Did you always want to start your blog or vlog but did not know how exactly to do that? Most people shy away from starting a blog or a vlog because they are afraid of failing at it. Well, that doesn’t have to be the case, and by directing your efforts in the right direction, you can increase your chances of success.
We know that terms like servers, online security, algorithms, etc. may seem complicated at first, but those aren’t as complicated as they seem to be. Moreover, you don’t have to be an expert at it. So long as you know to use those technologies to your advantage, you are on the right track as a blogger or vlogger.
It would help if you were both — a blogger and a vlogger because you need to build a community brick by brick.
Also, considering the third-party control over vloggers and the fear of a sudden ban, it is always better to combine the two. Initially, that may seem like too much work, especially when you need to do most of the content creation all by yourself.
Therefore, here are some ground-breaking tips, tools, and strategies that would make it easier for you to create a successful blog and vlog.
Start with The Website
If you are starting your blog or vlog, we strongly recommend that you do so with a website. This gives you better control over your readers and viewers, as compared to a free blogging platform or any other 3rd party platform.
That’s because owning a website allows you to create a platform-independent fan following of your own and makes all your ad campaigns a long term investment.
You could collect email ids through push notifications, email campaigns, and social media campaigns even if you had to exit YouTube or Medium.
So, you need not worry about violating any of the YouTube policies and having your channel pulled down. Also, it allows you to scale up your business by starting an e-store or expanding your reach through other online strategies such as gamification.
To run your website with no technical expertise, you can make use of free content management systems (CMS) such as WordPress and Wix Free version.
However, to get the best results on the security aspect, make use of an SSL certificate on your website as well that’s essential to rank in Google.
After all, you don’t want to let go of all the free traffic that you can drive through organic searches.
Recommended website management essentials – WordPress, Wix, SSL certificates.
Generate Ideas for your Blog or Vlog
Now that you’ve decided to launch your website and your YouTube or TiKToK channel, it’s time to work on the content part.
You probably have hundreds of ideas that you want to work on, but that’s about what “you” want to do and not what people want. So, you need to be more proactive and look for what people are searching for.
You can do this effectively in almost any niche by using platforms like Reddit or through tools like Quick Sprout and Buzz Sumo.
This step helps boost engagement as you are delivering precisely what some of the most active online users are searching for.
Recommended tools – Reddit, Quick Sprout, Buzz Sumo.
Title Generators for your Blog and Vlog
Whether you have a website or a YouTube channel, you want to pique the interest of your audience.
A quick and easy way of doing that during the initial stages is by making use of tools like HubSpot’s title generator or Portent Headline generator tool.
However, as your website or vlogs become more popular, it is recommended that you involve a Copy Editor. That’s because irrespective of how advanced these titles are generating tools are, they are still tools that can’t compete with human creativity.
By using exciting titles and making your readers curious, you can also optimize your social media campaigns and other online marketing campaigns.
Recommended tools – HubSpot Title Generator, Portent Headline Generator.
Video Shooting and Editing Tools
Most people do not start vlogging or making videos simply because they assume it’s going to be an expensive affair — something that they presumably cannot afford.
Most of the smartphones come with a decent camera, and that should suffice during the initial stages. Plus, whatever you mess up can easily be fixed by using video editing tools like Camtasia, Blender, Lightworks, Shotcut, and Snagit.
While choosing a paid video editor, it is strongly recommended that you pick one that allows you to capture the screen.
Recommended tools – Camtasia, Blender, Lightworks, Shotcut, Snagit.
In Conclusion
To sum it up, you need to have both your blog and vlog ready before you run social media campaigns or online marketing campaigns. Also, if you have an e-store or accept online payments, then ensure that your website complies with PCI DSS requirements, which requires you to have an SSL certificate, firewall, and other security essentials.
While creating a blog or vlog, the goal is to protect your best interests as well as your audiences.
