How to Kickstart Your YouTube Gaming Channel
The gaming world has been flipped upside down over the last few years thanks to streaming platforms and YouTube. Starting your YouTube gaming channel is easier than you might think. If you’re an avid gamer, you could turn your hobby or passion into a viable side gig, a full-time career, or even just something fun to share with friends, family, and followers.
You don’t necessarily have to be a video guru to put out quality content that other gaming enthusiasts want to see. If you have a unique perspective, an original point of view, or a voice of authority in the gaming world, you have a good chance of being seen, and a better chance of gaining subscribers.
Planning and Filming Your Videos
Before you officially launch your channel and start launching content, you’ll have to decide on your unique niche, and what type of content you will post. Gaming can be fun and spontaneous when you’re playing by yourself or with friends. But, when you’re catering to followers and trying to get views, things need to be more consistent. You’ll also have to find ways to set yourself apart from the rest of the gaming community.
There are hundreds of thousands of gaming channels already on the platform. That doesn’t mean that your channel can’t find success as long as you plan and prepare. If you want to kickstart your channel, try things like:
- Choosing a specific niche;
- Creating a channel trailer;
- Deciding on video format (gameplay, tutorials, etc.);
- Investing in quality equipment;
- Learning how to edit.
It’s also important to upload your content with some consistency, especially as you get more subscribers. Over time, people will come to expect content from you on a specific day of the week. It gives them something to look forward to and it’s a great way to keep them coming back for more.
Eventually, you’ll be able to add to your existing videos with “special” content. That might include a streaming marathon or a giveaway. But, when you’re first getting started, planning and preparation are the most crucial components to help your channel stand out.
Making Money From YouTube
There’s no denying that putting your time into a gaming YouTube channel can be a lot of fun, no matter your niche. If you have a lot of helpful tips to give, you might feel good about sharing them with the world. If you’re just on there to do gameplay streaming with friends and followers, that can also be really enjoyable, and you might be content with having the channel as a hobby.
But, if you put the time and effort into setting up your channel correctly, posting consistently, and creating quality content of interest, you could end up making money from it. Gaming is one of the most successful niches on YouTube, with the most popular gamers earning more than $10 million each year.
The first way you’ll make money is through views, with most content creators earning $2 to $5 dollars per 1,000 views. The more views you get, the more money you’ll earn. You can monetize through YouTube and increase your viewership by:
- Becoming a YouTube partner;
- Selling merchandise;
- Licensing your content;
- Affiliate marketing.
If you have a special project or a specific need, you can also get money directly from fans by using a crowdfunding service like Patreon or GoFundMe. The bigger your following, the easier it will be to work with marketers or become a YouTube partner.
Marketing Your Channel
If your videos have gotten some attention and you’re making a bit of money, that’s exciting — especially if you’re treating your YouTube channel as a side gig. But, if you’ve started to make a little bit of money, it might be time to consider how you can turn your channel into a more viable business.
Thankfully, you don’t have to invest a lot of money to market yourself, and you shouldn’t stress yourself out over not being a marketing guru. You can have a full-time career as a YouTube gamer. But you will need to hone your marketing skills and start looking at yourself as a brand, rather than a person playing games online.
Some of the easiest low-cost marketing techniques are also the most effective when you consider the type of brand you’re trying to establish. Social media, for example, is one of the best ways to build your following, engage with fans, and create a sort of community around your YouTube channel on other platforms. It can also be worthwhile to create a website to expand what you’re doing on your channel. Your site could host a blog, sell merchandise, and link to all of your other platforms.
Finally, consider working with other influencers that make sense. That might mean connecting with another popular gamer or working with someone who specializes in merchandise to create something unique. You might be surprised by how easy (and fun!) it is to build a community through marketing and to truly engage with your audience.
Whether you’re a hobby gamer or you have a unique perspective that people would love to see, consider giving a gaming YouTube channel a try. You’ll get to do what you love, interact with other gaming enthusiasts, and you could even end up making a living from it.
