Blogging vs Vlogging – Which Is Best For You?

Last Updated on December 20, 2023 by andrewtk

Running your own blog is not for everyone.

Running your own vlog is not for everyone.

And for some folks, the thought of doing either one, totally twists their melon!

But not you young Skywalker, you want to get hold of your very own piece of cyber-space…

…and I don't blame you.

Stick around for this quick blogging vs vlogging round-up, while we figure out which one you're best suited to.

Who knows?..Maybe you'll be brilliant at both!

Let's crack on…

What Is a Blog?

Blogs are websites. But not all websites are blogs.

Glad we cleared that up!

Okay, maybe a little more.

A blog in its purest form is simply an online journal.

The blog owner writes regularly about the personal experiences, successes, trials and tribulations of their life, or more usually, a specific area of their life, such as a hobby or interest.

Bloggers use their blogs to share their thoughts, opinions and knowledge about their chosen topic.  

And as long as they are not violating any laws with their type of content, ain't nobody gonna stop them!

What Is a Vlog?

A vlog, or video log if you want to keep it formal, is the shiny new, modern day video equivalent of a blog.

A video blog if you like.

Largely born from the unstoppable rise of YouTube.

A blogger could literally take all of their written content and turn it into vlog content, and vice-verse!

It's exactly the same stuff, just presented in a different way.

Blogging vs Vlogging, or…the written word vs video'd spoken word!

What's The Difference Between a Vlog And a YouTube Channel

You may have a YouTube channel but not be a vlogger, because your content is of a different type and serves a different purpose to that of a vlog.

And you could be a vlogger but not have a YouTube channel, because you have chosen to make your video log content available on a different online platform.

YouTube is simply the video hosting and publishing platform that tends to be preferred by most vloggers.

If you are a vlogger, and you put your content on YouTube, you can be known as both a vlogger and a YouTuber. 

6 Key Differences Between Blogging And Vlogging

What's the difference between blogs and vlogs?

Here's a real quick rundown of six key differences: 

1. Time Commitment

A major consideration when thinking about blogging vs vlogging is the time you'll need to put in to each one.

Vlogging will take up quite a bit more of your time, because the technical process of producing high-quality vlog content is relatively lengthy, and…

…because you're making yourself the face, the star, of the video content that you're creating.

Blogging is also fairly time-consuming, but I think vlogging is even more so.

2. Content Editing

I promise you that this is going to be a balanced look at blogging vs vlogging, but that said, this is a definite big win in favour of blogging.

Of course, blog posts need proof-reading and formatting, but each new vlog requires much more editing time to produce great looking videos.

You will definitely want to look at investing in video editing software for best results.

3. Equipment 

You don’t need a whole lot of fancy kit to start blogging.

And while it is totally possible to start vlogging without all of the kit, those early videos are not going to be of the best quality without it.

Some vloggers get started with pretty much just their phone, but it does show through in the output quality.

A fully stacked vlogger will have HD video-camera, microphone, lighting, editing software etc.

4. Hosting & Platform

How are you going to publish your content?

A blogger needs to think about getting a domain, a website host, a site platform like WordPress, a site theme etc.

Quite a bunch of stuff on day one.

You can skip all of this by publishing to a blogging site such as Medium, but in the long-run, I think you definitely want to get your own site up and running.

Getting set-up with a host and platform is much less involved for new vloggers.

There are a number of great platforms available for vloggers…and a lot of them don't even want paying.

YouTube and Facebook are two of the most popular sites for publishing vlogs. 

5. Content Creation

Both vloggers and bloggers need to keep coming up with fresh ideas for new content.

Bloggers and vloggers are content creators. 

The brainstorming process is pretty similar, as is probably the getting the first content outline drafted.

But they diverge once the content production gets started. 

Blogging is mainly written content that can feature images, infographics, tables, graphs.

A vlog, being made entirely of video, has a very different creation process.

Neither is better than the other, just for you to consider what your preferences are.

6. Monetisation Strategies

There are a lot of similarities between a blog vs vlog as to how they can be monetised.

Both can make money from affiliate marketing.

Both can make money from advertising.

They also both have opportunities for brand deals and sponsorship arrangements.

What Do You Need To Start a Blog?

You will definitely hear it said that all you need to start a blog is an idea and an internet connection.

Well, kind of.

But also, kind of not!

Like we talked about earlier, you can keep it super-simple and set-up on blogging site like Medium.

But if you have an eye on monetising your blog, I really wouldn't recommend it.

In which case you will find that you need a little more than an idea and an internet connection.

Here are the 8 steps to getting your blog started:

• Decide on a profitable niche
• Get your blog name, domain and web hosting
• Install WordPress
• Choose your blog’s theme
• Install a few essential WordPress plugins
• Create great original content
• Get some Search Engine Optimization skills
• Promote your content

What Do You Need To Start a Vlog?

And you're also going to hear it said that all you need to start a vlog is a great idea and a phone.

But not really!

That's okay if you are only ever going to be interested in getting your opinions and ideas out there, and nothing else.

But what we're really talking about here is how you set up as a vlogger for massive long-term success and profits!

Right?

And that's going to take building a loyal following through the regular production of awesome, fresh, relevant content.

It's going to take a bit more of your time, and a bit more kit, such as…

• Decide on a profitable niche
• Choose your platform and channel name
• Investing in Camera, Tripod, Microphone, Lighting, Editing Software
• Create great original content
• Get some Search Engine Optimization skills
• Promote your content

Possibly one of the biggest game changers for bloggers and YouTubers over the last couple of years has been the rise of outstanding, easy-to-use, video-making and editing software.

The best video software even lets you take a backseat now and again, by having an AI bot turn your script into a high-quality video. Give it a go yourself with this free AI video generator…the vlogging life never looked so easy!

Blog or Vlog: 3 Things You Might Want To Think About

So far we've mostly been talking about the technicalities of blogs vs vlogs.

But now it's time to take a little look at some of the ‘softer' aspects that you might also like to consider.

Here's three things to maybe think on before making your final decision:

1. Your Topic / Niche

Some topics are just a lot easier to write about.

Others are more suited to shooting to video.

Deep technical, or difficult topics tend to be better explained in a blog post.

That's not to say that you can't cover difficult, technical subjects in a vlog, just that vlogs tend to be better suited to videos of just a few minutes long.

If you want to make a video on a technical topic, maybe do it over a series of vlogs, rather than one long one.

Obviously vlogging is brilliant if you are covering a topic that benefits from a lot of visual support.

Maybe if you were reviewing a new app of some sort, you could make screencasts of its settings and features within your vlog.

This would be totally boring in a blog post, but could work great in a well thought out vlog.

So think about your preferred niche ideas and try to figure out what sort of content you would mainly be producing. 

Start building a draft content strategy to get a real feel for which types of content your niche best lends itself too. 

2. Your Audience

Who is your target audience?

Please don't say everyone! If you did say everyone…it's detention after school for you.

Assuming you know who your target audience is, what do you know actually about them?

Do you know how they mostly like to consume content?

If you've just said to yourself that they're young so like to watch videos, or their old so like to read…it's detention for you too.

Audience demographics does have some bearing, but not as much as you might think, and not as much as the type of content…like whether it's technical, informative, instructional etc.

Take the time to find out more about your target audience, what they find interesting and what types of content they prefer…and in what format?

Both blogs and vlogs give you the chance to interact with your audience and strengthen your relationship with them, so make sure you do this as you go along.

3. Your Personal Traits

Do you just love to write?

Or does the idea of sitting down to a day of writing fill you with dread?

Do you ooze endless natural charm and charisma in front of a video camera?

Or could you make white-water rafting sound mind-numbingly boring?

All of this stuff is important if you are going to get enjoyment out of this online adventure.

As opposed to finding it draining and stressful.

None of this makes anyone of us better than the other, it just means that it is super-important to know yourself.

You can of course learn to get better in your weaker areas, and practice alone will have a huge impact. But why not get started in the area where you are most naturally comfortable? 

How Do Bloggers And Vloggers Make Money?

There's not a whole lot of difference in how blogs and vlogs make money.

Affiliate marketing is a primary source of income, most probably neck-and-neck with advertising.

Brand/sponsorship deals probably come in a little way behind these two big guns..

Here's a quick list of some of the monetisation strategies of both vlogs and blogs: 

• Affiliate Marketing
• Google Adsense Advertising
• Brand Deals
• Sponsorships Deals
• Sponsored Posts
• Creating a Product
• Selling Merch

How Much Money Can You Make Blogging Or Vlogging?

Well just like pretty much everything in life, it depends on how much work you are going to put into it.

Plenty of people are earning six figures and upwards through blogging and vlogging.

Some super-successful vloggers are making millions. As are some successful bloggers! 

And plenty aren't making a Dime!

The highest earners all have solid monetisation strategies in place.

They certainly don't let their earnings become totally reliant on only one source. They don't allow Google Adsense to become their lord and master!

The income potential for both is incredible.

But to earn big you've go to have a plan for how to maximise the value of the content you create. 

And to make the big-bucks you are going to have to put in a lot of graft.

You're going to have to have the guts to stick with through the early days of putting in tons of hours, all while earning absolutely nothing for your trouble. 

Blogging vs Vlogging – Wrapping It Up!

So which should you go for?

Blogging or Vlogging?

You could always start both, but time is a limited resource, and you could end up getting neither off the ground.

They both have pros and cons of course. 

When all is said and done, I think you should go with whichever feels natural to you.

Does the prospect of getting up each day to write blog posts fill you with joy?

Or does the idea of spending half of your life shooting vlogs of yourself delight you?

Only you know the answers to these questions. Only you know which is best for you.

Whichever it is…good luck!