A blog and a vlog are two different forms of content, and yet, some internet users still get the two mixed up.
In this post, we’re going to explain the differences between these two content formats and explain why you should create one, the other or both.
What is the difference between blog and vlog?
The main difference between blog (weblog) and vlog (video log or video blog) is that a blog is written content and a vlog is video content.
You publish blog posts to your website or a blogging platform like WordPress.com, Medium, Tumblr or Blogger. You upload vlogs to video sharing platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
In fact, this is one of the biggest differences between these content formats.
You typically only publish a blog post to your website whereas it’s not uncommon to publish the same vlog across multiple platforms.
To create a blog post, you either write in a word processing app like Google Docs or Microsoft Word, then paste it into your blogging platform’s content editor. You can also write directly in your blogging platform’s content editor.
You may even start with an outline or perform keyword research to optimize the post for search engines.
To create a vlog, you record your day-to-day life or work experiences with a camera and sometimes a microphone that’s separate from your camera. You may even write a short script on things you’d like to mention in the vlog.
You then splice a lot of vlog content together with video editing software to make a much shorter video, then upload it to YouTube if it’s a long video or TikTok, Instagram and Facebook if it’s shorter.
As for audience engagement, readers leave comments on blogs, share it with their friends and family, and subscribe to your email list to receive updates from you.
To engage with a vlog, viewers leave comments, “like” the video, share it with friends and family, and subscribe to your YouTube channel or follow you on social media to see more of your content in their feed.
Blog posts are easier to create as long as you know how to write. Vlogs are a little harder to create because they require a decent camera (if you have a decent smartphone, that’ll work just fine), perfect audio and (maybe) a computer to use video editing software on.
You also need enough technical skills to know how to do video editing.
Monetization is the same for each platform and includes strategies like ads, affiliate marketing, selling merchandise and other products, and making sponsored posts.
What is a blog?
A blog is a website or section of a website that contains articles, known as “blog posts,” the site has published.
The terms “blog” and “blog post” are sometimes used interchangeably, but it’s much more accurate to describe “blog post” as the article you write and “blog” as the place you publish it to.
In spite of this explanation, it’s important not to confuse blogs with media sites, such as news sites and magazine publications.
Blogs are much more personal and are typically managed by smaller teams. Some are corporate, but that still doesn’t change the fact that they’re a smaller medium than media publications.
A blog post has a featured image, additional images, text, an author and a publication date.
Any additional elements are dependent on the website that manages the blog, but they may include a comment section, social sharing buttons, ads and an email opt-in form.
How do you create a blog?
You can be as casual or professional with your own blog as you like. You can upload blog content to your own website or use a free blogging platform like WordPress.com, Medium, Tumblr or Blogger.
Unless you’ll be blogging about your daily life and everything related to it, you should pick a niche and find your target audience.
If you’re trying to set up a professional blog, you’ll also need a brand name, a domain named after your brand name and blog hosting.
A host that allows you to build a WordPress site (using WordPress.org as opposed to WordPress.com) is most recommended, but you can also use Squarespace, Wix, Ghost or Webflow.
Each of these solutions have what’s known as a content management system (CMS), which you can use to manage a blog. They each have their own themes to pick from as well.
Along with a Blog page, you’ll also need a homepage, an About page and a Contact page, at the very least.
One thing you don’t need to start a blog is writing skills. You can pick those up as you go.
How do blogs make money?
A blogging business generates revenue in a lot of different ways.
New bloggers generate revenue by including ads on their pages and promoting other businesses’ products through affiliate marketing.
Experienced bloggers offer their own products, which can be as simple as offering branded merchandise, publishing sponsored posts, creating online courses and even launching memberships.
You can even sell ad space on your site to sponsors.
What is a vlog?
A vlog is a video you upload to a video sharing platform.
It contains video and audio and sometimes music and text overlays.
Vlogs typically showcase the creator’s experience as it’s captured, but they may be as simple as the creator sitting down and talking to the camera.
They may showcase the creator renovating their house, doing errands, trying to accomplish something, or simply having fun and hanging out.
How do you create a vlog?
You can create a YouTube channel if you want to create vlogs that are longer than 10 minutes. C+reate accounts for other social media platforms if you want to create shorter videos.
Even if you go the YouTube route, you can still chop your YouTube videos down into smaller videos as a way to upload content to TikTok and Instagram as well.
You can create vlogs with your smartphone if your smartphone is able to capture high-quality videos. You can also create higher-quality content by using a DSLR camera instead.
Some vloggers even use GoPro cameras and drone footage.
The most important thing a vlog needs is good audio. Most viewers will excuse video content that’s not as great as it could be if the audio is crisp and clear.
Pick up a lavalier mic if you want to be able to record audio no matter how far away you are from your camera.
You’ll also need video editing software. This can be as simple as using CapCut on your smartphone or using Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro. There are also cheaper video editing apps out there.
The simpler your recording process is, the simpler your editing needs will be.
How do vloggers make money?
Vlogs are a more personal video format, but that doesn’t mean vloggers can’t make money from them.
If you upload your vlogs to YouTube, you’ll be able to generate ad revenue.
Vloggers also promote affiliate links and create sponsored videos.
Like bloggers, they offer branded merchandise and even create their own products.
Selling courses is a harder sell on YouTube since your viewers are already receiving video content from you for free, but it can still be done.
YouTube has a channel membership feature vloggers can use to charge subscribers for premium content and other perks. Patreon is also used for this purpose.
Blog vs vlog: Which should you create?
It can be difficult to pick between these two mediums when you’re thinking about getting into content creation.
Both blogs and vlogs offer value to internet users, but it’s really up to you to determine which option is best for you.
Blogs are easier to create, but they don’t have the audience size that platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Instagram have.
How much you’re able to earn mostly comes down to how many blog readers you’re able to attract to your website.
That being said, vlogs are harder to create, and although these platforms do have larger user bases, they’re also quite competitive.
The algorithm may not favor your content, which means your videos will receive little to no views.
As far as digital marketing goes, it may be a good idea to create both.
You can create vlogs for your daily life while targeting keywords with your blog. Your blog can act as a resource for your niche while your vlogs are a more casual representation of that content.
One thing both of these content formats have in common is how difficult it is to grow an audience and generate revenue.
Some bloggers and vloggers knock it out of the park right away, but most go at it for years before they’re able to see a return on their investment.
Take this into consideration as you decide which medium is best for you.
Also, consider what you’d like doing more: writing or creating video content.
One of the most important keys to success with digital marketing is persistence. So, choose a content format you like creating, and stick with it.
