It could be because of Google’s new gaming console, Stadia;
Maybe also, the rumoured leak of Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto 6;
Or the news that Kyle Blevin aka Ninja makes $500k monthly playing Fortnite;
Irrespective of the reason, thoughts how to grow gaming channel on Youtube and make money from it should be on your mind.
Why? You may ask. Listen to this.
More than 90 billion dollars is the projection of what the gaming industry is to be worth this year.
What has contributed to this rise is the growing popularity of the gaming community?
Shockingly, many people aren’t only playing games online but watching others play them.
Statistically, gamers aged 18-25, around the world, spend over 180 minutes weekly viewing real-time and recorded commentary as they play games online.
YouTube is one if the most popular places where gamers go to watch others gamers play.
The top gaming streamers didn’t just grow gaming channel on Youtube but also make money from it.
Fans are not only entertained by these gamers, but the gamers also make money while delighting them.
Of the leading five Youtube channels that have the highest number of subscribers worldwide, two are related to gaming.
Playing and getting paid to play games on Youtube is on the increase.
Getting started on this isn’t are hard as it may seem.
I’m Daniel Umeh, and in this article, I will show you how to grow a gaming channel on Youtube & make money from it.
1. A niche, your voice, and target categories
Basic business start involves you kicking off with being clear with you’d niche, grow your voice, and the value you want to offer.
For instance, you may have set yourself in on a genre such as commenting while playing games.
That’s a start, however, to grow a gaming channel on Youtube & make money from it requires more.
Planning and strategizing are highly required due to the diverse and competitive nature of the gaming community.
With 15% of all content on Youtube being gaming-related, being unique is quite important.
You have to keep in and that peoples purpose of watching Youtube video differ.
Some YouTubers follow your channel because it offers them something to learn.
When some gamers go to Youtube, it is to find guides or walkthroughs it some sort.
A few of them might be stuck on a level or improve play to scale up the ranks, while others are looking for how to beat a boss.
Inspiration can be gotten by others from your video content in areas that might have previously challenged you some time.
If gamers feel they will be part of the community they will subscribe to your channel.
Connecting with Youtubers of like minds is a good way of sharing strategies and updates on gaming latest.
Create an entertainment side for your channel.
Viewers might keep tuning to your gaming channel just because they find you funny.
It might be your voice or how you use your words.
In some other cases, the game you play or the way you play it is interesting.
Some of these viewers might not exactly engage with you the host or other viewers.
This is the difference between them and those seeking a community to join.
Minecraft plays well here.
Players might just simply want to see what other people have made in the endless digital landscape, and want to replicate it.
Maybe, even use it as a source of inspiration to spur creativity.
As you think about how to grow gaming channels on Youtube and make money from it, here are some top YouTube gaming channel categories you might consider focusing on for your channel.
- Walkthroughs
These videos are guides targeted toward YouTubers who want to learn something and overcome a game objective.
- Humor/Show/Machinima
In this category, taking clips of gameplay and editing them to create a totally new story that’s funny and entertaining.
- Let’s Plays
Let’s Plays was tagged so by YouTubers commenting, “Let’s play [name of game]”.
To grow a gaming channel on Youtube and make money from it with this, you need to have a catchy personality to do well here.
Let’s Plays attracts gamers who want a combination of fun and community.
- Reviews
YouTubers will often view these videos when they’re not sure about buying a new game release or update.
- Esports
This is a fast-growing industry in terms of watches and revenue.
Esports has to do with several players competing professionally in front of an audience of spectators.
Just like any other professional sport, people watch to see the best competitors play.
- Live Stream
Because of big names like Ninja, streaming Fortnite, live streaming has become quite well known.
In comparison to the others, live stream videos don’t need much post-production editing.
2. Decide and get your tools
Quality content requires some necessary tools and equipment.
Let me roll out a set of tools that will help you grow gaming channel on Youtube and make money from it in no time
Note that you need to get the game and gaming platform.
To grow a gaming channel on Youtube and make money from it, you need the desired video game to play.
You will obviously also need a gaming platform to play on.
For example a computer or a dedicated console such as Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, and the like.
Don’t forget that, if you’re using your computer to all you might need is additional software.
However, if it’s on a console, you might need both additional software and hardware.
See the requirements that I’ve listed for you
- Video recorder
To begin to grow your gaming channel on YouTube, you’ll need a video camera.
It doesn’t need to be a highly expensive camera; just get a device that can record in 1080p.
You can use webcams, or a tripod-mounted or desk-mounted digital camera.
- Software for Screen capture
Added to the camera, you’ll also need screen capturing software to show the viewers the game you’re playing.
Avoid pointing a camera towards your TV or monitor as you play, because the quality of the video will be very bad, affecting the visual and audio.
- Audio recording/microphone
Crisp and clear sound is also most important to make sure your audience can hear you.
Getting a good quality mic, either a gaming headset or a professional recording mic is something you must have if you decide on commenting while you play.
- Lighting
A new lighting system might not be necessary here.
Good lighting is a huge difference between amateur and professional-looking footage.
- Editing software for Video
Always keep in mind that it is people that are going to watch the videos you put up.
So, you should edit those videos appropriately before publishing them.
Cut off the space fillers.
No one wants to be bored with a lot of “uhms” and “ahs.”
- Green screen
A green screen isn’t definitely a necessity for game streaming.
It, however, is fun and can help by enabling you to change the background to the best fit.
It is preferable to do this instead of showing your room and furniture.
3. Begin posting to your YouTube gaming channel
After finding your niche and the tools necessary to begin to create content, move to put up your videos.
To begin and grow a gaming channel on Youtube and make money from it, here are some practices you should follow before posting.
- Upload your video
Get a YouTube account if you don’t have one already.
I assume this is basic for you if you asked the question on how to grow a gaming channel on Youtube and make money from it.
- Appropriate titles and keywords
Choose a title for your channel and specific titles for your video uploads.
You can check out what other gamers are doing too.
How to do this is by typing the name of the game and you’ll have a list of suggestions below the search bar.
It also gives you ideas for keywords you can use.
You can also use a keyword search planner.
- Customized video thumbnails
Take time and create real good custom video thumbnails.
Thumbnails don’t directly affect the YouTube algorithm, however, it influences a viewers decisions to click and maybe watch your video.
- Intros and outros
As you continually build your fan base, you’ll have a better perspective on what they want.
Video intros and outros can have an effect on your audience.
Depending on the genre, viewers mostly pick the shortest video with a lot of views to watch.
This is to say, don’t go doing a five-minute introduction because it might put your fans off.
A fifteen-second intro or even less is more effective in keeping fans and even passersby wanting to view.
- Trial and error method
In starting your gaming channel, it is commonplace to try different methods before settling for one.
This might take a while.
You might chop and change until you stick with what you consider most appropriate.
Don’t be afraid to try and retry.
Your aim is to grow a gaming channel on Youtube and make money from it.
Hence, this is all part of the process to get the best out to your subscribers and potential audience.
4. Promote your channel
It’s crucial that you sync your video releases with social media posts, critically for two reasons.
The first is that the added reach you get from social media can push your channel.
This can cause it to gain traction with other YouTubers.
Gathering support from your own family and friends helps a great deal also.
The second reason is that as your channel grows, you stretch your content and communication to other channels in case the worst happens.
For instance, your channel gets suspended.
Channels can be suspended for a number of reasons, and so don’t write this off.
Social media presence can cover for this until your gaming channel is up and running again.
5. Follow what works
Once your channel is established, as you start posting content regularly, you’ll notice a steady rise in subscribers.
To grow a gaming channel on Youtube and make money from it, get in the habit of reviewing what your audience likes or dislikes.
Just by analyzing the number of views and likes your video receives, you will learn much.
YouTube also provides an analytics tool from which you can see the geographic location of your viewers, and also the time they viewed your YouTube gaming videos.
With this, you can decide when to publish future video content to get a greater number of views.
How long your video was actually viewed is another important metric that can be monitored through YouTube analytics.
For example, if you’re noticing that your viewers exit your video within the first 15 seconds, consider altering it.
The intro could be too long or not appealing to your viewers.
It could also be that your thumbnail, title, or description are giving your viewers the impression your channel is about something else.
Whatever it is, know that user feedback is your greatest resource.
Ask to find out what your audience likes and dislikes about your YouTube gaming videos.
Interact with your YouTube channel community.
It not only improves future content but also makes your viewers feel like part of the community.
Grow Gaming Channel on Youtube and Make Money from it
Continue creating and posting content.
As you do this, more people will hear about your channel, and this will inevitably lead to more subscribers.
Hitting the 1000 subscriber mark makes you eligible to be part of the YouTube Partner Program.
Those who are part of the YouTube Partner Program are allowed to post ads on their videos.
From this point, you can only grow more while making money from your gaming channel on YouTube.
A number of the biggest YouTube gamers began their gaming channels on YouTube never really intending to make money from it.
All they wanted to do was simply gaming on the channel and had fun doing it.
Do the same. Have fun.
Do so while you grow gaming channels on Youtube and make money from it.
