1. What’s a YouTube Gaming Channel?
YouTube gaming channels can be loosely-defined as any channel that covers gaming, but that’s a bit
too general a way to describe a diverse array of content creators. YouTube gaming channels do all
kinds of different things: some create gaming-inspired comedic skits, others focus on in-game
commentaries, others dive in deep with criticism and analysis, others speculate and theorize about a
game’s lore, others serve as tutorials…
It’s a fairly wide spectrum. Most YouTube gaming channels can fit into one of the following
categories:
● “Show” channels are a diverse group, but typically focus on a personality and share
common themes. Videos are presented as part of a series, and sometimes multiple series
exist on the same channel.
● Commentary channels. These channels are focused on gameplay content with background
narration. This is a flexible format that can crossover with others, but these channels usually
have commentaries discussing the game itself or the creator’s personal life.
● In-game comedy channels. Some channels will create comedic skits within the constraints
of the game and its tools. This is especially common with titles like Team Fortress 2 and
Grand Theft Auto V: two games with in-depth replay/cinematic editors.
● Out-of-game comedy channels. Meanwhile, other channels will make comedic skits about
games without using the games themselves. This includes the popular video game-themed
raps and “in real life” skits.
● Informational/trivia channels. These channels focus on Did You Knows about video
games, video game consoles and their development. Content like what you find on these
channels can be found on others, too, but channels hosting exclusively this kind of content
are becoming more popular.
● Tutorial/raw gameplay channels. These channels host either tutorials on game
mechanics/improving with those mechanics (this can crossover with commentary) or raw
gameplay. Raw gameplay channels are a rarer breed, however, since without commentaries
or significant editing it may fall outside the range of “fair use”.
Our YouTube Gaming Channel Tips
15. Produce Regular Content
To stay relevant on YouTube, you have to produce content on a regular basis. Due to the way that
YouTube’s algorithims work, you become more popular based on the amount of time people spend
watching your videos. Focus on high-engagement videos that can be released relatively regularly-
smaller channels can start at a weekly pace, but as a channel grows it’s a good idea to release two
or three pieces of content per week.
14. Focus On Audience Engagement
2. By nature, gaming is an interactive medium. By extension, this entry in our YouTube gaming channel
tips is about utilizing that. Your viewers will regularly comment on your videos and attempt to contact
you through social media outlets or YouTube itself. Respond to user comments on your channel, and
pay close attention to the words of your loyal subscribers.
13. Consider An MCN
An MCN, or Multi-Channel-Network, is an easy way for YouTubers to gain access to helpful
resources for their growth, as well as ad revenue, YouTube partnership and copyright protection. We
wrote an article about this topic over here. MCNs are their own beast, and that’s a little too much to
cram into this article on YouTube gaming channel tips.
12. (Or Learn Your Rights)
MCNs aren’t the only option for getting partnered as a gaming channel. By properly studying Fair
Use on YouTube, you can enjoy posting gaming content while receiving one hundred percent of your
own ad revenue through Google AdWords and YouTube RED. Even if you choose to go with an
MCN, it’d be wise to learn the rules, as an MCN doesn’t protect you from a copyright strike if you’re
in blatant violation.
11. Get Custom Channel Art/Profile
Think of it like this: you dress up for a job interview because you want to get the job. This is called
presentation, and this YouTube gaming channel tip is all about that. Gamers enjoy great-looking
graphics in their games, and video purveyors are used to tight editing and slick graphics. Your
channel should have a nice avatar and banner that fits you and your content.
10. Consider Intros/Outros For Your Videos
Intros/outros are popular on YouTube. In general, you want intros to be short title cards that include
your name and imagery related to the video. Outros can continue on for 10-20 seconds after a video
ends, plugging annotations for your other videos and perhaps playing a catchy tune of your choice.
9. Mind SEO
SEO is short for Search Engine Optimization, and SEO is God for all kinds of content creators,
YouTubers included. For YouTubers, this is mostly about properly titling and tagging your videos. Be
sure to include the name of the game, the type of content you’re doing and other vital information in
your tags. These tags are what people will be using to search for and find your videos.
8. Choose Your Niche
3. Niche has quite a few definitions, but the one that’s most relevant in this context is one referring to
products/services succeeding by being sold to particular groups of people. In gaming terms, this
means focusing on a particular kind of content, or a particular genre/series of games. Niche
channels may not have the widespread popularity of the biggest ones out there, but working in a
small niche is advantageous for initial growth and collaboration with other YouTubers within that
niche.
7. Work With Other YouTubers In That Niche
This wouldn’t be a list of YouTube gaming channel tips if we didn’t encourage you to work with other
YouTube gaming channels! All the biggest channels on YouTube take advantage of collaboration,
and gaming channels are no exception. Some particular channels are simply hubs that people from
all over gaming YouTube work together on to promote their own channels!
6. Always Listen To Feedback
To improve as a content creator, you have to listen to your audience. You can’t please everyone, but
you should take into consideration their opinions and feedback so you can learn how to improve.
Remember what we said earlier about being engaged with your audience? Your audience will
typically praise or criticize your videos, and you need to focus on both of these forms of
communication.
5. Bring Friends/Co-hosts
Something you don’t see often in YouTube gaming channel tips is the idea of working directly with
your own friends on your channel. This is baffling, since many big channels are popular for this
reason. In general, most channels can’t be carried by a singular personality, especially not show
channels. Having a co-host or group of friends you play with regularly in your videos can help your
viewers feel like they’re personally a part of your friend group.
4. Use Social Media To Your Advantage
Gaming channels don’t typically benefit from making videos for every little thing going on in the
creator’s life. Videos should be reserved for your main content or important announcements: for
everything else, plug your social media outlets in your descriptions and encourage your subscribers
to follow you there.
3. Consider Streaming
Streaming alongside YouTube is a great way to grow your gaming channel. There are two main
streaming services for you to use: Twitch and YouTube Gaming. Twitch is better for growing your
following and exposing it to new viewers, while YouTube Gaming is better for engaging with your
current following on YouTube. Either method is a great way to engage with your audience.
4. 2. Prioritize Yourself Over The Games
Games are, in truth, only the initial draw of most YouTube gaming channels. This is another one of
our lesser-known YouTube gaming channel tips- people come for the games, but they subscribe and
stay for you. They come because you’re covering a game they’re interested in, but you get likes and
subscribes when they enjoy your presentation and style.
1. Establish Your Own Voice
Elaborating on the previous point, this is very important. Even if you share a niche with other
YouTubers, you want to be unique enough to stand out. Remember: there is no one exactly like you.
It’s important to learn and take inspirations from other YouTubers, but at the end of the day you need
to be unique enough to earn loyalty of subscribers and viewers.
Video Explaining how to start a youtube channel
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