vlogging vs. blogging

So I finally get the hang of this blogging thing and I now find out that there are people out there vlogging? I had never even heard this term before this week and I just learned that this form of blogging, using video in place of or in addition to text, started in 2000 with Adam Kontras' launch of “The Journey” vlog which captured his experience moving to LA to break into show business. Kontras' vlog picked up a ton of interest and he secured a segment on The Early Show.

Since Kontras introduced this new form of communication, vloggers have been popping up all over the web. They have a conference, award ceremonies and a wide range of absurd concepts. Rolling Stone highlights the success of early blogs such as Ask a Ninja, "in which the host -in full Ninja garb - fields viewer questions.




While we all know that mommy blogging has already become extremely popular, in her blog, Marketing To Moms, expert Maria Bailey, predicts "Mom vloggers will outnumber mommy bloggers by the end of 2009, as moms begin to see the ease of distributing and consuming information through video." Her research shows that 82% of moms have watched 2 or more videos in the last week, versus 35% who have read blogs in the last week. To respond to this trend, in October 2008 Newbaby.com teamed up with Flip Video, to create a mommy vlogger network in which moms share video tips on all stages of parenting.

Especially due to my enthusiasm over the Flip, I'd be interested to see a rise in vlogging among moms but it seems there are just over 20 vloggers on newbaby.com, one on blip.tv, about 2000 results on YouTube for Mom Vlogs and a few more regular mommy vloggers online. I am not certain if Bailey's prediction was simply a PR stunt to promote New Baby or if she actually believes this is the next phase for tech savvy parents but, right now, vlogging does not seem to be even close to having the reach of mommy blogging.

I'll keep an eye out for mommy vlogs of note and, if nothing else, will certainly get a few kicks enjoy watching them try. This one who seems to be just getting started - I'm sure her daughter is thrilled!