How to Vlog

What the frak, yo? A vlog blog? Yeah, that’s what I thought too … at first.

I'm no expert, however when I got the inkling to start my vlog, I wanted to do some research first. I found several videos that offered tips and tricks on what to do and what not to do as a vlogger, but I didn’t find anything written out. This was not surprising, but I found it a bit irritating since I love lists.  (Grocery lists, to do lists, best dressed lists, you name it...)  I love that they can be referenced and kept in mind as opposed to watching some college kid ramble on with “So, like – uhm, yeah … remember to have good lighting and stuff…”

Ugh.

So this post is for you daring souls who are considering making your own vlog, (or maybe some thoughts for veterans) who love lists as much as me. I decided to make it a nice round list of 10. Here we go!

10 Tips for Creating a Sweet Vlog:

   1. Determine your audience.
Who will likely be watching you? Are you staying connected with friends and family? Do you want to become an internationally recognized internet personality? Are you gearing your topics towards people with a specific hobby or interest? These are very important questions to answer before you begin. Not only will it help keep you focused (or not focused), I find it to be helpful to imagine who I’m addressing while filming. By keeping your audience in mind, you will likely feel more confident in what you are saying and how you choose to edit.

   2. Keep the crappy stuff.
When I shot my first couple of segments with my new camera, I deleted nearly all of them immediately. Upon first review, I would realize with horror that I had a booger in my nose, my hair was a mess, my face was off-center, etc. Other times I just couldn’t tolerate staring at myself – it was bizarre to face my own image as it rambled on about … me! Is that really what I look like? What I sound like? I would automatically assume everything was trash and dump it, only to later wonder why I only had a few minutes of film to work with.

Remember that whenever you record even the most embarrassing of sequences, you ultimately don’t have to publish anything you don’t want to, and you just never know what could turn out to be a little gem in the future. In the end, the video is going to be entirely in your control, so any slips can be easily removed later. (Not to mention that bloopers can be some of the most charming moments in your entire video.)

   3. Never say you’re not interesting!
This more than anything else has become my pet peeve when I watch random vlogs peppered around the internet. The moment someone says “So, I don’t think this is going to be very interesting” or “This will probably be super lame” I stop watching. If you don’t even think you’re interesting, why should I waste my time trying to figure out if you’re right or not? Keep in mind that though your life may seem boring to you (because you live it every day) it’s likely going to be new and interesting to your audience. People love stories of all shapes, sizes, and varieties; you never know what will spark someone’s interest.

For example, I can’t believe how many people have told me how much they loved the fact that I revealed how many shoes I keep under my desk at work. (I never would have thought that would be so entertaining since it’s just something I do and never think about.)

   4. Keep a list of ideas.
If you get a spontaneous idea, make sure you write it down. I have a Google doc dedicated to “Vlog Storming” where I can throw little bits of inspiration for future reference when I don’t have a muse to consult. There is nothing more frustrating than getting a fun idea and forgetting it only a day or two later

   5. Write out your thoughts before filming.
Coat tailing off #4, I am not suggesting that you write a full length script (thought that is certainly an option). I am saying that can be useful to first get your thoughts organized. Sometimes when inspiration hits, you can ramble some great stuff off the cuff, but in my experience my favorite videos tend to be the ones that were obviously organized beforehand. They are easy to follow along, they don’t drag on in the middle, and the pacing doesn’t bottom out.

   6. Glance in the mirror.
Initially walking down the vlog road I thought “I just want to be realistic” and didn’t take any time to primp before I began recording. (Most were promptly deleted simply because I looked laughably sleepy.) I don’t exactly do any excessive primping now, but a quick mirror check to make sure I’m not going to make myself cringe later pays off every now and then.

   7. Watch other vlogs.
In the same way that being a reader makes you a better writer, watching vlogs is a great way to get ideas as well as an excellent way to develop your own list of what does and does not work. Watching a video you enjoyed and analyzing it into parts can be incredibly helpful. Was it the subject matter? The setting? The tone? Was the speaker just really hot? These are all interesting facts to consider which enable you to enhance your own work.

   8. Don’t be scared.
As many of you know, I am a pretty confident individual. That said, putting up my first video online was terrifying. You’re just so “out there” for anyone and everyone to watch, judge, and react to, and you rarely get to see live reactions. In many ways the first few hours after a new vlog is posted are torture. Do people like it? Do they hate it? Do they think it’s stupid or boring? In the end, if you like what you did, then it really doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. Take courage, and don’t worry about the trolls. That said …

   9. Just DO IT.

Yup, like Nike. Dive in and just see what happens.

   10. Have fun.
Ultimately, you have to make sure you enjoy what you’re doing. You can tell when someone is having fun, especially when you’re looking right at them! Chances are if you are engaged and excited about what you’re saying, your viewers will respond in kind.

In conclusion, I would just like to say I have been blessed and delighted by how many friends I have reconnected with because of my vlogs. I am lucky to have kind and generous friends who have given me rewarding and delightful feedback – even some video responses that simply make my week. Vlogs also have the unexpected side effect of gaining quick friends. For example, a few of the people I paddle with have watched my vlogs and immediately felt like they knew me afterwards. It has been an incredible and surprising way to get over that “initial hump” of discovering the inner workings of new people.

Feeling inspired? Hurray! Now go get your vlog on!