Gaming is bigger than it’s ever been, and if you have a genuine passion for it, there are many ways that you can realistically make a living as a gamer. You might not be able to be an elite player on a pro team or a popular streamer, but you could always start a blog. Building one is extremely simple and can be done on a modest budget. You do have to know what needs to be done for it to generate a good audience and some profit. Here’s how you can start a successful gaming blog in 2021.
Find a Niche
This is probably the most important part. There are thousands of different gaming blogs out there, and if you want to differentiate yourself, you have to find a unique niche. Maybe you’re a fan of a particular gaming era or have inside knowledge about game development. In this case, you could start an expert blog when you take people into the inner workings of building video games, for instance.
Or maybe you like one specific type of gaming? If you’re a fan of online gambling, for example, you could start a blog where you offer tips on how to pick good casinos, strategy guides for certain games, or cover news. You could also record some of your gameplay and showcase it on your blog.
All you would need is to do your research and look at what others are doing in the space. If you’re looking for ideas, you could check out a site like Online Casino. Explore this range of guides, and one of them could help you find out which casinos are the best and are worth being covered. You can also check the bonuses the casino offers, information on the gameplay, and things such as customer service and withdrawals.
The more specific the niche, the better. You’ll be able to target a specific audience that might be underserved while still being able to cover general topics related to your niche.
Choose a Platform and Hosting
Building a blog is extremely simple. All you need is a domain name, hosting, and a platform for powering the website. WordPress is a great option if you’re looking for a platform. It’s easy to use and can be set up in minutes even if you have no experience.
If you don’t have a lot of technical knowledge, go with a hosting provider that has a one-click installation application for WordPress. Also, beware of shared hosting packages. They might be dirt cheap, but they tend to have uneven performance. That’s because other people on the server could end up throttling your connection. You could even experience shortages as a result. So, get a virtual dedicated server at the very least.
Build a Community
Even if you don’t intend to concentrate on video content for the moment, it’s always a good idea to start a YouTube channel. It will work in synergy with your blog. You can use the blog to build traction for videos and use videos and your channel to advertise your blog.
We also suggest that you get active on online forums and groups. Go on competing blogs and get to posting as well. Forums are great as they allow you to build a genuine connection with people. Once you are known in a certain community, they will be more likely to follow you. Some will find your blog organically after looking at your bio. The goal is to be active but interesting while offering help and valuable insight whenever you can.
Decide on the Monetisation Method
Monetisation is perhaps the toughest part of running a gaming blog. There are many options that you can use there. The simplest would be to sign up for Google AdSense. This will allow you to post text ads on your website and get paid every time someone clicks on them.
That’s not the best way to make money from a gaming channel, however. The best methods would be to use affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and sponsored ads. Affiliate marketing is the best option if you’re getting started as people are not likely to sponsor someone that isn’t established.
Many affiliate programs cater to gamers. Amazon and eBay are obvious choices, but you can also look at specialised retailers like NewEgg. Clickbank also has interesting stuff on there. They have a few strategy guides that you could review on your blog. You could post reviews or weave the link naturally into your content.
You have to make sure, however, that you let people know that there is an affiliate link in your posts for compliance. Also, try to be as truthful as possible in your reviews. People will appreciate you for it and are more likely to listen to your future recommendations.
Collaborate with Other Bloggers and Influencers
You also have to form strategic alliances with other people around your niche. Finding great blogs you could post on could give you a lot of visibility. You should also look at a few YouTubers that are still building their audience. Trying to reach the big names might be difficult, but a smaller YouTuber with an audience similar to yours may be open to collaborating with you on content or even shout you in one of their videos.
Be Consistent
You also have to get as many subscribers as you can on your blog and deliver. Try and keep a consistent schedule and post often or they’ll eventually forget you. If you want to know what the right frequency should be, subscribe to a few similar blogs. Check how many times they post and what type of posts they make. This will give you a rough idea of how to build your strategy.
These are all essential tips that will increase your chances of being successful with your gaming blog. Do your research and look for as much inspiration as you can before getting started. Good luck!
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