Can You Make it Big With Your Hobby?

Introduction
The confines of traditional jobs do not bind the tech-savvy generation. New career pathways are opening up with digitisation and globalisation. Activities like blogging, once considered hobbies, have become promising careers.
In the last five years or so, vlogging has exploded, and the global usage of vlogs has increased by 24%. As video consumption continues to increase, with some creativity, anyone can start a YouTube channel and become a vlogger. Let’s explore where a vlogging career is viable and how to get started.
 
What is Vlogging?
A vlog is the shorter name for a video blog. Creators of such video blogs record their daily lives and experiences and share those using online platforms such as YouTube. Instead of writing long-form blog posts, people create vlogs to engage and dynamically connect with the audience. These visual vlogs are more personal in nature, connecting the audience with the creator. 
Depending on the content creator, the vlog could be about lifestyle, travel, beauty, fashion, food, restaurants, etc. Vlogs need not always be personal experiences. Many YouTubers create educational vlogs, which include DIY projects and technology reviews. 
 
History of Vlogging
Blogging became extremely popular in 1999, where users shared their opinions, expressions, and experiences through long-form posts. Shortly after, Adam Kontras uploaded a 15-second video of sneaking a cat into his apartment to engage the audience. This started the era of posting videos on the internet. 
In 2002, Luuk Bouwman uploaded a video diary of his travels and coined the name vlog. 2002 became known as the year of vlog, as more and more videos were getting uploaded every day. Publishing online videos was still a roadblock, but the evolution of technology with the launch of YouTube (in 2005) democratized video publishing. Within six months, the platform received 65,000 video uploads per day. 
While point-and-shoot cameras were used until then, the launch of smartphones with cameras in 2010 enabled anyone to quickly shoot videos on the go and upload them directly to YouTube in just one minute. With smartphones in every hand, video consumption also increased at a rapid rate. 
Casey Neistat cultivated the vlog culture by uploading a video every day for 534 days using new storytelling, multiple camera angles, and advanced video editing. Now, vloggers use professional DSLR cameras with a shotgun microphone and spend hours editing movie-quality videos. 
 
Is Vlogging a Viable Career?
There is no doubt that vlogging has grown exponentially in recent years. It is transforming how people consume content and connect with the audience. Many influencers make their living creating and posting vlogs regularly. The accessibility of technology and the internet has turned this hobby into a career for many. Monetization through ad revenue, merchandise sales, sponsored content, and crowdfunding allows you to create multiple income streams through vlogs. 
You can create vlogs for diverse content on multiple platforms and connect with the community. The authenticity and personal connection with the vlogger are the reason why many content creators use vlogging as their primary source of income. You, too, can enjoy a lucrative career by posting videos of anything you like. However, to make a living out of vlogging, you must understand the key features of engaging vlog content:
 

Keep viewers entertained and engaged throughout the video, motivating them to watch till the end. A higher audience retention rate will improve the ranking of videos on platforms like YouTube. 
Engage personally with your audience to foster a sense of community. Only viewers who are emotionally invested in your journey will become subscribers to your videos, which you can monetize. 
Optimize your videos for the platforms so that users will suggest your videos when they are looking for something in your niche. 
Ensure that you have open communication with the audience. Encourage them to offer feedback, take part in discussions, and ask questions to build your community. 

 
How to Get Started in a Vlogging Career?
Building a vlogging career is all about creating your own personal brand. While you can use it as a medium to express yourself and connect with a global audience, it is a skill to be mastered if you want to convert YouTube views to money. Here are the steps to follow:
 

Select your niche based on your interest: You can create engaging vlogs only if you are passionate about the subject. It requires spending more time on your niche and learning what your audience is exactly looking for. When your passion and expertise match their expectations, you can become a prominent vlogger with minimal effort. 

Learn from other vloggers: Regardless of the niche you choose, there will be many vloggers and influencers who are making it big in the industry. Simply copying them or creating videos as per the latest trend will not help you build a sustainable business. You must differentiate yourself with every video. To do so, pay attention to what others in your niche are doing and get inspiration. 

Work on vlog scripts: While candid vlogs are interesting, structured vlogs with scripts are crucial if you are making vlogging your main career. You don’t need to write the script word-by-word, but having a general idea or a guide for what you are about to film goes a long way in creating clear and organized content. Always ensure that your natural personality and authenticity shine through every video. 

Invest in the right equipment – You can indeed use smartphones to create vlogs, but a cheap vlogging camera may not be useful for HD videos. Ensure that the video has excellent video capabilities, and use a good microphone to add clear audio to your video. Also, learn about proper lighting to improve the visual appeal of the videos. You can start with basic gear, but as you grow your career, go for professional equipment. 

Edit vlog with creativity: Video editing is now even more important than script and shooting. Numerous video editing software will help you create transitions and add music, graphics, and other elements to the video to make it more interesting. Mature video editing will help you create a compelling and cohesive story that will engage your audience. 

Promote your vlog: Once your video is ready to post, create compelling thumbnails with a clear understanding of SEO. You can get more viewers only if your videos are easily searchable. YouTube and Vimeo are popular hosting platforms for vloggers to post lengthy videos. To promote your vlog on other social media platforms, you can create a trailer or teaser videos and post them on other channels to increase your audience base. 

 
Conclusion
Vlog monetization can be done in several ways. These help you make a lucrative vlogging career when you connect and engage with your audience. Leverage social media platforms to attract new audiences and increase your video views. Understand your audience and look for ways to improve your creativity and vlog content to make the channel more exciting and entertaining for the audience. 
Vlogging is one of the careers where you can find ways to make money using your imagination. Want to get started as a YouTuber? Connect with Mindler experts to learn how to make vlogging your career a reality.