In the ever-changing world of YouTube, staying relevant means adapting to new trends and techniques. Gone are the days when vlogging meant showing your entire day from sunrise to sunset. If you’re still vlogging like it’s 2019, you’re bound to get left behind.
Sam Solik is one example of a vlogger who epitomizes this new wave of vlogging, effortlessly creating engaging content. His relaxed, conversational style hides the fact that he’s using a highly effective strategy to generate more views and grow his channel. In just six months, his channel has gained more subscribers and views than it did in the previous ten years. How? By using a new approach to vlogging.
Let’s dive into what this new style entails and why traditional vlogging is no longer enough.
The Evolution of Vlogging: From 2010 to 2020
Vlogging began as a behind-the-scenes extension of more structured content. For instance, beauty gurus like Benji Travis’ wife, Judy, who started as a makeup and beauty content creator, began incorporating more personal content as her audience wanted to know more about her life beyond makeup tutorials. In 2010, this led to daily vlogging, where creators would record their entire day and find ways to make it entertaining, often incorporating elaborate production elements like drone shots and exotic travel.
By 2012, daily vlogging became a niche in itself, with creators like Casey Neistat bringing the style mainstream. But the high production requirements and burnout eventually caught up with many creators, including Neistat. As more and more creators abandoned daily vlogging, Benji Travis and his wife continued to stay consistent, adapting to the changing landscape.
The New Style of Vlogging: What’s Changed?
Fast forward to 2020, the demand for vlogging changed. Viewers wanted longer, more relaxed content that allowed them to connect more personally with creators. As Benji observed, people were yearning for a new type of content that didn’t require an all-day recording marathon. This new wave of vlogging focuses on one topic or takeaway per video, making it easier for both creators and audiences.
This new approach harnesses the power of search and suggestion, two important factors in how YouTube’s algorithm works. The key to success in this new style of vlogging lies in being focused and ranking for specific topics, rather than just showing your entire day.
The 3 T’s of Successful Vlogging
Benji Travis developed a simple framework he calls the “Three T’s” to create vlogs that get views:
- Topic – Focus on a clear, concise topic for each vlog. This makes it easier for the audience to understand what the video is about and helps with search rankings.
- Title – Create a title that reflects the main topic and aligns with what viewers are searching for.
- Thumbnail – Design an engaging thumbnail that grabs attention and matches the topic.
By following these three elements, creators can attract more viewers and rank higher in searches, even if they are new to vlogging.
The Difference Between Old and New Vlogging
The old style of vlogging required creators to record their entire day, sometimes forcing them to make their day seem more entertaining for the sake of the vlog. This led to burnout and unsustainable content creation. Creators had to rely on having a large audience already, with each video often involving hours of editing, elaborate setups, and sometimes expensive trips.
The new style of vlogging is topic-driven. Benji Travis explains that rather than filming an entire day, vloggers now focus on just one event or idea. For example, instead of showing his whole day, Benji might focus solely on cooking a recipe or shopping at a grocery store. By narrowing the focus, vlogs are shorter, more engaging, and easier to produce. This approach not only reduces the workload for creators but also helps their videos perform better on YouTube.
Vlogging with Purpose: Benji’s Success Story
After observing this shift, Benji decided to experiment with this new style. In December 2020, he committed to 30 days of vlogging, each video focusing on one topic. His channel, BenjiManTV, had been dormant since 2019 but was quickly revived with this approach. Focusing on topics like “What’s Inside a Business Costco” allowed him to capitalize on search-driven content, and in just six months, his channel saw more views, more subscribers, and more monetization than it had in the previous ten years.
Benji credits this success to focusing on a single topic per video and using search-driven titles. For example, his Costco video, “What’s Inside a Business Costco,” ranks highly for Costco-related searches and still attracts hundreds of views per hour, months after being uploaded. This proves that by narrowing the focus, creators can reach new audiences and grow their channels much faster than through traditional vlogging methods.
Why New Vloggers Should Use This Strategy
If you’re a new or aspiring vlogger, this new style of vlogging offers an opportunity to start growing your channel without needing a massive audience or expensive production. By focusing on niche topics and creating videos that are search-optimized, even small creators can see significant growth. Benji also highlights how new creators can benefit from YouTube’s suggestion algorithm. According to a recent survey, 7 out of 10 viewers discover new creators through suggested content related to niche topics they’re already interested in.
This means that by creating videos around focused topics, even new vloggers can get their content suggested alongside more established creators. This approach levels the playing field and offers a path to growth for anyone willing to follow the new rules of vlogging.
Conclusion: Adapt or Get Left Behind
The old way of vlogging is no longer effective in today’s fast-paced, content-saturated environment. If you’re still vlogging like it’s 2019, it’s time to adapt. The new style of vlogging is all about focusing on one topic, optimizing for search, and creating content that YouTube’s algorithm can easily suggest to viewers. Whether you’re an established vlogger or just starting, adopting this approach will help you grow your channel and connect with your audience in a more meaningful way.
By following the framework of the Three T’s—topic, title, and thumbnail—you can set yourself up for success and keep your content relevant in the ever-evolving world of YouTube.
Read More: Understanding YouTube’s 3-Minute Shorts: What Creators Need to Know