Vlog Storytelling is the key.

I remember when I first listened to an interview from Brian on Sailing SV Delos (the bees’ knees of sailing YouTube channels!). He said, “Story is King“. This was a sentiment I heard numerous times, which led me to deep dive into vlog storytelling methods.

I dreamed of mastering vlog storytelling, growing a huge channel, and one day able to have the amazing experiences I saw them doing. Everybody loved Delos! Everyone wanted to be their friends were offering them incredible experiences and giving them random gifts. What a life!

A few spreadsheets calculating how long it would take, several videos, and 6 months later, I was just getting monetised on YouTube and starting my Patreon. I was on my way!

Except I wasn’t…

As many of you know, it was about that time that my partner got diagnosed with a life-threatening medical issue that forced us to sell our boat and switch to land life. He opted to leave the channel, and everything crashed and burned.

But I was hooked on the dream, as many of you also are! I couldn’t let go of the idea that I could one day be financially thriving from my vlog, full-time adventuring and having amazing experiences!

Learning Vlog Storytelling

So, I set to studying. I studied all the biggest creators, listened to every podcast and read every book. While I knew vlog storytelling was one of the keys to growth, at this point in time, I was still wasting my time with distractions: trends, AI, graphics, and fancy editing.

Not growing, frustrated and ready to give up, in one day, I hired a consultant to review my channel, paid $2,000 NZD to be a part of Jay Clouse’s creator community, and another $300 NZD to join George Blackman’s scriptwriting community.

INTIMIDATING is not the right word. After going into these communities and talking with the consultant, it took me another month to be able to go back into them. I felt like an imposter amongst some of the world’s best vlog storytellers. Some of these people had millions of views per video.

But if I felt intimidated, I knew I would learn.

So I put my big girl pants on and embraced the groups.

This is when it all started to “click” for me. The CORE of what made these creators great were the basics: a good overarching story, good visual storytelling, simple and clear packaging, and intros which visually and verbally confirmed the promise of their packaging. Nothing else.

*group sigh*

Yes Daniella (that’s my name by the way)… we know these are important, you’ve told us a million times, BUT HOW???

Back to the Basics

Here’s the funny thing about all these elements: the one skill you need to be able to confidentially execute the other skills is solid vlog storytelling. If you can’t tell a good story, you can’t do the rest.

That’s because storytelling requires a clarity of the vlog’s goal. That clarity spreads to knowing exactly how you need to introduce the episode and exactly how you need to sell the episode. Without that clarity of goal, the episode will be a mishmash of sorts.

Let me give you a common example I see:

You arrive at a new location. You want to show your audience where you’re at. So, you introduce your vlog, and you say, “We’re going to show you some beautiful beaches.”

Boom, you lost me. You have no goal. You’re just going to show me a bunch of beaches, but I live in New Zealand where we’ve got the best beaches in the world! Why should I watch your video?

You might say, “Well I’ve got a goal! It’s to show you the beautiful beaches! How is that not a goal?!”

To which I will say, “Because why?”

You might respond, “Because this XYZ area has got some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.”

Okay, “But because why?” You might say, “Well I’m not sure….”

Boom – you have a video goal: to find out “What makes this place have the most beautiful beaches in the world?”

If you want an example of this done perfectly, watch this episode by Kristina’s Travels.​

Alternatively, you may have answered, “Because why?” with, “Well this is the last time we’ll see beautiful beaches.”

Nudging a bit more, I ask again, “Because why?”

You respond, “Well, winter is about to set in, and we’ll have to stay put in a marina until next season.”

Suddenly, you have a vlog goal to, “Enjoy the last of the summer sailing season.”

That clarity of your goal gives you the information you need to get your audience invested – the “why does this matter?” is key to getting and retaining their interest!

I will keep repeating this until my heart stops working – at the heart of a good YouTube channel, is having a solid grasp on vlog storytelling. And at the heart of good storytelling is having a clear goal for each vlog.

When you find yourself stuck, ask yourself, “Because why?” as many times as you need to get to a good video goal.

And maybe ask yourself that same question when you’re stuck doubting yourself and not just putting out the video. That dream life I spoke about – it’s available to you. Keep going.

Happy Creating & Stay Curious!