5 Tips for Awesome Vlogging
We’ve heard already that vlogging boosts blog readership and brand awareness. Think about it. It boosts your SEO because it’s something else—something more unique than a simple blog post—that your followers can retweet, “like,” share, or “+1.”
The greatest reason vlogging works is perhaps what makes it so scary: it gives your brand a human face. Your face. This is where most of us stop and go back to writing and taking Instagram pictures.
But you’ve taken risks before—like starting your own blog—and this is no different. Here are 5 tips to get you started:
1. Ensure good quality audio. Whether you’re an individual trying to make some extra SEO cash or a corporation trying to expand an existing audience, poor quality audio is a sure-fire way to lose viewers in under 5 seconds. Why? It shows that:
- You don’t care about quality
- You can’t afford quality, or
- You don’t know quality, which makes you irrelevant.
Readers and investors find none of the above attractive. To ensure the audio quality of your video:
- Avoid filming in strong winds, near a fan, or in a loud area.
- Invest in a decent external microphone if your current equipment doesn’t suffice. This means reading reviews and watching out for paid ghost writers.
- If your camera doesn’t have a MIC in port, record the audio separately. You can sync the two while editing. Just be sure to snap or clap your hands loudly about 10 seconds before reading your script. This gives both the audio and video starting points you can sync later.
- Record only in good lighting. Don’t make your viewers squint. This requires experimentation on your end.
- Use natural light whenever possible, meaning film near windows or in the sun. Never have the light at your back or you’ll be a silhouette; position your set so the light comes from behind the camera.
- Fill unseemly shadows—like under the eyes—by getting a large sheet of white paperboard and have your subject hold it under their face outside of the camera’s view. Cover the paper with aluminum foil if necessary.
- Bring lots of lamps to light up your subject as well as to get rid of dark shadows on the wall behind them.
2. Let’s talk about equipment and dollar signs. Everyday vloggers don’t need expensive equipment; most PCs and laptops come with built-in cameras and mics. Corporate vloggers, however, might invest in quality equipment. Consider before purchasing:
- Battery life. Does it use an A/C adapter or a USB cable? Do you have a backup?
- How good is the MIC quality?
- Does it record in the video format your editing software recognizes?
3. You don’t need expensive editing software. Many vloggers just edit on Youtube. Pinnacle is another option, but beware of attempting to edit long videos. It will likely crash innumerous times, long before you develop the patience to finish your project. Shop around for the best prices and quality, and don’t forget about video format.
4. Be yourself. Trite, but true: emulating someone else will only make you a watered-down version of them. But there is only one you, and you should focus on bettering that. For some vloggers, this means being silly and giddy; for others, it means being dramatic and confessional. Go with what works for you and the voice of your blog. Inevitably, you’ll turn away some viewers, but the ones who stay will want to hear and see you, and that is the greatest impetus for us to keep vlogging.
Kay Winders is presently the resident writer for badcreditloans.org, where she researches the best way for people to pay off their debts without damaging their credit. In her spare time, she enjoys freelance writing, the beach and gardening.
Fun video on video blogging (vlogging):
