There are plenty of people who assume that you’re supposed to let go of video games once you become an adult. However, there are millions of adults who are extremely passionate about playing and enjoying the latest video games. For some people, it’s a form of relaxation. After a long day at work, it’s nice to zone out and enjoy a few games. For others, it’s a great hobby to enjoy in their spare time. Thankfully, there are more ways you can fuel your love of video games. As an adult, you have one thing you didn’t have as a kid: bills. Those bills need to get paid. Why not cover your bills and your lifestyle with your passion for video games? If you’re not sure how to get started, there are a few points you’ll want to consider as you get started.
YouTube
YouTube has one of the most incredible communities for gamers. Gamers are people who create content surrounding video games. You can become a gamer. Develop a large following by consistently producing content. There are quite a few directions that you can consider. When a new video game comes out, play it and test it out for a few days. Take notes on what you love and dislike. Once you’ve gathered all of your data, you can create a YouTube video where you’ll review the video game.
Alternatively, you can opt to find screen-recording software. Then, record yourself playing the game. Purchase a headset to record your voice as you’re playing the game. As you press record, play and enjoy the game as if you’re enjoying it with friends. Then, it’s time to edit and post the recording to YouTube. When you upload your recordings to YouTube, always make sure you’re using the right hashtags, descriptions and titles.
If you don’t know much about graphic design, it’s best to find a designer who can create thumbnail graphics that will entice people to come and check out your content. Share the new videos on your social media channels so that others can learn about what you’re doing.
Blog
If you’re someone who is great at collecting your thoughts to create a blog post, launc your own blog. As you create interesting content about the latest in the gaming industry, you can create a name for yourself as an authority figure. Establishing yourself as an authority will help your brand tremendously. You’ll become the go-to person on anything related to video games. Use the blog to talk about what other gamers are doing. Support them by sharing their YouTube videos and channels with your audience. Create a forum on the website that allows people to create communities and converse with one another about video games. Starting a forum can be tricky, so it’s important to regularly monitor the content other people are sharing. You want it to remain clean and appropriate at all times.
When you’re looking at the monetization component, you can create sponsored posts. When a blogger produces sponsored posts, they collaborate with a particular business. Whether it’s a video game distributor or gamer who wants more visibility, you can create the sponsored post, get paid for it and continue the relationship for more brand deals. You can also opt to include ads on your blog. Paid advertising will always remain helpful. Furthermore, don’t underestimate the power of affiliate marketing. Most online retailers maintain an affiliate program. Once you’ve signed up as an affiliate, you’ll get links and codes when you’re ready to share your favorite products from that vendor. Include the links and codes within your content. As people click and purchase the merchandise you recommend, you’ll earn a commission. Affiliate marketing is a great way to consistently earn over a long period of time. As long as your site remains active and you’re constantly promoting your content, you can definitely make money in the affiliate marketing world.
Merchandise
Always remain intentional about selling merchandise. If you’re a gamer who has a specific phrase you always say when you do well in a game or there’s a certain name for your tribe of followers, you can monetize that. Once you’ve trademarked the phrase, put it on t-shirts, baseball caps and sweatshirts. Find a designer who can create the perfect look. Then, you can sell the merchandise on your website. Make sure you build an infrastructure that can handle large quantities of online transactions. Take a look at different options like Shopify Plus and Big Commerce Enterprise in order to find the option that will work best for what you need.
As you work through the various options, remember to pace yourself. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Give yourself the grace to trudge through the new responsibilities you’ll have when you’re monetizing a passion. Also, make sure you take time away to still enjoy your passion. There are plenty of people who monetize a passion. Then, they end up so consumed with the money that they wind up hating the passion. If it ever gets too overwhelming, learn to rest. As you remain consistent with your process, you’ll make progress.
