Do you want to establish an online presence for yourself but aren’t sure whether to start a blog or a YouTube channel? If so, let’s compare and contrast blogging vs YouTube to see which one you should choose.
Teens and influencers are no longer the only ones that create content.
You, as an entrepreneur, can expand your business or brand by using YouTube, blogging, or both.
All you have to do now is analyze your own requirements and determine what is best for your target audience.
There isn’t a definitive response to this question, but I’m sure you’ll lean towards one more than the other.
Let’s find out which option that is.
Blogging vs YouTube – The Main Difference
Blogs have existed almost since the internet’s inception.
Vlogging has also been around for a long time, which may surprise many.
It’s worth noting, though, that vlogs really took off in 2005 with the launch of YouTube.
Of course, the primary distinction between blogging and vlogging is the medium.
A blog post is often hosted on their own site (which is ideal), but vlogs are typically placed on YouTube or other streaming services.
The substance isn’t a distinguishing factor because you can blog or vlog about anything.
It all boils down to whether you create written or audiovisual content.
Given the prominence of YouTube for vlogging, this is more of a blogging vs YouTube discussion for content creators.
A quick search at Google Trend shows that creating a blog dominated the first decade of the 2000s as an income source.
However, it appears that we are now living in more of a YouTube era.
So, what should newcomers know about each platform’s monetization and growth potential?
Business blogs are beneficial.
Many people believe that blogs are online diaries with the owners’ personal tales.
Although this may be true in certain situations, they may also be an excellent tool for helping you expand your business.
YouTube is even better for business.
I believe that every company, online business owner, blogger, and content producer should use it to expand their audience.
Thanks to video and audio, people can consume content more easily while driving, getting ready for the day, working out, or cooking dinner.
You’ll be in a more secure position if you can use blogging and YouTube to complement each other.
Google is uncontestedly the most popular search engine on the internet.
However, did you know that YouTube is in second place?
Google also owns it, so your videos can help you rank higher on Google, increasing your market authority.
Related Reading: How Much Does It Cost To Run A Blog – Check Out The Cost Here.
Blogging vs YouTube: Factors To Consider
Comfortability Being In Front of A Camera
This is a hard one because most folks aren’t at ease in front of the camera at first.
When you first start filming yourself for YouTube, it might seem incredibly weird, and it’s out of everyone’s comfort zone.
If you really want to do YouTube but are uncomfortable in front of the camera, it isn’t a reason to stay away.
Yes, filming your first few videos will feel strange.
But the more you do it, the more at ease you will feel in front of the camera.
So, if you’re passionate about vlogging, don’t let the early awkwardness in front of the camera stop you.
On the other hand, a blog is perhaps the better alternative for you if you don’t want to go on camera at all.
I don’t recommend having a completely anonymous blog since people need to know who is behind it in order to trust you.
You need to present a name (and a face) to establish a solid online brand for yourself.
The difference between YouTube and a blog is that you can just put a headshot picture of yourself on your blog.
You don’t have to put a whole video of yourself talking, which is more nerve-wracking for many folks.
Necessary Equipment
When it comes to beginning a blog versus running a YouTube channel, there are some differences in what you’ll need.
Blogging Equipment
- Laptop or PC with an internet connection
You only need a laptop with a good internet connection to start producing blog entries.
Other than that, no physical tools are required to maintain a good blog.
- A decent camera
A camera is optional, depending on the type of blog you’ll be running and the niche you’ll be writing in.
Obviously, a good camera will be required if the specialization is mainly visual, such as photography, gastronomy, or fashion.
However, you may get away with utilizing stock photos for some of your blog posts in many other genres.
Vlogging Equipment
- Laptop or PC with an internet connection
You’ll obviously need a laptop with a good internet connection to start making videos for your YouTube channel. In the first place, you’ll need one to register with the platform.
- A decent microphone
When you’re beginning a YouTube channel, a good camera is essential because the video quality is critical for success on the network.
You may start producing videos on your smartphone, but you’ll quickly outgrow it and need to invest in a more professional camera.
Depending on how well your camera records audio and how frequently you need to record voiceovers for your videos, a separate microphone may be necessary.
- Video editing software
Video editing software is another element that will be required for a YouTube channel.
You can use something as basic as iMovie, which is free.
Basic video editing will, however, necessitate the use of some software.
There are plenty of options available on the market, ranging from free to paid. When choosing video editing software, consider your level of experience, the features you need, and your budget.
If you’re looking to create videos with special effects, like incorporating a green screen template, you may need more advanced software.
Whatever you choose, remember that the quality of your videos reflects on your brand, and keeping them high-quality is essential to avoid any perception of laziness.
Related Reading: YouTube Equipment For Beginners – Get The Full Equipment List Here.
Required Skills – Blogging vs YouTube
The talents required for each of these platforms are also distinct.
Keep in mind that you do not need to have prior knowledge of these topics.
These are things that you will learn as you improve and grow.
So, don’t fret if you’re missing some of these skills!
Blogging Skills
- Writing
Basic writing skills, including how to organize a blog post and produce eloquent and grammatically acceptable sentences, will be required.
Again, this is something you may master through time or use tools to assist you in doing so more efficiently.
If writing doesn’t come easy to you, you can even use AI writing tools, and most folks won’t know the difference.
- Photography
You’ll need some rudimentary skills to snap images on your own.
Alternatively, stock photographs might be used for niche websites that don’t require unique photos all of the time.
- Graphic Design
To help you develop logos, featured photos, Pinterest pin graphics, or any other social media designs, you’ll need some fundamental graphic design skills.
You can use free software like Canva to bang these out.
- SEO knowledge
To have a chance for your blog post to rank in Google Search or Pinterest Search, you’ll need to know at least some fundamental search engine optimization.
This is how you can ensure that your blog entries are viewed and that traffic is directed to them.
You also need to grasp basic keyword research to put your blog in the right direction.
Vlogging Skills
- Video recording
To get a good quality video content, you’ll need to understand how to record a video effectively, set up a good background for your films, have basic lighting understanding, and use your camera settings.
- Video editing
After that, you’ll need to learn how to use editing software so that you may edit your videos.
You don’t have to be a master editor or employ professional transitions all of the time. It will suffice to do some basic video editing.
- Photography
You’ll almost certainly need some photography abilities for your YouTube channel.
You’ll need images for thumbnails and graphics that you might utilize in your video content.
- Graphic Design
To make eye-catching thumbnails for YouTube videos, you’ll need some basic graphic design skills.
Thumbnails are critical for getting your videos seen because they are the first thing people see when they come across your video.
They could also determine whether or not users will click on it.
- SEO Knowledge
Because YouTube is also a search engine, you’ll need a rudimentary understanding of SEO to help you rank on the site and receive more views on your videos.
You’ll have to do some keyword research to properly title your videos as well.
You could also conduct a YouTube search on your competitors.
Cost
Blogging and having a YouTube channel are endeavors that need some investment.
Here’s how much you should expect to shell out to create a blog versus a YouTube channel.
Blogging Expenses
Domain and Hosting
If you want to make this a revenue-generating platform, you’ll need a self-hosted blog.
Bluehost offers a hosting and domain bundle, which I highly suggest for bloggers who are just getting started.
This typically costs under $3.95 per month, making it a very low-cost way to get started with an online business.
Vlogging Expenses
You do not need to spend anything to join YouTube because creating a YouTube channel and uploading videos to it is entirely free.
However, you will need the equipment I mentioned above.
Smartphone
To begin making videos, you’ll need a smartphone with a solid camera and high audio quality.
However, you will outgrow this camera quickly and will need to upgrade to a higher-quality camera.
Camera and Microphone Upgrade
An excellent video camera and a microphone can help you take your material to the next level and ensure that your videos are of high quality.
Niche Competition
You can start looking at the competition once you’ve decided on a niche, even if it’s something a little broader at first.
You can conduct your own search on either platform to discover if there are any other popular channels in your niche.
It’s not necessarily a bad thing if you can find a lot of massive channels or blogs blogging about the same subject that you wish to talk about.
It just suggests that you may need to narrow your focus a little more.
This will help you step out from the competition pool and accelerate your growth.
Knowing the competition in your niche on both platforms can be pretty beneficial when deciding which one to start on.
Related Reading: How To Make Money On YouTube WithOut Making Videos – Find Out Here.
Target Audience
Choosing a specialization for your blog or YouTube channel can be one of the most challenging decisions you’ll have to make.
However, you might specify your target audience instead of defining your target audience.
Learn which personality types are most likely to love your blog article or YouTube videos.
What are their passions?
What are their ages?
What do they do for a living?
Are they students, mothers, career-oriented folks, or something else?
When characterizing your target audience, be as specific as possible, as this will help you choose the type of material you should offer them.
You’ll be able to decide whether your target audience prefers to hang out in the blogging world or on YouTube once you’ve identified who they are.
But, in all honesty, most niches will have an audience on both platforms.
So, you can probably pick whichever one you like.
The Matter of Control
One significant distinction between blogging and YouTube, and one that is critical in this comparison, is the level of control you have over it.
It is highly suggested that you launch a self-hosted WordPress site for your own blog, which will necessitate the purchase of a hosting and domain package.
However, this implies that you are the sole owner of your blog. It’s your own platform that you entirely own and control.
On the other hand, a YouTube channel will never technically be your property.
This implies that YouTube can make changes to the platform, algorithm, or channel without your knowledge or consent.
They can choose to demonetize or shut down your YouTube channel at any time.
Naturally, this is the worst-case situation.
However, building a full-fledged business only on YouTube might be a hazardous proposition.
This is why having a blog is crucial, as it is the only platform you control.
Monetization Options
Many monetization options are available in blogging, including contextual adverts, affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and many others.
These monetization tactics are more successful and flexible when done through blogging.
You can start with Google AdSense and move on to Ezoic, Mediavine and Adthrive from there.
For instance, when it comes to ad placements, the possibilities are nearly unlimited.
I suggest you experiment and see what works best for your audience.
In the case of YouTube, you can make money from YouTube commercials, affiliate marketing, selling your own products/services, and sponsored content (but only once your channel has grown in popularity).
You can’t utilize any contextual ad networks with YouTube except Google AdSense.
One of the best things about blogging is that you can monetize your most popular blog posts by going back and tweaking them and adding CTAs.
However, in the case of videos, you do not have that flexibility because YouTube’s video editor is ineffective.
You will have to redo videos from scratch, which is time-consuming.
Both methods allow for sponsored posts where companies will pay you to produce content around their products.
The Matter of Trust
The trust aspect is rarely discussed, yet it is imperative when trying to establish an internet business.
When someone visits your blog, it may be more difficult for them to form an immediate connection with you based on the content they read.
When someone sees a YouTube video of you, on the other hand, they begin to feel as though they know you.
Viewers feel like they’re having a conversation with you through the video format.
And if they can relate to you in any manner, it immediately increases their faith in you.
When you’re trying to inaugurate yourself as an authority in any niche and make money from it, building your personal brand and trust is critical.
Ultimately, both a blog and a YouTube channel can help solidify your position in your niche.
How Much Time It Takes To Make Content
You will need to dish out a significant amount of time to both platforms.
On each of these platforms, you’ll be responsible for a variety of responsibilities, many of which are behind the scenes, such as content planning and administration.
However, if we focus solely on developing one piece of content for each channel, this is how much time you should budget.
You’ll typically need to write at least 1,000 words for a blog post, as well as include some photographs and perform some final proofreading.
This could take a few hours to complete, depending on how fast you write.
Making a YouTube video is far more complex.
You’ll need to prepare your background, camera, lighting, and microphone if you’re using one.
After that, you’ll begin recording your video.
This could take as little as half an hour if it’s a short sit-down video.
If it’s a more complicated video, such as an entire cleaning procedure or a daily routine of some sort, it could take hours.
After you’ve finished filming, editing the final video can take a few hours, depending on how much material you have.
Writing a blog article takes far less time than it does to create a YouTube video in terms of time investment.
Creating videos is usually time-consuming, but the pay-off could be worth the trouble.
Growth Potential
To flourish on either of these platforms, you must consistently publish high-quality material.
That’s because Google takes time to build confidence in your blog or YouTube channel.
However, because there is a scarcity of video content in many sectors, it is effortless to obtain views on YouTube.
Before abandoning any of these sites, you must produce at least 100 pieces of high-quality, original material that meets a significant demand.
Effective keyword or subject research is critical for developing high-demand content ideas that are easy to rank for.
Organic growth (blogging or YouTube) is a large-scale endeavor.
Don’t let numbers scare you away in the beginning.
In the beginning, I suggest that you concentrate solely on content creation and promotion.
Blogging vs Youtube: The Verdict
There isn’t a definitive winner when it comes to blogging vs. YouTube.
The answer is dependent on a number of factors, including your niche, your strengths, and the needs of your target audience.
If you have the time and money, I recommend that you use both text and video content forms to get a significant number of people into your funnel.
If you’re a well-known blogger with a large number of blog entries, it’s time to start converting them to videos and embedding them in your blog posts.
You might also explore turning your videos into blog entries.
Eventually, you might even have a successful blog and YouTube channel under your belt.
Related Reading: How Do Bloggers Make Money? – Get To Know Here.
Final Thoughts
Launching a blog or a YouTube channel can do wonders for online businesses.
Blogging is less expensive to start, easier to sell, and, in my opinion, the fastest way to earn your first online paycheck.
On the other hand, YouTube is easier to spread, has less competition for organic views, and has that aspect of virality that you can’t ignore.
In terms of SEO, I believe that having a blog on the back burner helps a new YouTube channel flourish than if the scenario were reversed.
Still, there are exceptions. If your channel gets viral, you can probably build a blog quite soon.
The critical thing to keep in mind is to concentrate on one platform at a time.
The worst thing a content producer can do when they first start out is to spread themselves too thin.
