Blogging or Vlogging (Which One’s Right For you?)

Blogging or Vlogging (or Both?)

Quick caveat: I hate being on camera, so I go faceless — and it’s absolutely doable with simple AI tools that we are s lucky to have (especially at my age). If you’re the same, you can still build an audience and earn. The real question isn’t “blogging or vlogging?” It’s: which one will you actually do every week — or are you happy to do both?

Blogging = typing in peace.
Vlogging = talking to a camera… or not, if you’re going faceless (like I am).

Both can work for affiliate income. Pick what you’ll keep up for the next 90 days.

What this looks like in real life (not theory)

My simple loop: write one useful post, then make a 45–60-second faceless Short that sums it up. You can screen-record, add a quick voiceover (clone your own voice with AI if you prefer – ElevenLabs is definitely the way forward for this geniussness), and edit at the kitchen table with a cheap clip-mic. No studio. No ring light. It’s fine — and it works.

That one-two punch gives me:

• A post that can rank for months if it actually solves a problem.

• A Short that builds trust faster than a paragraph ever will.

• Two natural places for one clear call-to-action, not five.

When my brain’s fried and I need topics or titles that suit faceless video, Tube Magic is ddefinitely my go to as it gets me unstuck so I actually publish. (A free alternative is YouTube’s own Creator Resources which is solid for basics.)

Blogging: the steady, quiet earner (especially if you’re camera-shy)

Blogging pays off because search compounding is real. Think of it as compound interest for content: one useful post brings a trickle; add a related post and a quick refresh, and the trickle becomes a steady stream — without you yelling on social. You own the post, you can update it, and you’re not waiting for a platform to show it to people.

How a beginner post actually makes money (without the hard sell):

• Pick one problem your reader genuinely has.

• Show the fix step-by-step. Screenshots help.

• Recommend the tool or training you actually use once where it naturally fits.

Examples:

• Balcony herbs keep dying

  • Problem: “My basil fries every summer.”

  • Fix (step-by-step): Bigger pot → drainage holes → morning water only → light feed every 2 weeks. Add a photo of week 1 vs week 4.

  • Natural mention: “Here’s the self-watering herb pot I use — stops the ‘oops I forgot to water’ drama.” (one link, once)

• Stiff lower back in the morning

  • Problem: “I wake up creaky and it ruins my walk.”

  • Fix (step-by-step): 5-minute routine: cat-cow ×10, glute bridge ×10, hip flexor stretch 30s/side. Add GIFs or short clips.

  • Natural mention: “I use a thicker yoga mat so my knees don’t complain.”

• Cooking for two on a tight schedule

  • Problem: “I’m shattered by 6pm and end up ordering in.”

  • Fix (step-by-step): 1 sheet-pan base each week → batch roast veg → rotate protein → portion and freeze. Add a screenshot of your meal plan.

  • Natural mention: “This simple slow cooker saves me on busy days,” plus link your free meal-plan template.

• Dog pulling on walks

  • Problem: “My shoulder’s had enough.”

  • Fix (step-by-step): Front-clip harness → short lead → mark-and-reward every 3 steps without pulling. Add a 30-sec demo clip.

  • Natural mention: “I use a front-clip harness; switched in 5 minutes and it made walks calmer.”

If you’re starting from scratch and need a simple, action-based system for list building while you learn,  my go-to is Master Affiliate Profits (MAP) because it was free to start and very hands-on instead of fluffy: literally has every angle you need in baby steps to get you on the move with your business online.

(If you prefer to read first? Google’s Search Central SEO Starter Guide is a useful non-sales primer from the source.)

If you’re torn between posting on platforms all day and building your own thing, I wrote this post which you might like to take a read on to help with your decision: Blog vs Social Media: 4 Reasons Why Your Blog Is a Business Asset.

Vlogging: faster trust, even without your face

People believe what they can see working — your screen, your hands, the result. That’s why faceless video still builds trust quickly. Full length (8-10 minute tutorials) or shorts and recommendations can push a new channel further than a new blog post in week one.

Faceless formats that don’t look weird:

• Screen recordings with your voiceover

• “Hands-only” unbox/setup shots (if you’re selling physical products)

• Text-on-screen with a simple voice track ( for digital or educational)

Keep your kit minimal: phone, clip-mic, daylight, and a basic editor. CapCut is easy and free; DaVinci Resolve is free if you want more control. For current monetisation rules and partner eligibility, check YouTube’s own page (they update this, so don’t rely on hearsay).

If you freeze on titles or hooks, I’ll repeat it: Tube Magic is handy for idea → hook → description so you publish, not procrastinate:

So… which should you pick?

Ask yourself:

• Which do you avoid less — writing or recording?

• How many hours can you give this week, realistically? Be honest with yoruself it will definitely save you time to start with. The worse thing I did when I first started out, was doing a bit of this and a bit of that – until i got into a rythm, then I branched out.

• What are you promoting?

  • Tools/tech? Show it on video, then write the blog for details and links.

  • Frameworks/strategy? Blog first; record a Short to point people to it.

If you’re stuck, do this today: pick one real question your audience asks, answer it in 900–1,100 words, then record a 60-second recap. Done.

Doing both without burning out (the small, boring system that works)

1. Write one post: problem → fix → next step.

2. Record one Short summarising it (faceless is fine).

3. Cross-link: embed the Short in the post; put the post link in the YouTube description and a pinned comment.

4. One clear CTA per piece. Keep it clean.

While you’re building the habit, like I mentioned earlier, I lean on MAP for the list-building workflow (link above). It keeps the moving parts sane while you focus on making things people actually want.

Final take

Pick the thing you’ll actually stick to for the next 90 days. If writing’s easier, get blogging. If showing is easier, get vlogging — faceless works. If you can manage both, run the post-plus-Short loop and stop overcomplicating it. Consistency beats fancy kit, every time.

Affiliate link awareness: See below for details.

💬 Over to You:

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