Above: Photo by Ella Don on Unsplash.
There are many reasons why YouTube is an incredibly useful platform for gamers. For one, it’s a great way to build a community of fans and followers. Additionally, it can be used to generate income through sponsorships and advertising. It’s a powerful tool for marketing your game or channel.
Before you start your youtube gaming channel, there are a few things you need to do to help you succeed.
Choose your niche
The initial step is to choose the right niche for your channel. This is important because it will determine the types of videos you produce, the tone of your channel, and who your target audience is.
There are a few factors to consider when choosing your niche:
- Your interests: What games do you like to play? What type of content do you enjoy watching?
- Your skillset: Are you good at a particular game? Do you have any unique talents or skills that you can share with viewers?
- Your goals: What are you hoping to achieve with your channel? Do you want to make money? Become famous? Help others improve at gaming?
Create a Channel Trailer
Once you’ve chosen your niche, it’s time to start creating content. The first video you should make is a channel trailer. This short (1-2 minute) video introduces viewers to your channel and tells them what they can expect from your videos.
Your channel trailer should be attention-grabbing and engaging. It should also give viewers a taste of your personality and style.
Plan Your Videos
Before you start filming, it’s essential to have a plan for your videos. You don’t need to script out every detail, but it helps to understand what you want to say and do in each video.
Some things to consider when planning your videos:
The length of the video: How long do you want each video to be?
- The format of the video: What type of content will you include in each video? Gameplay footage? Tutorials? Let’s Plays?
- The structure of the video: What will be the beginning, middle, and end of each video?
Invest in Quality Equipment
If you like your videos to look and sound professional, you need to invest in quality equipment. There’s no need to spend an enormous amount to achieve this, but it does mean getting some decent gear.
Here are some significant things you might want to consider.
- A good microphone: This is important for providing commentary and ensuring that your voice is clear.
- A webcam or camera: This will help you create high-quality gameplay footage. Be sure to perform a webcam test before you begin recording to make sure that the image is clear.
- Lighting: Good lighting will make your videos look more polished and professional.
- Editing software: If you want to add special effects or edit your videos, you’ll need video editing software.
Film Your Videos
Once you’ve planned and prepared your videos, it’s time to start filming! Remember to be yourself and have fun – your viewers will be able to tell if you’re not enjoying yourself.
Edit Your Videos
After you’ve filmed your videos, it’s time to edit them. There are many video editing tools, so do some research and find the one that works best for you.
Upload Your Videos
Before your videos go live, you need to upload and optimize them. This will help them rank higher on search engines so more people can find and enjoy your content.
Grow Your Audience Over Time
Growing your audience and followers takes time, but there are a few things you can do to help speed up the process.
- Post regularly: Consistency is vital when it comes to growing an audience – if viewers know they can expect new content at a specific time each week, they’ll be more likely to subscribe.
- Use social media: Social media is a great way to promote your channel and reach new viewers.
- Engage with other YouTubers: Collaborating with or interviewing other YouTubers is a great way to get exposure for your channel.
Monetize Your Channel
Once you’ve built up a considerable audience, you can start monetizing your channel. There are efficient ways to do this.
- Google Adsense: This is the most common way to make money on YouTube. When someone clicks on your ad that appears on your videos, you get paid.
- Sponsorships: Once you have a large enough audience, companies will start reaching out to you about sponsoring your channel. This usually involves getting paid to promote a product or service in your videos.
- Affiliate marketing: You can also make money by promoting products and services in your videos and then linking to those products/services in your description. If someone clicks on your link or ad and makes a purchase, you’ll earn a commission.
Analyze Your Data
YouTube provides creators with a lot of data about their viewers, including things like age, gender, location, and viewing habits. This information can help you understand your audience and tailor your content accordingly.
Keep Improving
The key to success on YouTube is constantly improving – both in terms of the quality of your videos and the size of your audience. With hard work and persistence, you’ll be able to grow your channel into a thriving community!
Whether you’re a regular gamer looking to create an all-new YouTube gaming channel or just starting as a gamer hoping to build up an online following, there are specific steps that you’ll need to take in order to be successful.
Some of these critical steps include planning your content, investing in quality equipment, filming and editing your videos, promoting your channel on social media, engaging with other YouTubers for exposure, monetizing your channel by using Google Adsense or sponsored promotions, analyzing data about your audience, and always looking for ways to improve and grow.
With these killer tips in mind, you can start a successful YouTube gaming channel and build a thriving community of like-minded gamers!​
About the Author
Rachelle Ann Raymaro is a PR Outreach Specialist at VEED.IO. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and eating her favorite snack.