Influencers and Vlogging – A Complete FAQ

Key Takeaways

• The term “vlog” is short for “video blog,” while “vloggers” are consequently video content creators.
• Vlogs are often personal in nature and can cover a wide range of topics.
• Overall, being a vlogger offers several benefits, including creative expression, personal branding, influence, community building, monetization opportunities, flexibility, and learning and growth opportunities.

To dive into the world of vloggers, understand them and use this knowledge for future influencer marketing campaigns. We start this article with a FAQ (i.e. a little Q&A) on the most frequently asked questions related to vlogs and vloggers.

What Does the Word "Vlog" Mean?

The term “vlog” is short for “video blog”. The word refers to a form of content creation in which individuals or creators film themselves or their surroundings and publish the videos on the Internet, usually on platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo. Vlogs are often personal in nature and can cover a wide range of topics. The popularity of vlogs has increased significantly in recent years. Many vloggers have built a large following and turned their channels into successful businesses. Vlogging is also a popular form of storytelling on YouTube, where video bloggers share their lives and experiences.

What Are Vloggers and What Do They Do?

A vlogger is an influencer who publishes videos on YouTube or other social media such as Vimeo to reach a broad target group. The acronym stands for “video blogger“, among other things, and describes people who often share personal stories, thoughts or experiences in their videos, and they may also cover a variety of topics such as travel, beauty, lifestyle, entertainment or education. Vlogging has become a popular form of content creation in recent years, and many vloggers have built a large following and even turned their channels into successful businesses.

How Does Vlogging Work for Beginners?

Creating vlogs involves several steps that creators need to follow and marketers need to know. This can help when negotiating the price for a collaboration, as you can better estimate the effort involved.

1. Create: Vloggers create video content based on their interests, expertise or experiences. They may film themselves talking about a particular topic, demonstrating a particular skill, or showcasing a particular place or experience.

2. Editing: After the video footage is recorded, vloggers edit their video to make it more engaging and visually appealing. They can add text, graphics, music or other effects to the video to make it more interesting for their viewers. To stand out in the crowd of videos, we recommend creating an appealing FI (Featured Image) to get users’ attention. As part of the editing process, many vloggers also choose to transcribe video to text. This not only widens the accessibility of their content but also aids in the optimization for search engines, thereby increasing visibility and reach.

3. Publish: After the video has been edited, influencers upload their vlogs to a platform like YouTube or Vimeo. They must add a title, description and tags so that new followers can discover the video more easily.

4. Promote: To attract viewers to the vlog, vloggers can use a variety of strategies. These include paid ads on social media, search engine optimization, such as in the video’s description, or other marketing strategies, such as a guest appearance on another channel.

5. Interact: After publishing the vlog, vloggers should interact with their viewers to increase their engagement rate. The best way is to comment on the videos to engage with the audience and make the algorithm on YouTube happy.

6. Monetize: Once vloggers have built up a considerable following, they can monetize their content through advertising, sponsorship or even cooperation with brands.

Here's What You Need to Vlog: Which Camera Is Good and What Does a Vlogging Kit Include?

The choice of equipment and camera for vlogging largely depends on your budget, your specific needs and the type of content you want to create. That said, we have a selection of some popular options for vlogging gear:

• Camera: For vlogging, you need a camera that is lightweight, portable and offers good video quality. When choosing your camera make sure that it has good autofocus. Popular cameras for vlogging include the Sony ZV-1, the Canon G7X Mark III and the Panasonic Lumix GH5.
• Lens: Depending on the type of vlogging activity, vloggers should invest in different lenses for their cameras. For example, a wide-angle lens can be useful for capturing more of the environment, while a telephoto lens can be useful for zooming in on specific subjects.
• Microphone: Good audio quality is important for vlogging, so you should invest in a high-quality microphone. Some popular options include the Rode VideoMic Pro and the Shure VP83F LensHopper.
• Tripod : A tripod is essential to keep your camera stable and in place while filming. This can prevent shaky shots and give your video a more professional look. Some of the most popular options include the Manfrotto BeFree and the Joby GorillaPod.
• Lighting: Good lighting can make a big difference in the quality of your vlogs. Vloggers can invest in softbox lights, ring lights or other types of lighting to ensure their videos are well-lit. Some of the most popular options include the Lume Cube Panel Mini and the Neewer Ring Light.
• Editing software: After filming, vloggers need editing software to stitch their footage together and create a finished video. There are many different options, from free softwares like iMovie to more advanced programs like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro.
• Accessories: Other accessories that may be included in a vlogging kit are spare batteries, memory cards, a camera bag or backpack, and extra cables and adapters.

It’s important to invest in high-quality equipment to ensure the best possible video and audio quality, but there are also many affordable options for those just starting.

What Types of Vlogs Are There?

There are many different types of vlogs, each with their own focus and style. Some common types of vlogs are:

• Personal vlogs: These are vlogs that focus on the vloggers’ daily life, thoughts and experiences.
• Travel vlogs: These vlogs focus on the Creator’s travel experiences and feature different places, cultures and activities.
• Beauty and fashion vlogs: These vlogs often feature makeup tutorials, outfit ideas and product tests.
• Food and cooking vlogs: These vlogs focus on cooking, baking and food-related content, often with recipes and restaurant reviews (can also be combined with travel vlogs, for example).
• Educational Vlogs: These vlogs focus on teaching viewers about a specific topic, such as history, science or art.
• Game vlogs: These vlogs feature gameplay footage, reviews of games and discussions about the gaming culture.
• DIY and craft vlogs: These vlogs focus on various DIY and craft projects. They provide instructions and inspiration for the audience.
• Fitness and Wellness Vlogs: These vlogs often feature workout routines, healthy recipes and healthy lifestyle advice.

What Are the Advantages of a Video Blog?

Being a blog influencer or vlogger can offer many benefits, which is why the job is becoming increasingly popular among young people. Read Gen Z’s guide to influencer marketing on the Kolsquare Blog:

• Creative outlet: As a blog influencer, you can express your creativity and share your unique perspective with the world. You have the freedom to create content based on your interests, passions, and expertise and share it with your audience.
• A platform for personal branding: As a blog influencer, you have the opportunity to build a personal brand around your content and personality. You can establish yourself as an authority in your niche and develop your own unique brand identity.
• Influence and impact: As a vlogger, you can also influence and inspire others. Your content can resonate with your audience and influence their opinions, behaviors and actions, which can be very fulfilling and rewarding.
• Building a community: Building a loyal community and interacting with it can be one of the most rewarding aspects of being a vlogger. You can connect with like-minded people, build relationships and create a supportive community around your content.
• Monetization opportunities: As a successful blog influencer, you may have the opportunity to monetize your content and turn your passion into a business. This may include partnerships with brands, sponsored content, affiliate marketing or even launching your own products and services.
• Flexibility and independence: You also have flexibility in terms of working hours, location and content creation. You can create your schedule and work on your own terms, which can be attractive to many people.
• Learn and grow: Working as a blog influencer requires continuous learning and improvement in various areas, such as content creation, marketing and audience engagement. This can provide opportunities for personal and professional growth as you improve your skills and knowledge in these areas.

In addition to the benefits, we don’t want to leave the challenges unsaid. It’s important to know that being a vlogger also requires hard work, dedication and consistent effort to build and maintain a successful presence in the competitive world of online content creation.

Vlogging for Beginners - How to Get Started on a YouTube Channel?

If you are a beginner and want to start vlogging on YouTube, here are some steps to help you get started:

• Identifying your niche: Before you start creating content, it’s important to determine what type of content you want to produce and who your target audience is. This will help you create content that is relevant and interesting to your viewers.
• Set up a YouTube channel: Create a YouTube account and set up your channel. Then add a profile picture, description, banner, and a video briefly introducing yourself.
• Invest in basic equipment: To start vlogging, you don’t need to invest in expensive (but just high-quality) equipment. Feel free to go back in the post when we detail the vlogging kit.
• Plan your content: Before you start filming, plan your content. Write down a list of ideas for your vlogs and create a calendar to keep track of them.
• Film and edit your vlogs: Once you’ve planned your content, it’s time to film and then edit your vlog. When editing, make sure that your videos are short and engaging, and add music, subtitles or other effects to make them more interesting and give the videos your own fingerprint.
• Publish your videos: Once you’ve edited your vlog, upload it to your YouTube channel. Be sure to add a catchy title, tags and a description that includes keywords relevant to your niche.

Remember that creating a successful YouTube channel takes time, effort and consistency. Keep creating quality content and be patient as you build your audience and grow your channel. Do you have more questions about vlogging? If so, feel free to reach out to us at any time, preferably on LinkedIn.