So which is better, blogging vs. vlogging? I’m active with both, and each one has its pros and cons.
I started blogging in 2004 and vlogging in 2012.
Today I’ll explain the difference between each to decide for yourself which one is right for you.
Blogging and vlogging are two very different forms of content creation.
What’s The Difference Between Blogging And Vlogging?
The big difference between blogging and vlogging is their format; blog posts consist of long-form text, while video blogs feature videos accompanying text.
Blogging is a more traditional form of publishing on the Internet; written content. In contrast, vlogging is a newer form that has become popular in recent years.
Vlogging is done primarily on a video platform, such as YouTube.
Blog content can be written and shared by anyone with an internet connection and web browser.
Blogs allow you to engage your readers more personally because they can comment or reply to posts easily; vlogs are good for building intimacy with your audience.
Vlog content can be seen as more informal than blogs. They’re often less edited and not pre-planned like other types of videos. However, if vlogs are part of your digital marketing strategy, I recommend planning and editing them.
It’s also easier for viewers to relate to you if you’re just sitting down talking about your day or answering questions from viewers.
Blogging Vs. Vlogging
In this post, I’ll explore the pros and cons of both techniques. I’ll help you get started with blogging or vlogging and how to use each type of content.
– Blogs offer in-depth discussion on a topic, whereas posts usually consist of long-form text (like this)
– Vlogging is informal because it can lack editing or pre-planning (but that’s not advisable)
– Blogging can increase engagement in a community by allowing your readers to be actively involved and feel more like they’re part of something.
– Vlogs are good for building intimacy with people who watch them because viewers get an insight into what is happening on the other side, often without any edits
– Blogs allow you to engage your readers in a more personal way because they can comment on or reply to posts easily
– Vlogs can build trust faster and help you appear more authentic
Can You Make More Money Blogging Or Vlogging?
In my experience, there’s little difference in the amount of money you can make from each.
Both can be used to address a prospect’s pain points and help them to solve their problem. The smart thing to do is build a funnel so you can get your audience onto an email list and market to them that way instead.
People are more likely to buy the products you recommend when they trust you.
But when it comes to ad earnings, vlogging is the clear winner. Video has a higher CPM rate.
CPM stands for Cost per Mille (thousand) and is the average cost an advertiser pays for a thousand views.
How to make money blogging
Blogging is an excellent way to get paid for your expertise on various subjects – it’s also one of the most affordable ways to start building an online income.
You can make money blogging through affiliate marketing by promoting and reviewing products you love.
You can also use an ad network like Adsense, accept sponsored posts, or offer services.
See this article for more ways to make money blogging and how to become a pro blogger.
Pros of Blogging
The first proof of blogging is that it is a lot easier to monetize. You also have many choices on how to monetize – display advertising, adding affiliate links to your content, or recommending your products.
You can create a Google AdSense account or apply to join another advertising network.
Blogging platforms like WordPress and Blogger are easy tools to use. While they are free, I strongly recommend investing in a self-hosted WordPress website—more about that in a minute.
When it’s done right and you have complete control over your blog, it becomes a valuable asset.
You can also outsource your content creation to a third party, hire a social media manager and build a team around your blog.
Cons of Blogging
The cons of blogging are the same as for any startup.
There is a lot of work that goes into setting up your blog, there can be technical difficulties (keep backups!), and you may have to spend some money on advertising or use paid plugins like Google AdSense.
There is also a minor expense with blogging; you need to pay for a domain name and web hosting.
If you’re not good at self-promotion, then this may not be the right business for you.
As I mentioned previously, people are more likely to buy the products you recommend when they trust you – consumers want people who seem knowledgeable about their problems.
But it’s not easy to build trust – you need a lot of content that people find helpful and interesting.
How to make money vlogging
One of the easiest ways to make money with blogging is through adverts, much like blogging. If you’re vlogging on Youtube, Adsense adverts can be run on your videos, and you earn by the number of views or CPM.
You can also shoot sponsored videos or include sponsorship mentions within the video.
Affiliate marketing is another effective way of monetizing your videos, as you can add affiliate links directly into the description of your videos.
When you see a vlogger mention their favorite fitness clothing brand, odds are they’re an affiliate of that company.
This means if someone buys the product through the link in your video, you’ll get a commission.
You can also promote your own products.
Pros of Vlogging
Vlogging is an inexpensive way to market your products.
You can create a vlog that will show your product action and make it easy to share the reasons why people should buy from you.
Vlogging is a relatively easy way to get more exposure for your business.
Because people can see you, the human behind your brand, it creates a connection faster and builds rapport and trust faster.
Vlogging, when done right, can create passive income for your business. While it does take a while to get the hang of it, vlogging is a fun and rewarding way to connect with your audience.
Cons of Vlogging
It’s not all roses. Vlogging is time-consuming.
It can be tricky to keep up with a vlog and put out content regularly, so people don’t lose interest in you.
Many brands have their own style of video that needs to be followed – which means someone will need to work on the visuals, audio, scriptwriting, etc., for each product or service they want to promote.
Your videos should be edited too, which is a time-consuming process. It can be expensive too because editing software usually costs quite a bit.
You need to invest in gear like a camera and a good microphone.
You’re going to need a modern computer that can handle the editing and plenty of storage space for the files.
Another downside I have found with blogging is that there are fewer ad networks available when compared with blogging.
You will need to spend some time finding appropriate advertisers if you want their ads running alongside your content.
A History of blogging
Blogs have been around since the 1990s. Back then, we called them “online journals.”
In 1997 Jorn Barger coined the term ‘weblog,’ referring to ‘logging the web.’
It wasn’t until Peter Merholz shorted it to ‘blog’ in 1999 that it became the term we use today.
When it became more popular, other companies started noticing this new form of communication and adopted the idea themselves by adding blogs onto their websites.
Nowadays, it’s one of the most dominant communication channels on the Internet.
A History of Vlogging
The first-ever Vlog was uploaded to the Internet on 2nd January 2000 when Adam Kontras published a video of his journey to Los Angeles.
The word Vlog was coined for the first time in 2002 by Luuk Bouwman to describe this type of online video blog that he and others were publishing at the time.
It wasn’t until 2005, when YouTube came along, that vlogging took off as a medium, with many people uploading videos every day onto the site.
Anyone can create a Youtube channel about any topic they like.
Youtube’s history in itself is very interesting.
Originally designed as an online dating website, Youtube quickly changed direction as its audience began uploading a wide range of videos.
Youtube is now the second biggest search engine on Earth, with over 500 hours of footage being uploaded every minute.
Conclusion
No matter which you choose, blogging and vlogging are here to stay. Both have been proven business models that have generated billions of dollars online for the savvy marketer over the years.
I’ve built successful businesses around both and have a deep passion for blogging and vlogging. If I absolutely had to choose one, then it would depend.
Both can attract evergreen traffic. However, blog posts are quicker and easier to consume. But they are impersonal.
On the other hand, Vlogs create trust much faster, but they require a slightly higher level of commitment.
In my honest option, do both if you can.
Even if that means reading a blog post on camera so you can upload it as a video. Or vice versa.
But no matter which one you chose (or both!), being a consistent content creator will be the main ingredient in your content marketing strategy.
And with enough persistence, you can become a successful vlogger or build a successful blog in time.