Vlogging, it’s a term nearly all of us have heard of, but what does it really mean? And how can you benefit from it?

With YouTube as the second largest social platform behind Facebook, and millions of people increasingly watching video, establishing a vlog for your business could be beneficial. But should you run a YouTube channel alongside your blog? Whilst there are numerous benefits, a vlog could take up valuable time. So is it a good idea?

Vlogging Pros

It brings back the face value interaction. A vlog gives a voice and a face to your audience – giving a more personal connection. As a result they feel like they get to know you.

Using a video format allows you to target a new audience. Uploading through a site such as Youtube means that you can now access people who prefer visual content. Around 6 billion hours of video content is watched on Youtube a month!! Not only will you have a wider reach towards your main demographic, but you will most likely hit a new demographic – the younger generation. The main audience for this type of video blog is 16-34.

A video format allows you to be more creative, vlogging doesn’t have to just be you in front of a camera talking. From animation to time-lapses, there are plenty of ways to get your creative juices flowing, and in return this may be more appealing to watch.

And finally… Google brought Youtube, which means it all helps in terms of SEO.

Vlogging Cons

If your already on a tight schedule writing blogs, then vlogging may be too time consuming. Between the potential re-recordings and the time it takes to edit, export and upload, it could take up more time than you can commit to.

The good thing about blog posts is that they are easy to skim read during a lunch break to see what is relevant. If someone skips part of your video they could miss crucial information without realising it. Whereas with a blog post you can put key information in bold, red or underlined.

What Now?

If you do decide to take the plunge, setting up a vlog is pretty simple. The easiest way to start is to set up a channel on YouTube where you can post all your videos. If you’re feeling nervous, it’s worth writing a bullet pointed script as a rough guide. However, the best part of vlogging is that it’s not live – so you can practice to your hearts content! Yes, there are some downsides to starting a vlog but there are lots of benefits that can make it a worthwhile move for bloggers.

Click here to read more about why we need to reach the millennial generation.