Of all the sources of income online, including playing online pokies for real money in Australia etc., one that has become very popular recently is streaming video games. Many gamers are using platforms like Twitch to stream their content live to the Internet. Since the popularity of this activity has increased over the past few years, many people have come forward asking if it’s possible to make money streaming games.
How Can You Make Money Streaming Games?
The answer to this question would be yes; you can make money online streaming games, but you need to know how to do it before trying out this venture yourself. If you just turn on your webcam and start playing a game, you will have little chance to see any success in monetizing this skill. So not only do you need an audience, but you also need to know what strategies work for this industry so you can succeed with your streaming.
In this article, we’ll talk about five ways you can make money streaming games online, which include the following:
- Monetizing your videos;
- Sponsoring videos and getting fan funding;
- Selling your merchandise;
- Offering your services as a streamer;
- Selling your old games.
Read on!
Monetizing Your Videos
Aside from advertising, this is the most common way of making money on Twitch. At the same time, there are many ways to make more revenue on videos; one popular method is using donations or tips. These tips come in the form of PayPal payments, where viewers can choose to donate a certain amount when they watch your video. So, for example, if your audience enjoys watching you playing games, then they might want to contribute something that will let you continue creating content for them.
Another popular method of making money on Twitch is by signing up for services like StreamLabs, which helps streamers with their monetization needs. This service provides an overlay ad system so users know when they should click ads. It also takes care of donations and subscriptions.
Sponsored Videos and Fan Funding
Another way to make money streaming games is through sponsored videos or fan funding. You can sign up with a company in your niche; in this case, it would be any video games company in general, and they will give you sponsorship opportunities based on your audience size. The more active viewers you have, the higher the companies’ chances of sponsoring gamers like you. Of course, you need to have an audience interested in whatever brand you are being paid to advertise, so think carefully when choosing which product is right for you.
If none of these options seem appealing to you yet, affiliate programs are available, like promoting free games online, where all you need to do is place links or banners within your videos. Then, when someone clicks on one of these links and makes a purchase or subscription, you can get a small percentage of that sale. Just be careful who you choose to partner with because not every affiliate program is worth your time or effort.
Sell Your Merchandise
What’s better than making money while playing video games? Why not earn money while doing both at the same time! Creating your merchandise based on your audience’s likes can motivate them to buy items they will wear proudly. These include T-shirts, posters, or even coffee mugs with something written or printed on them representing your content. If there is already a demand from your fans, then why not give it to them? Of course, this requires some creativity since you need to develop exciting designs and new products regularly.
You can also get creative by creating your custom controllers, for example, and selling them on the Internet. This way, you get to promote your Twitch account while also covering any production costs that come into play when making these kinds of items. You will definitely need some contacts in the gaming industry if you want to expand this service since it takes more than just an idea for something cool to turn out well.
Offer Your Services as a Streamer
Besides just playing video games, many streamers are now offering various services related to their craft online. These include coaching people interested in learning how to become better or providing voiceover work for other channels. You can even create a video series that will show viewers how to fix issues with their computers or give gamers advice on what kind of specs they should be looking for when deciding which components are right for them.
You might also consider streaming as an alternative form of therapy if you have experience in this field. For example, some counsellors are now using Twitch as a way to connect with clients. They use the platform’s chat feature to talk to people, offer advice and encourage them throughout their journey. All you need is just some educational training, speaking skills, and most importantly, the passion required to help others overcome their problems.
Sell Your Old Games
Another way is through selling old games that you no longer play or use. It only works if you have an extensive collection of games since otherwise, there is no point in doing this. There are quite a few gamers out there who make money online by selling their old and used video games on websites like eBay or Amazon. You can also sell your items at local gaming stores, but this might not be as profitable.
Closing
It’s important to mention that although these five options will definitely help you earn money, they require quite a bit of effort before you start seeing any decent income coming your way. Remember, the more time and commitment you put into what you’re doing now, the better off you’ll be later on. Once everything starts coming together, it becomes a part of an everyday routine that you want your activity to be after a while.
Remember, there are also other ways for gamers to make money online besides the ones mentioned here. It really depends on your interests, skills, and most importantly, how far you are willing to go with them. This article only covers five of the most common ideas which can help jump-start your career as an Internet personality since it’s never too late to start working towards something great.