If you haven’t read the first two blog posts on my “struggle with social media”, please go ahead and do that now — or ignore my advice and proceed without peril.
While it was obvious to me what topic Project T-POD was going to be about, I simply followed my passion, I wasn’t quite sure if to start it as a Podcast, a blog, or as a YouTube channel.
So after spending a few hours browsing the web, I will lay out what I believe are the main pros and cons of each and why I ultimately decided to do all three.
The Pros of Blogging
Easy to start. Blogging is rather straightforward. Most of us have experience in writing in one form or another; we have turned in a few papers and essays in high-school and maybe even University or College over the years. We also probably all know what a blog is.
Easier to stay anonymous. Not all of us want our faces on the net for a wide range of reasons. We may hold a job we don’t want to jeopardize or are simply camera shy. It is rather simple to stay anonymous when you blog.
Can blog from anywhere. All you need is a laptop and an internet connection.
Easier to update and invigorate old content. If you have an old post that is doing well but is slightly out of date it is relatively straightforward to update it or invigorate it with newer content.
Can have an online store. If you sell products online you can do so on your blog. This can be done for digital and non-digital products.
Blogs are low cost. A domain name and some hosting or simply free blogging on WordPress.com or other alternative blogging sites. No fancy equipment necessary.
The Cons of Blogging
Not very personal. It is hard to build personal relationships with readers on a blog and requires a great writing talent.
No push notifications. There is currently no good push system to notify readers that there are new posts or content on a blog.
You need to generate traffic. The internet is full of millions of blogs and websites; and is extremely competitive. You need to do all the work in order to generate traffic, be it through the use of Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, or other online tools.
Ads on blogs pay very poorly compared to YouTube. If you rely on ads to make money you will need to create a lot of traffic to sustain yourself.
More back-end work. On most platforms you have to manage the back-end of your blog. That includes updating the software, themes, and widgets; being in charge of hosting, email lists, and a variety of other tasks.
Blogging is dead. At least some people strongly believe so. I guess I will find out…
The Pros of Youtubing
Very personal. Makes it much easier to build personal relationships with your viewers (which could also be a con for some).
Push notifications. YouTube allows your subscribers to be notified of your new content.
YouTube wants to send you traffic. YouTube makes money by keeping viewers on their channel and serving them ads. If your viewers watch your content YouTube will suggest your videos to other similar viewers. In most cases, it is much easier to build up a following than on a blog.
YouTube ads pay reasonably well. YouTube ads generally pay much better than Google AdSense. For some channels and some type of content this can be very lucrative.
The Cons of Youtubing
Not your platform. You have no control of the platform and can be taken down at any time without retaining any of your videos or subscribers.
Videography is tough. Only a small minority of us have experience of composing video shots or operating a video camera. This means learning about shutter speed, aperture, the rule of thirds, and other concepts. Not rocket science, but one more obstacle to overcome.
Gear. There’s no way around it — at a minimum you need a camera or a very good smartphone. Based on the type of channel you plan to launch you may need a tripod, lenses, filters, lights, microphones, green screens, memory cards, and other equipment.
Location. If the only quiet place in your house is the bathroom, you’re in trouble.
You need to be presentable. You can blog in your underwear. You need to get ready and be presentable for each YouTube video.
Can be very time consuming. Depending on your content this can be a real issue. While this may not be the case for simple vlogs or for gaming channels, for some channels the filming and editing process can be quite time consuming.
The Pros of Podcasting
Lengthy Audience Attention. People are listening to podcast episodes that exceed an hour on a regular basis. Some podcast episodes I listen to are over three hours long!
Less gear needed than for creating video. All you need is a quiet echo-free space and a good microphone.
No one can see you. Unlike video, no one can see you. You don’t have to worry about what you look like.
The Cons of Podcasting
You will need a hosting service. Although, technically, you can self-host, you will probably end up using a hosting service.
Editing is a lengthy process. You will need to learn how to edit audio. Based on your content and podcast this can be very time-consuming.
Location. If the only quiet place in your house is the bathroom, you’re in trouble.
You need to generate traffic. There are millions of podcasts out there and the search function is not stellar, to say the least. You will need to do all the work in order to generate traffic, at least initially.
Why I am Starting All Three in 2023
My content is highly scripted. The content on T-POD is very scripted. A typical episode requires quite a bit of research and scripting resulting in content that can be repurposed as a podcast episode or a blog post within a few minutes.
My Target Audience. After looking at the competitive landscape for T-POD, I saw that my target audience seems to be consuming the relevant content through all of these channels.
Enjoying all worlds. The blog, Podcast, and YouTube channel supplement each other. I can use the advantages of each of the platforms to create multiple traffic and revenue streams.
Caveat Emptor
Keep in mind, I have no idea what I am doing, if this will work for my project, let alone if it will work for you. This post does not constitute professional advice; but merely an introduction to what I will be attempting to do. Stay tuned to learn from my mistakes…
Click on the following links for more specific info on my Blogging Progress, Podcasting Progress, and YouTube Progress. Perhaps, when the time is right, I will also document my process on a Zen Against The Machine YouTube channel.