So you’ve decided to become an online gamer. Congrats! Now you need to figure out how to make money off of your hobby. In this article, we’ll discuss the best ways to make money from playing video games online. Whether you’re looking to make a few bucks or you want to turn your hobby into a profitable business, these tips will help get you there.
Create a Blog
Blogs are an incredibly important part of any website. Regardless of whether you’re a professional writer or just want to write about your everyday life, having a blog is a great way to increase your web traffic and gain credibility on the internet. Writing isn’t everyone’s forte, so if you can find someone to write content for you (either financially or contentedly), do so. The income of this blog will depend on the number of visitors it gets, so make sure you put in the effort to increase its readership.
Establishing a blog around your online gaming hobby will not only allow you to write about the games you love, but it can also be a great source of income. The internet is full of bloggers who are making a living off content related to their favorite topics. If you want to become one of them, consider starting a blog around the things you know and love. It doesn’t have to be video games — what is known as a “video game blog” is a relatively new niche that has taken the internet by storm. Established bloggers like NinjaPirateNicole and hobbyist game bloggers like Alawar Studio and RaphFeedWriter make a living through various affiliate marketing strategies by promoting products related to video games and technology.
YouTube Gaming
YouTube isn’t just for music videos anymore. Video gaming has become such a popular genre that YouTube channels like “TheBoleyMovie” and “Nerdist” specialize in covering video games. And, as you might expect, many of these videos are monetized. That is, they contain an advertisement at the end.
However, just because the videos are advertisement-free doesn’t mean they’re free. Creators of YouTube channels like this usually have to provide a significant amount of content for their audience, and the advertisements they show are usually “skimmed” (i.e. short clips) rather than the standard YouTube video ad.
As a content creator, you have the opportunity to make money off of YouTube through two different avenues. First, you can make money off of the affiliate sales related to the products you mention in your videos. For example, if you talk about a game called “X” and link to its Amazon page, you’ll earn a commission when someone clicks that link and buys something from Amazon.
The second way to make money off of YouTube videos is through the platform’s “YouTube Partner” program. YouTube Partners allow creators to make money through different online marketing strategies, including selling and displaying ads, conducting polls, and rewarding their audience with gifts and discounts.
Blasting News Out To The Masses
Speaking of rewards, one of the most lucrative ways to make money from games is to find a way to give gamers free stuff. As a gamer, you know how difficult it can be to keep track of all the news and happenings related to your hobby. To solve this problem, you can start a website or blog that focuses on covering the news about games. Doing so can potentially give you a competitive advantage over other niche websites that don’t cover gaming as much. Think of all the game-related blogs out there that haven’t been updated in years. You can buy lists of top website visitors on any given day, which can help you find people interested in playing your favorite games.
The income of this site will depend on the number of visitors for a given day, so make sure you put in the effort to increase its readership.
Shop At Gamestop And Other Retailers
There are actually entire websites and blogs dedicated to helping gamers purchase the games they want. You can find the best deals on games at retail stores like Gamestop. And if you’re looking for a retail store that doesn’t deal with digital goods, then you can stop by a physical store and have the joy of playing a physical copy of the game. More and more retailers are creating special events where they offer deep discounts on games, allowing you to purchase a quality copy at a cheaper price.
Create A Patreon Account
Patreon is similar to YouTube in that it is a video platform that allows users to support content creators financially, and it is designed specifically for gamers. Unlike YouTube, however, Patreon allows content creators to decide the amount that they want to charge for their work, as well as the amount that they want to charge their audience. Additionally, creators can specify the format their audience should pay in. For example, they can request that patrons contribute via PayPal, or they can specify that they want patrons to contribute via credit cards on file.
Patreon is a great option for gamers who want to make money off of their hobbies, as well as for content creators who want to make a living through their craft. Established creators like “Ninja” and “Raph” make a significant amount of money through their Patreon accounts, which allows them to pursue new projects and give their audience what they want without worrying about the finances. As a gamer, you can help support these creators financially through a Patreon account.
Sign Up For A Game-Making Platform
While YouTube, Patreon, and other similar platforms offer viable avenues for gamers to make money, none of these platforms allow creators to directly create games. If you want to take your hobby of gaming and want to make money from it, you can consider trying out a game development platform. These are websites, usually run by large companies, that help professional and amateur game developers create games.
The two most popular platforms are Unity and Unreal, with a third, Gamestorm, being somewhat of a hybrid between the two. The choice of platform will depend on what kind of games you want to create. If you’re looking to create mobile games, then Unity’s mobile integration and game engine are unmatched. However, if you’re looking to create a First Person Shooter (FPS), then Unreal’s powerful engine is the go-to option. The advantage of these platforms is that you don’t need to learn how to program or create games from scratch. You can literally point the platform to your favorite games and let it do the hard work while you take a break, come back, and enjoy your work later.
Monetize A Youtube Channel
Besides YouTube, Twitch is one of the biggest and most popular platforms for gamers. Similar to YouTube, Twitch doesn’t just allow content creators to upload content, but it also allows them to conduct live chats with fans and make money from advertising. You can create a channel for gamers and can use the platform’s chat features to interact with your audience. Additionally, the platform provides analytics that can help you find your audience and know how to best engage with them.
The income from this channel won’t be significant, but it can be something. If you’ve got a decent following, you can use the platform’s built-in audience to make some extra cash.
Choosing how to make money off of your hobby is not easy. However, with the right planning and research, you can ensure that you choose the right ways to make money from your video games. With a little effort and imagination, you can find the ways to make money online that will allow you to pursue your passion for gaming.