The gaming community is one of the largest YouTube communities and has a lot of scope. It is competitive and has a huge target audience. New creators may find it challenging to make it to the top as gaming YouTubers, but that doesn’t mean that it is impossible. It would help if you had the right software to focus on your target audience and grab whatever opportunity you had to earn more views.
This article will explore how to start a YouTube gaming channel in 2021 and make it a success.
1. Decide on a niche
Before you get started as a gaming YouTuber, you should be clear on your niche or the games you will be streaming. Below are the following niches you may find in YouTube gaming communities.
* Tutorials
If you are a professional gamer, then this one’s for you. A considerable part of your audience is on YouTube trying to learn the art of gaming, and a professional like you will be the right fit for them. Stream walkthroughs or guide your viewers in the first person. Make sure your content is relevant with on-point commentary to engage and grow your audience.
* Break records
Do you have a thing for breaking records? If you are passionate about breaking world records, you have the edge over other gamers.
* Reviews
Are you good at analyzing games? Do you get asked about games and which ones to play? It is a sign that you are a good reviewer. A lot of gamers are on YouTube, trying to figure out what game to play next. Make sure that your review videos are informative, explicit, and supported by proper evidence.
* Livestream
If you are an everyday gamer, then you should consider live-streaming. Live-streaming has gained popularity since Ninja Streaming on Twitch achieved success. The top games that are streamed live are The Legend of Zelda, Minecraft, and Phasmophobia.
2. Pick a game to focus on
It is undoubtedly tempting to explore every game when you start a YouTube channel. However, you will be lost with no precise aim. Furthermore, you may lose followers if you keep switching between games. For example, if you focus on Among Us and then switch to Minecraft content after a couple of months, you may lose whatever audience you have built through Among Us videos.
If you are here to grow your gaming channel, here’s a piece of advice for you. Choose one game and stick to it. YouTube’s algorithm is sophisticated but rewards consistency. If the algorithm knows you’re a gaming creator making videos about Among Us, it’ll recommend your videos to like-minded viewers. Additionally, you should focus on new features like stories and shorts on YouTube. Also, you can look for opportunities to buy YouTube Shorts likes on Increditools to get more likes.
Do not run toward all your passions at once. It does not mean you have to stop playing other games, but play only one in your gaming channel to bulk up content.
3. Get the right equipment
Below are some of the gaming equipment that you may require.
* Console or PC
PS5, Xbox One, and PC/Mac are some of the leading choices for gaming hardware. It is suggested that you use a PC since you can record, edit, and transfer your videos from one centralized location. Download screen recording software of the highest quality and editing software. Although consoles have advanced features and flexibility, you can’t directly stream videos from your PS5 or Xbox One to YouTube. Investing in a good gaming PC will go a long way when building a YouTube gaming channel.
* Camera
Your built-in camera is not enough for streaming. Instead, choose a webcam with intuitive controls.
* Mics and headphones
How are you going to make witty commentary without mics and headphones? You can use your smartphone’s audio recorder if you are pre-recording your video. Make sure that the quality is good and people can hear and understand without distortion or clipping.
* Capture software and devices
With a professional video capture device and software, you can give your audience high-definition visuals.
* Editing tool
It would help if you had a professional video editing tool, or you could also use games video editors to edit your gaming videos.
4. Start building your YouTube channel.
Think of a unique but straightforward name for your YouTube gaming channel. You do not have to commit to the name and can change it later on. Also, create a content schedule for consistency. Although, you do not need to post a video daily to keep up with YouTube’s algorithm. You can choose a day in the week and post a video each week. In this way, YouTube will notice your consistency, and YouTube will start recommending your videos to like-minded gamers.
Add informative descriptions. Your descriptions should explain what the video is about. Your descriptions will help your videos get ranked on the search results page. Also, include links to your social media channels to connect and engage with your viewers.
Lastly, add eye-catching, high-quality thumbnails. Thumbnails are the first thing that a viewer sees before clicking on your video. Your thumbnails determine if your video is clickable or not. Your thumbnail should be clear and convey the central theme of your video. Add text and animation for creativity.
5. Participate in online gaming communities
It is challenging to come up with new video ideas, especially when you are just starting. Participating in online gaming communities will inspire you to generate ideas. Moreover, you can even market your YouTube channel to other gamers in the community. You can also build your community over time. Share your videos with your friends and family and ask them to spread the word. Ask for feedback and work on it. Include CTA’s at the end of every video and ask your viewers to like, share, and subscribe to your videos and channel.
To conclude, you need to be prepared before starting a YouTube channel. Make sure that you have decided on your niche and have the right gear to get started. Starting a YouTube gaming channel may sound like a lot of work, but it will surely pay off in the end with consistency.