Nine Tips to Create a Successful Video Blog on YouTube
Photo of Allison demonstrating how to use her favorite beauty products1/9Maximize the quality of your videos.
"My biggest tip for beginners is to make sure that your video quality is good," says Allison, Amari. "Bad lighting, quiet audio, and blurry pictures aren’t fun to watch!"
Photo of Dulce Tejeda giving an eyeliner tutorial2/9Invest in a good camera.
"I use a Canon 5D Mark II," says Dulce Tejeda, DulceCandy87. "I bought it for myself because I wanted a really good camera—the quality of the pictures on a vlog is very important, and I feel like my followers enjoy my blog more when I have good pictures. I try to invest in good equipment."
Photo of Jenn Im showing off her outfit3/9Ask a friend to film you.
"The biggest challenge is finding someone to film for you," says Jenn Im of Clothes Encounters. "Your friend has to have a good eye, be willing to wait while you change, and have a steady hand. While some vloggers film solo by using a tri-pod, I find it super time-consuming, and I never get the shots I want. That said, I commend any YouTub-er who is able to do it!"
Photo of Melissa Valenzuela displaying her DIY denim lace short4/9Don't be shy.
"Be yourself," say Stephanie and Melissa Valenzuela of The Fashion Citizen. "It’s weird when you start off because you’re talking to a camera, but after a while, your personality will shine through."
Photo of Jenn Im discussing her outfit5/9Edit your videos.
"I use a Canon T3i to film and iMovie to edit," says Jenn. "My best tip is to keep it short and simple. Video production is all about timing. You have to make the shots quick so that no one loses interest, but long enough so people understand what's going on. It also helps to get multiple shots of the same item so you can mash them up to create something that's interesting and entertaining to look at."
Photo of Sarah talking about what she purchased at the mall6/9Think about what videos get the most hits.
"Do a ’what’s in my purse’ video," says Sarah, SarahBelle93x. "Everyone watches those videos and they give your channel exposure, which is always a good thing when you are first starting out."
Photo of Jenn Im showcasing her accessories7/9Interact with viewers to build your fan base.
"I use Twitter and Facebook to answer questions," says Jenn. "Old-school fashion was all one-way preaching. My generation is all about dialogue and personal creativity."
Photo of Bethany applying foundation8/9Don't fret over negative comments.
"Hate comments were very hard for me to deal with at first, and sometimes still are," says Bethany, Macbarbie07. "You have to realize that there are so many more people that love you and support you. It’s made me a stronger person."
Photo of Jenn Im sharing how she assembled her outfit9/9Be persistent.
"Even if you're getting minimal views, it's important to keep on putting out content," says Jenn. "Everyone starts out with zero views. Set a goal of how much you're going to post, whether it's weekly, bi-weekly, or every month."
