Today I´m going to talk how you can grow your gaming YouTube channel and noticed by million across the platform.
So, if you want to learn more about what are the best tactis some of the most successful youtubers have been using to grow their fanbase then you should keep reading…
1. ¡Niche Down!
The very first proven tactic you should deploy right now is to start thinking about what section, topic or
Why?
Well, there´s ton of evidence out there that proves the fact that gearing towards one specific topic when you are not known as a newbie YouTuber helps subscribers whether to decide if your channel is for them or not.
For example, check out this helpful comment from Backlinko´s blog:
He´s talking as a former YouTuber gamer so you might as well try his advice instead of doing guess work.
Plus, making tutorials, where the market isn´t too competitive, as well as searching for newer games, are both great strategies to get your channel off of the ground, but more on that later…
The bottom line?
You MUST niche down in order to make people easy to choose YOU over other competitors, then you can move on and compete for broader keywords.
2. Collaborate With Other Gamers
Probably one of the most common, yet effective, ways to grow almost any type of channel on YouTube is by taking advantage of doing collaborations.
Although this is not different from making a “normal” collab there are a few things to keep in mind if you have gaming channel.
- Make it easy – You want to make it easier for your co-creator to decide whether to help you or not, and you can do that by providing some value to his/her channel, have something already prepared or a few ideas you can both work on together, maybe making a QnA video together, or simply by playing new release you´ve recently come across.
- Be original – If you do what everyone else does you´ll get the same results as everyone else has. Try to be authentic and original in your approach, offer something unique to the other party and get them interested if you want their full attention.
- Be respectful – Last but not least, don´t ever overestimate the value of respect. You don´t need to act as a fan but you should act as a human being, approach with respect and value their time.
3. Promote On Social Media, The Right Way
Meaning that you have to follow the GaryVee method, which is context matters as much as content when it comes to social media.
Evey social platform out there wants that each and every piece of content uploaded is native content.
Why?
Becuase native content = people staying on that platform.
If you upload or promote your videos directly from YouTube people are likely to click on it and head over to your channel, and that´s great! Right? WRONG!
Social Networks want people to stay there, so they tend to promote way more videos that are featured as native content than those that are hosted somewhere else, like embeded YouTube videos.
There´s even data to back this up from Facebook itself.
So, how you should do it?
Once you´ve compiled all the clips that are going to be on your video and you are ready to start editing the small pieces of content you´ve gathered you can choose a few different clips (not more than a minute long) and make a copy.
Then, after you´ve finish your final edit for YouTube, you can use those other selected parts of your video to make what´s called micro-content.
This is a term used by Gary Vaynerchuk, a successful CEO in the social media industry.
You can edit those however you want, just make sure each piece of content complies with each social network in terms of what works best.
So, whether is Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter you´ll already have a ton of ready-to-go content fully optimized for social media sharing and get your videos distributed more effectively.
4. Be Aware Of YouTube Analytics
If you don´t pay close attention to your numbers you won´t get the results you want.
People tend to forget that tools like YouTube Analytics are 100% FREE and have amazing power for you to take advantage from.
For example, with a few clicks you can see what´s the age of your audience, gender, and where are they coming from, that way you can start creating content around that data.
The goal is to be putting out content that people will actually care about and search for so by getting to know that information you now have the opportunity to leverage a proper strategy for your next videos.
Having a look at what your numbers look like, and getting to know a bit more about your audience can certainly help you improve and fully optimize your content, especially when you are a small channel and you want to connect with your audience.
It´s time for an example!
If you know that most of your audience is from Canada then you can search for popular games that are being played in that country and make a video or two about it. Yep, it´s that easy! 😉
Of course, there are a lot more to it and probably many different things you could do but that is a good example of how you can
5. Content Consistency
Although it´s been said for a few years now that consistency is a ranking factor or a growth factor… that is simply not the case.
You can find lots of channels that have grown a lot in a matter of years by uploading great content once in a while, without any sort of what you could call… consistency.
In fact.
There are great examples of channels that have completely stopped uploading videos but are STILL growing on a monthly basis!
What´s my point?
You shouldn´t focus on quantity and following a strict recepie that tells you to create a video once or twice a week every single week.
Instead, what works best nowadays (and as the competition gets tougher) is to focus on QUALITY OVER QUANTITY.
Try to make one awesome video instead of making two or three mediocre ones when you get started, once you´ve reached a proper audience you can start uploading more.
6. Benefit From SEO Tactics
There are many things you can try out in order to improve your YouTube ranking as well as your subscriber count regarding SEO.
However, here I´m going to give you a few different strategies you can apply TODAY in order to get the most out of your gaming videos.
First off, there are four key components YouTube analyses when it comes to SEO:
- Audience Retention: Which is simply the percentage of your video people actually watch. It is a high indicator of video quality.
- Watch Time: More specifically, Total Watch Time, which is the total amount of time that people have spent watching your video over its lifetime. The higher the number the better.
- Social Signals: YouTube considers comments, likes, and shares as great engagement signals and as a result increases your videos ranking.
- Keyword Optimization: Last piece of the puzzle where you have to make a difference is proper keyword optimization. Be aware of your title keyword, how you should use your meta description, your video and image file name, and what tags you should be using. I have plenty of related content to optimize that in this site. Feel free to check it out.
YouTube wants to show the user the best result at any given moment, which is similar to what Google does, and one way to do that is by analyzing this engagement signals in order to rank the BEST videos of the platform and show them to people as much as they can.
7. Upgrade Your Channel Art
Another KEY aspect that goes hand in hand with branding and building trust with new viewers (aka potential subscribers) is properly upgrading your channel art.
You can make a nice banner for you channel by using free tools like Canva or Snappa to get a professional looking graphic design that lets your viewers know that you are for real.
In fact, you can even use those same tools (particularly Canva) to create a logo, which will also help to build your brand and make your channel a bit more memorable.
Now, while you´re at it, you should try to make a brief description on your about section to tell your fans what your purpose with the channel is.
If you do all of those things you´ll help new comers to decide and subscribe to your channel without a doubt!
TIP! Create a short channel trailer fully optimized in order to get more subscribers and tell more about yourself.
8. Use Playlists To Your Advantage
One more thing that goes hand-in-hand with your recently upgraded channel art is taking advantage of playlists.
Now that you´ve made a good looking banner and have your logo and/or slogan in place, as well as your channel triler, you can focus on making a few playlists.
Why?
Well, playlists are a simple but yet efficient way to increase watch time, which is a CRUCIAL factor YouTube considers when it comes to rankings.
If you combine a few videos, that are topic-related to each other, in a playlist you´ll get people to watch not only one but maybe two or three of your videos.
PRO TIP! If you create playlists with a SEO optimized title, meaning a keyword that is being searched by potential viewers, your playlists will also rank in the search.
9. Keep Them Watching!
The point is to keep them engaged as it will increase your audience retention (which is a HUGE SEO factor for YouTube) as well as watching one video after the other properly using the end screen feature.
This IS an actual ranking factor for YouTube.
If you learn how to make engaging videos that keep people watching until the very end you´ll be rewarded. Period.
Now, if you combine that with a proper video length, which positively affects watch time (another HUGE ranking factor), you got yourself a sure win!
However, I´ll talk more about video length and watch time later…
So, how do you make your videos more engaging?
Three words: master-your-editing.
If you focus on knowing how to better serve and entertain your audience by making cool jump cuts, slow motions, adding on-screen graphics, and more, you´ll see how well your videos start to rank and attract more views.
Plus, better audience retention will make your videos appear as a featured video for related keywords as it is an assest for YouTube to make people stay on the platform, which is the ultimate goal.
10. Be Creative & Have FUN
It is important not to get hunged up too much on the technicalities or the minor details that can come with having a YouTube channel and promoting your videos at first.
You want to be focused on the people you
Remember! the camera doesn´t lie, if you are not actually having that much fun because you´re too worried about your numbers then you won´t grow and your videos will sink.
In order to create more engagement with your viewers you NEED to elicit the reaction you´d like to see on others when they watch your content.
Meaning that you have to be energetic and fully engaged yourself if you want other people to react that way when they watch you.
Now, one way to do that is actually loving what you´re doing! 😄
So, make sure that whatever game you are playing or topic you´re teaching you ACTUALLY enjoy it as it´ll be decisive factor for people to decide whether to watch more of you or not.
11. Leverage With Software
You want to make an impression every time lands on one of your videos, right? Well then, you NEED the proper software to do it!
There are only three things you need to get started, that is assuming that you already have a desktop computer/laptop.
Here they are:
- Video recording – First, choose the right recording software, it doesn´t need to be fancy or expensive, it just needs to record your screen without losing image quality or slowing too much your computer. The best free option to start probably is OBS (Open Broadcast Software) as it´s easy to use. The opposite, more elaborated, and the pricey option would be Camtasia.
- Audio recording – On the other hand, there´s the audio. You MUST record good quality audio, but the good news is that you don´t need to spend that much to do it. You can easily record and edit audio with Audacity, which is free, and use something as simple as your iPhone earpods to capture sound. Now, if you are willing to invest a couple of dollars you can but a lapel mic as it´ll increase audio quality remarkably without breaking the bank.
- Editing software – Last but not least, you can start with the free options, like iMovie and Windows Movie Maker, both have great features that can make your videos much more engaging (if you learn how to properly use them), or you can invest in a more professional setting like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro, which are the most used softs on the market right now.
By mastering the use of those three elements alone you can get started right away and make the most out of your gaming.
Although I´ll repeat my self, it´s really important that you keep in mind that one of the KEYS to be a successful gamer on YouTube is to learn how to properly use your editing software in order to make your videos more engaging.
12. Build Up a Reputation
You should be patient and play the long game instead of trying to get more and more subs just by playing what is trending right now, whether you like it or not.
Instead, try to build a reputation, make your content stand out by building trust and providing value.
Now, you can do that in several ways, here are two of the most effective ones:
- Make outstanding tutorials – Like I´ve pointed out previously, there´s a ton of great examples of successful YouTubers that broke through by leveraging the power of making awesome educational videos, and you can do the same! Whether is by teaching someone how to play a certain game, giving away some of your most valuable tips and tricks, or even sharing how to be a
youtuber , you probably have something worth sharing with the world. - Focus on entertaining – Now, if you don´t want to make tutorials and you just like to have a laugh, then focus mainly towards that and how you can differentiate yourself from the competition. Make a weekly challenge, get creative with your editing, invite friends to participate on your videos, make your mom play, do whatever it takes!
BONUS TIP! you can have a website where you share MORE exclusive content on some of your secrets and tips on how to play a certain game or maybe even how to film your own gaming videos, you can provide greater value to your audience and become a recognized figure within the gaming industry.
13. Proper Tool Settings
You know what´s the basic software set up in order to get your channel started and grow within the YouTube gaming community, now it is time to focus on what´s the proper gear you need.
Good Enough Camera
The good news is that since you´re not looking to create cinematic looking footage or film an entire city in slow motion you don´t need to go with a $1000 DSLR to get started.
You can easily make GOOD quality videos with a simple (but yet powerful) Webcam, like the Logitech C920, which is one of the best when it comes to a quality-price relationship.
Keep in mind that most of the time, if possible, you are going to be seen as a small frame on the screen while you play, so make sense that you don´t need to record in 4k to make the image look good.
Proper Audio
Another important aspect most people tend to overlook is that they don´t think audio quality is that important.
Well, guess what, IT IS!
Now, once again, you don´t need to spend that much to get really good audio when recording, in fact, a simple lapel mic will do the work and will make your audio output crisp and clear.
You simply attacht the mic to your t-shirt and you´ll be good to go!
Futuristic Computer
Finally, you were saving all of your money for this part, right?
Well, you can pretty much go overboard with your computer hardware as you probably know, just bare in mind a few common requirements for video game recording:
Besides the obvious stuff (like CPU, GPU, or storage capability) be aware of exactly how much RAM you actually need to run the program at the same time you are recording your screen (which is highly demanding for almost any laptop), and try to invest in some sort of cooling system to keep your computer from melting down.
14. Follow YouTube´s Advice
Another KEY strategy you can use to get more knowledge on to succeed on YouTube with a gaming channel is by following YouTube´s own advice.
There´s ton of great tips you can find on their Creators Academy catalog that can help you to set up your lighting, how to communicate with your audience, how to improve your framing when you´re recording with your camera, and lots more!
In short: got to the “Unlock your gaming channel” section and you´ll find awesome tips to get started.
Like this.
Isn´t it great? Now you know that you can go beyond gaming with live streaming and take advantage of it to get better engagement with your audience.
Plus! check out those stats, 40% increase in subscribers and 70% in watch time, crazy!
You can find ton of more examples like this if you take the time to browse through their platform and learn whatever you can from it.
15. Get Inspired By Others
One more thing you can do to get better at your video making process as well as get more creative ideas is to get inspiration by other YouTubers videos.
You should follow up closely for some of the top ten creators as well as some other raising stars, because those will put more effort into the creative output and write down some ideas you can add to your videos.
However, you don´t need to go with topic-related channels only, you can also add some sparks from other YouTube channels that you like or oftenly watch.
It can be something as simple as the way they talk to the camera, how they frame their shots, maybe their thumbnail layout, the type of effects they use in their editing, it can be (literally) anything you want.
Bottom line: to succeed you must model successful people at what they do.
16. Get Some Reddit Traffic
Now, if you are looking for some great untapped sources of traffic then you´ve found the right place!
In case you´ve never heard of it Reddit is a community based platform for people to share all sort of interests without any self-promotion b*!hit of any kind.
So, if you want to get into Reddit to link to your instantly link to your videos then you might want to think it twice.
You have to get into the platform with the right approach and you´ll get amazing results if you do it right.
In fact.
There is a case from a relatively new YouTuber who got increasing floods of traffic thanks to the Reddit community. (check out the article)
Although this is an incredible example that may not happen for everyone there´s still a fair chance of success if you think of the fact that the gaming niche has its own category within the Reddit platform.
So, don´t dwell too much on it and try it out, just bare in mind that you have to be very respectful when it comes to self-promotion and that you have to provide value first in order to ask later.
Here are some common Reddiquettes:
- If you want to join the conversation on an specific sub-reddit make sure to read the rules first.
- Don´t Troll others on Reddit, insult, or conduct any personal attacks.
- Make sure to provide some value first, give useful information, try to be helpful in any shape or form before you try to self-promote.
17. Watch Out For Video Length
When it comes to rankings YouTube considers a few different things, some of them I´ve already talked about, but there is one that is often underestimated and that is total watch time.
Not watch time but TOTAL watch
So, if you want to be taken “seriously” by the algorythm and YouTube itself then you MUST make longer form content (at least 7 to 10 minutes long) if you want to attract more viewers to your videos.
The more time people spends on your videos the better for YouTube as it sees that as an increasing opportunity to show the viewer more Ads on the platform.
As a result, they´ll try to show your video as a featured video when people watch related content online.
Therefore, increasing the length of your video, and not only your audience retention, will definitevely help you grow your gaming channel subs.
18. Embed Video On Blog Posts
If people already like what you write about on your website then you can be sure that they´ll LOVE to watch you on video.
Plus, you can easily turn readers into new subscribers with a clear CTA (Call To Action) to ask people to head over to your channel.
Now, if you don´t have a website don´t worry, there are lot of different places where you can embed your videos and get more viewers.
For example, Medium is a great way to start as a newbie blogger and get an audience that is particularly interested in gaming as well as YouTube.
Why?
Simply because the platform is optimized to promote content by different categories, rather than simple keyword searching.
So, you won´t need to start from scratch as you´ll find there´s already a massive audience on Medium ready to take in whatever is that you can offer to them.
19. Keep a Feedback Loop
You want to talk to your people and let them know that you care.
Meaning that you reply to EVERY comment and that you actually listen to people so you can keep posting content that creates further engagement in the future.
That way you´ll not only have a clear idea of what to do next but you´ll also reinforce the feedback and how your fans feel about you.
You must know that the power of bonding trascends any and every online platform out there, be aware of its potential and use it for good.
In short: listen, respond, and give the people what they want.
20. Go Live!
Although I´ve talked about this when I´ve told you to follow YouTube´s own advice I think it deserves its own sub-heading.
There are several benefits you can take advantage from when it comes to live streaming as a YouTuber, and as a gamer.
You should consider streaming as another way to connect with your fans and audience in order to get more feedback and help to build a community, not just viewership.
In fact, they even give you several formats you can try:
Now, a few more things to keep in mind would be:
- Plan ahead – That way you won´t improvise as much so that your audience doesn´t get bored.
- Practice – It won´t hurt if you practice your speech and/or idea before actually going live.
- Schedule – Let your viewers know that you are going live next week/month so that they´ll be waiting for you.
The bottom line?
Going live once in a while will help you solidify the bond with your fans which will result in them engaging with each and every video you make by liking, commenting and sharing your content, therefore increasing your exposure (& rankings).
21. Personality-Based Platform
Remember that YouTube is, for the most part, a personality-based platform, people are going to decide if they watch YOU or not depending on whether they like you or don´t.
You and only you are the one that´s going to get people to watch the entire video, not the game itself really.
Anyone can play videogames but not everyone can make it as entertaining as PewdiePie or jacksepticeye.
Why is that?
Well, they are watched because they are liked on some level, they are funny, entertaining, and very much
Although I´ve left this point to the bottom of the list it is one of the most important components of almost every single successful YouTuber out there.
You have to be confident about who you are as a person and not care too much about what others might think of you, just go for it and do your best.
People will eventually choose to watch your videos if you make something interesting, but they´ll only subscribe and keep watching more of your content if they can relate to you on some level.
So, be aware of the fact that you have to “share” yourself with the camera and get people to actually know you a bit more.
¡Bonus Tip!
Here´s one more!
For those committed readers out
You can take advantage of innovation and creativity.
What do I mean?
You can go to expos, comferences, conventions, shows, or wherever else you can where you can try newer stuff in order to get there before anyone else does.
Try out new games, software, or machinery and let your viewers know all about it.
One good example of this is the increasing use of VR for gaming.
Another thing is that you should try to think of new ideas to combine video games with other activities, get creative, make video challenges, etc.
Related Questions
How to get subscribers on YouTube gaming? Uploading longer videos that rank better on the platform and therefore get more views, promoting some of your most popular videos on the end screen, making use of your channel trailer to attract more new subs that arrive to your channel, writing a compelling channel description, and focusing on quality over quantity are some of the most effective ways to get more subscribers.
How to promote your YouTube gaming channel? Optimize your video so that it ranks for search engines like Google. Here´s how: include the main keyword on your title, meta description, and on your image file. Another thing you can do is simply run an Ad campaign with Adwords for video, keep it short and sweet and make sure to use the TrueView format so that you´ll only pay when someone chooses to watch your video ad.
What is the best equipment to start a YouTube gaming channel? There are only three KEY elements to start a gaming channel, and that is: a game recording software (or hardware) to capture in-game footage, there are plenty of free and paid options, an audio recording device, and a camera.