A few years ago, online video was the hottest trend for content publishers. Everyone was creating YouTube channels and taking their blogs or websites to the leading user-generated video site. The rise of video blogging (vlogging) had begun.As new hot trends like mobile, Instagram, and Snapchat grew in popularity, online video kept chugging along, but vlogging was no longer the "it" thing for content publishers. However, that doesn't mean that vlogging is dead. In fact, a report from GlobalWebIndex indicates that exactly the opposite is happening.

Vlogging in 2014

According to data analyzed by GlobalWebIndex, two out of three internet users (65%) have watched a vlog, and more than two in five internet users (42%) have watched a vlog within the last month. Clearly, vlogging is alive and doing very well.One of the most interesting findings reported by GlobalWebIndex is the demographic breakdown of vlog viewers by gender. Five years ago, men were far more likely to watch online video content than women. In 2014, GlobalWebIndex reports that 40% of female internet users and 43% of male internet users watched vlogs. The online video gender gap is closing.Furthermore, vlogs aren't just for the young anymore. GlobalWebIndex discovered that while younger internet users are still far more likely to watch vlogs than older users, the gap between younger and older vlog viewers isn't as big as it used to be. Here is the breakdown identified in the study:

• 16 to 24 years old: 50% watch vlogs
• 25 to 34 years old: 50% watch vlogs
• 35 to 44 years old: 40% watch vlogs
• 45 to 54 years old: 26% watch vlogs
• 55 to 64 years old: 15% watch vlogs

Finally, GlobalWebIndex reported the breakdown of vlog viewers by income group. These results might surprise you. The wealthiest internet users are the most likely people to watch vlogs. The study found that 49% of internet users in the top 25% income group watch vlogs while just 44% of internet users in the mid 50% income group watch vlogs and only 43% of the internet users in the bottom 25% income group watch vlogs.

The Takeaway

Vlogging is a great way to expand the reach of your content to wider audiences. Remember, not everyone wants to read blog content but they might want to get the information you publish in video or audio (as a podcast).Vlogging is alive and well with viewers from all age groups, genders, and income groups. In 2014, the idea of a "YouTube star" became a common reality, so don't be surprised to see more vloggers enter the scene in 2015. Will you be one of them?Image: Lisa Padilla licensed CC BY 2.0