Video games are one of the most enduring hobbies across the world. In fact, over 3.2 billion people across the globe play video games. However, with millions of gaming channels also vying for attention, the competition can be really stiff.
How do you stand out? Let alone go viral? Here are some tips to grow your gaming channel on YouTube and build a loyal community around your niche.
- Focus On Your Target Audience, Not a Particular Game
With more and more people putting a lot of emphasis on ‘finding your niche’, it can be tempting to try to niche down too hard and zoom in on a particular game or title. For example, you may be tempted to create a YouTube channel to talk about just Super Mario. Although that may also work (especially if that’s what you’re most passionate about), it’s best if you focus on what your target audience represents. For example, you could define your target audience as ‘people who love ‘90s video games’. This way, you can have more room for fun and creativity while resonating with a specific target audience.
- Mind the click-through rate
A better click-through rate always translates to more views on YouTube. In order to attract attention, you need to focus on creating enticing YouTube titles and thumbnails. Your thumbnails don’t have to be fancy– they just have to be simple yet interesting. You can use graphic design tools like PosterMyWall to find gaming templates for all genres and customize them in minutes. Add text that can quickly explain your video’s value. Your title should also be juicy, relevant, and SEO-friendly (if you want to rank on search too).
- Focus on retention and watch time
Audience retention and watch time are two other big metrics that can help YouTube notice and promote your content. The goal is simple: keep viewers watching for longer (ideally until the end). To do that, you need to make your introductions short and entertaining– the first 15 seconds is critical. You can also incentivize viewers to stay till the end by giving them something to look forward to like a big news or announcement. You can also keep the audience engaged by adopting a better editing style and adding more visuals and ‘pattern interrupts’. Just add value while keeping the viewers engaged and monitor analytics to learn some crucial insights for constant improvement.
- Get the Right Equipment for Your Gaming Channel
Gaming channels ideally should have a smooth gameplay as well as clear video and audio. Therefore, getting the right equipment for your gaming channel can go a long way. You’re most likely adding voiceovers to your videos, so having a good microphone is non-negotiable. You would also need reliable screen-recording software to capture all the action. Other gears you need to secure are your digital camera, lighting equipment, and even a green screen for live streaming.
- Turn Gaming Trends Into YouTube Videos
Find trending topics and ride the waves of their popularity. Whether it’s gaming news, pop culture, holidays or anything relevant and interesting, capitalize on them to attract more views and traction.
- Experiment with YouTube Shorts
People love bite-sized entertainment, especially the gaming community. Make sure to feature those gut-busting or hilarious moments during your gameplay or if you run out of funny things to share, create some 60-second tutorials or quick explaners. Feel free to experiment and see what works.
- Mind SEO of your videos
YouTube is by and large a search engine. If you want consistent traction for your videos, you would want to rank on search. To do that, you need to understand SEO and use keywords to your advantage. Add the right keywords in your title, tags, and description, and strive to make both viewers and search engines understand and love your content.
- Work with other YouTubers in that niche
To expand your audience, collaborating with other creators is a great strategy– plus it can be loads of fun. Being part of a strong network within the gaming community can also help you tap more opportunities like cross-promotion, joint ventures, or even sponsorships.
- Establish Your Own Voice/Identity
Just let your personality shine and have fun! People will easily remember and connect with you and your channel if you remain true to your own voice and identity. If viewers can feel like your image and message are clear, cohesive, and engaging, they’re more likely to subscribe, engage, and remain loyal.
Building a community and growing a gaming channel on YouTube takes time and consistency. Just continue to publish on a regular basis and make small improvements in every video.
If you feel like your thumbnails need some work, give PosterMyWall a try. If your videos are not ranking, invest in keyword research tools or take your time understanding how it works. There are technicalities to think about, but the most important thing is you continue pursuing what you love and improving one video at a time.
