The Key Differences Between Blogging And Vlogging

Last Updated on July 19, 2023 by Jordan Alexo

Freak! Stuck in the blogging vs. vlogging dilemma?

Well, you aren’t alone! But I got you covered.

In one corner, we have blogging that’s been around since prehistorical internet times. And in the other, we’ve got blogging, which appeared more recently.

So, the big question is: Which one’s your match?

Should you spend your day and night writing content? Or your day and night producing video?

Well, in this guide, you’ll discover the difference between blogging and vlogging. Such as their histories, differences, and why they’re so popular.

Plus, I’ll share some killer tips on how to get started and monetize them. So, let’s jump in!

Key Takeaways

1. Blogs and Vlogs are Both Powerful: Both blogs and vlogs have unique strengths. On one side, blogs are versatile and provide written content. At the same time, vlogs offer a more personal, visually appealing way for people to consume your content.
2. Choosing Between Blogging and Vlogging Depends on Your Skills: If you don’t mind spending days writing content, blogging might be your thing! While if you don’t mind appearing in front of a camera, vlogging could be your ticket. You need to ask yourself what your skills are. And what are you willing to do long-term?
3. Blogs and Vlogs Can Be Monetized: Both blogs and vlogs have several ways to crank out cash. From ads and sponsored content to affiliate marketing and selling products or services.
4. Consistency and Quality Are Keys: Whether you choose to blog or vlog, creating consistent, high-quality content is crucial. See, success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, patience, and a s**t load of work to build an audience.
5. Just Start: The biggest reason most people fail is “they don’t start.” You only need to grab something and run with it. Don’t expect the perfect moment, equipment, or whatever. As Nike says, “Just do it!

The ABCs of Blogging and Vlogging

Okay, let’s begin with some basic groundwork. So, what are blogs and vlogs? And no, they aren’t some mysterious secret out there.

	Blogging	Vlogging
Definition	A blog is a regularly updated website or web page, typically run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style.	A vlog is a form of blog for which the medium is video. Vlog entries often combine embedded videos with supporting text, images, and other metadata.
Medium	Text-based content is often supplemented with images, GIFs, infographics, and other visual content.	Video-based content is often supplemented with text descriptions, thumbnails, and other metadata.
Platform Examples	WordPress, Blogger, Medium, Wix.	YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, Twitch.
Content Creation	Requires good writing skills, ability to communicate ideas through text, and basic understanding of SEO.	Requires video filming and editing skills, on-camera presence, and understanding of video SEO.
Engagement	Readers can engage through comments, shares, likes, and email subscriptions.	Viewers can engage through comments, shares, likes, subscriptions, and video responses.
Monetization	Through ads (like Google AdSense), sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, selling products or services, and more.	Through ads (like YouTube Partner Program), sponsored videos, affiliate marketing, crowdfunding, merchandise, and more.
Accessibility	It can be consumed at the reader’s own pace, can be easily translated, and is accessible to people with hearing impairments.	More dynamic and personal, it can show instead of tell but requires more attention from the viewer and may not be accessible to people with visual or hearing impairments.

What Is a Blog?

Imagine this: You’ve got thoughts, ideas, stories, or some killer recipes you want to share with the world.

So, you decide to put those words down on a digital platform like WordPress (website builder). And slap a few awesome images, maybe sprinkle in some links, and boom!

You’ve got yourself a blog.

It’s like your little online space where you can share your knowledge and passion or sell products. You have bloggers who’ve built million-dollar businesses. Just to say, blogging isn’t only a hobby like in the old days.

Nah, it can be a full-blown money-making machine. When of course, done right.

And guess what?

As of 2023, there are over 600 million blogs out of 1.9 billion websites online. Crazy right? Everyone and their mom is blogging nowadays.

A Blog Is A Section Of A Website

A blog is a part of a website but a specific part. Basically, it’s where you regularly publish fresh content, aka blog posts.

Also, a blog is organized in chronicle order. Meaning the newest blog posts appear on top, and readers can scroll down to find older posts. Example:

What Is a Vlog?

Now, let’s talk vlogs.

So you want to tell a story, but instead of writing it down, you’re recording it on camera and posting your videos on YouTube or another platform.

That’s a vlog.

You can share your daily life, teach something, review products, or entertain. And you don’t need to be a special snowflake. See many people start vlogging with their mobile or an old camera they found in their attic.

That’s why at the moment, you have over 37 million YouTube channels out there.

Brief History Lesson: The Evolution of Blogs and Vlogs

Now that you have some basic idea about the difference between vlogs and blogs. Let’s briefly see how everything evolved over time.

Blog Brief History

Blogs have been around since the late 90s.

Initially, they started as online diaries where people shared their thoughts, experiences, and stories online.

Also, it was mostly a geeky thing because you needed to know to code to build an ugly-looking blog.

But nowadays, blogs have become major players. In fact, most big to small businesses have a blog to drive traffic, connect with their audience, and sell products.

And the numbers don’t lie: businesses that blog get 67% more leads than those that don’t. That’s a pretty sweet deal, right?

But let’s not forget about vlogs.

Vlog Brief History

They first came to life in the mid-2000s with the appearance of YouTube. At first, vlogs were just people sharing their daily lives.

But just like blogs, they’ve evolved into a powerful marketing tool.

Today, vlogs are used to build personal brands, promote products, and even make a living.

I’ve seen, over the years, people starting vlogs by filming poor-quality videos. And a few years later, they have a filming studio, a brand, and thousands of followers.

Also, here’s a fun fact: According to Nielsen, YouTube users watch over a billion hours of video daily.

That’s a lot of eyeballs on your content if you do things right.

Anyway, while the history of blogs and vlogs is fascinating, it’s not just about looking back.

You must understand how these platforms have evolved and how they work nowadays. See, what worked a few years ago isn’t the same as what works today.

For instance, to become a successful YouTube vlogger, you must create shorts (about 60 seconds videos). Otherwise, your channel won’t grow.

All to say, you need to know the ins and outs to satisfy either the Google or YouTube Gods. Well, YouTube belongs to Google, but I guess you get the point.

How To Choose Topics For Blogs and Vlogs?

Choosing the right topics for your blog or vlog can feel like finding a needle in a haystack, right? But don’t sweat it. I’ve got some tips that’ll turn you into a topic-picking pro in no time.

How To Choose Topics For Blogs?

Based on HubSpot, companies that publish over 16 blog posts monthly get almost 3.5X more traffic than those that publish 0-4 monthly posts.

But that’s only if the content is top-notch! Nobody likes to read boring and garbage content.

How To Choose Topics For Vlogs?

The same rules apply here. You must understand your audience’s interests, challenges, and questions.

But with vlogs, there’s a twist to the pina colada (whatever that means).

See, behind a blog; nobody knows if you’re the most boring, obnoxious person around.

But with a vlog that no longer sticks. No, you’ve got to be entertaining too. Or people won’t watch your vlogs.

In fact, they’ll leave comments explaining all the reasons you should quit now and save everyone’s time.

I admit: I got a few of those comments myself.

Anyway, you can do day-in-the-life videos, tutorials, product reviews, travel vlogs, or even Q&As.

And here’s a pro tip:

Often people wonder: what’s the perfect video length to make people want them like crazy? Well, there’s no right answer.

Nowadays, people watch shorter and longer format videos. So, you need to master creating “shorts” (silly 60-second videos) and “long-form” vlogs (in-depth discussions or documentaries).

The Popularity Contest: Blogs vs. Vlogs

Alright, let’s dive into why blogs and vlogs are stealing the show in the digital world.

Why Blogs Are Rocking The Internet?

• Versatility: Blogs are like chameleons; they can be anything you want them to be – personal, professional, informative, entertaining, you name it. They’re the Swiss Army knife of content.
• Sharing the Wisdom: Blogs are your stage to share knowledge, spin tales, build a kick-ass brand, or sell products. It’s like having your own personal TED Talk.
• SEO Superstars: Blogs and SEO go together like peanut butter and jelly. For instance, companies with blogs get 97% more links to their website. That’s a lot of traffic, leads, and sales coming your way.
• Standing the Test of Time: Blogs have been around for a long time. They’re a proven way to communicate and make money online.

Why Are Vlogs Hot Right Now?

• Personal Touch: Vlogs let you connect with your audience more deeply. As they say, an image is worth a thousand words. Most people prefer to watch a video rather than read that same content.
• Engagement Galore: Vlogs are like a magnet for engagement. Studies show viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video, compared to 10% when reading it in text. If that’s not a reason to start vlogging, I don’t know what is.
• Show, Don’t Tell: Vlogs let you show instead of tell. You can visually show a product, concept, or event in a way that words sometimes can’t.
• Fresh and Exciting: As a newer form of media, vlogs are seen as fresh, exciting, and a bit rebellious. Like they’re the rockstars of content.

Blogging and Vlogging (First Steps To Getting Started)

So after so much food for thought, you probably wonder, “How do you start a blog or vlogs?” Let’s crack it down:

How To Start A Blog?

So, follow the next steps to start a blog:

Step 3 – Select a Web Hosting Provider

Now, it’s time to choose a web hosting provider. This is where all your blog data, such as content, images, and videos, will be stored.

At the same time, a web host connects your site to the Internet. I suggest checking WPX Hosting for a fast and reliable option.

Step 4 – Start Creating Killer Content

And finally, the fun part: start creating content. But remember, it’s not about churning out post after post. Well, it is, but it isn’t.

I mean, you want to find a good balance between pumping out content and quality. You don’t want to publish garbage just for the sake of posting.

So, it’s about creating content that helps and entertains your audience.

How To Start A Vlog?

And here are a few steps to put you on the right track:

I mean, it’s the second-largest search engine in the world. So, don’t get complicated.

Step 3 – Start Creating Engaging Content

Now, just like with blogging, it’s time to start creating content.

But remember, vlogging is all about engagement. So, it’s about entertaining.

I know, in the beginning, you’ll feel uptight in front of a camera. But don’t worry! As you keep going, you’ll start becoming more natural and confident.

As they say, “practice makes perfect”.

Step 4 – Just Start

And here’s the most important step of all: just start.

Don’t wait for the perfect idea or the perfect equipment. People don’t realize the simplicity of “starting.” Once you start with time, you build momentum.

Actually, it then becomes harder to stop than to continue. The most successful vloggers started with whatever equipment they had at hand.

But they started, they learned, bought better gear, and became what they are nowadays.

Show Me the Money: Monetizing Blogs and Vlogs

Alright, let’s dive into what most people love “mooney.” Can you turn a blog or a vlog into your cash cow?

Cashing in on Blogs

• Ways to Monetize: You can sell products or services, play the affiliate marketing game, offer sponsored posts, or even use Google AdSense.
• Potential Earnings: Here’s a stat that’ll make your jaw drop: the top 2% of bloggers rake in over $150 a year. I’d say that’s some serious pocket money!

Cashing in on Vlogs

• Ways to Monetize: Vlogs aren’t far behind when it comes to monetization. You can use YouTube’s Partner Program, offer sponsored videos, use affiliate marketing, or even sell merchandise.
• Potential Earnings: Get this: the top 3% of YouTube channels get 90% of the total traffic. If you can elbow your way into that top 3%, you’re looking at some serious dough.

Last Thoughts: Blogging, Vlogging, or Both?

We’ve covered a lot of ground, haven’t we?

From the nitty-gritty of blogs and vlogs, their history, how to choose topics, why they’re popular, how to start, and even how to make money from them.

But let’s boil it all down:

• Blogs are a versatile and proven method for sharing knowledge and building a brand. If you see yourself writing for hours until your eyes bleed, then blogging is perfect!
• Vlogs, on the other hand, you see yourself talking in front of a camera. And connecting with people on a more personal level. Well, time to vlog it up!

Whether you choose to blog, vlog, or do both, remember this:

You must provide value. In other words, you want to create helpful content that entertains people. And if you can do that long enough, you’ll enjoy the fruits of your labor.

But remember, success doesn’t come overnight.

Be patient and consistent; it takes time, and the bottom line:

Winners never quit, and quitters never win – Vince Lombardi.

So, do you have any questions or doubts? Please leave them right below, and Jordan Alexo will reply shortly.

Stop! Do you know what other platforms have replaced blogging? Read here.