Chapter 12: Blogs, Vlogs, Podcasts, and Webinars

After reading Chapter 12 on Blogs, Vlogs, Podcasts, and Webinars, my knowledge of these different forms of content creation has expanded further than it already was. All of the different forms were interesting to me, but the one that hit home for me the most was Vlogs and Podcasts. Growing up I've always watched vlogs ever since I have had a phone and social media. To this day, I tend to watch at least one per day of some of my favorite influencers and content creators. Whether it's a day in the life, behind the scenes, or prank vlog, these videos provide a great insight into their lives and are very entertaining to me. Additionally, I enjoy listening to podcasts and have really started to become more of an avid fan of them over the past 2 years. I have liked seeing the growth of celebrities, athletes, and influencers, starting podcasts and allowing us to get a glimpse of their personal lives.

Vlogs first became relevant in the early 2000s, but it was not until the launch of YouTube in 2005 that things took off. Vlogs have remained one of the most popular types of videos and content consumed over the years, with 44% of all internet users admitting to watching vlogs every month. Again, this is largely credited to YouTube for allowing content to be easy to access and very convenient. I watch a vlog every day, before bed or while eating, they provide great and quick entertainment.

Podcasts have become especially popular over the past few years, with 62% of the U.S. population stating they have listened to a podcast. The reason behind their popularity is because their considered "sticky content", which means the content holds consumers attention for longer periods of time, with 80% of listeners staying to hear most of an episode of all of it. I will listen to podcasts during a variety of situations and activities. I tend to listen to them when I am on long car rides, mowing the lawn, or getting ready for a game. My favorite types of podcasts are professional development, sports-related, and ted-talk podcasts.

Overall, these different types of content creation have provided an outlet for people of any status to let others get a behind-the-scenes look into how they go about and live their lives day to day. They are all very beneficial to me and I can't imagine a life where they weren't a thing!