explorer keeping YouTube as the search source. We’re going to use the keyword - ‘Explainer Video’ as an example.

• You’re going to be bombarded with the most searched questions and popular keyword ideas around your topic.

• Once you’ve figured out the questions people are asking the most, create videos that answer these queries.

• Use these keywords in your title, description & transcripts to attract your customers through SEO.

If your viewers get solutions to their problems by watching your startup video, they’re going to remember you.

You could even use your products in these videos to cement your brand into their minds!

Help grow your brand image!!

Step 2: Creating a script

Once you find the relevant keywords, you’ll have to start thinking about what you’ll say in your video blog. 

Here are some tips to keep in mind while creating a video blog. 

1. Create an outline

First, create a comprehensible structure complete with subsections. For doing this, think about exactly what kind of information you’ll be providing your audience. Now, start adding all the points that are relevant and convert them into clear and engaging dialogues. 

In case you are repurposing your old blog, choose the key aspects, highlight them and modify them into more casual and conversational sentences. 

2. Keep simplifying

Your video blog could proceed in the form of a story with new information, exciting tidbits and maybe even a little humor. After you have written it down, read it aloud and see how it sounds. Does it sound a little too formal? Or maybe you sound like a professor giving a lecture.

So, go ahead and simplify all those difficult concepts and do get rid of all the jargon you might have added. 

3. Ask questions

Include a few questions that will get your audience thinking, and prompt them to write down their thoughts in the comments section. 

Edit the script until it feels like you are having a conversation with the viewers. 

4. Set a consistent tone

You could even play around with the tone of your vlog and decide if you want it to make them laugh, keep them at the edge of their seats or let them know that you are utterly serious about what you are talking about. 

No, you are not done with the script just yet. 

5. Add suitable CTAs

Adding a good Call To Action is a vital part of your scriptwriting process. Ask your audience what they think, let them know that you’ll be responding to their comments.

If you want them to check out other videos, or the products mentioned in your video, tell them where to find the links. Always make sure that you point your viewers in the right direction at the end of your video blogs. 

Step 3: Choosing the video blog type

There are multiple options for you to choose from when deciding what kind you want it to be. You should choose the most appropriate one for your business after taking into consideration your budget and the timeline.

Let us now take a look at these different kinds of video blogs.

1. Live-Action video blogging

This is the most popular type of video blogging and therefore also the one that we would recommend. You could either pre-record the video blog or live stream it on a social media platform of your choice. Once the live-stream has ended, you could upload it on your profile.

There are a few things you will have to consider and decide upon before filming a live-action video. Let us now go through the video blogging equipment you would require.

1. Camera

Most of the viral videos that spread around the world like wildfire were filmed on ordinary smartphones. The main takeaway is, you can create highly successful video blogs using a decent smartphone camera or even a webcam.

Crazy, right?

Therefore, when you are video blogging, stress on the content you provide your viewers than the pixel count. Keep in mind that you are not producing a Taylor Swift music video. 

Also, another thing to keep in mind is no one wants to watch shaky footage. So invest in a cheap tripod and make good use of it.

Once your video blogs have started flourishing on the internet and your marketing team has realized how amazing it is for your business, you can set aside a budget for video blogging.

You could start bringing in pro filmmakers or even buy digital cameras to film your blogs. Just remember to give your viewers videos with valuable content and not beautified garbage in 4K.

2. Audio

Yeah, you don’t have to worry too much about your video quality, BUT the audio quality is of utmost importance to a successful video blog. 

No no, don’t panic. Improving your audio quality is not at all a huge task. Just use a good microphone!

There are two types of microphones you could choose from- Lavalier mics and Shotgun mics.

Lavalier microphones can be attached to the speaker’s clothing. An advantage of using this kind of mic is that the speaker will be free to move around without impeding the audio quality.

One drawback of using these mics is that since they absorb sound from all directions, unwanted noises will also be recorded. 

Boya’s Lavalier Microphones are available on Amazon for $19.95. They are a good investment and can enhance your video blogs a million times.  

Another kind of mic that is available is Shotgun mics. They will not be connected to the speaker and will pick up the sound coming only from a particular direction.

Although these are great for filtering out undesired sounds, your speaker will not be able to move around while filming.  Rode VideoMic Me is available on Amazon for $74.98.

Choose the mic that will be right for your video blog and make the right call. 

3. Lighting

Again, don’t fret over the lighting too much. Walk around your office, find a well-lit area and choose it as your shooting location.

You could even make use of natural lighting, but make sure that you pick a place with no distractions, on a day with clear skies. For a consistent and inexpensive lighting setup, your office space will be the best option. 

If your budget can accommodate better facilities, you can always rent out good lighting equipment. Using these you’ll have better control over the lighting of your subject and their surroundings. 

4. Backdrop

Your backdrop is just an add-on to the whole video blogging experience. You could shoot in front of a blank wall or a bookcase.  Even spice it up with a few lights, succulents and matching decorations.

You could take it one step forward and even bring in a green screen. It will give you the ability to be creative with the backdrop. I mean, you could be standing in front of a vibrant background.

Green screens are always fun to play around with, but you do not have to go the extra length to find one when you could just shoot in front of a plain wall at work. 

2. Screen capture video blogging

You do not have to restrict yourself to shooting just these live-action videos, amigo. If you think it would be easier to convey your message using a slideshow, or if your product can be better explained via screen recordings, record it directly from your laptop screen! 

No, it will not be a silent movie.

You can always record the voiceover simultaneously or even record and add the audio later. There are numerous software out there that will record both the screen AND the speaker at the same time. Isn’t that marvelous?

To help you with screen capture there are a number of tools out there. 

• Vidyard GoVideo is a FREE- yeah you heard it right- software that helps you capture your screen and shoot via your webcam in unison. They even give you the analytics about how well your video is performing. 
  
• HippoVideo is a Chrome extension that lets you record your browser. They also give you a number of video editing and gif-making tools and analytics to track the engagement of your video.
  
• Soapbox by Wistia is another great tool that lets you record your screen and your webcam at the same time. They give you extra editing options like transitioning between your webcam and the screen.
  
• Loom helps you record both your screen and camera or just one of them for free. For $10/month, you’ll additionally get editing tools and HD video quality. 

3. Animated video blogging

Animation is another great option you could choose for video blog since they are a foolproof format that can capture anybody’s attention. 

You can either add animations to your live-action video or even produce an entirely animated video blog. 

To bring in animations you can choose either of the following options based on the budget available.

1. Make use of online video makers

Either you or one of your employees might have dabbled in animations before. It is finally time to put those skills to use. There are numerous free or cheap online tools Moovly, Animatron, Powtoon, etc that can help you make some simple, mind-blowing animations for video blogging. 

2. Get help from an agency

If you have a considerably bigger budget and are looking for a more professional output, you enlist the help of good video production companies.

You have a video in your hands. But you are not done just yet. Let us look at some useful tips that can help make your video blogs stand out. 

Step 4: Post-Production

Now that you have a video in its raw form, you will definitely want to make it more appealing to the viewers. Let us show you how to do that.

1. Editing tools

The video you just shot will definitely have those bits and pieces you wish to get rid of. Maybe someone is yelling in the beginning, or you laughed nervously at the end.

Or you might even want to add a few special effects or titles. You can do all of these using the multiplicity of video editing software available everywhere, even on your mobile phones. 

If you use a MacBook, go open up iMovie. Now if you use a Windows laptop, get editing with Movie Maker. If you are skilled at editing videos, you can go forth and start using software like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro.

If you want to quickly learn how to use these editing tools, go ahead and check out the tutorials given in the links below.  

1. Final Cut Pro

2. Adobe Premiere Pro

3. iMovie

4. Movie Maker

2. Background music

Do we even have to say why a good soundtrack is an essential part of video blogging? A piece of suitable music could give you the additional kick that your video needs and keep your viewers bobbing along with your video blog. 

Okay okay, you absolutely cannot download your favorite songs and add them to your videos. Copyright issues, you know?

Instead, find reliable sites like Melody Loops, Audiojungle, Artlist, etc. where you can buy royalty-free high-quality music for a reasonable price and give life to your video blogs. 

3. Subtitles

We cannot stress enough about how important closed captions have become for the success of any video these days. With more and more people watching videos on mute, subtitles will determine if they will ignore your video or continue watching it. 

You can either add subtitles on your own using various apps like Kapwing or download the subtitles that YouTube automatically generates for your video. 

No matter what kind of video blogs you create (live-action, animated, or screen recordings), ALWAYS, and we mean ALWAYS, give closed captions. 

4. Video bumper

Video Bumpers are the few seconds-long intros that usually displays the brand's name along with a piece of chirpy music. This is an entirely optional add-on when video blogging.

Video bumpers will help give an identity and make them more memorable.

You can hire someone to create a video bumper for you at very cheap rates from websites like Fiverr.

5. Thumbnail

Thumbnails act as a mini-preview for your video. The age of click-baitey thumbnails has passed. So, make an attractive thumbnail that contains the important keywords from your video blog.

Having the text’s color contrast with the image will immediately make it more eye-catchy. Even add a fun font if your heart desires it!

Moving on, let us now take a look at some of the things you must keep in mind while video blogging.

Step 5: Best practices

Let us take a moment to look at some great tips to keep in mind while creating a video blog.

1. Relax

Take a deep breath and start speaking. Not all of us are skilled orators. But that is okay. Try not to be uptight and nervous. Be conversational and basically chilled out. This way, you’ll sound and feel more confident, letting the audience know that you know what you are talking about. 

2. Use a teleprompter

We get it. It is difficult to memorize the whole script and present it to the camera. Much like celebrities, you can also use teleprompters to guide you. There are apps for this too! Check out Pixaero or Parrot Teleprompter, for instance. You don’t need an employee holding up cue cards and messing things up. 

3. Prepare beforehand

Since you will be writing down a script, go through it a few times, keep in mind the key points. But definitely, don’t memorize it and speak like a robot. Once you know what you want to talk about, and have researched well, the words will come to you naturally. 

4. Get them hooked

Nobody wants to watch a boring, monotonous video blog. Not even you, we bet. Sound enthusiastic and passionate about your topic. Enunciate your words properly and vary your tone as you see fit.

Also, decide on an appropriate speed. Don’t drone on too slowly or rush ahead. They will either fall asleep or not comprehend anything. That’s not what you want with your video blogs, right?

5. Encourage discussion

An effective way to improve the engagement on your video blogs is asking them questions. Ask your viewers to express their opinion on some particular aspects and type them out in the comments section.

Regularly check these comments and definitely reply. Take any kind of criticism positively and thank them for their valuable insights. You’ll get better engagement and more ideas for future video blogs.

6. Add a strong CTA

At the end of the video, make sure you give them a suitable prompt. Most video bloggers usually say something along the lines of  “don’t forget to like, comment”, etc.

Ask them to subscribe to your channel so that they won’t miss out on your future videos. You could even give the link to your website in the description box and ask your viewers to check it out. 

If you mention any products or even other video blogs in the video, don’t forget to give links to those too. 

Okay, now you have an amazing video ready for the world to see. How do you get it out there?

Step 6: Distributing your video blog

YouTube is still the number one platform for all the budding and experienced video bloggers out there. Uploading your video on Youtube will be a great idea since it is the 2nd largest search engine in the WORLD.

Your videos will get a better chance of reaching a larger number of people with amazing engagement rates.

• Just uploading it on YouTube will not do. Optimize your video for YouTube using a variety of methods such as including several relevant keywords in your title and description, using relevant hashtags and including transcripts. 

• Don’t stop at YouTube. Add your video blogs to your weekly newsletters and send them out to your subscribers. It will increase your audience’s interest in your emails and also bring in more views for your videos. 

• Share your video blogs on all your social media accounts. Add suitable hashtags and promote them via Instagram and Facebook stories, etc. 

• Start uploading your video blogs on your own website too. Keep updating it with your latest video blogs. You could create a page with young video blog series. 

Wrapping up:

You have arrived at the end. We have now equipped you with all the necessary skills for taking on the video blogging world, young padawan. It is time for you to set out and create some extraordinary video blogs that will take your engagement rates to a whole new level.

If you have any questions about making a video blog, don’t hesitate to reach out to our resident video expert.

If you think we’ve missed any good tips for creating great video blogs, let us know in the comments section below.