Everything You Need to Know About Becoming a Successful Video Game Live Streamer
If you have a deep passion for video games and you’re hoping to make a bit of money and build up a nice community along the way, streaming can be the perfect way to go. Anyone can do this, and the possibilities are essentially endless since you don’t need to be an expert in any particular game.
While sure, you need to be fairly decent at what you do, and you’re also going to need to have the wit and charm to talk to the people who are choosing to watch your streams, at the end of the day, live streaming (whether it’s video games or not), can open up some great possibilities. So, if you want to step into this, then here’s everything you need to know to become a successful video game live streamer!
Why Try Out Being a Live Streamer?
When it comes to video games, at least, one of the biggest benefits is the fact that you’re getting the opportunity to build a career and reputation off of doing something that you love, and who wouldn’t want to try that out? But the benefit doesn’t just begin and end there either. So here’s why you might want to take a further look into being a video game live streamer.
You Can Play Whatever You Want
This is probably the biggest reason of them all, and it’s the fact that you can pick any game you want. You don’t have to play popular games; if you want to play the classic games on an emulator, you’re more than welcome to. If you’re wanting to focus on speed runs, you’re welcome to. If you want to play flash games or even classic games like Chess, then you can easily do that. In general, you should be able to play any game that you like, and that’s how communities are built up; it’s through authenticity. So, if you’re planning on testing this out, make sure it’s with games that you have a genuine love for.
You’re Pursuing a Passion
One of the primary benefits of becoming a video game live streamer is the opportunity to turn your passion for gaming into a viable career. Instead of viewing gaming as a mere hobby, you can transform it into a full-fledged profession. Getting to have the opportunity to share your enthusiasm for games with others who share the same interests can be immensely fulfilling.
There’s a Community Circling You
When it comes to being on a platform and getting yourself known, one thing that helps push people and keep them going is the potential community that they’ll be building up. In fact, this is often one of the biggest reasons why people go into live streaming or even just post their gameplay online; it’s all due to the immense community that they have and how tight-knit they are. These viewers can become more than just an audience; they become a supportive and loyal online family.
You’ll Have Creative Expression
Live streaming is more than just playing games; it’s a platform for creative expression. Every streamer has the freedom to showcase their unique personality, create their own content, and establish a personal brand. This opens up opportunities for creativity and innovation as you decide how to present your gaming experiences. Oftentimes, there’s this struggle to show who you are and your creativity, but when it comes to creative platforms such as content creation, the more creative, the better. So that’s something you’ll definitely want to keep in mind.
You’ll Have Creative Expression
Live streaming is more than just playing games; it’s a platform for creative expression. Every streamer has the freedom to showcase their unique personality, create their own content, and establish a personal brand. This opens up opportunities for creativity and innovation as you decide how to present your gaming experiences. Oftentimes, there’s this struggle to show who you are and your creativity, but when it comes to creative platforms such as content creation, the more creative, the better. So that’s something you’ll definitely want to keep in mind.
You’ll Be Becoming an Entertainer
Who doesn’t enjoy entertaining? In fact, one reason why people want to show off their gameplay is for the fact that they know they’re entertained by others playing, so why not do it, too? You have the power to entertain, inspire, and make a positive impact on people’s lives. Your streams provide an escape from the daily grind for your viewers, offering them a chance to relax, socialize, and enjoy the gaming world through your eyes. So what’s not to love there?
How Can You Become a Successful Streamer?
When it comes to any sort of content creation, you can’t just immediately expect to just create an account live stream once, create a social media account, post there once, and that be that. It just doesn’t work out that way whatsoever. You can basically say that it’s multifaceted, and there’s a lot of strategic planning that goes into all of it, such as PR, analytics, and just a lot of dedication in general. It’s significantly more work than you might even realize, but at the end of the day, it can be an incredible change of pace, being more than just a hobby but even a potential career.
It’s All About the Platform
So, for starters, you might want to take a look at all the different platforms that are out there. Sure, Twitch is the biggest one, and it’s honestly the most successful one, too, but it isn’t the only one out there. Honestly, selecting the right streaming platform is a pivotal decision. While Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Facebook Gaming are the major players, consider niche platforms if they align with your target audience. Instead of just picking one, it’s best to just go ahead and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each platform before making a choice.
Your Equipment Needs to Be High Quality
One mistake that a lot of streamers make is thinking that any random equipment will do. That microphone from your old earbuds isn’t going to cut it; the same goes for that built-in webcam. In order to produce a professional-quality stream, you’ll need a reliable setup- a high-quality one. This includes a quality microphone, camera, and a powerful PC or gaming console. Don’t forget accessories like a green screen to enhance your presentation. In general, high-quality equipment ensures your viewers have an enjoyable experience.
You Need a Unique Persona
You have to make sure that you stand out from your competition, so essentially, that’s other streamers within a similar niche as you. You can just be yourself if you want, as there have been plenty of people who have had success with having a persona or at least acting slightly different when they do their streams. It’s a way to help separate the personal you from you when you’re in the zone of the game.
But a persona isn’t just how you act; it’s basically your brand, too. This encompasses your username, channel art, logo, and how you interact. The persona should be an authentic representation of yourself, reflecting your gaming style and personality. This consistency helps viewers identify and connect with your brand. It can be a lot of work, but it’s basically needed to help you stick out from the others.
Your Schedule Needs to Be Consistent
Since you’ll be a content creator, you’re going to have to have a good schedule, something you know for a fact that you can keep up with. All content creators need to have a consistent schedule, be it YouTubers, TikTokers, Instagrammers, and even live streamers. There are two reasons for this. Actually, it’s so the algorithm will reward you and show your content more, but it’s also due to the fact that your viewers are going to have an expectation to tune in on you during certain times of the week.
So if you’re stating that you’re going to be live streaming every Thursday evening at 7 p.m., then you need to be sure you can do it. The less you’re able to show up at stated times, the more unreliable you’ll come off, and the fewer followers, views, and engagement you’ll get altogether.
It’s All About the Marketing
Don’t rely solely on your chosen platform to grow your viewership. That’s actually one of the major things that really throws off people from reaching potential success as a streamer. So, you’re going to have to actively promote your channel through social media, collaborate with other streamers, and attend gaming events. Basically, networking and self-promotion are vital aspects of building a successful streaming career. Every streamer does this, every big one at least, so if you want to get up there too, then you’re going to have to do this.
In general, it’s a lot of work getting to the point where you can become a successful streamer, but you can do it. Sure, it’s going to take a lot of planning, a solid strategy, and something you can stay consistent with, but you can do it. It might be rocky at first, but when it comes to success, you have to get through all the hurdles first!
