The 21st century has certainly proved gaming to be a lucrative profession for gamers with the business prowess of savvy entrepreneurs. While finding success as a gaming entrepreneur centers around the activity of gaming, these business-savvy gamers know the secret to monetize their love of gaming. Read on as Pedram Zohrevand shares the best strategies for online gamers looking to cash in.
1. Livestream Yourself Playing
Live Streaming is one of the most effective ways to grow your gaming audience and make money simultaneously. When live streaming, you’ll invite your followers to watch you play your game of choice in real-time. This gives your followers the option to play with you or simply watch you play as they talk to you.
Twitch is the most popular platform for gamers to livestream themselves. While some livestream just for fun, other gamers use the platform to monetize their gameplay. Making money on Twitch is similar to how YouTubers and influencers make money on other platforms. Many choose to include affiliate links to Amazon when playing the game. This will allow you to earn money if followers click through these links.
Similarly, you can make money as you live stream by finding a company to sponsor you. Oftentimes these sponsorships will result in a gift, discount, or cash payment. Similarly, you can also sell merchandise or encourage fans to donate as they watch you play.
2. Create YouTube Videos
Before gamers took to Twitch to livestream, they posted video content on YouTube. YouTube is responsible for making today’s gamer millionaires what they are. Pedram Zohrevand shares that popular gamers that can successfully cultivate their audience on the platform earn several millions of dollars from their video content and ability to sell themselves online.
The best way to use YouTube to make money is to grow your following and engagement to a minimum of 10,000 views. Once you reach this number, you’ll be able to start taking advantage of advertisements on Youtube. At 10,000 clicks, you’ll be able to monetize your cost per impression.
Factors like your channel’s level of popularity, the size of your target audience, and the percentage of your audience that watches your ads all play a role in how much money you’ll earn on YouTube. In addition to making money from your videos, you can also use affiliate links and sponsorships as you would on Twitch.
3. Beta Test Games
In addition to becoming a personality on Twitch and YouTube, another way for you to monetize your gaming career is to become a beta test gamer. In doing this, you’ll be able to beta test new games and provide their creators with your honest feedback. Though you’ll essentially be paid to play games, you may come across games you’re not interested in playing. This job requires that you find the pros and cons of a game and give an honest review once you’re finished.
If you’re interested in beta testing, there are several different companies you can work with. Some of the most popular sites include VMC Global Beta Test Network and PlayTestCloud.
4. Sell In-Game Items
In-game items can also work as a source of income for gamers. Games like World of Warcraft, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike encourage players to profit from their collected in-game items. Simply sell items like skins and weapons to other players to make extra money. Marketplaces like Gameflip and Steam allow gamers to list these items, with the most popular weapons selling upwards of $1,500.
5. Create Guides and Wallkthroughs
Video content isn’t the only type of content gamers can profit from. Many gamers make a good portion of their money by creating guides and walkthroughs online. While there are several free guides already available online, gamers can still make money by creating walk-throughs for games that aren’t as popular.
Games with fewer followers won’t have as many guides published online, making your content the go-to source for gamers interested in learning more about their favorite games. While you can offer your guides for free to attract new followers, you can also sell them on Amazon to make more money.
6. Get a Job as Gaming Support
Another way to monetize your expertise in gaming is to apply to work as gaming support. Gamers that run into issues when playing games typically contact customer support. If you enjoy helping others and know the ins and outs of gameplay, this may be a great position for you. Companies like VMC and Sutherland Global frequently hire gamers for this type of position.
Gaming is still a viable way to earn money online. If you’re new to gaming or a veteran gamer ready to take your skills to the next level, keep these tips in mind as you build your gaming enterprise
