Author: Akemi Trinindad

In the last few years, video content has been a leading source of information next to blogs and infographics. Many advertisers also mentioned that an effective video can lead up to 80% in sales. Apart from video content that is widely consumed on the internet, making things pop or being different from normal video-on-demand (VOD) is a trend for most content creators and other marketing professionals.

The growing popularity of video content (VC), most professionals can say that content marketing has become an integral part of any company’s marketing mix. And that video and live content are one of the trends that we cannot neglect.

Aside from blogs, VC has a steady viewer base compared to other forms of content on the internet.

In the last few years, video content has been a leading source of information next to blogs and infographics. Many advertisers also mentioned that an effective video can lead up to 80% in sales. These days, video content has become widely consumed on the internet. And being different from normal video-on-demand (VOD) is a must for content creators and marketing professionals who want to differentiate their content from others.

With the growing popularity of video content (VC), it can be said that content marketing has become an integral part of any company’s marketing mix. And that video and live content are one of the trends that we cannot neglect.

Aside from blogs, VC has a steady viewer base compared to other forms of content on the internet.

Why should you get into IRL content?

The content on the internet is constantly and rapidly changing and we constantly need to rise to the challenge of developing original content. Content that can spark thought leadership and maybe even go viral.

These days, video content or video-on-demand content tends to be more lackluster and uninteresting. Thinking of ways to revolutionize the content scene, most individuals strive to think of ways on how they can diversify their content and make them stand out from the rest.

Here comes the proliferation of vloggers and real-life content streamers who share more than their love for gaming and lifestyle content – but also share a glimpse of what happens in their real-life in video form – raw, unedited, and live-streamed or otherwise.

Trending broadcasts

We content creators have been in our homes thinking of ways of creating content that is relatable and entertaining – while everyone is streaming their gameplays and other DIYs, which has been a common scene now; others are turning into what makes them different from the rest – which is sharing snippets of their life on the internet.

They say that no two people are alike, even twins are different. We see lifestyle influencers everywhere and they are on different platforms. We do not want to see different people playing the same game every time, we want to see more. Here is where the increase of vloggers (video blog poster) who share their life in edited video format and platforms who allow individuals to stream real-life content straight from their phones to the internet like Facebook Live, Afreeca TV (a popular streaming service in South Korea), Bilibili (popular in China), Twitch (mobile app for Android and IOS), YouTube mobile app (with eligibility requirements to access the live stream feature on mobile) and many more.

IRL streaming

What makes IRL streaming services so popular these days, in China, it is recorded to have at least 560 million users as of March this year that accounts for 62% of the country’s internet users.

You see, there is no such thing as people in broadcasts doing the same thing – they might be doing the same challenges and content themes but ultimately what makes it different is their personalities. These IRL streamers are more of live hosts of their own broadcasts or shows. How they differentiate themselves from other streamers is them being their authentic selves and promoting their content to people who have similar interests.

From a viewer’s perspective, an IRL streamer is more likely to have in-the-moment engagement with the viewers which makes them feel involved in the creation of their content. No matter how small the engagement – a shoutout, when a streamer reads your comments or answers your questions, responds to a request, does a viewer’s suggestion – it creates a personalized experience for the viewers and a custom content that cannot be duplicated by other creators.

ASMR and Mukbang

You might’ve seen this floating around the internet for a while. ASMR or auto sensory meridian responses that induce a tingling feeling in the viewer, and which aim to calm, nurture, or soothe. 

Mukbang a portmanteau from the Korean words for “eating” (먹는; meogneun) and “broadcast” (방송; bangsong) – or simply an eating broadcast. This was first introduced in 2009 on AfreecaTv – and now it has spread beyond Korea and became a global trend.

Content as simple as someone enjoying a meal can be entertaining as well. In a society where we lack the time to sit down and enjoy our food. This kind of content shares how it looks like when someone prepares and enjoy the food that they’re consuming. Someone might ask, how can something so simple be so interesting to others? Everyone eats, but not everyone has time to truly enjoy eating. To someone who has a fast-paced lifestyle, eating has become merely a task. To consumers of ASMR food, mukbangs are a glimpse of how enjoyable consuming food can be.

What is vlogging?

So, what technically is vlogging? A vlog is a video blog or an online diary in video form. Back in the day, the creation of blogs is more of an entry from personal experience, these days the repertoire of content has highly diversified – from the daily life hacks, do-it-yourself tutorials, video game walkthroughs, educational videos, and industry presentations to name a few. With the changing times, aside from reading the normal text-based content, individuals have gravitated more towards moving images or videos.

Essentially, vlogging creates a window where audiences can take a glimpse at the content creator’s life. Since there are no two people alike, an overview of other people’s lives tend to be interesting to most audiences. Most people can say that they can relate to these experiences. This kind of content also humanizes the individual making them more relatable. 

Getting Major FOMO

Video-on-demand or edited and uploaded video is still valuable. But we have to admit that live broadcasts or real-time streaming provide a sense of entertainment instant gratification.

We call this phenomenon, FOMO, the fear of missing out has become something we’re scared of. Are you the type of person who needs to be in the know of current events and trends? And tends to have major anxiety over things that we feel that we should know or should be informed about?

These kinds of content when consumed by normal viewers tend to feel more updated. It’s like audiences are a step closer to knowing the content creators’ life, even just a glimpse of it. More like friends who are catching up on their other friends. Or family members sharing how their day went.

As online content consumers, what do you think about vlogging and IRL streaming? Is it the kind of content that you’re interested in watching? Do you already have a favorite vlogger and IRL streamer? We’d love to know your thoughts on this trend. Feel free to connect with us on our socials and let us know your thoughts – Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

We’ve been going through some tough times these past few weeks. A lot has been happening and we wish that everything could be better. 

You may be part of the few who has been too tired lately. Feeling drained even when you haven’t really done anything during the day. You can be feeling helpless and lacking the enthusiasm for things and activities that spark joy in your life. We feel quite mundane and restless because of the unease of collectively all the things happening around us. Not to mention the widespread pandemic and the multiple socio-cultural things that our society is facing.

Let’s call it for what it is – the world is a mess right now. The mind might be jumbled with a lot of concerns, and that’s okay. It’s okay to feel that way. It’s time that we acknowledge the feeling and thoughts, and reflect on those and how we can make things better. Make things better for ourselves, our family, and our friends. How we can make a difference, no matter how small is still something rather than doing nothing.

We’ve talked about mental health on the blog a few times in the past year. It has grown to be a fact that we don’t talk about it enough. Whether for us gamers or content creators, it’s for everyone, no exceptions. There is a stigma around mental health that we need to overcome. And soon, we will be able to accept and find resolution to the illness. Yes, folks, it is an illness where most people tend to fail to seek medical attention. These same people are also too afraid of being discriminated against.

Let your mind and body rest

It’s been a few weeks, even months since our normals have changed. Our new routines might have started as being productive – making the most of our flexible time – with most working from home and the latter, sadly might’ve been off work due to the nature of their work. These times were, for most of us, a time of reflection and rest. But, that being said, you feel restless with the pandemic looming over our heads. The unease of whether or not we are able to support our daily necessities with a lack of resources.

For those with diagnosed illnesses, our mental health might’ve taken a turn for the worst. And we can’t help it. The anxiety and stress have piled on so much that it might be unbearable. The insecurity of whether you’ll still have work and bring food to the table.

Personally, pushing yourself to be productive at this time is actually counterproductive – stressing yourself to be productive, saying to yourself that there is no excuse for you not to be able to do things. The fact remains that we are all trying our best to cope with what the circumstances bring us. As I’ve said in the last blog, we’re all in a pandemic trying to work from home. Whether we are one of the lucky ones who are able to still have a job during these tough times, it can still be understandable that you are less likely to be able to be as productive as before. Be nice to yourself and try not to be too harsh.

One thing that works, for me at least, is guided meditation. It gets me through the hardest times when I tend to be truly anxious of completing even the smallest tasks. It helps me realign my focus and help me accomplish little wins throughout the day.

When everything else fails, and you just can’t get up for the day – then rest. Give yourself time to reel in those thoughts and emotions. It’s okay. Just don’t forget to tell your teammates that you’ll be out for the day to take care of yourself. Don’t just disappear on the people who you work with, okay?

Rest but don’t give up, resting your mind helps clear your thoughts and help you be more attuned to your responsibilities.

It’s okay to not feel okay

When resting is not enough – this is for our brethren who are currently battling their inner self. If you need to hear it from someone else, you need to know that what you’re feeling is valid and rational. You don’t need someone else to say that you’re making a big deal out of a molehill. You do not need validation from others, what you worry about and what you fear most is reasonable in your perspective and nobody can tell you to believe otherwise.

While self-awareness is a good thing, being aware of your surroundings and what is actually happening in your country can actually cause you more stress. We acknowledge that we need this information to be better informed on how we go on in our daily lives during the pandemic. But it cannot be neglected that this can also cause you much anxiety and can trigger thoughts that you’re not okay but you can work through it and will be okay in the future. That this too shall pass.

Distract yourself 

Distract yourself from negativity and pursue activities that encourage you to engage your creative mind. Yes, playing video games all day and cooking/baking in the kitchen can be boring after a few days – these days allow us to explore the things that we planned to do but simply didn’t have the time for.

It helps to create a list of the activities (that you can do while social distancing and staying at home) that you’ve been planning to do but didn’t have time for. During the quarantine period, you have all the time you need to do these things. We might not have a definite date when all this will end, but hey, here’s a good time to start working through that list.

Whether it be starting an edible garden in your backyard or a small balcony, growing your own food can be a wonderful way to distract yourself and at the same time cultivate plants that you can actually eat! 

Learning a new skill can be another thing that you can do. Learning a new language, drawing, using a creative software or learning how to stream your content if you’re a beginner content creator looking to level up your content during the summer. You can start small with learning a little XSplit Gamecaster. If you’re interested in making your own YouTube channel, why not learn a little editing with XSplit Express Video Editor. You can do a lot at this time. It’s best to get started on something that you’ll benefit from in the long run.

Divert your energy

As much as we don’t want to dwell on the negativity, it’s almost everything that we’re focusing on with everything happening around us. You can also say that it’s inevitable to not know and dwell on the things. And when information is almost everywhere, these details can be obtained at a click of a button whether we’re on Google or on social platforms. With the news and updates regarding the pandemic, and the status of our government taking action on how they can minimize the burden on the economy and our cost of living. That’s out of our control, and there’s nothing to do with those things but worry constantly on things that we cannot do anything about.

What we can do, now that’s where we can shift our focus. Dwelling on the things that we cannot change is will only cause stress and despair in the long run. We worry, yes – to be able to better prepare ourselves for the worst. But, thinking about it – strategizing on the things that we can do does wonders for our mental health.

What you can do, no matter how small, can still be a monumental thing for yourself. Start with the things that you can do for yourself. What are the things that you can do to make daily living better? Making a list of the things you need at the grocery store is one thing that you can do. To make sure that you have everything you need and you don’t need to worry about forgetting anything from the store. Taking time off from social media is another thing that we can do – social media can be toxic at times. Too many people talking about their opinions, and opinions are not facts that we need to accept. Too much information can be harsh on our system, it takes time for us to actually process it. Know what you need to know and get off your phone, there’s less toxicity that way.

o to make sure that you have everything you need and you don’t need to worry about going back to the store because you forgot something. Taking time off from social media is another thing that we can do – social media can be toxic at times. Too many people talking about their opinions, and opinions are not facts that we need to accept. Too much information can be harsh on our system, it takes time for us to actually process it. Know what you need to know and get off your phone, there’s less toxicity that way.

We hope that you’re doing well! May you and your family have the gift of good health and are safe at this time. We can make it through this, hang in there my friends.

Streamers, they’re all over the place these days. But what sets them apart from other content creators who do gaming and other streaming content on the internet?

Let’s have a real talk about people on the internet these days. Some people, for the sake of individuality and instant popularity, will create an alternate persona.

A persona that is likely to be more relatable and fun – to gain more attention and fame. Take for example, content creators who openly admit that the character they portray on their videos and social media can be a far cry from the real person when the cameras are off. This character they have created can be a polar opposite of who they are, but for the sake of being a likable person, this persona has been created to garner the attention of the viewers and be as relatable as possible – the perfect personality that’s likely to shoot into popularity the fastest. This does not only apply to Instagram influencers and VOD content creators, but it can also be everywhere. The streaming community cannot be spared.

Characterization is all over the internet, you’re not sure whether the person on their social media is the real person instead of a perfect persona created for the likes and fame. Here is where authenticity can be key to differentiate you from the rest of the current internet personas out there.

You are unique

There is no other person like you, not even twins are the same. Do you agree? What makes you – you – makes you different. How is that a plus? 

Conformity to what society dictates can be a bane for our creative existence. It simply places us in a box where it compartmentalizes who we are as human beings. You can be one thing in this life and if it doesn’t fit it any of the things that society has listed – then you’re weird or different. Back in the day, being different is often seen as being a social deviant. 

These days, being different is highly celebrated. Some find it fun and entertaining, the person is seemingly living the best life he/she has. But is it all real? That’s the million-dollar question, right?

Authenticity, what?

Being an authentic person, what does it mean and how difficult can it be to become my best authentic self?

Be yourself.

But how can we identify our real selves in this world of internet personas and characterizations – we start with ourselves. Yes, simply put look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself – who am I? What makes me, me?

We constantly look up to famous streamers and gamers for inspiration but haven’t you looked into yourself and see that what makes you yourself is something that can be deemed interesting.

Some people might say:…but I’m not that interesting, why would people be interested in me?”

Let’s go back to the idea, no two people are alike and twins are different. 

You can be doing one thing but how you do it makes the difference and no two persons have the same outlook, it can be similar but be totally different at the same time.

Social media perfection

What is authenticity in the world of social media perfection and almost everything can be professionally staged? How do we even know if someone is being authentic and real online? There are a lot of people who staged a personality or character to portray for their audiences. It can be a procured personality based on the perceived persona that the audience reflects on the content creator that’s not necessarily the real person.

We often question if something is even real in this digital age where things aren’t always what they seem. Photos and videos can be faked, edited and perfected in a certain way. People can be replaced by AI (and even clones! In the near future, the existence of one’s true self is about to go extinct. Just to get the most likes and comments on socials.

The reality is that authenticity in social media is dying. Being real is a dying trend since it doesn’t get you as many likes or hearts – perfection and being ideal is what gives you attention unwanted or otherwise.

Streamers being authentic

In an era of live broadcast, most say that they watch the stream not for the game or content streamed – but because of the person doing the streaming. 

People amass a huge following out of their personality, how they talk and carry themselves online. If you think you’re boring, then think again. No two people are alike, remember? So, you might be doing normal things but in your own way – that makes it all different. Your reactions and comments, opinions and suggestions are all different because your experiences and endeavors shaped you to become the person who you are today. You possess a story that only you can tell, you have a path that only you walked through and paved. 

Don’t burn yourself out

Nobody can have a perfect and consistent personality online, especially when it’s necessarily staged. Some people say that they get content burnout because they cannot churn out content that the audience might like. Having a perceived character also does the same thing, it gets tiring to be a person who you want people to see you as. Being yourself and having fun streaming out there is priceless – it takes the burnout off your chest and you get to genuinely enjoy what you are doing. Don’t make it a task and make it your own experience. 

We hope that it some way we made our point across, you don’t need to be anybody but yourself when you’re streaming or creating content out there. Being you is the best characterization that you can portray and we’re here to support it!