Getting into Vlogging

*Originally published on 4/22/10



As the internet has evolved, we have seen various trends break out. There are memes like the infamous "rick roll" and the lolcat phenomenon, blogging was a big one with "tweeting" acting as a sort of spiritual successor, one trend that has been somewhat under the radar is vlogging.

You may be wondering if that's pronounced V-log or like blog with a v. I've heard it said both ways, so I take it that it is an either/or situation. Just go with whichever one feels more natural to you.

In order to start vlogging, you will obviously need a video camera of some sort. Fortunately, you don't need to buy a fancy camcorder (though if you already have one, there's no harm in using it). Almost all computers come with an installed webcam, heck my netbook has a webcam so if you have a fairly modern computer, you should be OK. If you're computer doesn't have a webcam, you can get one for fairly cheap.

From there, all you need to do is open up an account at a website like YouTube or Viddler and you're pretty much set to go.

Try to keep each video focused on one topic. You don't want to just ramble going from subject to subject without rhyme or reason. If some random thought does pop into your head and it is quasi-relevant, feel free to share, but by and large you will want to focus on one topic of discussion.

As far as lighting goes, try to have the light come from in front of you. If you're back-lit, the video quality will look inferior and it is harder on the eyes for the viewer.

Try to find a room that is completely quiet and secluded. This will make it more comfortable, especially if you feel weird talking to a computer screen. It also eliminates distractions for both the viewer and the blogger.

That's not to say that you have to vlog alone. If there is a friend or family member who wants to partake in a video, it is a good way to spice up the formula. As opposed to one person just talking to the camera, you can get some actual dialogue and engage in a back and forth with another person.

Most vlogs aren't scripted, but you do want to have a general idea of what you're going to say. If you're not particularly good at thinking off the top of your head, it's perfectly OK to have prepared notes on hand for when you talk. Either way, you want to do everything possible to prevent dead silence or "ummms" and "aaahhs". One or two is fine, but when a majority of your video is you blanking, it's not interesting to the viewer.

How long should your video be? Well that's up to you to be honest. Some vlogs can go from half an hour to an hour. However, if you upload directly to Youtube through their webcam feature, you'll want to keep it under 10 minutes as that is their limit, otherwise you have to post multiple videos and that might be frustrating for some viewers.

As for attire, obviously you'll want to try and present yourself in a reasonable fashion. While there may be a certain charm to doing a vlog in your pajamas, try to be decent. You don't want to do a vlog in your underwear or with your hair all disheveled. That's bush league.

The beauty of vlogs is that there is no restriction on what you can talk about. If you are a movie buff, you can discuss movies; if you are a fan of Lost, you can talk about the latest episode. Whatever suits your fancy is pretty much fair game.

It's also a great way to boost your social networking. If you have a blog at a site like Blogspot or Livejournal, you can post your video logs there. Even social sites like Facebook and MySpace allow you to post Youtube videos on your page. Twitter is probably the exception, though while you can't post the video directly, you can post the link or set it up so that it auto-tweets an announcement that you posted a video.

Vlogging is a great way to connect with your audience. It can also be a great tool to expand your audience. It allows people to connect with others and engage in discussion.