Video blogging (otherwise known as 'vlogging') could be for you if you have a lot to say but don't have the time or skill to write it in a blog. Speaking to an audience through short video clips is a great way to communicate ideas, can be highly entertaining and even thought provoking.

Just like blogs, originally vlogging was a video version of a diary however the concept has evolved to include anything from short comedy sketches to short format, fictional drama. Essentially the vlog is home made amateur content. Whatever you can capture on video, whether it be you speaking to camera or a whole group of your friends acting out a five minute drama could be considered vlogging.

You don't have to be a born entertainer to be a vlogger, you just have to have something interesting to say and a willingness to express your ideas on camera. You'd be surprised at just how many people will watch a video of you speaking to camera for five minutes.

In order to make a vlog you'll need (at minimum) a web camera, a microphone, a computer, video recording and editing software. Later on you may want to invest in a digital video camera however a web cam is cheap and great for anyone just starting. Be sure to check that you web cam can record at a minimum of 25 frames per second of live video with an image size of 320 x 240 pixels.

Note that recording video onto a computer requires a fairly fast processor and plenty of hard drive space. Most modern computers should be able to manage it but if you have an older system you may need to upgrade.

If you have a MicroSoft Windows based computer then you may already have MicroSoft's Movie Maker software (that comes with Windows). Movie Maker is more than capable of recording and editing video. Alternatively you can download free recording and editing software from the Internet or purchase one of the better video editing software packages.

It is beyond the scope of this article to step you through the process of actually filming your vlogs. Just consider that the simplest form of vlog is one continuous shot of you talking with no edits what so ever. When you get more confident with your editing software you can think about editing in different camera angles, adding titles, music, special effects and more. Keep your videos short...ten minutes max.

Vlogging isn't vlogging unless you show your videos to an audience. There are many sites that allow you to upload short videos but what you should look for is a site that

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