- Judit Ruiz Ricart
- Apr 25
- 12 min read
Vlogging is the new normal. Toddlers are doing it, teenagers are doing it, moms are doing it, industry experts are doing it… It’s kind of like kung-fu fighting back in 1974, according to Carl Douglas. But what exactly does it take to learn how to vlog? Is there a school of vlogging you should attend? Should you just create a website and fake it until you make it? The answer lies somewhere in between these two.
You don’t need to study a career to become a vlogger, but it’s not as easy as simply pressing the publishing button. You’ll need a purpose, a message, a platform, an audience, and more. But don’t worry, putting all these together is actually not as hard as it may sound. Take a look at this beginner’s guide to vlogging to learn all you need to know about how to vlog, from figuring out what to say to making money off your videos.
What is a vlog?
A vlog is a piece of video that documents a person’s life or expertise, with an average length of around five minutes. The word ‘vlog’ is a portmanteau of ‘video’ and ‘blog.’ In essence it’s just a motion picture version of the type of content you could expect to find on a traditional blog. Vlogs are created to connect with an audience through shared ideas and experiences.
The core difference between vlogs and other types of video content is that the vlogger is the main subject of its content. For example, a travel vlog revolves around the creator’s experiences and thoughts, whether they are shown in the frame or through a voice-over. On the contrary, a travel video focuses primarily on the destination, usually from an objective point of view.
There are two main styles of vlogging: ‘talking-head’ and ‘follow me around.’ On ‘talking-head’ videos, the camera is set on a tripod and remains static as the vlogger talks about a subject or walks the audience through a process. Common examples of this type of vlog include make-up tutorials and cooking videos. On the other hand, ‘follow me around’ vlogs see creators in different locations as they record clips throughout their day. This vlogging style is especially popular for travel videos and dedicated ‘a day in the life’ vlogs.
How do vloggers make money?
Vlogging has evolved from a fun hobby into a legitimate, often highly rewarding career. What started as a creative outlet is now a powerful way to earn income through video content. Take Mark Fischbach for example—YouTube’s top-earning vlogger in 2025—who made an incredible $45 million that year.
While reaching that level of success takes time, turning your passion for video creation into a reliable income is more achievable than you might think. Monetizing your content is a straightforward and accessible online business idea. Here are four practical ways to start earning as a vlogger:
Advertising
Most video hosting platforms offer creators the opportunity to include ads on their videos. Every time someone sees the ad or clicks on it, the vlogger gets paid. While this is a great way to monetize your content even if you don’t have a large following base, you won’t get rich through it. The average pay is around $3 per 1,000 viewers, most of which actually goes to the video hosting platform.
Subscriptions
Depending on the type of vlog content you create, you might be able to charge viewers a subscription fee. With platforms such as Wix Video, you can set up this monetization system with minimal effort. Cooking vlogs and other vlogging experts in their respective fields can highly benefit from this type of content monetization.
Affiliate marketing
Somewhere in the middle in terms of difficulty and pay-out, affiliate marketing is the most common type of collaboration between vloggers and brands. Some businesses partner with content creators to have their products linked on the videos, usually offering discount coupons. Each time a viewer buys something, the vlogger gets a percentage of the cost.
Sponsored content
The most lucrative type of video monetization is also the hardest one to get. With sponsorships, vloggers are paid by businesses to mention their brand in videos. Before you start reaching out to brands with this purpose, however, you’ll need to build a strong following base and online presence.
How to start a vlog in 9 steps
Now that we've answered the question of 'what is a vlog' and you know how to make money from your videos, take a look at this step-by-step guide on how to start vlogging:
01. Determine your niche
The first step to becoming a vlogger is defining the type of content you want to create. Having a clear niche will allow viewers to easily understand what to expect from your videos, which will make it more likely for the relevant audience to subscribe to your channel.
Some of the most popular vlogging categories include fitness, food, make-up, travel, unboxing, and gaming. While you don’t need to stick to one of these fields, it’s important to ensure the type of content you want to create is in demand.
Start by searching for the topic you have in mind on YouTube. See how many videos there are and how many views the top results have. Afterwards, visit the profile of their channels and look at the number of subscribers. If the average subscriber count is too low, you might want to rethink your idea and aim for a broader audience.
02. Choose the right platform for you
Where you share your videos matters as much as what you create. Each platform offers unique features, audiences and ways to grow your content. Here’s a clear guide to help you choose the best one:
YouTube
YouTube is the go-to for vloggers looking to grow their audience and create detailed long-form content. It reaches a global diverse audience, from casual viewers to niche communities. You can monetize through ads, memberships, super chats and affiliate links. Once you meet the criteria for the partner program, consistent revenue becomes possible. YouTube is ideal for creators who want to publish tutorials, daily vlogs or evergreen content that remains discoverable over time.
TikTok
TikTok is perfect for short engaging videos. Its algorithm boosts exposure, helping creators go viral—even with a small following. TikTok’s younger audience loves quick, entertaining or educational clips under a minute. It offers monetization through brand-sponsored posts, in-app purchases and the creator fund. If you’re quick on trends and love creating snappy eye-catching content, TikTok is a great fit.
Instagram combines visuals and community. Share vlogs through reels, stories or IGTV. It’s perfect for lifestyle, fashion, travel and food content. Instagram’s tools let you earn through brand sponsorships, affiliate marketing and features like paid collaborations. It’s ideal for vloggers who want to pair videos with styled images and connect through personal storytelling.
Facebook supports both short and long-form videos plus live streaming. It’s great for niches like parenting, DIY or tech, with a broader audience that leans older. Monetize through ad revenue, fan subscriptions or paid online events. If you want to reach parents, professionals or hobbyists, Facebook offers strong opportunities.
Start by learning the ins and outs of your chosen platform. Build connections, stay consistent and focus on your audience. As your vlog grows, consider expanding across platforms to maximize your reach and impact.
03. Find your voice
Developing a unique voice is crucial if you want to become a successful vlogger. As you enter the competitive world of vlogging, it’s important that you start seeing yourself as a brand and your content as a product. Not only do you need to create interesting videos, they need to be aesthetically appealing and generally entice the audience into watching more.
Think about what it is that you can offer your audience that no other vlogging channels can. This can be anything from years of experience in your field, to outstanding visuals. Whatever you come up with, make sure it’s something that can be present in all your videos, or the vast majority of them, and will not get old over time.
04. Invest in quality equipment
The equipment you need will largely depend on the type of vlog you want to create. You wouldn’t expect to use the same tools to travel the world and to bake a carrot cake, right? Furthermore, your technical skills and budget will also play a big role in this decision.
Generally, there are six main pieces of vlogging equipment you’ll need to keep in mind:
Camera: The best camera for vlogging varies significantly depending on the type of content you create. While nowadays mirrorless cameras seem to be an industry-favorite, some may benefit from investing in DSLRs or action cameras. Start by taking a look at the different types of cameras available and then see which model better fits your needs.
Lens: If you choose to use an interchangeable lens camera, you need to understand that the lens you use will have a huge impact on the quality of your work. Of all types of camera lenses, vloggers tend to choose wider angles that require less maneuvering space and enable you to fit more elements in the frame. However, make sure to check other options within your price range before settling for a specific glass.
Tripod: The star of all camera accessories across the majority of genres, having a tripod or stabilizer is an absolute must as you learn how to vlog. No one will spend their precious time watching shaky footage, no matter how great your content actually is.
Microphone: Up there with unstabilized image, bad sound is one of the biggest turnoffs for vlogging audiences. Even if you plan to use free music for videos on most of your content, you’ll need to have a microphone to record high-quality audio whenever needed.
Lighting: If you plan to record indoors, artificial lighting is an absolute must. If you plan to record strictly outdoors, artificial lighting would be a great addition to your gear. It will help you avoid camera noise and ensure your footage is always clear, as well as soften shadows for a more even look.
Editing software: Last, but most certainly not least, you’ll need the right tools to convert your footage into an actual vlog. While professional editors can be quite expensive, there are several free video editing software programs you can use with great results.
05. Define your content
In order to give your channel a homogeneous look, it’s important to establish a set of guidelines from the get go. This will allow viewers to have a clear idea of what to expect when subscribing to your channel, not only in terms of content but also style and regularity.
Start by defining whether your content will be improvised or scripted. Some vloggers prefer to set up the camera and talk away, simply following a brief sketch of the ideas they want to discuss, while others create a detailed shot list beforehand.
Once you have decided on your vlogging style, you’ll be able to assess how long it will take you to create a video and determine a regular posting schedule. As a rule of thumb, you should aim to post a new video once a week at the very least.
06. Edit your videos
If you want to become a vlogger, you’ll need to master the art of video editing. Get familiar with the software you’ll be using and don’t start sharing your videos until you feel the result is good enough. While it’s common to look back at the beginning of your career and be shocked at how much better your work is now, the starting level should already meet the industry standards.
Make sure all your videos are edited following the same guidelines. Use similar types of shots and cuts, as well as similar music styles to create a consistent look and feel through your channel. Many vloggers create their own intro clips in order to be identifiable at first glance.
Learn more:
07. Build an online presence
Your vlogging career should not exist on a single platform. In order to maximize your audience reach, you’ll need to create a strong online presence that expands through several networks. In addition to having a profile in all major (and relevant) social media platforms, you’ll need to create a video website to serve as the umbrella that brings all your accounts together. Furthermore, the unparalleled SEO capabilities of a website will exponentially increase your chances of being found online.
Luckily for you, nowadays building a stunning video website is as straightforward and hassle-free as opening a new social profile. All you need to do is select a professionally-designed videographer website template, upload your content, customize the colors, and you’ll be ready to go.
08. Optimize your content
Once your content is live on the internet, the next step on your career as a vlogger is to ensure that people actually reach said content. In order to do so, you’ll need to learn how to do proper SEO. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, which roughly translates to the process of improving web page content to increase its visibility on search engines.
While the importance of SEO practices on websites is common knowledge by now, many are still unaware of the significance of video SEO. Proper keyword research and metadata practices can make or break your vlogging career, so make sure to dedicate a significant part of your efforts to it.
09. Track your performance
Understanding how your vlogs are performing is key to growth. Knowing what works and what doesn’t helps you create better content and connect with your audience. Here’s how to make the most of your performance data:
Focus on the metrics that matter
Track these key metrics to measure your vlog’s success:
Views: See how many people are watching your videos. A steady rise shows growing interest.
Watch time: Longer watch times mean viewers enjoy your content and it can help boost visibility on platforms like YouTube.
Audience retention: Learn where viewers drop off to improve the parts that aren’t holding attention.
Engagement: Look at likes, comments, shares and clicks. High engagement shows your audience is connecting with your content.
Use analytics tools
Tap into the built-in analytics tools on your platform for valuable insights:
YouTube Studio: Offers data on views, watch time, click-through rates and audience demographics.
Instagram insights (for Reels) and TikTok analytics: Highlight metrics like views, shares and follower growth.
Facebook Creator Studio: Tracks engagement and performance for posts and videos.
Check these tools regularly to identify trends and refine your strategy.
Spot trends and patterns
Pay attention to what resonates with your viewers:
Which topics or formats get the most views?
Do shorter or longer videos perform better?
When do your videos get the most traffic?
Use these insights to tailor your content plan to your audience’s preferences.
Adjust your content strategy
Use the data you gather to improve your approach:
Experiment: Try different formats or lengths to boost retention.
Engage more: Respond to comments and ask for feedback to understand what your audience wants.
Optimize thumbnails and titles: Create eye-catching visuals and descriptive headlines to increase click-through rates.
If a video does exceptionally well, build on that success with similar content or follow-ups.
Understand your audience
Learn who’s watching your content to fine-tune your message. Are they younger or older? Do they prefer tutorials, behind-the-scenes footage or casual chats? Aligning your content with their interests strengthens their connection to your vlog.
Tracking performance isn’t just about numbers—it’s about understanding your audience and improving their experience. Use your data to tell a story, test new ideas and refine your approach. The more you adapt, the more your vlog will grow and thrive. Keep creating, learning and connecting with your audience.
How to vlog FAQ
What structure makes a good vlog?
A great vlog has a clear structure that keeps viewers engaged from start to finish. Here’s a simple framework to guide you:
Start with a hook: Grab attention in the first few seconds. Ask a question, share a teaser or show an intriguing moment.
Introduce yourself and the topic: Briefly explain who you are and what the vlog is about to build a personal connection.
Plan your story:
For talking-head vlogs, organize your content into simple, clear sections.
For follow-me-around vlogs, show clips in a logical order that tells a story.
Mix it up: Use different shots, angles and moments of action to keep things visually engaging.
End with a call to action: Encourage viewers to like, comment, subscribe or follow for more.
Consistency matters too. Reusing the same intro, music or branding in your vlogs helps your audience feel familiar and connected to your content.