What to Consider When Starting a Streaming Career in 2024
Written by BusyGamerBelle
Published on January 4th, 2024
Chances are, if you’re reading this, you want to start a streaming career or at least one where you upload on YouTube. If so, then you’re in the right place. While building a gaming career is an exciting journey, there are a lot of aspects you’ll need to consider while making your dreams come true. In this blog post, we'll delve into five things you’ll need to think about that can set the stage for your success. From picking the right niche to establishing lasting connections and ensuring the longevity of your streaming career, we've got you covered.
Picking Your Niche: Balancing Passion and Popularity
Selecting the right niche—or not—is among the most important steps you can take to succeed. Choosing the appropriate games for your channel will establish the foundation and tone for future growth. The answer to the question, "Do I have to choose a niche?" is no. However, there are advantages and disadvantages based on your decision. On the plus side, choosing a game you are passionate about can increase your likeability and, in essence, make your content more interesting. But that game may be oversaturated; in that case, you'll need to come up with an even more original approach or make it better than what you see online.
If your goal is to become a variety streamer, consider the mental strain you'll have when playing many games a week. Not all games will be enjoyable, so it's not always the best idea to play everything. Plus, even the games you love may just become "content" when you don't want them to be. Yet, variety offers you the chance to always enjoy the same old thing. Finding the right balance is vital, regardless of the path you take.
Buying Your Gaming Equipment
If you already have great equipment, great! But if you’re someone who is saving money for the best gaming equipment to get started, you don’t need it. Start with the basics: a microphone, a webcam, lighting, and a capture card. The last thing you want to do is drop hundreds of dollars on gear when you just might find out that streaming isn’t for you. So start with a balance of quality and affordability. Just be thoughtful about it all. Do your research, consider your audience's expectations, and remember that quality doesn't always translate to the most expensive gear.
Building Relationships Beyond the Screen
Here’s the thing that introverts (myself included) won’t like. Streaming isn't just about the games or content; it's about the people. Building relationships is also necessary for a successful streaming career. With relationships, you have a loyal community and the potential for collaboration and growth. As you grow and you find people who you can work with, you might just find that the amount of work you’re doing on your own can be shared with people who want to edit, develop a podcast, run your social media, and more. When you’re networking, think about networking vertically as well as horizontally. Find those high-powered people (vertically), but know that you can grow with your peers too (horizontally).
Choosing Between YouTube or Twitch
Choosing between YouTube and Twitch may seem like a hard choice. But maybe you don’t have to choose one over the other. Some people stream on Twitch, download those videos, and upload them to YouTube. Others stay on YouTube since it offers streaming and traditional uploads for evergreen content. Opting for YouTube comes with a vast audience, discoverability through search, and the potential for long-term video visibility. Twitch offers real-time interaction with viewers, a dedicated gaming community, and rapid growth through raids and collaborations.
If you have the time, using both can broaden your reach and provide flexibility in how you deliver your content. Leverage YouTube for evergreen content and Twitch for live, interactive sessions. With the gaming landscape changing every day, using both platforms could strategically be a key to unlocking new opportunities.
Setting Boundaries Between Working and Streaming
Let's be serious here; most of us will work full-time while streaming. Very few of us are going to successfully transition as popular streamers who self-sustain our lives. Even if you do, taxes and healthcare (if you're in the United States) are going to take a toll on your wallet. Because of that, the reality of maintaining a day job while pursuing your passion can be scary. Working will give you financial stability and the ability to invest in quality equipment. At the same time, how can you get the energy to stream and work when you're tired? Think about scheduling it around the times you're free and mentally able to put in the work. There's nothing wrong with balancing your gaming around work, but it has to be sustainable; otherwise, you'll crash and burn. Also, thinking about it now will help you in the long term because you will have longevity too.
Conclusion
Starting a streaming career requires a lot of consideration when you think about your niche, equipment, relationships, platform choice, and the balance between work and streaming effectively. As you navigate all of this, keep in mind that success doesn't happen overnight. When you hop online, learn to stay dedicated to your goals, adapt to changes as needed, and, most importantly, enjoy your process. Good luck on your streaming adventure!