3.1 Introduction
You have a basic understanding of what vlogs are, and you now know some of the most famous vloggers out there. Now, it is time to focus on vlogging platforms. This module will take a look at some of the most well-known vlogging platforms, how to use them, and the pros and cons of using each of them. The vlogging platform you use will have a direct impact on the success, or perhaps even the failure, of your vlog. However, it might not be in the way that you think.
For example
Just because you post your vlog to YouTube, which is the most popular platform, that does not mean you will be a great success. However, posting on less popular platform, like Dailymotion, doesn't mean you won't be a worldwide star. Though the choice of a vlogging platform is important, it is not the only thing to consider finding success in this industry.
This module will give you a full overview of each of the most popular vlogging platforms out there, which will equip you to make an informed choice.
3.2 Twitch IRL
One of the newest vlogging platforms available is called Twitch IRL. You might have heard of the website Twitch, which for several years, was a video platform for gamers and gamers only. However, in late 2016 and early 2017, the company released its newest venture, which allows vloggers to share videos about their everyday lives. Twitch IRL stands for 'In Real Life'.
Before you can understand Twitch IRL, you should have an understanding of what Twitch was before; it was a much specialised site that allowed gamers to broadcast their games as they played them. Basically, people who broadcast on Twitch, and there are more than 10 million of them, stream their video game playing skills to the masses. There are also chat features, blogs, forums, and other interactive platforms on the site. With the launch of Twitch IRL, however, which is essentially a new programming category on the site; users can now share content from their everyday lives instead of focusing only on gaming.
When using this new Twitch category, a person can use a camera or even the app on their mobile device, to capture the world around them. This allows Twitch users to step away from video games for a bit, and instead, let them show their full personality. Twitch was acquired by Amazon in 2014, which has given it the ability to not only try these new ventures, but also to directly compete with platforms like Facebook Live, which we will discuss later in this module.
What kind of content will you find on Twitch? You already know that you will find video game-centric content, but don't let that stop you if you want to start vlogging on the site. There are also other ways to use Twitch as a vlogging platform.
The site allows people to stream or record analogue games, too, such as Dungeons & Dragons or even board games. There is also a stream dedicated to “social eating,” which allows people to consume food, a surprisingly popular vlogging subject, for a live audience.
The Pros of Using Twitch IRL for Vlogging
For some budding vloggers, Twitch IRL will be the perfect vlogging platform. This is especially the case if you are focused on gaming, social eating, or similar ventures. Creating a channel on Twitch is easy to set up, and you will have access to the mobile app, which allows you to stream to your channel at any time.
As with most vlogging platforms, you will also have the opportunity to make money with Twitch IRL. There is also an easy to use platform, which will allow viewers to find your channel. The site is additionally backed by media giant, Amazon.com, so you probably do not have to worry about it going anywhere any time soon.
The Cons of Using Twitch IRL for Vlogging
There are also a few considerations you should know about Twitch. It is a smaller platform, for one. Though there are more than 10 million users, the vast majority of them are gamers, so not all of them will be interested in things like beauty vlogs or similar. Twitch IRL also has guidelines that dictate what you can stream.
For instance
You cannot stream unattended cameras, such as those used for pet cams, or sleeping cams. You also cannot stream content that you do not have broadcast rights to, such as movies or television. Finally, you cannot stream content that has another category, such as gaming.
3.3 Facebook Live
Another vlogging platform you have access to is Facebook Live. This is a perfect place for new vloggers to start. Why? Because if you know how to use Facebook, you will know how to use Facebook Live. Anyone can use Facebook Live, as long as you have access to a camera and a Facebook account, and your audience is built right into the platform. Facebook Live differs from other major vlogging platforms as it is totally live.
Though you can post pre-recorded videos, those posts are generally no different than other posts. This means, if you don't have an audience already, who is going to see it? With Facebook Live, however, Facebook has implemented a feature that allows users to go to a specific page, which looks like a map, showing every live stream out there. In other words, if you are broadcasting, they will come.
One of the best things about Facebook Live is that you can make it as simple...or as complicated...as you want. Technically, all you need to become a vlogger on Facebook Live is a Facebook account and a mobile device with a camera. Now, that does not mean that you will be a success, it just means that is all you need to have to do it. There is much more that goes into vlogging than a camera and a Facebook account, but we will cover all of that as the course moves on.
Fact
Since the release of Facebook Live, the site has seen a 700% increase in video views, and people spend three times longer watching a live video than they do a pre- recorded video.
Source: Thinkdigitalfirst.com
The Pros of Using Facebook Live for Vlogging
There are a number of pros to using Facebook Live for vlogging. First, you have a ready-made audience, assuming you already have a Facebook account. Most people will already have at least 100 to 200 followers on their Facebook accounts, if not more, which means you already have 100 to 200 people who are likely to at least tune in once. Another pro of using Facebook Live is that if you are a public channel, Facebook will advertise that you are broadcasting on their interactive Facebook Live map. This allows anyone in the world to zoom into your location and ultimately your stream.
The Cons of Using Facebook Live for Vlogging
You will also need to consider a few things about Facebook Live; as being a live stream anything could happen.
For example
Any mistake you make - will be broadcast to the world. There is also the fact that you can only use one camera when vlogging for Facebook Live. Some people won't care about this, but other will certainly be affected by it.
Activity 1
Estimated time: 10 - 15 minutes
Now that you know a bit about Facebook Live, and you likely have a Facebook page, take some time to explore the Facebook Live features. How easy is it to go live on Facebook? Simply sign into your account and click the 'Live Video' link on your Facebook home page.
Alternatively, if you are using the app, there is a button labelled 'Live' that you can hit. Note, you will have to give Facebook access to your camera and microphone and then go through a quick intro.
Take some time to explore the features of Facebook Live, and if any of your Facebook followers tune into your broadcast, make sure to say hello!
3.4 Dailymotion
Dailymotion is the only major European based vlogging platform. Although it is not as large as Vimeo or YouTube, which we will get to in a moment, it is certainly a platform for vloggers to consider. Based in France, Dailymotion is set up in a very similar manner to other platforms, such as YouTube, but has a reputation of being a bit darker. Why? Because it will often allow its users to post content that does not fit in with the YouTube terms of use.
Dailymotion often gets overshadowed when it comes to vlogging, but it can be a fantastic platform for many vloggers. There are approximately 60,000,000 views per day on the site, though compared to YouTube's 7,000,000,000, it still is much smaller.
Dailymotion is quite popular, and the format of the site also mirrors YouTube. For example The site has recommendations based on user's viewing habits. Dailymotion also uses ads, which help vloggers gain revenue, and allows vloggers to create subscription channels, something we will discuss later in this course.
The main difference, besides the actual rules, between Dailymotion and YouTube is that Dailymotion is generally focused on professional vlogging, where YouTube has a nice mix of personal videos and professional ones. What does this mean for vloggers? It means that you might find less competition on Dailymotion, but you also need to understand that viewer expectations will likely be higher.
The Pros of Using Dailymotion for Vlogging
Dailymotion is an excellent choice for vlogging, and certainly worth your consideration as you begin your vlogging venture. Depending on what you are vlogging about, Dailymotion might be a better choice for you, too, because the site is not as focused on the type of content the organisation allows on their site.
So, if you are featuring content that is a bit more adult oriented or content that might raise eyebrows, you are better off putting it on Dailymotion than YouTube. Dailymotion is also free, which makes it easy to make money with adverts and subscriptions. However, you will have to pay if you want access to advanced tools.
The Cons of Using Dailymotion for Vlogging
There are also some considerations that you will want to keep in mind when you use Dailymotion for vlogging. First, remember, this is generally a more professional site, so if your vlog isn't top-notch, it will likely not gain much traction on the site. Additionally, you are limited to the size of the file you can upload onto Dailymotion. The site limits videos to 60 minutes in length, and they cannot be more than 2MB.
Fact
Dailymotion.com regularly ranks in the Top 100 of the billions of websites on the internet.
Source: Pcadvisor.co.uk
3.5 Vimeo
You have probably heard of Vimeo. It was launched as a direct competitor to YouTube back in 2004, but they are very different sites. Vimeo has never quite reached the echelon of success that YouTube has created, but when you consider what Vimeo does, its success is impressive.
Vimeo is an excellent choice for vloggers, if you fit into certain categories. In comparison to YouTube, Vimeo is much more 'artsy' and has fewer than 200 million users. That sounds like a lot, of course, but YouTube has over a billion. When you vlog on Vimeo, you have several membership tiers to choose from. One option is free, but the site limits storage to only 500MB of storage per week. The nice thing about paying for Vimeo, however, is that viewers don't have to contend with adverts, which is something that people often complain about when talking about YouTube.
Vimeo also has a feature that allows you to replace a video without losing views, which is convenient for those who might notice a mistake in a video and wish to replace it. Like Dailymotion, Vimeo allows users to upload material that is copyrighted. Well, perhaps it is better to say that Vimeo is not as strict as other sites when it comes to copyrighting. Vimeo is also useful for those who like to view advanced statistics about their videos or channels.
The Pros of Using Vimeo for Vlogging
There are a number of positives of using Vimeo for your vlogging needs. There are multiple membership tiers, which will allow your channel to grow. You will also find that the Vimeo community is much more supportive of each other. Yes, you will still get some demeaning comments here and there, but for the most part, the Vimeo community is focused on constructive criticism. Vimeo has a cleaner format when compared to other vlogging platforms, and it has advanced analytic tools that other platforms do not offer.
The Cons of Using Vimeo for Vlogging
And, as with other vlogging platforms, there are some things to remember before jumping on the Vimeo bandwagon. First, remember that the best features on the site will require a paid account. There are also fewer opportunities for personal branding when you use Vimeo. This has to do with the community vibe of the site.
Friendly competition is great on Vimeo, but you generally won't find cutthroat competition on this site. The people here are lovers, not fighters.
3.6 YouTube
Vlogging on YouTube and being a success on this site is what most vloggers dream of. However, the market is saturated with other vloggers, and the competition is tough. When you start vlogging on YouTube, it is like being dropped in the middle of the chaos of the Roman coliseum. Vlogging on YouTube is not for the faint of heart, and you have to be prepared.
The nice thing about YouTube is that it is so huge that there is no reason you cannot find an audience for your vlog. It doesn't matter what your vlog is about, with more than a billion users, you should have no trouble finding people to watch. So, what's the issue? YouTube is so highly concentrated with so many users, it can be very difficult for people to find you.
If you have no tools or if you do not do any work on your channel, the only views you might get are from your mum and your closest friends. This course, however, will equip you to do much more than that. People write entire books and set up entire websites about YouTube, so we won't touch on all of the details, here. However, it is highly likely that you have a bit of experience with YouTube, especially if you are a vlogger, so that information would not suit your needs.
If you need more information about YouTube, you should definitely get to know the site and take advantage of the resources that are available for you on the internet.
The Pros of Using YouTube for Vlogging
If you choose to vlog on YouTube, you will have access to the best tools and the most interactive audience in the business. This platform was made for vloggers, and once you start getting an audience for your vlog, YouTube has tools in place, such as top notch analytics, that will help you to continue to grow as a vlogger.
The Cons of Using YouTube for Vlogging
YouTube is saturated with vloggers, and the majority of videos on the site have less than 100 views. Only about 2% of all videos on YouTube have more than 100,000 views, and less than 1⁄2 of 1% of videos have more than a million views.
These numbers are not stacked in your favour, but if you are serious about vlogging, you should not let this sway you away. You never know when the next YouTube star will be born, and it could very well be you.
Activity 2
Estimated time: 10 - 20 minutes
In this activity, you will take a close look at YouTube and Vimeo. In fact, open a 'practice' account on each platform if you do not have one already. You can get these accounts for free, so don't worry about paying for one yet. This is just so you can take a look at, and compare, the features of these platforms. You don't have to even tell anyone you are making these accounts.
Film a quick vlog and post it to each platform, and then pay attention to what tools are available and what you can do with your videos. Don't cancel these accounts. We will use them again later on in this course.
3.7 Other Vlogging Platforms
So far in this module we have introduced the biggest vlogging platforms that you might consider, however, these are not the only platforms that you might want to explore.
These vlogging platforms might suit your needs very well, though they might be smaller or niche platforms. So, it is best that you do a bit of research before you start posting videos.
Break.com
Break.com is a video site that is catered to males whom are 18 to 35 years old. It features comedy, humour, and other videos that this demographic would enjoy. The site allows uses to upload their own videos, which can be shared with the community.
Metacafe
Metacafe is another possible vlogging site to consider. This site was a competitor of YouTube in the early days, but today is much smaller. This site specialises in short-form videos and users can upload their own, as long as they fit into certain categories.
Instagram Live
You also might want to consider Instagram Live. Keep in mind, these are live videos, and that they will disappear over time. However, becoming 'Instagram famous' is the new 'YouTube famous,' so for some people, this option will work out quite well.
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