How to create and run your own videoblog?

Blogs are rapidly taking over the Internet, creating new stars in many different areas of life and the arts. A personal video blog is a good way to share knowledge and gain popularity in your chosen niche. For many bloggers it is also one of the ways to earn extra money. If you also want to join this fascinating world but don't know where to start, this article is for you.

Choose the right platform

When it comes to choosing a platform for your blog, the very first platform that comes to mind is YouTube. There's nothing wrong with starting a YouTube video blog, but it can affect your long-term ambitions. Such ready-made platforms offer fantastic tools and a ready-made audience. However, your monetization options may be more limited in the long run.

Regardless of the platform you choose, you also need to set it up and prepare it to receive viewers. This means a little makeup, familiarizing yourself with the interface, and other optimization activities.

Get all the equipment you need

There's a common misconception that you'll have to spend thousands of dollars on a high-quality camcorder to start your video blog. Many successful YouTube channel owners do use equipment that rivals that of a professional. However, they didn't start their journey with it.

Today's technology is such that you can create great videos even from your smartphone. Today's mobile devices are capable of capturing videos with excellent quality. Most viewers will only watch in 1080p resolution or lower, so a mobile device is fine for that purpose.

You can also use a DSLR camera, a mirrorless camera, or a dedicated video camera. A model with a reversible screen that can be used as a monitor is a good idea. It's not really necessary, though. Just don't spend thousands of dollars to upgrade your camera to the very best - as long as it records video in relatively high resolution, use it.

Prepare a quality script for your first video

Before recording any video, you should prepare a script. But it's especially important to make a quality script for your very first video, because if it's done to a very high standard, you can automatically attract a fresh audience.

A good script helps to make the commercial logically aligned, understandable. It gives viewers clearly structured information.

The script also provides for how additional material (if any) will be implemented. That is, for example, how to shoot some video clips, pick up images and so on.

As for the presentation, there are several proven and successful formats:

• Voice-over narration - the video is shown on the screen, you cannot see the author, but you can hear his voice. This variant is suitable for such topics as cooking, repairing, reviewing various items, etc.
  
• This variant shows the author in full size. The surrounding background is clearly visible. This is a great option for working out, reviewing tourist attractions, etc.
  

Provide proper lighting

Lighting affects the user's experience. When shooting outdoors, there isn't much you can do to adjust the lighting, except make sure the sun isn't behind you. When working indoors, you'll need to create the right lighting to make your video look professional and your subject clearly visible.

Be engaging

Most successful video bloggers have a vibrant personality that makes an instant connection. Keep this in mind when you start creating video blogs. It is critical to be authentic, conversational, persuasive, and even funny. Prepare well before you start filming, as everything reflects directly on your brand - choose different, relevant topics for your videos to keep your audience interested.