How to Become a Vlogger and Make Money

Still wondering whether to become a blogger or a vlogger?

While both options have the potential to build successful businesses, the best way is to go with the trend and find out which would have better future growth.  

• People prefer text over video.
• YouTube is the second most popular search engine.
• All social platforms are introducing video content.

All these facts point to one thing only—that is, video is a much more engaging and popular content format than text.

That’s why vlogging on YouTube is a much more profitable pursuit than blogging. 

Because of this, a successful vlog will yield better results than a successful blog. 

Now is an excellent time to ask how to make money as a vlogger. 

This post will teach you step-by-step how to start a YouTube channel, become a vlogger, and monetize your channel to start making money vlogging.  

But first, let me give you solid reasons why vlogging over blogging. 

Why Is Vlogging a Great Career Option?

I know I’ve already half convinced you why. But I want you to be sure, so there are still more reasons why vlogging is better than blogging. 

1. You can get started for free

Starting a blog costs money. After all, you need reliable web hosting to make it run smoothly.

It’s also vital to have a premium website theme to brand your site and premium tools to grow your blog successfully.

Plus, there can be many other tiny expenses. Sure, you can start a blog for free, but most free blogs are limited. 

If you’re planning to monetize, you need complete control over how you want to grow it, so you will have to invest in premium features.

On the other hand, starting a vlog costs nothing. No web hosting is required since you can start a YouTube channel for free.

A premium website theme is also unnecessary since you can use the free Canva tool to create brand assets.

You can also use the free YouTube analytics to analyze your performance.

Basically, you only need a good camera and basic video editing skills to record vlogs. 

So, if you’re short on money and looking for a more affordable business model with better growth potential, then vlogging is your option. 

2. YouTube is Google’s sister company

Not only is YouTube the second most popular search engine, but it’s also Google’s (that ranks first) sister company.

Now, what does that mean? 

It means that Google promotes YouTube. So, if you start a YouTube channel, you have Google’s support to get new audiences. 

That is, not only can you drive traffic from YouTube but also from Google. 

Google actively shows YouTube content on SERP results for many search terms.

For example, when I search for “how to become a copywriter” on YouTube, this tutorial by Alex Cattoni shows up.

And the same video shows up on Google SERPs for the exact search.  

So, if you can rank your content on YouTube, you can also show up on Google. 

And that’s how you will appear on the first and second most popular search engines. 

Fortunately, YouTube SEO is almost similar to Google SEO. 

So, you can just optimize your YouTube vlogs for better SEO and get traffic from both search engines.

3. Video content is the most engaging content format

Here’s another interesting stat for you. 

Do you know that the average attention span of a goldfish is 9 seconds?

What about the fact that the average attention span of a human being is only 8 seconds? 

People would land on a page, and if nothing catches their eye, they will bounce off in less than 8 seconds. 

So, as marketers, we need to attract an audience whose attention span is less than that of a goldfish.

However, things get shocking when you compare it with video content. 

What if I tell you that the average video watch time is 2.7 minutes? 

Shocking, right?  

But it’s the reality. So, video content will get you more engagement than blog content. 

With videos, you can share your message better, build a deeper connection with your audience, and ultimately sell more efficiently.

Now that I’ve given you enough reasons why vlogging is a better career option, I will walk you step-by-step to start and grow a successful YouTube channel.

Start a Vlog: How Do You Start a Successful YouTube Channel?

Preparation precedes success.

That’s why you need to prepare first to grow your vlog successfully. Below are the steps you should follow in the same order.

1. Identify your niche

The fastest way to grow in any industry is to pick a niche and master it. 

It’s better to be known as an expert rather than a generalist. And that you can do if you focus on one niche. There are two reasons why:

• Search engines want to show their audience expert sources as SERP results. They measure expertise as the amount of content published and its relevance to the topic.
• The audience prefers taking advice from experts. Just like an eye patient would go to an eye specialist.

Similarly, you must pick a niche and stick to it to grow your channel faster.

So, what should be your niche? It should have these three qualities:

• You’re passionate about it.
• You can monetize it.
• It should be a significant problem.

For example, if you love cooking, then it’s a great niche to focus on.

People always crave delicious recipes, which can be monetized through courses, affiliate products, YouTube ads, and more. 

One thing to remember is the competition you’ll have to face in an already established industry.

Since there are probably hundreds of cooking channels on YouTube already, you can’t just start another. 

You need to narrow down further and pick a less populated but profitable topic. 

For example, instead of starting another general cooking channel, you can niche it further based on the following:

• Country (e.g., Thai food recipes)
• Taste (e.g., all sweet recipes)
• Particular food type (e.g., all baked food)

You need to be creative here to find a unique angle that is yet to be covered and will help you stand out. 

2. Create a calendar to upload quality content consistently

Let me tell you the truth.

Anyone can start a vlog channel, but not everyone can grow it well. 

And only those who grow it can monetize and earn money from it successfully.

So, to grow a channel, you need to create a content calendar and stick with it.  

You might be wondering how to create a content calendar. 

Let me help you.

1. Content

First, you need content ideas. Since you already have a niche, it’s time to brainstorm all ideas that you think will fall in this category. 

For example, if your niche is baked food, then you can start brainstorming ideas like:

• Strawberry flavored cookies
• Chocochip cookies
• Cheesecake with ingredients at home

Keep going and add more ideas.

If you’re stuck, go through YouTube for inspiration. Check out some successful channels in your industry and find their top content. Add those that interest you.

Have at least 100 ideas, so you have enough to follow for a long time. 

Pro tip: Check out other social platforms and go through the comments. You’ll find great ideas there. 

2. Schedule

Next, decide how often you want to publish on your channel. 

This is entirely your decision based on how much you can handle because consistency is the only thing that matters. 

Some channels publish every day, some publish weekly, and some monthly. All of these ways work as long as you stick to them.

So, pick a schedule that you can follow. Then add one content idea to each day in your schedule. 

And that’s it. You’ve created a content calendar. 

3. Get the necessary equipment

Consistency can only take you so far. If your videos aren’t of good quality, don’t expect people to stay on your channel for long.

That’s why you need to record great videos. 

Luckily, there’s nothing much. You just need to make sure of these two things.

1. Audio

Make sure your video is audible. If your audience can’t hear what you’re saying, why would they care to watch your video?

You can’t keep your viewers for long if they can’t listen properly. 

So, the best thing to do is to get a good quality microphone you can attach to the speaker to record with clarity.

2. Video

Another noticeable thing that should be flawless is the video itself. 

Make sure the lighting is proper, not too bright or too dim. 

Shooting outside is always better, but you will have to shoot some indoor videos. For that, you should get some lights. 

Go with a minimal background with no moving objects; otherwise, it can be distracting.

And lastly, to record high-quality videos, get a good camera.

Your mobile can work well if you don’t want to invest in a camera. 

To make your camera stable, set it up on a tripod stand.

So far, you’re done with the preparation. Don’t feel like it’s nothing. This preparation will help you avoid obstacles and consistently grow your channel.

Now, we’re ready for the big step, which is to start a vlog. 

4. Create a YouTube channel

Starting a YouTube channel is simple. All you need to do is follow these steps with me. 

First, go to your YouTube account dashboard and click on your profile icon on the top right. 

Now, click on the “Create a channel” option.

Then, give your channel a name and a handle. You should also upload a profile picture. Once done, click on the “Create channel” button.

Congratulations! You just created your vlog. 

Here’s what the dashboard will look like. Now, click on the “Customize channel” to add more details.

You get three options to make changes. First, you can modify the layout settings. 

This is how you want to display content to your viewers. For example, I can add a channel trailer for first-time visitors or display some featured videos.  

Then, you can add branding to your channel. 

It’s crucial to add branding and use it consistently to grow your channel. 

Add a profile photo, background cover image, and a video watermark. You can use Canva to design high-quality images. 

The last is basic info. Here you will add a channel description, modify your channel URL, add other links to showcase and reconfigure more settings. 

Take some time to write a keyword-optimized description. Make it clear but exciting, and add a CTA to tell new visitors what they should do. 

Here’s what a fully customized channel will look like.

Done with customizing your channel? 

Sweet. 

Now is the time we have been waiting for: record and edit your first video.

5. Record and edit your videos

Whatever you have been doing so far is for this step.

You want to record great videos that engage viewers. Your goal should be for them to keep watching till the end. 

So, how can you ensure your subscribers are sticking to the end?

Again, by preparation. 

Here are the things you should do to record high-quality vlogs. 

• Create video scripts and practice them well so that you don’t have to re-record every time you make a mistake. 
• Select a quiet place to shoot your videos where the lighting is good. 
• Collect all the necessary equipment before recording. You want to appear professional. For example, collect the utensils and ingredients you need in advance if you’re recording cooking tutorials.
• Don’t make your videos too long. Plan mini-videos that are not tedious to watch. 
• Capture different views if you’re showing how to do something. It’ll help your viewers better understand. 
• Give a quick introduction before the actual content. This will help you build a personal connection with the viewer. 

Once you have recorded the video, you want to refine it. Pay special attention to editing, as it can make or break your video.

Use video editing software to delete unnecessary parts or add GIFs, background music, text, and more to make it more appealing.  

Editing can be tiring, so if you want to, you can outsource it to a professional. 

6. Publish your first video & do SEO

The next step is to publish your video, which is also simple. Just follow these steps with me. 

First, go back to your channel dashboard and click the “Upload video” button.

Now, choose files from your computer. 

Then fill out the details and pay particular focus to these three things:

• Title: Give your video a catchy title. Add a keyword to get it to show up on YouTube searches.   
• Description: You want to write a clear description using relevant keywords to get it ranked quickly. 
• Thumbnail: Design an attractive thumbnail. Use bright colors and try to stand out from other ranking thumbnails.

Similarly, update other settings like visibility, end images, and add subtitles.

Once you have completed all steps, hit the publish button.

Congrats! You just uploaded your first YouTube video.

7. Promote your videos

What now? You’ve published a video. Now people will come automatically, right?

Wrong.

Unfortunately, it is not that easy.

Publishing vlogs is half the work. Since your channel is new, only a few people know it exists, let alone know that you have published a video. 

Search algorithms work when they see some traction.

You need to get some people to engage with your video to get things moving.

That’s where promotion comes in. 

Marketing your YouTube videos should be a part of your strategy, especially in the beginning when only a few people know about you. 

Here are a few ways to promote your videos and get some traffic:

• Share on your social media profiles.
• Create a dedicated Facebook page to promote your vlogs.
• Answer relevant questions on sites like Quora and Reddit.
• Ask your current viewers to share it with friends.
• Share it with your existing network.
• Optimize for SEO properly.

You should keep your marketing efforts going to keep getting new viewers.

Thus, your first goal should be to get in front of many people.

8. Leverage paid ads

Your promotion effort can only take you so far; if you have the budget, you can leverage YouTube ads. 

That said, paid ads aren’t that costly, either. You can easily create a YouTube ad for as little as $10. 

The benefit of using ads is that you can be sure your vlog gets seen by the right audience, as you can specify your audience set using filters.

However, in the starting days of growing your channel, when you haven’t monetized and are yet to build credibility, it’s better not to invest in paid ads. 

You should focus on building trust with the audience first and then use that credibility to build trust and make money with paid ads audience.  

9. Keep track of your vlog’s analytics

The final step is to keep track of your vlog’s analytics. You get a few options to view your overall growth.

First, you get basic analytics for each video in the “content” tab. Here you can see how many views and comments a video got. 

Then, there is an “Analytics” option where you can see the overall channel growth.

Use the four options: Overview, Audience, Content, and Research, to get detailed insights.

As a new YouTuber, you must strictly follow your content schedule and track analytics. 

Record and publish high-quality videos, give them some time, and then see how they perform. 

If you think a vlog performed better and is a popular video, it’s an excellent signal to publish a similar piece. 

That’s how you will be able to grow your channel quickly.  

Once your channel has enough views and subscribers, it’s time to monetize it. 

Make Money Vlogging: How Do YouTubers Make Money?

Yes, this is where you monetize your channel, not when you’ve published your first video. 

First, you need to build trust. You need to establish your channel as a credible source so subscribers can trust you with their money. 

Now, to answer “how do YouTubers make money?”, YouTube can be monetized in many ways. The most popular are the ones below.

1. YouTube ads

Showing YouTube ads is the most popular among new YouTubers. 

It’s also an easy way to start making money via vlogging. However, you need to qualify for some rules before you get accepted. 

• First, you must have a Google Adsense account. 
• Next, you must have more than 1000 subscribers.
• Also, you must have more than 4000 hours of watch time in the last 12 months. 

Considering your need for a Google AdSense account, you can imagine this method isn’t scalable.

Keep in mind that you’re getting paid for the watch hours. So, the more time your subscribers spend on your channel, the better you get paid. 

It can’t be a thriving option as a standalone income stream, but YouTube ads can work as a nice add-on when you combine it with other sources like these…

2. Sponsored posts

You might have seen your favorite YouTubers mentioning brands in between their videos. That means a brand sponsors the video, and the YouTuber is getting paid for mentioning it. 

Getting your videos sponsored by brands is a great way to earn premium prices. 

It’s best when a brand reaches out instead of you pitching them. Because when a brand reaches out, you get the benefit of negotiating higher prices. 

They don’t have what you have, which is an engaged audience base.

You can leverage this trust to bag high-priced sponsored opportunities. But that is only possible if you consistently add value to your subscribers. 

However, while choosing sponsored posts, one good rule is to keep your target audience in mind. 

If the product is something they would need, then only agree to the deal. 

Otherwise, if it’s a product that isn’t helpful to your audience, it could affect your relationship with them.

3. Affiliate links

Affiliate marketing is a great way to earn passive income. 

You might have noticed most YouTubers mention the products they used in the video descriptions and add affiliate links. 

You can do the same thing: join affiliate programs and make money. 

All you need to do is mention it in your video description or in the video itself and add the affiliate link. 

Keep in mind the following affiliate marketing mistakes to avoid, though:

• Don’t hard sell. The best way is to mention the product or how it helped you solve a problem.
• Always tell your subscribers that you’re using affiliate links and will earn a commission if they make a purchase.
• Read the terms and conditions and strictly follow all affiliate program rules.  

4. Selling merchandise

You can also sell products if you want to become a brand yourself. 

If you’re a small business owner, selling products is one of the best ways to monetize YouTube. You can grow your business revenue by promoting your products to your audience.

Just like Ryan Higa, who built a brand by selling t-shirts, books, and energy drinks.

Note that he has more than 20 million subscribers, which proves my point about building an audience first.

5. Create paid courses in the long run

One of the best ways to monetize a YouTube channel is to sell online courses. 

This method has many benefits, like not having to worry about getting more views, but the best is its scalability.

Think about it. You can add a new income stream each time you launch a new course. 

YouTubers are great teachers, so they can create practical courses, just like Alex Cattoni, who launched approximately 12 products successfully.

As you already know, each of these methods has its pros and cons, but success comes down to one question, and that is…

How engaged is your audience?

You see, most YouTubers can’t get more than 1000 subscribers and quit.

However, the problem is with their approach. They focus on monetization before building trust.

But remember, you must first add immense value for free before considering monetization. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Starting a Vlog Channel

Do YouTubers get paid monthly?

Yes, YouTubers get paid monthly after they have built enough audience. But the income varies, depending on various factors like views, sales, and promotional activity.

How much do daily vloggers make?

There is no straight number as to how much vloggers make daily. But for reference, a vlogger can earn $4 to $6 for every 1000 views.

Final Thoughts on How to Become a Vlogger and Make Money Vlogging on YouTube

You now have a reliable plan and five powerful monetization methods to make money vlogging. 

While each method is powerful on its own, they’re even more powerful in combination.

But not to overwhelm you, tackling one thing at a time is fine. If you’re putting your all into growing this channel, why not give yourself enough time to learn?

That said, your goal should not be to make money vlogging when you’ve just started. Check any YouTube success story, and you’ll find them saying to grow an audience first.

After all, trust requires constant dedication and uploading videos. The question is, are you up for it?

Have you started a YouTube channel before? Have you monetized it? Let me know in the comments.