Blog or YouTube: Which Should You Start First?

Last Updated November 12, 2024

Blog or YouTube: Which Should You Start First?

Deciding between launching a blog or a YouTube channel is a problem many content creators face. With over a decade of experience navigating both platforms, we understand the intricacies involved in making this choice.

In the world of online content, the question of “blog vs YouTube” surfaces frequently. So exploring both paths is crucial to determine what suits your goals best.

Why Do YouTube?

YouTube, being the second-largest search engine globally, offers an unparalleled discovery platform. For those who aren’t afraid to step in front of the camera, YouTube provides a real, raw, and authentic way to connect with your audience.

It’s not just about being seen; it’s about being heard, sharing your insights, and engaging with viewers on a personal level.

For those with talents or expertise that benefit from visual demonstration, YouTube stands out. Whether it’s in the realm of DIY, cooking, or photography, showing rather than telling can make a significant impact.

Do You Have the Camera Confidence?

If the answer is yes, or even a hesitant maybe, leaning towards YouTube could be your calling. Being on camera comes naturally to some, but for many, it’s a skill honed over time.

Andy Feliciotti in front of camera setup

Concerns about not being “good enough” should not deter you. All successful YouTubers start from humble beginnings so it’s important to just start creating!

Starting a YouTube Channel

Starting a YouTube channel might seem daunting, but with the right approach, you can simplify the process and get comfortable quickly.

Begin by defining your niche—what topics are you passionate about or knowledgeable in? This focus helps attract viewers who share your interests. Next, plan a few video ideas around your niche, aiming for content that adds value, whether by entertaining, educating, or inspiring.

After that, you can easily create a channel with a Google account. Consider coming up with a clever name or simply use your own name, depending on the style you want.

On the technical side, don’t worry about having the best equipment right away. An iPhone or smartphone with good lighting, ideally natural light, can be more than enough to begin. Focus on clear audio, as viewers are more forgiving of video quality than poor sound.

As you film, be yourself! Authenticity resonates with audiences more than perfection. Practice makes perfect, so even if your first few videos aren’t flawless, they’re essential steps toward improvement.

Why Consider Blogging?

In contrast, blogs thrive on written content, an evergreen method of communication that continues to hold its ground. AI has simplified content creation, with tools we’ve built at RightBlogger empowering more individuals to dive into blogging with AI content creation tool.

The Power of Written Words

Blogs offer a unique way to articulate thoughts, share knowledge, and influence in a detailed and structured format. For those who prefer the written word or whose content leans towards in-depth explanations, a traditional blog may be the way to go.

Blogger Ryan Robinson working on his laptop

Diversifying Content Creation

Interestingly, the divide between blogging and YouTube isn’t as wide as it seems. The introduction of tools like the YouTube to blog post generator bridges this gap, enabling content creators to repurpose video content into engaging blog posts. This synergy allows for a broader content strategy, leveraging the strengths of both video and text.

Starting a Blog

Like we’ve just gone over starting a blog is an excellent way to share your knowledge, ideas, and experiences through the written word. The good news? It’s easier than ever to get up and running with a blog. The first step is choosing a topic or niche that interests you and aligns with your goals. Ask yourself: What do I want to write about consistently? What can I offer readers that’s unique?

Once you have a topic in mind, follow a guide like this one Ryan wrote that covers all the essentials, from setting up a domain and hosting to choosing a platform like WordPress. This guide walks you through the technical steps and offers tips on branding and content strategy to help your blog stand out.

Don’t worry about writing perfectly from the start. The key is to publish regularly and learn as you go. With every post, you’ll get better at connecting with your audience, crafting valuable content, and optimizing for search engines. The most important part is to start—over time, your blog will grow and become a powerful tool for reaching your audience.

Blending the Best of Both

Embracing both platforms does not mean doubling the workload but rather maximizing the content’s reach and versatility. Starting with video content and repurposing it for your blog can enhance SEO, expand your audience, and build a more dynamic online presence.

While the initial focus might lean towards one medium, developing skills for both video and written content is beneficial. Viewing on-camera performance as a muscle to be strengthened over time can transform hesitant speakers into confident creators.

One common hurdle in starting a YouTube channel is the fear of judgment, especially from friends and family.

However, as your audience grows, their opinions become less relevant. The focus should be on appealing to those genuinely interested in your content, thus building a community around your niche.

Conclusion

In the “blog vs YouTube” debate, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The choice hinges on personal preferences, skills, and the nature of the content you wish to share.

Whether it’s through the lens of a camera or a keyboard, authenticity and value should guide your journey. For those inclined to explore both avenues, the use of our video-to-blog repurposing tools offers a promising strategy to diversify content and harness the strengths of each platform.

Start where you’re most comfortable, but don’t shy away from experimenting and growing your skills across mediums. The world of content creation is vast, with room for every creator to carve out their niche.

So go ahead, make your mark, whether through compelling blog posts, engaging YouTube videos, or a blend of both.

How do I decide if I should start with a blog or a YouTube channel first?

Start by asking which format feels easier for you to create every week: writing or talking to a camera. If you enjoy writing and like explaining ideas in detail, a blog is a great first step. If you like teaching, showing tutorials, or feel excited about video, YouTube may be better.

Also look at your topic. If your niche needs visuals, like cooking, DIY, or photography, YouTube can help people see what you mean. If your niche is more about deep guides, lists, or research, a blog is often the better foundation.

You do not have to lock yourself into one forever. Many creators start with the platform that feels more natural, then add the other later once they have a workflow and audience.

Over time, using both can give you the best of search traffic from Google and discovery from YouTube, which helps you grow faster with the same ideas used in multiple ways.

Which makes money faster: a blog or a YouTube channel?

Neither blogs nor YouTube have a guaranteed “faster” income path. In both cases, you need time to build trust, traffic, and a focused niche before you see real earnings.

Blogs often get income from affiliate links, digital products, or services. You can start adding these even when your traffic is small, as long as your content is helpful and targeted.

YouTube income often starts with affiliate links and brand deals before ad revenue becomes meaningful. You need enough views and watch time to qualify for the YouTube Partner Program.

The fastest path for most people is to pick one platform, stay consistent, and make content that solves real problems. Later, you can repurpose that content across platforms to reach more people without starting from zero each time.

Can I use both a blog and a YouTube channel without doubling my workload?

Yes, you can use one main format, then repurpose that content to the other format to save time. For example, you can film a YouTube video, then turn the script and key points into a blog post.

RightBlogger has a YouTube to blog post tool that helps you turn your videos into written posts much faster. This lets you capture both YouTube viewers and Google search visitors from the same ideas.

You can also start from a blog post and turn it into video scripts using Blog post to YouTube. That makes it easier to show up in both Google and YouTube search without creating everything from scratch.

If you want more ideas for what to repurpose next, you can read about smart content repurposing workflows so each piece of content works harder for you.

How can RightBlogger help me stay consistent with blogging or YouTube content?

RightBlogger can help you stay consistent by handling a lot of the hard planning and writing work. You can use Blog post ideas or YouTube video ideas to quickly brainstorm topics for your niche, so you are never stuck staring at a blank page.

Once you have topics, the AI Article Writer can help you draft full blog posts, which you can then edit in your own voice. This saves hours of writing time and makes it easier to publish on a regular schedule.

If you want your content to be more search friendly, RightBlogger’s SEO reports and auto optimization tools can help you improve titles, headings, and keywords. That way the content you create keeps working for you in search over time.

As you grow, features like autoblogging and scheduling can put parts of your content workflow on autopilot, so you can focus more on ideas and videos, not only on the tech and setup.