Are you a gaming enthusiast interested in turning your favorite pastime into an earnings opportunity? If so, a live-stream gaming business is right up your alley. As live streaming has become an increasingly popular entertainment source, many gamers have found a way to draw large audiences and get paid to do what they love. Although several factors contribute to your financial success, a live-stream gaming business is a fun and rewarding experience with the potential to set you up for life.
If you love video games, chances are you’ve viewed your fair share of live streams where gamers put their skills to the test to conquer some of the most popular games on the market. However, watching a live stream is a lot different than hosting one. You probably have many questions about getting started and, more importantly, maximizing your earnings. Although there are various approaches to consider, these tips provide a great place to begin.
Choose a Gaming Niche
As with any business venture, defining your niche is a must. A niche is a primary business focus or specialization. Identifying your gaming niche is a foundational concept that assists you with everything from brand development and operations to marketing and monetization.
Your gaming niche should align with your area of expertise and help you stand out in an otherwise overly saturated industry. Think about what you’re good at and the types of games you enjoy playing most. Then research to see whether your chosen niche has a large following and earnings potential.
Map Out Your Content
The next step is to develop a plan for your content. While you could begin streaming haphazardly, this random approach may not suit your target audience. You may decide that all you want to do is compete against online users and stream it for your followers. However, there are other options to make your content stand out. For example, you could host mini-competitions, teach your audience to beat challenging levels, or play and review the latest games and tech on the market.
Select a Streaming Platform
Gamers have multiple streaming options; however, the most popular platforms include Twitch, Youtube Gaming, and Facebook Gaming. Be that as it may, you must select the platform that works best for you. Consider your niche, target audience, content ideas, and experience. For instance, if you’re interested in tapping into a mainstream audience and have moderate to advanced experience utilizing streaming platforms, you might prefer Twitch. However, if you’re a streaming newbie who desires to develop a more intimate community YouTube or Facebook gaming may be more appropriate.
Invest in Technology
Now you’re ready to begin investing in software and hardware for your live-stream gaming business. At the bare minimum, you’ll need software encoders, a gaming PC or laptop, a camera, microphones, speakers, and headphones. You can use comparison shopping strategies to help you find high-quality tech at an affordable price.
Furniture and Accessories
It’s time to put the final touches on your gaming space with some furniture and accessories. You’ll need a comfortable chair, a desk, green screens, and lights to start.
While an office chair would suffice, gaming chairs offer more health benefits. They’re ergonomically designed to provide gamers with long-lasting comfort. They have more cushion, better neck and back support, and even include features like speakers, vibration, and lights.
When choosing a desk, consider your gaming needs and tech. You’ll want a large enough desk to hold your PC, laptop, monitors, speakers, and microphones. If you’re partnering with friends, you might prefer a workstation pod that comfortably seats anywhere from two to eight gamers.
As you search for lighting, evaluate the features (bulb type, indoor/outdoor use, dimming, cool/warm lighting) and user experience to make the best decision.
While greenscreens are optional, they eliminate the need to decorate or expose your gaming space. They also enable you to change your backdrop to make your content more engaging.
Final Thoughts
Once you’ve completed the steps above, you’re ready to start making money from online gaming. All that’s left to do is to monetize your streaming channel, record content, and market to your target audience. With patience, determination, and creativity, it won’t be long before you start raking in cash.
