Blogging vs Vlogging? is one of the most common questions in the world of content creation. This is because of their versatility to serve as platforms for a variety of businesses, as well as educators, influencers, and entertainers.
For beginners who are looking to start a digital business, these two are the most popular choices. So, they all usually end up asking which one is the best.
In this article, we will answer that question as well as discuss the key difference between blogging and vlogging.
But first, what is blogging vs vlogging?
What is blogging and how does it work?
Blogging is one of the oldest ways of content creation. According to Notre Dame of Maryland University, it has existed since the early 1990s. Blogs are simply an article or written content that covers a wide array of topics that can range from businesses, just like our business website, to personal experience and professional advice.
So, how does blogging work? It works pretty simple but it can be complicated too.
Blogging starts with the writer creating a blog post that incorporates search engine optimization which includes images, videos, links, and infographics. After writing the appropriate length of the blog articles, it will then be published online.
Blogs can also be a part of a bigger website with a different purpose or type of business. For example, HubSpot, a website offering various stacks of software but still have and maintains comprehensive blogs about sales, digital marketing, and anything related to their business. Forbes, one of the biggest media companies in the world, features a number of blogs about different topics such as business, technology, and lifestyle.
One of the goals of creating a blog is to establish the blogger to be an authority in the selected niche, this will result in an increase of website traffic thus positively impacting the profitability of the blog.
What is vlogging and how does it work?
Vlogging is short for video blogging. It refers to content creation in the form of video content. Just like a blog, a video blog topic can range from lifestyle and entertainment to tutorials and reviews, and to whatever anyone can imagine filming. It especially started becoming popular with the rise of YouTube in the mid-2000s.
The content creation process of vlogging is significantly different from blogging since it has a different way of presenting information.
Vlogging begins with the creator shooting some video content, which most of the time will include background music, overlay text, and special effects. It will then go through video editing software, and after that, it will then be published on a video-sharing platform, such as YouTube, Vimeo, or TikTok.
Just like a blog, vlogging can be done as part of larger businesses to promote their content. But nowadays, vlogging is being used by influencers as the main platform for their businesses. A prime example of these is Mr.Beast, a YouTuber known for his extravagant challenges and philanthropy. Another is Zoella, who became popular with her videos about beauty and lifestyle vlogs.
Which is more profitable blogging or vlogging?
Determining which of the two content creation process is more profitable will not have a straightforward answer. It will be influenced by several factors such as:
1. Your Skillset
If you are skilled in creating written content and you think you will understand SEO or search engine optimization, then you should start blogging as that will be more profitable for you as well as enjoyable.
On the other hand, if you are more outgoing and prefer to talk in front of a camera making different vlog content such as comedy videos, makeup tutorials, or educational videos, rather than writing for hours then vlogging will be more profitable for you.
If in your mind you are asking if we can combine the two, we will talk about that later in the next section.
2. Content (Content that you plan to create)
The content that you want to create also has a big impact on their profitability.
There are certain types of content that will do well in a blog, meaning more website traffic and conversion rates, and some that will do better in a vlog, which means more views and shares.
An example of content that will do well in a blog is sharing an online journal, complex tutorials, or in-depth reviews, written content in a niche blog might be more effective in driving higher profit.
While, if your interesting content is more visually appealing, such as traveling, cooking guides, and DIY projects, then a video format or vlog posts can maximize your earning potential more.
3. Time Investment
Starting a personal blog or creating high-quality video content, which one do you think will be more time-consuming?
Creating content via blogging generally requires less time compared to vlogging which involves video shooting and editing. Also, even with the time spent uploading the content, vlogging will be more time-consuming.
If you are starting a business you should know that the value of time is greater than money. This is why you also need to consider the time it takes for each process.
4. Monetization Methods
There are different monetization methods for all types of content creation, and for all of them it is possible to earn a full-time income, so which one do you think will earn the most, blog vs vlog?
Blogging allows you to monetize your traffic and earn money through many different methods such as:
Using an affiliate link
Making sponsored posts
Content marketing
Subscription fee
Selling online courses or eBooks
Running ads like Google AdSense
Your potential to earn more money blogging largely depends on which niche you are writing in, and the amount of your traffic, since most premium ad networks like MediaVine and AdThrive, require a certain amount of page views or sessions per month but will get you 10x your income than Google AdSense.
So, in blogging, whether you created personal blogs, an affiliate blog, or a business blog, search engines will play the most crucial role in your earnings. Mastery of SEO or search engine optimization is a must because the higher the traffic the higher opportunity for profit, and search engines are the ones who will get you the most traffic.
Vlogging, on the other hand, which is mostly done with a YouTube channel, also has a variety of choices to earn money. This includes signing up for YouTube’s Partner Program which will allow the video content to run some ads.
YouTube creators can also earn through monetization methods such as:
Affiliate marketing
Sponsorships
Donations
Merchandise Sales
If in blogging, you need to understand search engines like Google, in vlogging, most successful vloggers will tell you that you need to know YouTube’s algorithm and understand how their video platform sends recommendations.
By carefully considering these monetization options, you can position your own website, YouTube videos, or even your brand online to maximize your earning potential.
5. Audience Preferences
Audience preferences also play a big role in how much money blogging or vlogging you can earn. Blogging promotes content that caters to individuals who like to read and research, while a vlog or a video log on social media platforms, like YouTube or TikTok garners audiences who are visual learners and even listeners.
There are just contents that are better in video form. Doing them in a blog post might lessen their profitability. Also, your target audience will most likely decide which one should you do for your content.
Just remember that both blog and vlog have a loyal audience that will prefer one or the other.
6. Start-up Costs
The start-up costs for both will vary depending on how invested you are in making them the best they could be. Some of these can be optional and some are a must.
Here are some start-up expenses for blogging:
Setting up your website hosting
Downloading a premium theme
Hiring Web Designers for a more professional-looking blog
Hiring writers or investing in writing tools like Surfer SEO
Here are some start-up expenses for vlogging:
High-Quality Camera to create videos
Microphone to record your voice
Premium video editing software
Hiring a video editor if you are not proficient in editing
Proper Lighting System for video shooting
Fast Internet Connection for uploading high-resolution videos
In conclusion, the start-up costs to start blogging is cheaper but if you want to make it the best it could be for a new personal website then it will also be costly.
Vlogging, on the contrary, requires high-quality tools and materials to stand out from the competition who are just using their phones to record videos.
Is it better to start a blog or YouTube channel?
If knowing how to monetize a blog or a YouTube channel is not enough for you to decide which route to take, we listed some more advantages that a blog and a vlog have over each other.
Generally, if you are comfortable expressing your thoughts through written words and you have a clear talent or writing skills blogging might be a better fit.
Here are a few advantages of written form of online content:
Potential for high traffic from search engines, google has 3.5 billion daily users globally.
Great control over your website design and content creation.
Variety of monetization methods as mentioned above.
However, if you like to talk in front of a camera and have a good idea of how to create visual content then starting YouTube channels could be more beneficial.
Here are some advantages of vlogging:
Just like blogging, the potential for high traffic as YouTube has a reported 2.1 billion users that are active monthly.
Engagement rates will be higher since more people like to comment, share, and like engaging content.
YouTube’s partner program gives a direct monetization method for internet users.
Lastly, it is important to consider not only your skills as an individual, your everyday life, or your likes and dislikes but also your target audience. Think about how can they appreciate and receive your content the best.
Can you combine blogging and vlogging?
The answer is YES, you can combine blogging and vlogging. Doing this can be an effective strategy to boost your content creation efforts by reaching a wider audience with different content consumption preferences.
Here are some examples of how you can combine the two:
Embed YouTube Videos in your Blog Post
Link your Blog Post to your Video Description
Directly Mention and Promote Each Other’s Channels or Website
Combining blogging and vlogging is the best way to earn as much as you can from content creation. A few tips to have a successful blog or vlog are to focus on creating high-quality content, an effective online marketing strategy, and utilizing other platforms.
Final Thoughts
In this article, we answered several questions related to which one is the best, blogging vs vlogging.
Both have their advantages and challenges to be successful. The main difference is how they deliver the value that they have to your target audience to bring the most money possible.
They are a powerful tool that anyone, whether you are a seasoned professional, a complete beginner, or someone in the middle, will be able to grow a business with.
Lastly, thank you for reading and I hope this article was helpful to you!
Have a great day!
As a professional web and software developer, the author possesses a strong foundational background in Computer Science. This equips him with both academic rigor and practical insights into the world of web-based entrepreneurship. As the founder of this platform, webpreneurships.com, he stands at the intersection of technology and business.