Is Blogging Dead? Should We Conform To Video Content?

AD. Are blogs still relevant in 2022?.. It's the question on everyones lips at the moment. I can't deny the grounds for confusion. A lot has changed in the blogging world over the last decade. We've seen a huge rise in short form and video content, meaning we've had to adapt our strategies and skill sets. Whether we've wanted to or not. What once worked in the 2010's is far from coherent now. So is blogging dead?...

No (in a nutshell)! It's just different. Blogging is evolving.

_{[Photo by William Bayreuther on Unsplash]}

My Blogging Journey

Without sounding like I'm auditioning for the X-Factor (is that still a thing?) I wanted to share a little bit about my journey and how I've been able to turn my hobby blog into my full time job.

Blogging In The Beginning

Let's go back to 2014. Blogging in the beginning was very blasé for me. I didn't really know what I was doing, nor did I have any idea who Zoella (sorry not sorry) was.

I remember thinking of starting a blog whilst in the shower one random February morning. The idea seed must have subliminally been planted from somewhere, but I honestly couldn't pinpoint where. All I remember is opening up my laptop as quick as a flash and signing up to the free blogging platform blogger.

I didn't realise I was about to embark on such a significant and influential adventure!

Hobby Blogging

I was a hobby blogger for a good number of years. Making no income from my slice of internet, but loving it all the same. I had no reason to make money. The sheer enjoyment I took from my blog was enough.

At this point blogging wasn't really a career choice. Even the likes of the now bigger Instagram influencers were blogging alongside other full and part time jobs.

Blogging Full Time

There were a few factors that made me take the plunge in 2021 and take my blog full time. I've heard a few different opinions on when the right time to go self employed is. Perhaps is when you have a certain amount of money saved in the bank as a back up. Perhaps it's when you're making the same amount of money blogging as you are your regular job? For me neither of those were the case.

Two months after returning back to work from maternity leave we were hit with the first coronavirous lockdown. For me this was a second chance at maternity leave. A positive in a really not positive situation! This did however mean that I returned to work pretty resentful. My work life was affected, which in turn effected my home life and if I'm totally honest I wasn't in the best head space. so I quit!

So much has changed over the last (almost) decade. I've had to learn to adjust in so many different ways:

• Lifestyle changes for both myself & my audience
• My reason why
• Money mindset
• The marketing strategies we've left behind.
• Blogging platforms we've welcomed (or not)
• The blogging community
• Readership value of blogging
• The way content is consumed
• Adapting to the increase of video content

_{[Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash]}

What Is Video Content?

Video content is any format of content that features or includes videos. This includes the following:

• Vlogs
• GIFS
• Live videos
• Recorded videos
• Webinars
• Recorded presentations

The Rise In Video Content

These days we consume content a little differently. We lead such busy lives meaning the content we take in needs to be quicker and snappier. We love a doom scroll and are much more flippant with what we chose to take in. Hence the rise in more easier to consume content.

Blogs VS Video Content

There are many arguments for and against both blogging and video content. Each has its own benefits (as well as drawbacks) so let's take a closer look.

Benefits Of Blogs

• You can skim read. If a blog is designed well you should be able to skim read and hone in on the points that are more relevant to yourself. Titled paragraphs and bullet points are a great way of achieving this.
• Longevity. Creating quality blog posts can mean your content is around for people to see for years! I have blog posts from 2010's that still gain traction now! The longevity of a blog post compared to an Instagram story for example is second to none!
• You own your blog. This is a big benefit for me and the main reason I put more efforts into my blog. Because it's mine. We don't own our social media platforms. If Instagram got wiped out for whatever reason a lot of influencers would be scuppered.

Benefits Of Video Content

• Your audience gets to know you better. Video content conveys so much more personality than long form content. This gains trust from your audience and can really help you grow your following.
• Your content will be seen instantly. With blogs it can take months for pages to get indexed. And don't even get me started on SEO strategies and getting your posts to rank highly. Video content is instantly seen. Your audience is already there waiting to view your content.
• It's easier to consume. Video content takes much less concentration to consume. It's so much easier to watch/listen to a video of someone instructing you to do something than it is to read about it.

Should We Conform To Video Content?

That's the million dollar question! There's no denying that video content is becoming more and more dominant. It actually takes up more than 80% of internet traffic, meaning if someone's using the internet, they're more than likely viewing video content.

Whilst I personally prefer blogging and reading blogs over taking and consuming video content, shorter form content isn't going anywhere. Video content isn't going anywhere!

Here are a few tips to create video content.

_{[Photo by Amanda Vick on Unsplash]}

Beginner Tips For Creating Video Content

• Choose the right video type. Your video type will impact the tone your video conveys. It of course also affects how you prepare and shoot your video. Examples include using a green screen, stop motion, screen recordings or animations.
• Familiarise yourself with technology. This was one of the more daunting things for me. Technology can be scary, but there are a few things you should familiarise yourself with beforehand. Understanding your camera/video recorder is paramount. Once you've shot, your files may need to be formatted differently and you may need to set up a video converter to mp4. This is the most common multimedia file however there are many others also.
• Check your internet speed. With video content having higher file sizes, a faster internet speed is crucial especially when it comes to downloading and uploading videos. Hughesnet internet offers broadband speeds and various data options to keep you connected at all times.
• Plan with a storyboard or script. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail, that's how the saying goes right? I've found writing down the key points gives enough direction however if fully scripted works best for you, then go for that option.
• Think about your video composition. Composition is how you choose to fill your frame with your subject matter. This needs to look as aesthetically pleasing as possible to capture and keep your audiences attention. The rule of thirds is generally the best way to do this. Divide your frame up into a 3x3 grid creating intersections for your subject matter. Your eye should be drawn straight to the subject matter with a clear view in the thirds around.
• Promote yourself. Something we so often forget to do, with both long and short form content is to promote it afterwards. Even if you're at the very beginning stages of creating video content getting into the habit of promoting your work will be so beneficial. After all, what's the point of creating such wonderful content if you're not putting it out there for others to see.

I hope you've enjoyed reading a little bit about my journey and how I've adapted my skillset to accommodate the rise in video content. I'd love to hear your thoughts on whether you think blogging is dead? How are you coping with the demand of video content?