How to Start a Gaming Blog

Over the last years, the gaming business has skyrocketed in popularity. A video game blog could be the start of a new profession for some people, while others see it as an opportunity to share their enthusiasm with the rest of the world.

Whatever your motivation for starting a video game blog, statistics show that you will be able to reach a significant audience of video gamers in the United States and worldwide.

If this sounds appealing, keep reading to learn all you need to know about starting a video game blog in 2022 and earning extra money doing something you love.

Starting A Video Game Blog In Easy Steps

Even if having a strong passion for gaming is your reason for launching a video game blog, there are many other good reasons to do so. They include the following.

• Owning a gaming blog enables you to make money and have a successful career in gaming or esports.
• You can easily create a community of other players based on the part of gaming that interests you the most.
• Become a gaming influencer in the industry, whether niche-based or general.
• Gaining early access to newly released games and other cutting-edge technologies and pieces of gear.
• Access the latest information about upcoming games before they are made available to the public.
• Participating in press events and gaming conferences that are by invitation only.

If you want to start your own video gaming blog, keep reading to find out the definitive steps and tips on how to start and make your gaming blog grow.

1. Identify A Niche

If you want to start a gaming blog, you should first choose a gaming subculture or niche that you are very passionate about. 

You can consider starting a gaming blog about the latest releases if you are an experienced gamer. Alternatively, if you are new to the industry, you could start a blog about the newest games that are good for beginners.

There are several gaming blogs, each of which focuses on a certain subgenre. If you are interested in starting a gaming blog, it is vital to reflect on the niche that best suits your interest and ability.

2. Decide On A Name For Your Website

After deciding on a niche, the next step is to choose your brand name and domain name. One of the things that might help you stand out from the crowd is your brand name. 

We recognize the significance of having the appropriate name, which is why we built our blog name generator to help you out. 

This simple tool can assist you in coming up with creative blog names. You’ll save time and increase your chances of acquiring a name that will set you apart. 

As for domain names, you have the option of either purchasing an existing domain name or coming up with your own. When considering a domain name for your website, we suggest you go with .com domain name when you can.

3. Look For A Web Hosting Service

When beginning a blog, most new bloggers choose free platforms such as Tumblr, Squarespace, Blogger, and Wix, which is a common mistake. 

If you intend to build your gaming blog and get paid for it, starting with a premium hosting platform is an excellent option.

This is due to the fact that free platforms have many limitations that will make it difficult for you to make your new blog a success.

Now that you’ve decided on a name, it’s time to choose a suitable premium web host. Web hosts make your site accessible for surfing and have a significant effect on critical site performance indicators. 

To establish the foundation of your blog, you want something with great stability, quick speed, and solid security.

You can check our most recommended web hosting providers.

4. Set Up WordPress

Installing WordPress is the next step after selecting a hosting provider for your website. You should consider using the WordPress.com platform if you are just starting off. 

On the other hand, if you have prior experience, you may use the WordPress.org platform.

5. Select A Theme

After successfully installing WordPress, the next step is to install themes. You have the option of selecting a theme that is either completely free or for a small fee. There are a wide variety of themes you can find on the internet.

6. Install Plugins

The installation of plugins is the next step after installing a theme. You can extend the functionality of your WordPress site by downloading one of the many free plugins that are readily accessible online and installing it. To get the professional look you want, you will need to install a paid plugin.

7. Start Writing Posts

After you have finished installing the themes and plugins, you should begin posting. 

In the event that you do not want to spend money on advertisements, search engine optimization, also known as SEO, will be your most reliable ally. This means getting people to visit your site on their own by using search engines like Google. For that, you will need amazing content and posts. 

Before you start telling others about your new blog, you should check to make sure that it has at least ten blog entries that have been published on it. 

There is no use in marketing your blog if people will go there only to see a blank page when they get there. This will only serve to alienate them, and a good many of them will leave, never to come back.

Here are five distinct forms of video game blog material that you can create and post.

Game Reviews

Reviews are one of the most popular sorts of content for gaming websites. Depending on your area of expertise, this could include reviews of recently released games, gear, and accessories, as well as reviews of gaming conventions or esports competitions.

Latest Gaming News

Unlike reviews, gaming news is usually only relevant for a limited period of time. This makes it better for marketing on your social media platforms, where users are more inclined to share, read, and comment on it. 

If you cover breaking news in an interesting way or have an exclusive, this could lead to a big jump in the number of people visiting your site.

Game Guides And Walkthroughs

Gaming is a learned talent, and even the most seasoned gamers will eventually lay down the controller and look for a handbook or guide.

Because they meet a specific demand, walkthrough guides may be among the most popular sorts of material for gaming blogs. 

People will bookmark your site and return every time they get stuck if you become known for producing good, useful, and detailed walkthroughs.

8. Grow Your Community

Building a network of people with similar interests is a great strategy to achieve early traction. Here are three options for doing so:

Collaborate

If you have pals in your specific space, check if one of them is interested in collaborating! You may write an article about their stream/podcast/blog/etc. In exchange for them promoting you to their audience.

This partnership is beneficial to both parties, but it will help you more than the other while getting started. When you begin to build your own following, remember to reciprocate by highlighting your friends’ excellent work!

If you don’t know anybody in the gaming industry already, feel free to join the existing gaming communities. Alternatively, you can look for micro-content makers on social media networks. 

In the search box of your preferred social media site, type in a subject or hashtag and look for individuals with 100 to 500 followers. Follow a few accounts, like their relevant posts, join the conversation, and then get in touch with them about working together.

Even though this strategy doesn’t get many responses, it could help a lot if someone decides to work together.

Join Groups And Organizations

The best place to locate a group to join is probably Facebook. You’ll find a Facebook group for almost any subject, and the majority of them are public, so you can join right away.

If your search yields no results, don’t be scared to form your own group! As the person who started the group, you can set the tone and send people to your website as your community grows.

Participate in as many chats as possible after you’ve joined a group. As long as you provide relevant and interesting input, the more others will notice your name on postings and see you as an expert.

9. Monetize Your Blog

If you’ve made it this far, you should be well prepared to begin your money-making quest. 

There are a variety of methods for monetizing your blog, and they are listed below. Feel free to choose one or all, but remember that the main goal of your blog is to provide valuable content rather than exploitation of your readers.

Google Ads

You’ve probably seen Google Adsense on a lot of websites, and it’s one of the easiest ways to monetize your blog. 

Simply put, you give Google permission to serve relevant ads to your site’s visitors. There’s a fair amount of control here, with options for where advertising appears and which ad kinds are prohibited. 

While this is a convenient option, it may detract from the customer experience if they visit your site and see advertisements for other businesses. Many readers will be familiar with Google Adsense from other websites, as long as the adverts aren’t too intrusive.

Printify

They sell made-to-order merchandise such as t-shirts, mugs, and phone covers. This means you won’t have to hold any inventory, and you’ll only have to pay for the materials you buy.

Furthermore, you can effortlessly import designs and put them on any item you like. On the negative side, expect to wait at least a week for your order to arrive. 

In the era of Amazon next-day shipping, this may irritate some consumers, but you should be OK as long as you are clear about your delivery schedules.

Shopify

This is an excellent platform for setting up an online shop to sell your products. There are several themes to choose from when creating your shop, as well as many plugins to help you modify the design. 

When creating a product collection, consider the goods that will bring value to the lives of your community members. Unique and useful products have the highest chance of selling successfully.

Isn’t it a dream come true to be paid to play video games? While it’s simple to get started streaming, establishing a following and continuously broadcasting your games take time. You’ll also need to be comfortable talking with your character while playing on camera. We don’t say this to discourage you, but we do want to be honest about how much time and work it takes to get to the point where your streams are profitable.

You can opt to monetize your Facebook gaming channel, and we know a lot of individuals who have achieved Twitch affiliate status. These days, streaming isn’t only for gamers. You may create video lessons in areas where you have the expertise to educate your community. Alternatively, you could also conduct a “Just Chatting” session where you answer people’s inquiries.

Sponsored Articles

Brands may approach you to publish a sponsored article if you become an expert on a given issue or establish a big enough topic. Make sure the articles you create are about items and services that your target audience will be interested in. 

There are other services like Senzei where you may register, fill out your profile, and accept incoming partner invitations. We’ve had the good fortune of being featured on Blerd and Afrotech, which has helped us reach out to a new audience. Look for bigger, more well-known businesses that align with your mission and beliefs.

While monetization may be one of your objectives, getting to this point without enjoying the journey is challenging. Make a list of the monetization channels that appeal to you the most and a broad schedule for executing your money-making techniques.

Keep Growing

From here, it’s all about testing and doubling down on the things that are working. Monitor which posts work best and then invest your time in expanding your social media following, and celebrating minor triumphs. It’s important to stay motivated throughout the process, but don’t be too harsh on yourself if you fall off for a week or two.

If you’d like more advice, check out our other guides in Learning Hub to learn more about how to improve your blog and stand out from your competitors.

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