Wednesday, January 23, 2013

"What do you think?" Wednesdays - Youtube vs Blogging

Youtube vs blogging. The age old debate regarding which of the two is better. As a blogger and not a youtuber I am very much aware of the fact that I am biased in my opinion, but when I sat down to write this I tried my very best to be open and understanding about both! For the purpose of this post, when I speak of 'youtubers' I am specifically referring to those who make beauty based videos, and when I write about bloggers I am making reference to beauty bloggers in particular.

I think you need to split this debate into two categories in order to cover all the positives and negatives: the person making the posts/videos and the people who read/watch them.

The positives and negatives for those who create the content

As a youtuber, you are required to record yourself on film. Obvious right? Well the way I interpret that is that you have to make yourself look presentable every time you wish to make a video whereas a blogger has the freedom to wear their pyjamas and look like a dog's breakfast if they wish, and their readers wouldn't have a clue. Who has the time and energy for that? Not me.

Another benefit that I think bloggers have over youtubers is that creating a post takes significantly less time to write, edit and post as opposed to the trauma it seems youtubers go through as they try to upload their videos!

As a blogger I think you are less subject to criticism and attacks. I personally have been so lucky to have had nothing of the sort, but it seems that all youtubers suffer from those who just like to make life difficult and leave unnecessary comments on a regular basis.

I feel that youtubers have a wider range of viewers and can get regular 'subscribers' more easily, whereas bloggers really have to work at it to build up a strong group of followers.

Bloggers have more privacy than youtubers, generally speaking, and are able to control their content more easily. What I mean by that is that a youtuber has to film a video somewhere, most likely somewhere in their house, so their viewers have already seen a chunk of their lives that a blogger wouldn't necessarily reveal.

Also, what would be considered a perfectly good post on a blog, if read out like a script for a video it would probably seem ridiculously short and half-done. It means that youtubers have to think of more to say in order to make a video last longer.

I think bloggers are able to post more regularly without having to devote their whole life to their blog (thus allowing them to have a job, social life etc) whereas if youtubers wish to make videos as frequently, they really need to commit to being a youtuber in a way that bloggers don't have to do.

In terms of freedom and variety, I think that both bloggers and youtubers have the option to get really creative with their content and that whilst youtubers can play around with music videos and creative challenges, bloggers can turn to the creative writing type side and online based diaries.

One of my favourite things as a blogger is that you can write a post and continually go over something to refine it and make it better during the editing process. Such luxury is not available for those who make videos, unless you write a script prior to filming, in which case the video comes out horribly. The improvisation side of filming is not something that I would be terribly comfortable with, I much prefer being able to write something and edit it later when I come up with a better way to write it.

Bloggers are able to personalise their blogs more than youtubers, particularly their layouts, backgrounds and general blog design.

Lastly, blogging is easy and free from too many expenses, whereas youtubers (who are really serious about what they do) need good quality cameras and perhaps even lighting set ups too, which all add up.

The positives and negatives for those who receive the content

The positives and negatives are abundant for both those who read blogs and those who watch videos. I think that videos can be more to-the-point and can convey more information more easily, especially when demonstrating the use of a product or describing shades and characteristics of a product. In saying that, there is nothing better than reading a hilarious post which has been perfectly written by a talented blogger about a subject you are interested in.

Whilst I appreciate that many may differ in opinion to me here, I really feel that one's character can often be understood a lot better through text and writing than video. This might seem strange, but I know with me at least, that on camera I behave quite differently to my usual self, whereas through writing I am myself.

I do think that videos require a lot less 'effort' to watch than blogs posts do to read. I know that after a long day I would much prefer to watch youtube videos than scroll through pages and pages of posts.

On a more personal level, I much prefer blogging as both a blogger and a reader of blogs. I love to write my posts, including all of the pictures and responses to comments that come with it, and I also love to read other people's posts. I don't see myself as someone being suited to making youtube videos whereas I've always kind of viewed myself as a blogger.

Despite this, I don't think that there is a definite winner as both videos and blog posts are good for different things, and people are suited to different things too.

I would love to have your input, especially if you have had experience in both areas and can make a better comparison than me!


16 comments:

  1. It's funny that you posted this today haha because I just pointed up a new youtube video :) I think that the criticism that you receive on Youtube is a bit down putting whereas the blogger community is nothing but supportive!
    x

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    1. You are exactly right - I am really glad that I got into blogging because the blogging community really is nothing but supportive and everyone just seems to get along so very well.
      xx

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  2. Great post! I had a giggle because I'm currently in my PJS blogging hahaha.

    But I've always wandered about what Youtube would be like, personally I think that it is alot more work/time consuming then blogging! I really don't know how they do it.

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    1. Haha, the secrets of being a blogger eh?!

      I don't know how they do it either. You see videos where they reveal how long it takes them to film, edit and upload a video and it just seems crazy!

      xx

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  3. I considered doing videos on youtube but whenever I watch videos there, I always see that there are lots of negative comments from people who really have nothing better to do... There's also a lot of ignorance and people who make big deals about nothing in the comments section like "omg she didn't even say thanks" or "her voice is so annoying". Whenever I read comments like that, I think that I've never seen them on beauty blogs.

    I love blogging in that I can do a bunch of posts on my day off and refine them over the week. I can also choose to do swatches on my arm if I'm feeling lazy and don't want to do my makeup just to take one photo. I definitely prefer blogging over youtube. In the morning's and afternoon's on the way to and from work, I find it relaxing to sit down and read a bunch of blog posts :)

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    1. There really are a whole heap of horrid comments on youtube that just ruin the experience for everyone. I agree with you, I've not come across those comments on any blogs.

      Blogging certainly does seem to be the easier and perhaps more 'relaxing' option without all the hassle of having to film and do everything straight away.

      Thanks for your input!
      xx

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  4. I'm both a blogger and a youtuber and I loved hearing your thoughts Candice :)
    I honestly love doing both. Blogging, I can take photos and express my opinion through words and like you said, look like a dog's breakfast while writing a post.

    I've been making videos for nearly a year now and I really enjoy letting my personality show. I feel like I can be more relaxed and humorous in my videos than I can in my posts. Filming and editing does take more effort than blogging though and I obviously do have to slap on makeup every time I film.

    I love both but if I were to choose just one to do for a long period of time, I would choose blogging because I feel I can get further with that and won't get tired of it.

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    1. Haha I love the freedom of being able to write posts, even when I look a real mess!

      It's great to hear your opinion about allowing your personality to shine through in videos. I'm a little bit the opposite in that I really don't feel comfortable on film and therefore there is a greater chance of my personality coming through in my writing.

      Thanks for commenting!

      xx

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  5. I couldn't see myself as a youtuber. I wouldn't be very confident infront of the camera and I hate how my voice sounds recorded, haha. I also have no idea how to edit so that wouldn't work.

    I do love watching youtube videos, and my favourite beauty vlogs are looks videos . I prefer reviews, hauls and favourites posts to be available in both medias though because usually the information is the same, and I can't watch too many youtube vidoes regularly.

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    1. I'm like you, I couldn't picture myself on youtube!

      I like the looks videos too - they are better on a video than a blog post I think. I like the hauls and favourites better as a blog post though, so I guess it evens out.

      xx

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  6. Great topic yet again, you're a champ!

    Much like Jen, I also considered doing YT but the unncessary negative comments I think would be far too much for me to handle. I started blogging as a means to combat depression, so I think that those sort of comments would not be good for me. And again, much like Jen, I rarely see anything like that on a written blog post, because stupid people can't be bothered reading through an entire post to annoy you about one little thing!

    I love the idea of watching YT however I do find it to get tedious sometimes. I love the idea of sitting down and writing a well thought out piece of writing with pictures, rather than a girl sitting there "umming" and "ahhing" to the camera about a product. Some YTers are excellent, don't get me wrong, but sometimes I'd rather just read!

    I personally prefer the written word, only because I feel more comfortable, but each to their own!
    xx

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    1. Jasmine's back!!! Yay!

      Totally not keen on the negativity present on youtube, I don't think I'd be very good at ignoring it either. I think every little comment would get to me which would be destructive because it is not the constructive type of criticism. You're right - the kind of people who leave those messages wouldn't be bothered to read through a long post.

      It can be tedious watching youtube videos, and if you watch similar themed ones (like hauls or favourites posts) they all end up being the same after a while. It is nice to think that most of the time, when you are reading something there has been a lot of effort put into it and it has been refined to their standards whereas in videos there really is a lot more 'umming' and 'ahhing.'

      As always, thanks a bunch for your support!

      xx

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  7. Completely agree with all of your points! I thought about doing videos too but all that editing really puts me off it. It takes me about 30 minutes to do a post, and I reckon it'll take at least 3 times that to do a video. I barely have a social life as it is, and if I start making videos, I'll have none!

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    1. True true - I couldn't bear to do all that editing! I like that fact that maintaining a blog with regular posts is actually achievable!
      xx

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  8. Youtube is definitely a lot more work and there are A LOT of cons, but it can be fun too. I'm just starting out making videos, but I have to say blogging is so much easier and it takes a lot less time to make a quality blog post than it does to make a quality video. Overall, I just really love the blogging community because it is so positive...it's about being informative, helping each other, and sharing a love for beauty and everyone who reads your blog feels the same whereas anyone can see and comment on your videos on youtube.

    I love these kinds of posts btw :)

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    1. I do feel that blogging is easier, but I've heard that the hard work people have to put into youtube makes it more rewarding. As I mentioned, I don't have any youtube videos so I don't know if such is true, but I guess it makes sense.

      I love how you summed up the beauty community, it really is about supporting one another and enjoying being a part of the beauty world.

      I'm glad you like these posts, I love writing them!

      xx

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