As the uninitiated are still trying to figure out what a blog is, the interplay between Internet users and technology continues to move forward. There is an even newer form of communication that’s starting to take off: Vlogs.
Before Vlogs: A Bit About Blogs
For the record, a blog is an online diary (sometimes called a live journal) where writers post their thoughts about anything from last night’s date to their extreme political views.
Bloggers as they have come to be known, have become very influential because they typically link to other blogs with similar themes, get facts behind the scenes that other media don’t provide, and generate instant dialogue and discussion of the topics.
Blogs have become so popular and read by so many people that even analysts who frequently comment on large corporations write their own. While they don’t reveal insider information, they can be influential by voicing a professional opinion on the next “big thing” in a given industry or area of expertise.
The media are afraid of blogs because they are powerful tools that can release news without anyone’s editing and censorship. They can also make or break a political campaign as the “dirt” can be published and easily accessed by millions.
What is a Vlog?
While few things in life are as powerful as the written word, we are visual creatures and love to watch. Reading is active and tiring so it’s only logical that the passive form of blogging – vlogging is taking off.
The term “vlog” is short for “video blog” (and just for the record, blog is short for web log or weblog). A Vlog is a video version of a blog. The set-up is generally the same where you have a blog website that is customized to your needs. However, instead of writing long paragraphs of content, there is a video of you discussing your daily happenings, the news, or whatever topic. It can be as random as a blog.
The content of the video can also be videos of anything other than the person who is vlogging. Some vloggers wish to remain anonymous and so they go around taking videos of their surroundings. These are eventually uploaded to their computers and there you have it.
The video itself usually has a photo to click on so you know what you are going to see. The text part of the blog typically has a brief description or eye catching headline, and feedback form for people to comment on the video.
VideoBlog Production
Videoblogs are more difficult to produce as they typically require more technology and of course time. Writing a blog can take a couple of minutes but producing a short video is clearly more taxing on one’s resources. That is probably one of the reasons videoblogging has not taken off in the same manner as blogging.
Enter the Videoblog Directory
Vlogs can only be popular if people can find them. As with blogging, vloggers need to be listed in the right places to get traffic and visitors to see and experience what they have to offer. What good is a vlog if no one sees yours? There are now a number of videoblogging directories for all tastes.
Types of Videoblogging
Being listed in a videoblogger directory is becoming increasingly important to get more traffic to one’s vlog site. In many cases, there are niche vlogs such as travel vlogs, singles and dating vlogs, and generally funny videoblogs.
The Future of Vlogs and Vlogging
In October 2005, Apple released the Video iPod meaning that vlog-type recordings will most likely grow at an incredible rate in 2006 and beyond. Videoblogs are clearly becoming increasingly popular as technology advances and merges various formats. The term “moblog” has been coined to refer to the mobile blog (such as cell phones, PDAs, etc).
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