It’s a basic tenet of modern marketing that your brand needs a web presence. Research suggests that’s good advice. Around 79% of Americans do at least some shopping online.
Once you move past that commandment to create an online presence, things get stickier. One area of real contention is the blogging vs vlogging debate.
Video blogging and traditional blogging both offer ways to get your brand onto peoples’ radars. So how do you figure out which one is right for you?
Keep reading and we’ll go over some of some of the big pros and cons of each.
Blogging Advantages
One major advantage of blogging is that you can do it with a computer and an internet connection. A cheap laptop and your local coffee shop’s WiFi are enough.
The technical hurdles are low. If you have website hosting, most offer a one-click install of one of the major blogging platforms.
Blogging lets you break up complex information into sections and use bulleted lists. People can also read and digest a blog post at their own pace.
You can write a blog when it’s convenient for you. If you can’t sleep, it’s simple to open a word processing program and write in your pajamas.
Blogs let you tick SEO boxes like using keywords and linking out to reputable sources.
Blogging Disadvantages
Good blogs take good writing. Lots of typos and grammar errors can scare people away before you get your brand message across.
You need to post on a firm schedule. If you don’t generate content on a regular basis, you won’t develop an audience.
You also need to block out enough time to write every week, which many business owners fine challenging.
Vlogging Advantages
You can talk directly to your potential customers. Putting a face and voice to the brand can make it more relatable.
Good video editing software is fairly affordable, which means you can add some slick finishing touches or special effects.
It’s easier for someone to watch a video than to read and analyze text.
Vlogging lets you show product or brand in context.
Vlogging Disadvantages
Recording and editing video well takes some skill. You may need a professional to do it for you if you don’t possess those skills.
The microphones and camera equipment get expensive if you get serious about vlogging.
If anyone else is involved in the production process, you need to schedule it ahead of time.
Some topics don’t translate well to video. Showing how a dishwasher additive makes dishes look clearer works pretty well. Explaining accounting principles? Not so much.
Picking Sides in Blogging vs Vlogging
To find your answer in the blogging vs vlogging debate, you need to assess your own skills, brand, and budget.
Blogging makes sense if writing is easy for you. Vlogging will probably prove easier if you’re a natural talker.
Blogging is much cheaper than high-quality vlogging because it takes very little equipment.
Vlogging is more effective at showing people how something works or how to do something. Blogging does a better job of communicating complicated information.
Does your brand lend itself to visuals? Vlogging lets you show it.
Remember, you don’t have to pick just one. You can use both to support your brand.
Want more ideas about what to do with your blog? Check out our post on using your blog for reputation repair and management.