Within one generation, the blog has moved over for the vlog. While blogs and vlogs can still exist in harmony, it is clear that because of modern technological advancements, vlogs are now the favourite. This article explains how digital development has helped the vlog rise above the blog.
Has anyone else noticed how nowadays, every brand jumps on as many trends as they possibly can to make themselves more relatable? Whether that is really necessary… we'll leave you to decide.
Regardless, the digital content landscape changes daily and directly affects how we consume and distribute information.
One trend that has proven successful for many brands — including personal social media and more corporate ones — is implementing vlogging into your content strategy.
Especially in recent years, the transition from written blogs to video blogs or vlogs has been accelerated by the development of technology. This change isn't just a passing trend; it's a seemingly permanent transformation because of digital development and changing audience preferences.
media update's Joreke Kleynhans explains how digital content creation evolved from blogging to vlogging because of technology.
Video Production Tools
Developments in video production tools have made content creation the type of hobby or job that anyone can try. High-quality cameras, microphones and lighting equipment are now available at many stores online and in-person, allowing newbies to also produce professional videos.
Video editing software has also evolved to become more accessible. They have easier-to-use interfaces and compatibility with mobile devices than before, which cater to beginners and experienced creators.
In contrast, blogging tools have not become much easier to use. Most website-building tools have a steeper learning curve — not to mention the work and time it takes to optimise a website for search engines.
Producing a successful blog is much more difficult than producing high-engagement vlogs.
Streaming Platforms and Monetisation
The rise of platforms like YouTube, Twitch and social media with live-streaming features have provided creators with more opportunities to reach audiences they otherwise might not have.
TikTok and Instagram, in particular, have become popular for video content, with monetisation options and more detailed analytics to help creators grow their profiles.
These platforms also streamline the process of monetising your content because of pre-existing systems like YouTube Adsense and TikTok's Creator Fund. Brand partnerships are also profitable in places like South Africa where the Creator Fund is not accessible.
Blogging, on the other hand, produces a lower ROI because of the labour intensiveness of monetisation options.
Social Media Algorithms
Social media algorithms often prioritise video content, making it more likely for videos to appear in users' feeds and gain traction. This system means that videos have a higher chance of going viral compared to text-based content.
So while it technically is possible to distribute written content on social media platforms, it's much more difficult to succeed without video content than with it.
Community and Interaction
Vlogs have a unique ability to create a sense of community with audiences through direct engagement in comment sections, likes, shares and even DMs. Vlogging also humanises a creator more than blogging. They can show their face, use their voice and capture small moments that can't necessarily be conveyed in a traditional blog.
The face-to-face interaction in vlogs creates a stronger connection between creators and viewers. Viewers feel more of a personal connection with their favourite vlogger and, in some way, they even believe that they are friends. This direct interaction helps build a loyal community that feels personally invested in the creator's journey.
Ultimately, there is still room for both written blogs and vlogs in the digital content library we all frequent.
Some creators take a hybrid approach, making video content to supplement their written work or lead their audience to it. Jeremy Scheck is a popular food and recipe creator on both social media and his professional website, ScheckEats.
Realistically, though, it's unsustainable for most to do both.
Because of this, most people nowadays first look in the direction of vlogs as a form of personal content creation, while up to a decade ago, blogs had been the more accessible, less idealistic way to go.
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*Image courtesy of Canva