Gaming is one of the most common hobbies in the world. Video games offer an artistic experience that the user controls in their own hands. What’s not to love? It would be a dream to make money while playing video games.
Today we want to discuss how to make money as a gamer. There are a few strategies to monetize this type of content online. Let us know on social media if we missed any great strategies or methods.
Can You Make Money As A Gamer?
The short answer to this question is: Yes! There are many creators out there that get paid to play video games. This includes bloggers, Twitch streamers, and YouTubers.
From an online marketing perspective, gaming is a niche just like any other topic. Every niche and every audience has its own sets of needs, wants, and obstacles. It is the role of the creator to come up with ideas to solve the problems of their audience. Many creators also exist for pure entertainment value.
While the amount of money will vary based on your monetization methods, it is possible to make money by building an audience around video games.
Audience Segments
Before selling products and services, it is best to first learn about your audience (or potential audience). Every audience can be broken down into segments based on a multitude of factors. This includes problems, finances, expertise, and interests.
When it comes to getting paid to play video games, a few basic audience segments come to mind:
People Who Like To Watch Gaming
While playing video games is extremely popular, watching other people playing video games has been a quickly growing market over the past decade. People want to watch gamers do what they do best: play games.
Other Gaming Creators
Outside of casual fans, there are a plethora of video game-based content creators on the internet. Many of these creators are very community-oriented and engage with their fans and other creators.
People Who Need Help With Games
Everyone gets stuck on a level sometimes. There is a never-ending stream of people looking for help with their own gaming experiences. This can be as simple as help beating a boss fight, or as complex as stacking buffs and gear to get the most effective stats.
Game Developers
People who make video games often like to engage with the media and other creators in their field. This can include an indie developer looking for content creators to help them promote their new game. It can also be as simple as a game dev looking for an entertaining streamer or creator.
5 Methods – How To Make Money As A Gamer
1. Start A YouTube Channel
Starting a YouTube channel allows you to provide content to the wider gaming community. You can also use their live streaming service to play games in front of an audience.
YouTube channels use ads as their primary strategy for monetization. Ads are typically placed automatically by YouTube. However, you can also add your own affiliate/sponsored ads to your videos and video descriptions.
2. Stream On Twitch
Much like YouTube, Twitch offers a platform for people to interact with their audiences through live streaming.
Twitch offers two levels of monetization: affiliate, and partner. You unlock these contract agreements by hitting different popularity and engagement thresholds. Each level offers different methods of monetization. It also unlocks different features to help you build your community.
There are other ways to monetize Twitch outside of what they offer natively. This includes the use of donations, Patreon, and affiliate links. Many Twitch streamers use Amazon Affiliates for their affiliate links.
Related Articles:
How To Make Money On Twitch Without Being A Partner
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3. Start A Gaming Blog Or Website
There are many people who want to read about the games they play. This includes reviews, tutorials, cheats, glitches, and more! By writing about your gaming experiences, you can grow an audience that regularly comes to read your work.
As your blog’s audience grows, you can leverage the traffic into sponsorships, affiliate deals, advertising, and other monetization methods.
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RELATED: How To Start A Blog In 8 Simple Steps
4. Sell Merchandise
As your audience grows, you may find that you have a dedicated base of hardcore fans. This is where selling merchandise can be profitable. People may want to wear a t-shirt or a hat with your branding and logo. You could also sell stickers, pins, and patches.
An added benefit of selling merchandise is free advertising. When people are wearing your merchandise, they are essentially walking billboards for your brand. This also helps word-of-mouth traffic as people may ask where they purchased your merch. This is a common strategy seen by many Twitch streamers, bloggers, and YouTubers.
5. Become A Social Media Influencer
Much like YouTube and Twitch, you can grow your audience through use of social media. You can post clips of the games you are playing, or pictures showing facts about different video games. People are always looking to interact with people about the video games they love.
As your audience on social media grows, you can leverage your following into affiliate deals and sponsorships. You can also use social media to push fans toward your other content platforms.
What Is The Best Strategy To Get Paid As A Gamer?
The best strategy for making money as a gamer will vary from person to person. Everyone has different skills, interests, and lifestyles. What monetization methods work best for one person may not work for another.
Before committing to a specific style of content and monetization, take a look at your own wants and needs. Burnout is a very real issue for people who make content or run online businesses. Choosing a strategy that does not work for you will ensure that you get quickly burnt out and stressed.
At the same time, feel free to try new things and experiment. You never know what you may like in the future, or what works best for your brand.
Do You Want To Get Paid To Be A Gamer?
We hope you enjoyed our guide on how to make money as a gamer. Were there any methods or strategies that we missed? Let us know on social media!
