With 300 hours of video content uploaded every minute on YouTube, it’s certainly a creator’s go-to platform for sharing various types of video content, documenting their daily lives (with just the right balance of humdrum activities and thrilling adventures), sharing tips, tricks, advice, and simply connecting with their viewers.
Vlogging is one of the most popular niches in the world of YouTube. And we can certainly see the appeal – almost all of us are curious about other people’s lives, their travels, the food they eat, and the games they play.
This article will discuss a niche that’s becoming more and more popular as technology advances – tech vlogging. If you’ve never heard of this term before, there’s no need to worry. We will explain tech vlogging in great detail and hopefully inspire you to start your own tech vlogging channel.
Here’s what we’ll be covering in this article:
- What is tech vlogging
- Creating a YouTube channel
- Finding your niche and your story
- Filming your tech vlogs
- Editing your tech vlogs
- Promoting your YouTube channel
- Tech vlogging tips
- Three tech vloggers to inspire you
- Some tech vlog ideas
- FAQs
What Is Tech Vlogging?
Most of you reading this article probably know what vlogging is, but what about tech vlogging specifically?
To put it simply, tech vlogging is when you film technology-related videos, such as new phone releases, best camera equipment, and how to choose the right PC. Tech vlogs are usually sit-down videos where a YouTube creator discusses a certain product (or various products) and gives tips and recommendations based on their preferences.
It might seem like an easy task, but tech vlogging not only requires a lot of expertise and knowledge, but also investing time to research the market and niche, set up your channel, promote it to your audience, and everything else that comes with being a YouTube creator.
First things first, let’s briefly go over the topic of creating your channel.
Tech Vlogging Equipment
In order to create high-quality content, you need to carefully plan out the type of equipment you will invest in. There are plenty of accessories that can make your vlogging experience a lot easier, but if you’re on a budget and you don’t have extra money to invest in filming accessories, then here is the basic equipment you will need for tech vlogging.
Camera
It goes without saying that you need to purchase a great camera so that you can bump up the quality of your videos. From a viewer’s perspective, it’s always a more pleasant experience to watch videos in high-quality, so finding a camera that will do just that is the right place to start. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on a camera; there are plenty of affordable options out there. We have included a budget-friendly recommendation, as well as a more expensive one if you want to go all-out.
There are a few things you need to look for in a vlogging camera, like good optical image stabilization, image quality, and dim light performance.
If you’re on a tight budget, the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II is a great option. Not only is it relatively affordable compared to other cameras out there (it costs around $500 dollars), but it’s also beginner-friendly and it performs well in dim lighting. It offers 1080p quality, which might be a turn-off for some people, but overall it’s a great place to start from.
If you want to invest in a more expensive camera that will significantly improve the quality of your vlogs, then look no further than the Panasonic Lumix GH5. So, what makes the Lumix GH5 so great? Well, it offers 4K video quality, it supports dual memory cards, it has an LCD touchscreen that rotates and a 224-area autofocus, a splash and freezeproof design, and dual image stabilization. Not to mention, it’s extremely versatile and easy to use, especially for beginners.
Microphone
An external microphone might not be the first thing that pops in your head when you think of YouTube tech vloggers, but it’s certainly going to make things a lot easier for you.
The Blue Yeti USB Mic is a perfect choice if you want great audio. You have the option to choose between cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, and stereo. The signal to noise ratio is 100dB and it contains three condenser capsules. Overall, it’s a good option for beginners and tech vloggers who are on a budget.
A slightly more expensive recommendation, but still budget-friendly, is the Rode VideoMic Pro. It’s versatile and easy to navigate, and at the same time delivers amazing audio, so it’s great for both beginners and people who are more experienced with tech vlogging. The Rode VideoMic is battery-powered and it minimizes background noise, which is definitely a plus for vlogging.
Tripod
A tripod is another essential item that you might need if you want to become a tech vlogger. Of course, you could always get creative and use books or boxes as a replacement, but if you want to invest in one, here are a couple of options:
Manfrotto 190XPro4 is a popular option due to its operating height of 175 cm, it’s easy to use, and you can rotate it in various directions.
Vanguard VEO 2 204AB is a more affordable option. This tripod is lightweight, budget-friendly, and it reaches a height of 135 cm.
Benro Mach3 TMA28AHD2A is an exceptional choice if you are looking for a tripod that delivers. It reaches a height of 161 cm, it comes with a few accessories, and it’s easy to travel with.
Create a YouTube Channel
As you’re probably aware of, you need to have a channel in order to create tech vlogs. Creating a YouTube channel is an easy and straightforward process, and it can be done within a couple of minutes. If you want to know more about the topic, make sure you check out our ‘How to Start a Vlog and Become a YouTube Vlogger’ post where we discuss the subject in detail.
Make sure you read YouTube’s guidelines carefully before proceeding.
Find Your Niche and Define Your Story
Source: Daniel Sin
As you can probably guess by now, there are a couple of different types of tech vlogs on YouTube. Finding your own niche is an important step in creating your own channel and reaching a bigger audience.
Before we give you tips to help you find your niche, let’s go over why it’s important to do so.
Finding a niche and uploading videos that fit within that niche will help you attract viewers who are interested in a certain kind of content. When they subscribe to your channel, they will know what to expect from you in the future and will watch you religiously when you upload a new video.
This is not to say that you should never experiment with your content though. You have the freedom of uploading a few videos here and there that may not fit in your niche of choice, and it won’t be a problem for your viewers assuming you don’t do it very often. On the contrary, this might even help you attract viewers that wouldn’t have come across your channel otherwise.
That being said, here are a few tips on how to find your niche and define your story.
Think about the videos you enjoy watching the most within tech vlog channels. This will be your biggest clue as to what kind of videos you will enjoy filming the most, and that enthusiasm and passion will shine through in your videos, which your audience will certainly appreciate.
Think about your interests and hobbies. For instance, if you’ve been a fan of smartphones since you were a child, then your interest is a good indication of what kind of videos you might enjoy filming. Let your interests guide the direction of your channel, because the more you’re interested in a particular subject, the more likely it is that you have a lot of knowledge on it already.
Speaking of knowledge, also think about what areas you’re good at and what kind of expertise you have. The more you know about a certain topic, the more knowledgeable you will come across in your videos. This will make your videos highly informative, so people will become well versed in those topics simply from your videos.
Film Your Tech Vlogs
By now you’ve hopefully got the necessary equipment and found a niche that interests you, so it’s time to move on to the next step which is filming your tech vlogs.
Here are a few tips that will make the process of filming tech vlogs a little less intimidating:
Don’t be afraid of making a script. Writing down a few talking points will make it easier for you to elaborate on important topics and not stray too far away from the subject of your videos. This is not to say that you should stick to your script to a T – that will make your videos come across as robotic and disingenuous. Instead, create an outline of the things you want to talk about, and use it as a reminder.
Find the right lighting. Regardless of what kind of videos you film, lighting is crucial for a YouTuber. Make use of natural lighting during the day, and find the right artificial light for filming at night. If you’re filming outside, a good tip is to avoid direct sunlight and find a place where there’s enough shade and not a lot of noise.
Pay attention to your location. Location matters a great deal when it comes to sit-down videos. The ideal location is one where you have great lighting, and a minimalistic background that won’t distract the viewer, but one that also showcases your personality and uniqueness (you can add a few personal touches to get this effect).
Switch your camera placement every once in a while. Don’t be afraid to move your camera a few times and get new angles or shots. This will make for a more entertaining tech vlog.
Start with what you have. You don’t need to have thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment in order to become a tech vlogger. Working with what you have is a great place to start. Make use of whatever technology you have lying around and let your first couple of videos centre around that.
Be yourself. As much as you might be tired of hearing it, always be truthful to yourself and your personality in your videos. Even when the subject of your videos is technology, you can still let your quirks and personality traits shine through. By doing so, your viewers will be able to connect with you on a more personal level.
Edit Your Tech Vlog
You have all your footage at one place. Now what?
The next step is to edit that footage into a cohesive tech vlog.
Those of you who aren’t new to uploading YouTube videos probably already own editing software. If you don’t have one, you have the option of choosing between a myriad of free options. Some brands of laptops like Mac come with their own editing software. If you’d like to know more about the topic, make sure you check out our post about the best vlog editing software (both free and paid).
Here are a few tips that will be useful when editing your first few tech vlogs:
Practice makes perfect. Even if the edit of your first tech vlog is of subpar quality, don’t get discouraged. Very few people get the hang of editing on their first try. Experiment with the editing app and spend some time trying different things or watching tutorials on YouTube.
Source: Amy Landino
Keep it simple at the start. You don’t have to be too flashy and jumpy with your edits at the beginning. Doing so often has the opposite effect for the viewers and makes the vlog distracting and annoying. It’s better to go for simplicity at the beginning – you’ll always have the chance to show off your amazing editing skills further down the line.
Make smooth transitions. Make sure your transitions and sequences are smooth and not abrupt and all the clips are moving in the same direction. Harsh cuts disrupt the flow in your videos. In order to keep track of the movements in your video, some planning ahead is necessary, but the end result makes that extra time you invest in the video worthwhile.
Find great, royalty-free music. Good music instantly improves the quality of your videos. While you don’t want to overdo it when it comes to music, the right songs will keep your viewers entertained and engaged. If you aren’t sure whether a certain artist’s music is royalty-free or not, you always have the option of emailing them and asking for permission to include their music in your videos.
Keep learning. Try out new courses, tutorials, techniques, and templates you can incorporate in your videos. There’s always room for improvement and learning something different, and your viewers will appreciate the extra effort. Additionally, this newfound knowledge will keep you interested and invested when it comes to editing your videos, so if you’re hitting some sort of creator’s block, try learning something new and see what happens.
Promote Your Channel
The next step to becoming a successful tech vlogger is promoting your channel. At the end of the day, regardless of how informative and high-quality your content is, you still need to put that extra effort and promote your channel using some of the following tips.
Utilize and optimize SEO. The most important thing when it comes to promoting your channel is learning about SEO. If you do this correctly, your videos will show up in YouTube’s search results and rank higher. You will need to make your titles, descriptions, tags, and thumbnails SEO-friendly by adding popular keywords that are frequently searched on YouTube, but have little competition. If you’re new to SEO, certain apps like the Google Keyword Planner might be of help.
Do collabs. Let’s say there is a tech vlogger whose videos you particularly like. Why not reach out to them and make a collab video? If both of you upload a video on your channel featuring each other as contact creators, you will reach a larger audience, and because your channels have similar themes, many of their subscribers will likely subscribe to you as well. It’s by far one of the most fun and easiest ways to promote your channel.
Add your YouTube channel on your social media profiles and your email signature. Social media is a great tool for promoting your channel. Most people already have social media profiles, so all you need to do is add your channel to your profile description or email signature. By doing so, your friends and family will become acquainted with your channel without you having to message all of them separately. Another tip is to link your social media on your channel, so your subscribers can follow you across multiple platforms. Don’t forget to share your videos on social media once you upload them.
Make playlists. Playlists are another great way to promote your channel. They help your viewers find your videos more easily, and help you by increasing your video views. Make sure the playlists are organized and all the videos are related to each other.
Remind your viewers to like and subscribe. Many people forget to hit the subscribe button and like a video, so you can remind them to do so at the beginning or end of your vlogs.
More Tech Vlogging Tips
Source: Patrick Tomasso
Experiment with angles. There are plenty of angles you can try filming from that will undoubtedly keep your viewers entertained. Maybe do one video from a POV (point of view) angle, or a bird’s eye view angle. This will give you a chance to experiment with your editing techniques and spice up the editing in your videos. Not to mention, you will have so much fun while filming!
Get inspired. At the beginning of your YouTube journey, don’t be afraid to get inspired by a fellow tech vlogger. This is not to say that you should copy their style or techniques, but instead implement specific things you enjoy about their videos in your own vlogs and make them your own.
Be consistent. Successful channels have one thing in common: upload frequency. Creating a schedule is the best way to keep track of your upload days. Announce your uploading schedule to your viewers so they will know when to expect a vlog from you. By doing that, your audience will remain engaged and interested in your content. YouTube rewards channels that upload frequently by recommending their videos to others, so staying consistent with your uploads is crucial both for your channel’s sake and your audience’s interest.
Quality over quantity. Although remaining consistent is crucial, you should never upload subpar content for the sake of uploading frequently. Focus on uploading high-quality content that is both fun and informative, but at the same time do your best to avoid the trap of perfectionism.
The Three Best Tech Vloggers to Inspire You
If you want to get inspired but don’t know where to start, we’re here to help. Although there are plenty of tech vloggers worth mentioning, we have selected three tech vloggers to recommend to you in the hopes of getting you inspired to create some content.
So, in no particular order, here are three great tech vloggers you should definitely subscribe to.
Tech Vlogger No.1: iJustine
It wouldn’t be a complete list of tech vloggers without iJustine. She is arguably among the first, if not the first tech vlogger on YouTube, and has been uploading videos since 2006! She has over 6 million subscribers and she regularly uploads content even to this day. Her videos consist of reviews, tutorials, and tips that will help you get started.
Source: iJustine
Tech Vlogger No.2: Marques Brownlee
Marques Brownlee is another successful tech vlogger with over 11 million subscribers. His videos are highly informative and perfectly shot. Marques uploads videos consistently to his channel and includes a wide range of topics like first impressions, tech reviews, and upcoming releases.
Source: Marques Brownlee
Tech Vlogger No.3: Estefannie Explains It All
Estefannie is a tech vlogger with a degree in computer science, and her mission is to spread her knowledge and help her viewers. She is known for simplifying difficult tech topics, which is certainly useful if you want to learn more about engineering and coding but don’t know where to start. Her videos consist of reviews, tutorials, and unboxings. She’s definitely the tech vlogger to follow.
Source: Estefannie Explains It All
Tech Vlog Ideas
If you’re on the lookout for ideas about what kind of tech vlogs to film, we have compiled a list of popular vlog ideas that are bound to make filming tech vlogs a lot easier.
Reviews. Perhaps the most obvious example of tech vlog ideas, reviews are not only straightforward and pretty easy to make, but they also open up possibilities for sponsorships and collaborations. And, what’s more, your viewers will find them particularly helpful if they’re undecided about a certain product.
Unboxing / Reaction videos. When a new tech product comes out, your audience will want to know your reaction about it. And what better way to show them how you feel about a certain product than making a reaction or unboxing video where you showcase opening the product for the first time and share your impressions.
Educational videos. If you’re an expert on a certain topic, make use of your knowledge and create a dedicated video on a certain topic that you believe will help your viewers.
Recommendation/ Favourites videos. Share your favourite products with your audience, like favourite Android/Apple products, favourite tech tools and apps, or courses.
New releases. When you’re excited about a new product coming out, why not share your enthusiasm with your audience and make a video about it?
FAQs
As a YouTube tech vlogger, there are a couple of ways you can make money. The first and perhaps the easiest way is to monetize your videos. In order to do that, you will need to become a YouTube partner first (which will allow you to insert ads in your videos and monetize them) and earn money when your viewers watch ads on your channel. Another great way to earn money as a YouTuber is to collaborate with companies and make sponsored videos. Affiliate links are also an amazing way to make money on YouTube.
If you’re a beginner tech vlogger, it’s easy to get intimidated by all the filming accessories out there. But there’s no need to panic, even if you’re on a tight budget. When you’re starting out, you need to invest in three crucial pieces of equipment: a camera, a mic, and a tripod.
Most YouTubers use professional cameras to record their vlogs. That being said, some prefer to use their smartphones when walking around in public or travelling, simply because they’re easier to carry around. If you’d like to know more, check out our article titled “What Camera Do Famous YouTubers Use”.
Last update on 2024-11-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. Our editors may earn a small commission if products are purchased via our external partner links.