4 Tips If You Are Considering A Career in Gaming

It’s hard to believe isn't it, that gaming can be a job? These days you can be paid to stream, to compete, even to review and critique.

And with more eyeballs on screens than ever before, there's plenty of room for you to live the dream too. Of course, nothing in life that's worth having comes easy.

To turn your passion into profit you’ll need a strategy. So, if you have no idea where to begin, here are a few pointers to start you off in the right direction.

Identify Your Niche

To succeed you need to stand out. And to stand out you need to offer something unique. You need to choose a niche.

This decision can be hard, so it’s best to continue to follow your passions, they've brought you this far after all. What kind of games do you like most? Maybe you’re a master of tactical First Person Shooters, perhaps you love cozy games, or do you have a penchant for lore-rich RPGs?

Whatever it is, focus in, deeper than the genre. For example, If you love card games, try specializing in online card ganes in a particular region, be that Canada, Australia, Korea, or wherever you call home. There’s no wrong answer, but you should focus on a specific market, where your voice is more likely to be heard.

Entire streams and YouTube channels centered on just a single game are common these days. Some journalists write about games from only one or two developers or studios. This advice is especially crucial for aspiring Esposts competitors. Pick your game and master it.

Build a Personal Brand

Once you’ve found your niche, you need to develop a unique identity, a personal brand. You see, a brand is more than a logo or a slogan, for professional gamers of any ilk, their persona is the product. Are you a skilled player like Shroud, a charismatic commentator like Pokimane, or a scathing critic like Yahtzee Croshaw?

Think hard about how to present yourself to the world, but don’t try to imitate anyone else. The easiest and most relatable brand to develop is one that is authentically you.

Your personality, humor, and opinions are your unique selling points. Make your quirks and values known by being consistent in your messaging, visuals, and overall online presence. The best way to stay consistent is to be yourself.

Master Your Craft

As a gamer, you should be comfortable with grinding. Put that mindset to use. Whether you intend to be an esports competitor, streamer, or reviewer, technical skill is key. Aspiring journalists should be staying updated with the latest gaming trends and mastering the craft of writing.

If you’re looking to be a competitive gamer, mechanical skill at your game of choice is the most important thing.

Conversely, if you are looking to make a career as a content creator, you can get by as a mediocre player so long as you master marketing and community engagement. Identify the skills most relevant to your ambitions and perfect them.

Be Patient and Persistent

The hard truth is that success doesn't come overnight. Building your career will take time, and you'll have to be resilient. Remember, patience is not merely the ability to wait.

Patience is the ability to maintain a good attitude while waiting. Don't be discouraged by slow growth.

Think of it like placing bets in a real money, there are bound to be setbacks, you can't win all the time, but with a balance of skill and luck, you’ll get there. In the meantime, you have to enjoy the process, or else what’s the point? Remember, gaming is your passion. You got into this because you love it, so don’t give up.