Imagine it’s the 1990s, and you are 15 years old. It’s the weekend, and you are finally headed to the arcade to play Mortal Combat or Donkey Kong (the usual weekend routine). Now, imagine getting there and someone saying, “I will pay you to play these video games.”
Wait, what? Did you just hit the jackpot? As a matter of fact, getting paid to play video games in the 1990s would have been the best thing to happen to avid gamers, be they teens or adults.
That wasn’t happening back then, but it’s happening now. So, your long gaming experience can finally pay off.
What’s the catch?
Video game streaming can become your full-time job (well, it won’t look like a job for gamers like you). You can earn some cash on the side or turn this into a more serious commitment, like participating in eSports tournaments where millions of viewers eagerly wait to watch pro gamers in action.
Whether you’re a gamer anxious to find out how to make money streaming games or a complete novice, here are four tips on how to get paid while playing video games.
Advertising
Like it or not, the money comes with advertisements, and they are everywhere. The more subscribers you have, the higher the ad revenue gets. Still, you shouldn’t rely solely on ads to earn money streaming games.
Nowadays, people can just download software that blocks all ads so none will show. Also, not all sites and platforms offer ads. Before registering anywhere, double-check if they have a no-ad policy. Otherwise, don’t expect to make any money from it.
Donations
First, you need to sign up to stream your video games, which is free. There are many video game streaming sites and platforms, out of which Twitch seems to be the more popular.
Second, believe it or not, people pay to watch others play video games. If you have your own channel, you can add a donation button to it and watch your piggy bank fill up.
Affiliate marketing
Today, affiliate marketing is the king when it comes to online revenue. Whether you’re a beginner gamer or a casual one, you can reach out to brands to promote their products or services. In return, you can earn a commission every time a viewer of yours makes a purchase.
Subscriptions
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Collecting subscribers is one of the most rewarding ways to earn money streaming video games, but it takes a lot of work to level up. Top gamers interact with their followers and find ways to set themselves apart from the competition.
Expect to earn about $2 per person per month, which becomes regular income. Here’s something to get you excited: Top gamer Ninja accumulated one million subscribers in five days. Today, he has 23.8 million subscribers on YouTube, and their number is growing by the day. How much does he make? We’ll let you do the math.
Setting up an account on Twitch
If you like what you see and can’t wait to start earning money while playing your favorite game, this is what you need to do, step by step.
- Invest in good quality video equipment and a microphone.
- Set up a PayPal account (or similar if you can’t use PayPal in your country).
- Create your profile on Twitch by signing up. Only players aged 13 and above are allowed to join Twitch.
- Download Twitch-compatible broadcasting software.
- Connect your Amazon Prime to your Twitch account for game discounts and free bonuses.
There are other ways to make money while playing video games. Start slow and follow the above-mentioned tips. All you have to do is get the audience to like you as a gamer and then just let the sites make you rich (sometimes overnight).
