If you’re a gamer, nothing sounds better than making money off of gaming. Imagine playing your favorite games: BG3, God of War, Dragon’s Dogma – or any game you like – and getting paid for it.
You’re entering a massively popular niche, so you’ll need to know how to get views on a YouTube gaming channel to make this venture profitable.
But imagine making $29,437 in the first five months of the year like the one channel in our guide did from just gaming. You’ll need to keep in mind:
- RPM will vary from one channel to the next
- Views are the primary metric you’ll monitor to get paid on YouTube
If you’re not focusing on views and followers, you won’t make money. We have guides to help you reach 50k subscribers, and if you adhere to the tips below, you’ll be able to rack up tons of views.
1. Buy YouTube Views
When you buy views, you’ll get more people to see your content and it often has a cascading effect, leading to additional organic views. We have view packages that range from 500 to 1 million views.
And each view you receive will be from a real account.
If you choose Viralyft for your YouTube views, you benefit in a few ways:
- 100% real, genuine views
- 4 – 6-day delivery time
- Option to split views
You can send YouTube views to a single video or spread them over multiple ones. If you purchase one of our higher packages of 5k views or higher, we recommend splitting them among multiple videos for safe measure.
Our vetted views are authentic, provide lasting results and may even engage with your videos if they’re high quality.
For an immediate boost in views for your gaming channel, buying views may be the best option. And while this method will work well, it’s time to strengthen your channel further with content that people want to see.
2. Have a Plan for Your Videos
Coming up with video ideas for a gaming channel requires a plan. How many people do you know who want to start a YouTube account, but they always say, “I don’t know what to post?”
A lot.
If you don’t have a plan, you’re putting your channel’s future at risk. Creating a plan for your channel requires a strategic approach that you can break down into the following:
- Plan: Gaming audiences want to be entertained, so, how will you meet this demand? Do you want to show a playthrough, comment on gameplay or do something else? You need a basic plan.
- Create a Rollercoaster: You have a plan, but it’s time to develop deep connections with your audience and hit on their emotions. You can do this by comparing the gameplay to an iconic title or even talking about the pain points people are complaining about.
We recommend that you sit down and come up with an extensive plan for your channel. Spend time determining the titles that you want to focus on and see what you can offer differently in these videos than other creators.
Naturally, your channel will have a lot of overlap with others in the gaming niche, but with the right angle, you’ll have an easy time trying to get views on your YouTube gaming channel.
3. Create Content from Beta Invite Games
YouTubers who can produce truly unique content get views. Gamers can follow trends, such as a new game’s release, and use it to their advantage. You can get more views on a YouTube gaming channel if you have beta access to games.
And your access can mean:
- Tons of new subscribers
- Massive views
But you need to be very cautious and ensure you’re not under a non-disclosure agreement. Make sure your videos aren’t breaking any legal agreements with the developer.
Some devs will not allow you to post videos from beta because the game is unpolished, and your video may negatively impact sales.
When in doubt, simply reach out to the company and read through their terms to learn if you can create videos for YouTube about the beta version.
4. Create Clickbait Titles
You spend a lot of time creating videos people will love watching, but no one may click on them if the title is not enticing. You want to create clickbait titles in the gaming niche because that’s what your audience will gravitate towards.
Adding in power words to your title can make a world a difference, such as:
- Challenging
- Colossal
- Level up
- Ultimate
- Unrivalled
You want to create a title that makes viewers interested in learning more about your video. “HIDDEN Area in XYZ Game Leads to Secret Boss” will get a ton of clicks versus a simple title, such as “Playthrough of XYZ game.”
Create a series of titles and see which one you think will resonate with your audience the most.
Remember, you’re creating content for a specific audience and not just for a certain game.
5. Focus on Your Audience – Not a Specific Game
Who is your audience? Some gaming channels on YouTube are massive, and the creator can create videos on any topic he or she likes because they know that millions of subscribers will watch the video.
But if you’re not at the echelon of the industry, you want to focus on your audience, not your game.
- What type of content does your audience prefer?
- What games does your audience want to see?
- How old is your audience?
- What genre does your audience prefer?
If you run a channel on JRPGs, chances are, your audience won’t be as interested in a video on Tekken 8. You can get a lot of views from a specific gaming video, but if it’s too far out from what your subscribers expect from your channel, it can cause you to lose subscribers.
Focus on your audience, not a specific game, and you’ll have an easier time getting views on your YouTube channel.
6. Skip the “Let’s Play” Content
You, as many gamers opt to do, may be thinking you’ll create “let’s play” content. What is “let’s play” content? It’s a lot like it sounds:
- Fire up the game you want to play
- Play it
- People watch
But imagine creating a video like this for CS:GO. You might be able to create great content, but there are tens of thousands of others with the same idea.
“Let’s play” videos flood YouTube, so if you do create these videos, they’re less likely to get a lot of views.
If you’re set on creating “let’s play” content, you’ll want to:
- Create a unique story about your playthrough
- Determine what you’ll show your audience different
And if you’re short on ideas, you can follow our next point to find some that are great and exactly what your audience wants to see.
7. Join Gaming Communities to Get Content Ideas
One overlooked way to get more views is to join gaming communities. Joining and being active in these communities will help you network and also give you some ideas for content.
By being an active member of a community, you can develop relationships with members of the gaming community. And they’ll be more likely to watch your content if they know you have a channel.
You can also use topics in forums as inspiration for your videos. Don’t copy anyone’s ideas. Put your own twist on an idea.
Communities are great places to build awareness of your channel, but make sure that you’re doing it in a natural and relevant way. Don’t just promote your channel. Offer insights and answer questions. If you have relevant videos, you might share them or talk about your channel if it makes sense.
The key is to focus on building relationships and a name for yourself within the community.
8. Create Attention-Grabbing Thumbnails
If your video thumbnails are an afterthought, then it’s time to start changing your strategy. In fact, your thumbnails are one of the most important parts of your content creation process.
Why?
Because they’re the first thing people will see when they come across your videos and will convince people to click on your content.
How do you create attention-grabbing thumbnails? Here are some tips:
- Add matter-of-fact statements. For example, “This game is the worst I’ve ever played.” A statement like that is sure to pique the interest of viewers.
- Add first-hand experiences. For example, “How I defeated this boss in 2 minutes.” People will want to know how you achieved such a feat.
- Play on emotions. People are more likely to click on video thumbnails that show human faces and emotions. Make sure your emotions are relevant to your content if you’re going this route.
9. Create More Searchable Content
Creating great content is essential, but if you want to get more views, try creating searchable content. What does that mean? It means creating videos that people will be actively searching for, such as:
- Tutorials
- Game hacks
- Walkthroughs
- Let’s plays
If someone is stuck on a puzzle in Balder’s Gate 3, can’t defeat a boss in Elden Ring or needs strategies for Fortnight, they will search YouTube for the answers. And if your title and description are properly optimized, then searchers may find your video.
The more views you can get this way, the better. Many of those viewers will become subscribers and watch your content regularly.
10. Invest in the Right Equipment
To compete in the gaming niche and get views, you need to have the right equipment. Poor-quality content won’t get you far or keep the attention of your viewers. The great news is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to make your videos look great.
While you can certainly choose whatever equipment you want, here are some basic items that most gamer YouTubers will need:
- A high-quality camera. Webcams are a practical option if you’re filming from your PC, and you can use software like YouCam to add real-time effects that will ramp up the quality of your videos. Many gamers use their phones to film their videos, but a DSLR would be the better option if you’re not using a webcam.
- Professional video editing software, which will allow you to piece together your clips and add titles and music. Some great options include PowerDirector, Corel VideoStudio and Pinnacle Studio 25.
- Ring light. Lighting is everything in video creation, so invest in a good ring light and consider where you’ll film. Here’s a great video about lighting to check out.
11. Focus on Building a Community
One effective strategy to get views is to build a community. It’s a strategy that will take time to pay off, but it will be worth the investment.
Why?
Because an engaged community is more likely to watch your videos and share them with other people. People want to feel like they are a part of something, and you can give them that by creating a space where your viewers and subscribers feel welcome.
Building a community won’t happen overnight, but you can start laying the foundation by:
- Interacting with your audience. Reply to their comments.
- Speak to your audience directly when creating your videos.
- Host more livestreams and have conversations in real-time.
You may even want to consider collaborations with other YouTubers to strengthen the community you’ve built.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Top YouTube Gaming Niches?
Gaming itself is a huge but broad niche on YouTube. If you want to break into this competitive niche, you may want to choose a subniche.
Some of the most popular subniches include:
- Speedrunning: Complete all or parts of a game as quickly as possible. To excel at speedrunning, you need to be a highly skilled gamer, and you need to choose the right games. Classic titles like Super Mario 64 or Zelda are perfect for this type of channel. Channels in this niche gained more than 1 billion views in 2021 alone.
- Walkthroughs: Show players how to complete tough puzzles, which strategies to use to defeat bosses, or how to get through parts of a game they’re stuck on. Viewers love walkthroughs because they solve their problems or give them a peek at games they’ve been wanting to play.
- Let’s Play: A super popular niche on YouTube but a highly competitive one. The idea is simple – you record yourself playing a game and viewers follow along with you.
- Livestreaming: There are quite a few gamers who do their livestreaming exclusively on YouTube.
- Reviews and News: Gaming-related news and reviews are another popular gaming niche. You can share updates on games being developed and even review new titles. This type of channel can be a great option for affiliate marketing.
These are some of the top gaming niches on YouTube, but you can also carve out your own little niche.
How Do I Monetize My Gaming Channel?
There are many ways to monetize a gaming YouTube channel. Ads are just one option, but they’re the simplest way to start making money with your channel.
You’ll need to ensure that you meet YouTube’s criteria first:
- Have at least 1,000 subscribers
- Have at least 4,000 watch hours within the last 12 months
- Comply with the platform’s monetization policies and community guidelines
Along with ads, you can also monetize your channel through:
- Brand Sponsorships, where brands pay you to create videos that seamlessly integrate the brand’s messages into your content while appealing to your audience.
- Affiliate Marketing, where you promote products or services that will interest your viewers and earn commission for each sale. For example, you can review gaming PCs or even VPNs. These are both products and services that would interest your audience.
- Sell your own Merch or Turn on Shopping. Selling your own hats, t-shirts or whatever other merchandise you want will allow you to monetize your channel and keep more of the profits.
You can also make money directly from YouTube through Super Thanks, Super Chat and Super Stickers.
Are Gaming YouTube Channels Profitable?
Yes! Gaming YouTube channels may not have the same RPMs as finance or business channels, but they’re still profitable.
And on YouTube, you can reach a much bigger and more global audience compared to gaming-related streaming platforms.
RPMs can vary widely. In this Reddit thread, one YouTuber says they’re an outlier and earned 8-12 in Q4. Normally, they get 6-7. Others in the thread were earning anywhere from 0.11 to 2.58.
The key to making your gaming channel profitable is to create longer videos. Aim to create videos that are 15-30 minutes long. The content of your videos will also play a role in your RPM.
