Gaming has become one of the most popular hobbies today. With millions upon millions of people playing games all over the world there's no doubt that some gamers have made money from their hobby. Some even make enough money to quit their day job and devote themselves only to making games! However with so many big companies dominating the industry, who knows if they'll be around forever. It could also get difficult trying to compete against them as these large corporations can afford massive advertising campaigns which help them gain more popularity. This poses a problem because not everyone has the budget needed to advertise like those major companies but still want to keep up with what others are doing. So we're left with an interesting dilemma - should you create your own game or try to sell other peoples' work online? Well luckily for us (and unfortunately), both options exist. In this article you will learn about how to earn income through creating games, selling other people's content online and using affiliate programs. Let's dive right into our topic...
If you've ever watched any YouTuber before then you probably noticed the way they talk about their latest creation. They seem excited and really enthusiastic about whatever project they are working on at the moment. A lot of times they might show off screenshots, play videos or just tell you about something new. While watching them you may start thinking "wow, that looks cool!" or maybe even "I wish I had thought of that." And while it's true that sometimes creators release things that aren't very original, overall the majority of YouTubers tend to share similar interests. Even though the audience isn't exactly the same across different channels, the general public tends to enjoy viewing various types of content. These viewers usually appreciate seeing something fresh released by someone else every once in awhile. That being said, anyone who has spent time browsing YouTube already knows that there are plenty of channels out there catering specifically towards certain niches. If you are interested in starting a YouTube channel, chances are you would look for a niche within the entertainment field. What type of content would you expect to see coming from such a channel? The answer is simple - comedy sketches, review clips, funny pranks, etc. Basically anything that makes you laugh or smile. Now let's take a closer look at gaming and whether it qualifies as a suitable subject matter for a YouTube channel.
Let's first consider why a gamer would want to use YouTube to market his/her product(s). There are several reasons why a person would choose to upload videos directly onto YouTube instead of another platform. One reason is simply due to the fact that YouTube offers users a much larger potential viewership than say Vimeo. Another advantage of uploading videos onto YouTube is the ability to interact with other users via comments. On top of that, YouTube allows its user to easily embed links and information within their uploaded videos. For example, if you were to create a short trailer for a new indie game called FartCraft, and decide to post it on Youtube, you'd be able to add links to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter so that your friends can view your footage without having to leave the site. Furthermore, unlike forums, YouTube doesn't require its visitors to register in order to access content. Allowing non-registered users to streamline interaction between creator and viewer alike. Also, since YouTube provides its users with high quality HD streaming video, the experience becomes almost identical to actually going to the website itself. As a result, if a gamer decides to publish a clip on YouTube he/she should focus primarily on producing entertaining gameplay rather than elaborate graphics. Gameplay alone is often capable of keeping viewers engaged long enough for them to click on the link embedded within the video description box. Having said that, if you plan to produce videos solely to showcase your finished products/games, please bear in mind that YouTube requires a higher degree of technical proficiency than other platforms. Overall, when comparing video hosting services, YouTube seems to offer the best combination of features and ease of publishing content. Therefore, if you intend to use YouTube to promote your product(s) then you should stick to posting gameplay footage rather than cutscenes or images depicting characters and objects.
So now that we know why a gamer would choose to upload his/her content on YouTube, lets move on to finding out why it is considered a lucrative option compared to other websites. To begin with, most gamers don't need to worry too much about copyrighting their creations since YouTube maintains automatic rights to protect copyrighted material. Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, YouTube allows its users to freely embed links inside their posted videos. Since YouTube is owned by Google, the company automatically displays related search results whenever a user performs a query. This means that if you happen to come up with a unique name for a character or object in your game, odds are you can capitalize on that idea later by adding keywords relating to that particular term throughout your video title. When searching for terms relevant to your game, you should avoid generic words like 'the', 'a' and 'of'. Instead, try to think of specific nouns that describe each individual part/character of your game. For instance, if you wanted to refer to the main character in your game, you'd better go with John Doe instead of saying 'The lead character.' Additionally, remember to include spaces between the names of entities. Otherwise, your keyword density will decrease dramatically. Lastly, when choosing a category for your video, try to pick one that is highly searched for. Although it sounds counterintuitive, picking obscure categories ensures that you won't end up competing against hundreds of thousands of other unrelated videos.
Next we shall discuss a few ways to generate revenue and profit from your newly created game. Affiliate Marketing is a common method used by many Internet marketers. Basically, affiliates receive commission through advertisements placed on their behalf. Most advertisers pay commissions ranging from 10% to 50%. Those earning less than $50 per sale are referred to as small merchants. Merchant account providers charge fees ranging from 2% to 5%, depending on transaction volume. Merchants must maintain sufficient funds in their accounts to cover monthly minimum payments. Larger merchants can opt to set aside deposits during peak periods. Many merchants choose PayPal as their payment processor due to its reliability and security. Other methods of generating profits includes setting up a Pay Per Click campaign where customers clicking on ads displayed on your channel page would incur charges. Of course, there are numerous other options available for obtaining revenues from your game ideas. But regardless of what avenue you chose, it is important to note that YouTube does allow users to request removal of their uploaded content after 24 hours. Thus, it is advisable to test your concept thoroughly prior to releasing your final version.
Lastly, let me briefly explain how to properly setup your channel and submit it to YouTube. First, open an AdWords account and then head over to the Content Network section. Next, select Programmatic under Video Advertising and complete the signup process. Once done, log into YouTube and visit your Channel Settings. Under Account Management, scroll down until you reach Manage Partner Programs. Here, select Create New Program and follow the steps provided. Afterward, fill out the application form and wait for approval. Once approved, check back periodically to ensure that your program status hasn't changed. Finally, once everything is ready, hit Submit Program. Then sit back and watch the cash flow in!
As previously stated gaming is a great subject matter for establishing a successful YouTube channel. Gaming enthusiasts are known for sharing their excitement and enthusiasm over their favorite titles. Whether it's for a well developed storyline, realistic visuals or epic battles, gamers always seem to love talking about their passion. Based on this observation, it shouldn't be hard to understand why gaming is a hotbed for affiliate marketing. Gamers tend to spend a significant amount of time discussing their interest in front of computer screens. Consequently, they are quite familiar with the inner workings of a variety of software packages including operating systems, anti virus applications, web browsers, etc. By providing useful tips and tricks regarding these topics, gamers can provide valuable assistance to their followers. At the same time, they can utilize this knowledge to recommend certain items that they believe would benefit their subscribers. This strategy works particularly well when combined with a strong emphasis on product reviews. Users typically prefer hearing unbiased opinions from experienced individuals before deciding to purchase a given item or service.
Now that we've established that gaming is indeed a viable subject for creating informative videos, we need to determine what defines a gaming genre. Obviously, defining a niche is critical to ensuring that your future content revolves around a single theme/genre. When considering a niche, it is advised that you identify a group of people that share a common interest. Subsequently, research your target audience members deeply and try to establish a bond among them. Remember, if you fail to connect with your audience then no amount of catchy headlines, witty jokes or impressive visual effects will save your video from obscurity. Generally speaking, a niche consists of a subgroup of people who either have a shared history, cultural background or geographical location. For example, if you live in North America then perhaps you could start an animation studio specializing in 3D animated movies. Alternatively, if you reside in Japan then you might attempt to launch a series of anime shows.
Gaming has become big business. In fact, there's an estimated $100 billion in annual revenue from games worldwide. And with that comes a lot of money - both for publishers like EA or Activision, as well as players themselves. However, most gamers never see any of these profits because they don't have access to them. That can be remedied by having your own site where people can go to read up on what’s going on in the world of gaming. But if you're not a gamer yourself, then who would write for such a website? Well, you could try finding one of those sites that cover just about everything related to gaming, but I wouldn't recommend doing so since it seems that many of these types of websites aren't very successful. So instead, why don't we take a look at some other options? What better way to get into the heart of things than starting out with something personal. After all, isn't that what makes us feel more connected to others? So here goes! How do you monetize a gaming blog?
The first thing you'll want to consider when deciding whether or not to start a gaming blog, is what kind of content you'd like to post. Most bloggers tend to stick to either informational posts (how-to guides) or opinion pieces. If you're looking to make a living off of your blog, however, you may need to think outside the box. You should also decide which platform(s) you plan on using to publish your articles. Popular platforms include WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr, Facebook Fan Pages and Medium. There are pros and cons to each platform, but generally speaking, each has its advantages over another. For example, while WordPress is great for building backlinks, it doesn't give users much control over their privacy settings. On the other hand, Tumblr allows users to set whatever privacy setting they choose. As far as earning potential is concerned, there really isn't a clear winner between social networks and traditional publishing outlets. It depends largely upon what sort of budget you've got available. With that said, my favorite outlet for online writing is definitely YouTube. Why? Simply put, due to its large viewership base and relatively low barrier to entry. Let me explain...
There are two main reasons why creating a gaming blog may not be the best choice for making money. The first reason being that gaming blogs are typically focused around sharing news rather than providing information. Nowadays, people know exactly what they want before heading to Google search, but back in 2000, consumers weren't quite so tech savvy. This meant that they had no clue what to expect when searching for specific topics. Even now, many gamers still prefer reading reviews and previews of upcoming titles before spending hard earned cash on them. While there are certainly exceptions to this rule, most readers simply won't care enough about a particular topic to spend time watching videos in order to find out more about it. A second issue lies in the fact that the vast majority of "gaming" enthusiasts are already subscribed to several different sources for pre-release coverage. These channels include GameSpot TV, IGN Pro Wrestling, Polygon and Giant Bomb. Adding additional subscriptions to your list tends to clutter up your feed without offering anything new. Also, keep in mind that it takes a long time to build a loyal following. Unless you're planning on getting paid somehow in the near future, you might want to avoid putting too much work into building a fanbase right away. Last but not least, it's important to remember that unless you're willing to invest in advertising, adsense income alone probably won't cut it. Without a steady flow of visitors, even the most popular article will only bring in a few pennies per month.
One common misconception shared among amateur writers is that everyone loves talking about sports, politics and entertainment. Unfortunately, these subjects are often saturated by other established blogs, leaving little room for newcomers. Another problem arises from the fact that there isn't always a strong demand for original ideas. People love hearing opinions, but they usually don't enjoy coming across someone else's rants every single day. To be successful, you must create unique material relevant to your audience. Fortunately, gaming offers plenty of opportunities for fresh perspectives. First, let's break down the market itself. According to EIA research, roughly 80 million American households play console/handheld video games regularly. Of course, there are millions more casual fans who dabble in PC games once in awhile. Additionally, there are hundreds of thousands of active forums devoted to pretty much every imaginable subject under the sun. All of this means that if you can pull together quality content consistently, chances are high that there are people interested in seeing what you have to say. Next, let's talk about some ways you could profitably use your blog.
If you're able to come up with interesting new angles to old school gameplay concepts, there's absolutely nothing stopping you from becoming a professional blogger. Gaming is full of opportunities for creative story telling and character development. One area ripe for improvement is multiplayer. Since the inception of Call of Duty 4, the FPS genre has been plagued with glitches that sometimes lead to hilarious results. Online matches can easily devolve into comedic events that capture imaginations. By taking advantage of these situations, you can turn them into viral marketing campaigns that resonate throughout the community. Once again, though, it helps to have a solid foundation built beforehand. When you're ready to kick things up a notch, you can begin developing characters whose personalities range from entertainingly absurd to emotionally complex. Then, add in some drama and suspense and boom, instant intrigue. Lastly, there's an entire industry dedicated to helping aspiring voice actors develop their talents further. Just visit IMDbPro to check out listings and casting calls for roles within major productions.
Now that I've shown you how to earn extra income through gaming, perhaps you'll be convinced to follow suit. If not, hopefully this article provided you with some useful insight into what it entails to run a gaming blog. Good luck!
A lot of people love talking about games, but not everyone knows how to talk about them. A few years ago I started my own YouTube Gaming Channel (YTC) because I wanted to discuss new releases in detail with viewers, as well as give more insight into what makes certain titles great or terrible. But after some time looking at where my audience was spending their attention online, I realized that there were plenty of other options out there if I just looked harder. In this post you'll find all the information you need to know about making money from your videos.
Gaming can be an extremely lucrative topic to cover if done right, so let's get down to the nitty-gritty. What exactly does "make money" mean here? It means having enough income to live off of while still working fulltime without any financial strain whatsoever. While most of us have dreams of one day retiring through our hard work, we also want to make sure we're able to keep doing what we enjoy long term. So basically, once you've reached a point where you don't feel like you're missing anything by continuing to work, then you should consider stopping. The same goes for bloggers -- they shouldn't miss out on opportunities simply because they prefer writing over editing photos. If something feels wrong, fix it!
Now back to business...
First things first, this article assumes you already have a website set up and running. You may even have a personal Tumblr account. Next comes creating content. Nowadays, many websites offer free WordPress themes which allow users to create custom pages using simple HTML code. This is definitely easier said than done though. Don't worry though - there are tons of easy tips and tricks to help you along the way. You can use either text or images depending on what kind of layout works better for your site. Once you've got everything ready, it's time to start posting.
As far as what constitutes a gamer, anyone who plays video games should count. There really isn't too much else to say about this part. However, if you'd rather focus on another area, such as indie gaming, that's totally fine! Just remember that these two types of gamers tend to view each others' opinions differently. Some gamers take offense when someone mentions a bad review of Halo 5, while others won't care about any reviews whatsoever. Your job as a writer is to stay neutral and only criticize based on facts.
The next step would probably consist of joining social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, etc., and interacting with fans. Make sure you follow your competitors closely, read comments left by fans, and try to see what kinds of questions they ask often. Also, pay close attention to what your readers seem interested in, especially those who leave positive feedback, and respond accordingly.
Last but certainly not least, is advertising. Advertising revenue doesn't come immediately, so you must remain patient and wait until your page starts bringing in a decent amount before worrying about it. At the end of the day, however, ad revenues play a huge role in determining whether or not a blog is successful.
There has been no shortage of debate surrounding this very subject recently. With thousands upon thousands of dollars being thrown around every year in the industry, it seems silly that anyone would think gaming wouldn't be a sound niche to explore further. After all, gaming is incredibly popular among young adults, and continues to grow steadily amongst older generations as well. According to Forbes Magazine, the global market size for PC hardware alone was valued at $91 billion in 2014. That's a pretty big number! And since we haven't seen any significant growth within the last decade, the future looks bright for the industry as a whole.
So why aren't more writers exploring this amazing opportunity? First off, there's the issue of lack of competition. Many publishers put a ton of effort into marketing and promoting their products, whereas independent developers usually have nowhere near that level of support. Second, many consumers are hesitant to spend their cash on digital copies of games instead of retail discs. Gamers are used to buying physical copies, and it's difficult to change their minds about this trend overnight. Third, the price of AAA games has risen dramatically over the past several years, meaning less profit per unit sold. Lastly, it takes a tremendous amount of skill to write compelling narratives and dialogue, yet many companies fail to hire professional copywriters specifically tasked with producing engaging press releases and commercials. As a result, many aspiring writers are forced to settle for jobs outside of this field altogether.
If you look beyond the hype, however, you might notice that gaming could actually be a fantastic option for budding writers. For example, many people buy multiple copies of a single title just so they can brag about owning the latest edition to friends and family. When you combine this fact with the high demand for quality commentary regarding recent releases, you begin to understand why so many people are eager to share their thoughts via blogs.
I'm going to go ahead and assume you're familiar with search engine optimization techniques, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this article now. Search engines send potential customers directly to specific webpages whenever they type keywords related to whatever product or service you provide. Since gaming is constantly changing and evolving, finding relevant topics to write about on a regular basis can prove quite challenging.
For starters, you should aim to produce unique articles centered around particular aspects of the hobby itself. Whether that means discussing a controversial topic such as loot boxes, or focusing on mechanics such as stat balancing, you should always strive to stand above the rest in terms of providing valuable insights to your followers.
Next thing you should know is that, unlike non-gaming publications, most of your traffic tends to come from organic searches. Therefore, you should invest extra energy into building strong relationships with current subscribers and growing your following organically. This strategy is known as SEO (search engine optimization), and allows you to attract visitors to your blog without paying a dime in advertisements.
Lastly, you should never underestimate the power of video. Video platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, and Twitch bring in millions of views daily, allowing you to reach potentially hundreds of thousands of prospective subscribers. Simply upload short clips highlighting interesting points about various subjects and watch the numbers rise naturally. You can also incorporate pictures and GIFs in order to spice things up.
Many people believe that traditional forms of journalism are dying and therefore struggle to adapt to modern times. But contrary to popular belief, blogging hasn't died off completely. Bloggers continue to be hugely influential across the world, despite the emergence of alternative news outlets such as Buzzfeed and Vox. Why is this? Well, the answer lies in the nature of blogging itself. Most bloggers generally possess little experience reporting professionally, leaving them open to mistakes. They also tend to avoid politics entirely, opting instead to write about local events occurring in their hometown. Because of this, bloggers are typically viewed as trustworthy sources of information, regardless of how inaccurate they happen to be.
That being said, if you plan to earn lots of money from your posts, you should stick to covering games extensively. Not only does this require vast amounts of research, but it requires constant updates due to rapidly shifting trends. If you intend to solely rely on advertisement revenue, you should consider keeping your content relatively general. Although this method may eventually yield results, it may take longer than sticking to a narrow subject matter.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.