Blogging VS Vlogging: Which One is Better for Artists?

Blogging VS Vlogging

Regardless of how incredible your work, all artists have to operate as a business to generate a steady income. In this modern era, having an online presence is a must. 

With limited resources and lofty goals, many artists are left wondering whether that online presence should include a blog or vlog. Here are the pros and cons of each to help you find the best way to grow an audience and sell your work.

Note: This is a guest post by Wendy Dessler. You can read more about Wendy at the end of this post.

Pros of Blogging

Blogging consists of written content in the form of articles, long-form posts, listicles, and brief blurbs. Blogs have long been a core traffic driver on websites and are a foundational piece of the content marketing puzzle.

The main benefits of blogging include:

Boosts SEO

SEO (search engine optimization) refers to the algorithm and site features that search engines use to rank your website. It’s the bread and butter of digital marketing. 

How do blogs fit into SEO? 

When ranking a page, Google analyzes the relevance of a website based on keywords found in the content, how frequently the site is updated and backlinks to the site from other pages. Blogs are where this action happens. Bloggers like Today With Jay are transparent about this process and have helpful analytics to showcase SEO over time. 

If your website is going to be a key driver in selling your art, a blog is a must.

Capturing Leads

Having a blog creates an easy way to capture leads and build a sales funnel. This usually takes place by encouraging a visitor to the site to share their email address in return for a discount or value-added item. As an artist, you could add a small print in with each purchase or access to a free tutorial.

With vlogging, capturing leads can be more challenging.

Cons of Blogging

While a blog is a powerful tool for generating traffic and building an audience, consistency, and dedication to keyword research are key. This isn’t sustainable for all artists, leading to the main downside of blogging.

Time-Consuming

Blogging takes a lot of time. Planning content, writing, and editing are time-consuming activities. Throw in the SEO and keyword research, and you’ve got a full-time job. While you can outsource this service, it’s not always financially feasible for artists who are just starting out. 

Pros of Vlogging

Vlogging seems to make sense for many artists, who often choose to connect with their audience via social media. Here are some of the main benefits of vlogging.

Easy to Produce Content

Vlogging was once deemed inaccessible to many, thanks to high video production costs. Now, even celebrities and corporate magnates make high-quality videos from their phones. The rise of TikTok and live-streaming have revolutionized video marketing. If an eight-year-old on YouTube can become a millionaire, so can you.

Visual for Artists

The most compelling reason for artists to consider using vlogging is the visual aspect of this medium. Artists have an opportunity to show their work from different angles, as well as compelling behind-the-scenes details.

High Shareability

Unlike blogs, videos have higher shareability and require less work from the audience. Videos are quick and easy to digest and can be broken into segments for social media shares. 

Cons of Vlogging

While vlogging might seem like a clear winner for artists, there are downsides to everything. 

Editing and Quality

It can take time to learn the nuances of vlogging. You might spend hours editing a video that ends up being five minutes long. Furthermore, your phone will only take you so far in terms of quality. 

Editing is also more challenging with a published video as opposed to a published blog. With a blog, you can pop in and make a couple of changes without losing traction. With a video, you often have to delete and reload, losing your likes and SEO.

How to Choose Blogging VS Vlogging

Only you can decide whether blogging or vlogging is better for your art business. Outline your goals, and don’t hesitate to try a combination.

Wendy Dessler is a super-connector with Outreachmama who helps businesses find their audience online through outreach, partnerships, and networking. She frequently writes about the latest advancements in digital marketing and focuses her efforts on developing customized blogger outreach plans depending on the industry and competition.

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