When you finally realise your dream as a gaming content creator, it can feel like the world is your oyster. To a certain extent, that’s true; you’ll finally be able to work as you wish, nobody telling you what to do (apart from Google algorithms, of course). There are still things you need to be careful of when you’re doing this job, though. Many content creators fall foul of hidden checklists and problems they didn’t foresee, so don’t let that be you. Here are 10 things you need to remember as a gaming content creator.
Get paid
Your content is valuable. It’s your right to be paid for work you’re doing, and you shouldn’t neglect that aspect of your job. Some people might tell you that content creation “isn’t real work”, but don’t listen to them. Getting paid is your prerogative. If you’re outsourcing your work to businesses or other influencers, don’t forget to create, send, and chase up invoices. You can use free online invoicing companies like Hiveage Invoicing to do this.
Don’t aim for perfection
Your audience isn’t watching your content and expecting perfection from you. What makes you unique is your personality, your unique way of doing things, and your own personal style. Emphasise these aspects of your channel or your blog and don’t worry too much about polishing everything to a mirror sheen. This applies to your setup, too; you’ll probably get comments from people telling you that your gaming equipment isn’t good enough. Don’t listen. Your content is your own.
Don’t read the comments
Of course, you should be paying attention to feedback to a certain extent. After all, your audience makes you who you are, and your audience can be the difference between success and failure. Still, every single comment isn’t necessarily worthwhile. Some people will simply be trying to troll you, while others might try to overtake your content and dictate how you create it. Your audience should be happy to watch you for who you are, and if they’re not, you don’t need to listen to them.
Take feedback on board
You might think this is a counterintuitive tip, especially given the previous one, but some people in your comments section will be offering genuine feedback that you could use to learn and improve. The only way to know the difference between useful feedback and unnecessary trolling is to keep creating content, and eventually, you’ll get an eye for what’s worthwhile and what isn’t. Keep an eye on your comments section, but always be discerning.
Pick your games wisely
Being a “fairweather content creator” isn’t always the right way to go. If the popularity of your favourite game wanes, that might not necessarily be a reason to jump ship. Having said that, you need to be where the audience is, and if you’re finding that the number of people who consume your content is dwindling, it might be time to set sail for more lucrative shores. There’s something to be said for occupying a niche nobody else is occupying, but there’s also something to be said for remaining popular.
Have backup equipment
Sure, your new immensely powerful gaming PC should see you to the top of your streaming career. There is, however, always the possibility that something could happen to it. What if your PC dies or you can’t access it for some reason? When this happens, it pays to have a backup plan. You might want to pick up a mid-range gaming laptop so you’ve always got something to game on, even if your main rig isn’t doing so well. Even if you’re just creating video content rather than gaming, it’s still worthwhile.
Perseverance is key
Streaming – and, more specifically, becoming a gaming content creator – is one of the hardest career paths you can choose to pursue. It’s important that you remain focused and don’t allow yourself to stray. When things look tough, that’s when you need to be at your most dedicated. Success and an audience won’t come to you overnight, so make sure you’re always committed. Uploading content, getting no views, and continuing to upload content may be demoralising, but it’s also character-building.
Take regular breaks
Sometimes, it can feel like you’re on display twenty-four hours a day as a gaming content creator. Your audience might always be expecting you to put out new content with clockwork regularity, but that’s just not conducive to long-term mental (and physical) health. It’s important to take regular breaks, even if they’re only for a few hours or days, so you don’t get tired of your job. After all, you got started so you didn’t have to chase that boring office desk work; why let streaming break you?
Focus on presentation
Even if your content is incredible, people won’t flock to your channel unless your presentation is on point. This means everything from channel art to video editing to intros and outros. The way you present your content is almost more important than the content itself; it’s how people will remember you and identify you. It’s your “branding”, so to speak, so it needs to be consistent, impressive, and professional. If it’s not, people will simply look for a channel that does have all these things.
Don’t just stream gaming
While you may love gaming – may live and breathe it – it’s not what your audience is here for in the end. If they want to watch someone gaming, they can look up Let’s Play videos. They’re here for you, so you need to make sure your personality is shining through in all the content you create. This means branching out beyond simple gaming videos and creating vlogs, collaborations, and other content. Make your channel multimedia instead of just gaming and you’ll see your subscriber count skyrocket.
