Are you a foodie who would love to make money out of your passion for cooking? Starting a food vlog can be a good career idea all while pursuing your hobby. In case you didn’t know, a video blog (aka vlog) is somewhat similar to Internet TV. As a Vlogger, you have to film yourself while cooking, edit and upload the clip to social sites like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and others. If you’re interested in pursuing such a career or if you simply want to have some fun, read on for some tips on how to get started in the vlogging world.
1. Do your research.
You will face a cut-throat competition when it comes to food vlogging. In order to be successful, take time and do proper research before getting started. Check out what other people are doing and what are the things that differentiate a great vlogger from the average ones.
Focus on finding out your unique selling points. This could be anything from your personality to unique recipes and baking technique. Look here for more ideas.
2. Prepare what you want to say and shoot.
Most likely you won’t get the best shot the first time. Spend some time on the script and the things you want to include in the video. Practicing in front of a mirror will also boost your confidence. Keeping notes of what to say while filming will also come in handy.
3. Equipment is an integral part of your vlog.
Camera, tripod, mics, and adjustable lenses are the basics for vlogs. However, the type depends largely on your needs. Vloggers, in general, use 2-3 cameras to shoot videos from multiple angles. Nowadays, mobile phones come with high-quality cameras and can shoot 4K videos. So you can opt for shooting on your phone if you’re on a budget.
Once you’re done shooting, it’s time for editing. You can either hire a professional or do it yourself. There is both online and offline video editing software that you can use to make professional food videos.
4. Shoot stable videos.
This is one of the most common rookie mistakes. To prevent it, use a recording camera, invest in a tripod or selfie stick. In order to shoot close-ups or top angles, use cameras with image stabilizations. Any decent smartphone nowadays comes with in-built image stabilization feature, and it won’t be heavy on your budget.
5. Be yourself.
Always keep in mind that your audience has subscribed to your vlog because they like to watch your videos. Try to stick to your niche but do small experiments with your USP.
6. Ask for feedback to keep the audience engaged.
User-generated content plays a big role in the growth of any business and audience engagement. In your posts and videos, ask for feedback and questions from viewers to keep them hooked. You can also ask for ideas or topics that they want videos on. Always reply to comments or queries that the viewers post on your videos.
7. Keep things rolling and change the location.
We all like beautiful scenery presented before us. So get out of your comfort zone and visit nearby locations like a coffee shop, restaurant, your friend’s place or someplace new for filming your vlog.
8. Stay focused.
While shooting, record only what you have planned. In today’s information era, we all are bombarded with a lot of information at once. The best way to keep your audience hooked for the full span of the video is to keep your content concise.
9. Build a vlogging community.
Try to team up with other fellow vloggers. It will help you get recognition and new audience and will also broaden your horizons. One way of connecting with other people in your community is by commenting on vlogs that focus on topics similar to yours, subscribe to their YouTube channels, and invite other vloggers to collaborate with you.
10. Be consistent.
Be consistent with your postings. Accounts with regular posting schedules have a higher number of followers compared to those who post only once or twice a month. In order to ensure consistency, plan your month in advance and try to post at least one video per week.
11. Just Do It
Don’t overthink your videos too much! Just plan the things you can with proper research and dive in. You will learn and improve every day, but you have to be honest and dedicated to your goal.
Just like any other business, setting up a successful food vlogging account will take time. Try new recipes, learn new cuisines, mix-match techniques and come up with new ways to keep your audience engaged and further enhance your views. To be a successful food vlogger, you will need to be creative and open to learn new things as well as have good knowledge of food and cooking. If you’re a beginner, you should definitely try InVideo for creating your content.
Photo by Becca Tapert on Unsplash
