“Most streamers don’t want to be content creators, they want to play games for money” hit the nail in the head there. Thanks for this video, good to get some insight to align us every once in a while!
@@dkoiop that's different though, at the end of the day if you got the degree you can be a doctor and make money regardless. You can't grow as a creator if you wanna make half assed videos just to try and get paid for playing games, no one's gonna watch that.
@@IonicSplash365 Well, yes and no. If you messed up big time as a doctor, you can say good bye to your doctor's license and reputation. Nobody really wants to deal with a doctor with a bad track record. Doctors have to provide a "quality service" as the best that they can while content creators have to make "quality content" if they want to grow.
Feels validating to see someone else say what I've been saying for a long time. Gaming is so 2 dimensional, you're either a pro or you're funny/entertaining. Once people understand which of those 2 paths they're taking it becomes a lot easier to figure out what kind of content to make. Pros need to simply grind and perform better than the rest. Some good editing can take amazing gameplay a long way. A lot of us need to look in the mirror and realize we are just not pro gamers and should take an entertaining angle. The faster you can do that the better
no you need to look in the mirror and decide, are you a streamer.. or are you a content creator.. because there is a difference.. most people watching livestreams care about the interaction more than the gameplay..
You can't be a pro in every new game... and as a pro in a specific video game, playing every trending new game may get you more views, but you wouldn't play those new games for pleasure and youtube will quickly start to feel like a job you hate. What sucks is that youtube in the last years doesn't pay almost at all the content creators who may get a lot of views but are not uploading consistently. For example, if I have 10K videos on my channel, I'd get a lot of views even if I'd no longer upload new videos.. but the problem is that youtube doesn't pay us almost anything unless we upload at least weekly. This sucks for all youtubers, not just for gamers. Some videos take months to make.. and youtube is punishing youtubers who want to take their time in order to create high quality content. As a result, the quality of youtube videos is quickly going down because youtubers are pressured into uploading as often as possible in order to be paid.
Your advice to start on RUclips before streaming was the main reason why I started my channel 2 years ago.... turned out I enjoyed it so much that I never actually started streaming and focused on RUclips the whole time ^^' Thanks a lot for that
2 years and 50 x the subs I have it's over gg boys
2 года назад+137
If you make a series of this, I'd recommend being more specific about the skills creators could add. Maybe even showcase gaming creators who have added some of them. So the advice becomes more concrete.
Check out Astroid Videos, I thought of him during this video. He’s a gamer who’s really learned new skills and is bringing them to his videos-might give you some ideas about what you could do
For any one who wants to be a content creator, just make sure you are doing it for the right reason and have a goal set. Personally my main reason for Streaming was to force me to play games that I previously didn't have time for because of my schedule. Then I started posting to my already existing RUclips account because I wanted to have a reason to learn how to edit videos and make thumbnails. My Current goal is to be a an affordable RUclips video editor for up and coming content creators. I'm slowly making progress in getting better so I'm happy about that. I feel if I only did it for the money alone I would probably be discouraged, so make sure you have a goal besides just making money if you want to keep your sanity lol.
@@willthomas6057 My Email is listed on my "About" Section on my channel if you want to reach out. I thought I put my email here in the replies but they must've removed it, which I understand.
Honestly I think it’s all about what you bring to the table, showing that you are unique in your own way and not just doing what everyone else is doing
I think that's the case in any case, but it doesn't solve the absolute problem in the gaming community of longevity. What keeps people coming back to your channel even when you change the game you make content on or when that game becomes less popular. I'm a personality streamer by far and I've notice drop off of some older fans. People do move on from unique. But if I could provide some value that they would constantly need and be interested in, that would be game changing.
This is a interesting subject as I do building videos and I do it my way and try not to follow the others which does kinda work but at the same time I feel I'm for ever being compared to the more traditional types of content which then makes me question what I'm doing do I say unique or follow the norm
@Zahdorfi not sure if the reply was for me but I'm far from depressed I make the videos to show off my art as the builds I do are my creative outlet as well as the video's I create
Things is happening with me now...before I got to upload what other do ..but now I uploading my old games video in which I got most viewed...now I understand where I'm fail...it took 5 years to understand...now I'm uploading videos and ideas in which I'm best... surprisingly I don't expect views and subscribers but now slowly I got both ...it may be slow but I'm growing
As a video game modder, what I bring to the table is unique.. however, I don't want to show myself in my youtube content and I pay for that. 80% of views or watch time come from people who are not subscribed to my youtube channel. I know that if I'd show myself in my videos, I'd instantly get about 80% more subscribers.. but the thought of being watched by people who know me in real life, is making me feel like throwing up.
I can vouch that Gaming RUclipsrs are having a hard time right now. Especially the smaller creators like myself having to stay relevant against everyone popping up posting clip montages. And to answer the question to the video, I’ve always seen myself as a content creator. Don’t get me wrong, getting paid to play video games sounds AWESOME.. but I just love the process of recording and editing videos and posting them
If your intentions are true, then keep going for the fact that you enjoy the process of recording and editing videos and posting them because if you stay consistent then you for sure will grow. Obviously it may take 6months a year maybe even more, but if you stay consistent growth will happen.
I started in July because I always had fun with my gaming buddies and decided I wanted to share the Squad chat during gameplay because most of the time it is hilarious and sometimes we compete but most of the time it is for fun. I record everything I play, every moment. Then I choose what I want to share, edit it and upload. Stuff I don't want to use I just delete. Been working out well for me so far.
Fr I felt this sm, it’s hard af to stay consistent when I pour so much editing time and effort on my gaming vids just to not even get 50 views :/ like my recent mk8 gameplay I went off on editing and it’s just depressing not getting any traction
I knew pretty early on that streaming on twitch wasn't cutting it. I did something like 400 hours in the first 6 weeks with little to no improvement. Decided to build skills on RUclips by learning something with every upload. Seems to workout so far. Although I am losing some interest in gaming as a whole these days which is making uploading difficult.
BRO! I definitely hear you on this one. You have great content from the looks of it. Actually learned some apex tips I didn't know from your trailer video lol thanks! For sure you'd fall into the the category of creators, which Harris didn't mention, which is the educator. I think this one has the most probable success rate, but it's kinda hard to translate to long form streams I guess. And yeah gaming I think is stagnating as a whole. I think VR will be the next big thing if you are looking to revive your love for gaming, I'll look into VR. It's CRAZY in there. Good luck my friend!
Agreed, people who educate us a fantastic niche. People often use RUclips to ask questions, so making videos that answer common questions is very lucrative
I this video resonates with me. I’ve recently discovered tons of smaller gaming creators. Some have been hidden gems but most I’ve gotten vibes that they were trying to emulate bigger creators to a fault. You can’t do what the top .01% are doing and expect the same results. Creators should uniquely be themselves and not have people say things like, “Oh he’s like a great value version of (insert creator)”. I’d rather be a content creator and not just a guy who wants to get paid to play games. Be creative. Be yourself. Grow every day.
I agree with this. If there was a better analogy, it would be "Everybody is trying to be Steve Jobs." You can't and never will be Steve Jobs. You are just you. I think that's why most people quit YT because they are trying to be somebody else that they are not. Same can be applied to real life.
This video makes me feel better lmao! I'm MOSTLY focused on gaming, like 98% gaming, but I consider myself a variety channel as I do enjoy creating other types of content like "How to ___", Unboxings, and the occasional Vlog here and there. Thanks a ton, Harris, for reassuring me I'm making the right choice! I've followed your advice pretty closely since the beginning and you haven't steered me wrong yet! Glad to know you'll finally be able to slow down a bit in 2023 to do things you've not been able to do! Just be sure to keep us posted every now and then, yeah? 😂
I greatly value this topic because it requires me to tap into who I am as a person, not just what I want as a gaming creator. I was very fortunate to have several of my videos blow up on TikTok and Instagram, net me tens of thousands of followers across the board, get me partnered on Twitch and the whole shuh-bang. And yet I STILL feel just like the rest. Commentary, personality, and good moments/highlights. My numbers may show the “success” that creators keep chasing after, and I’m grateful for that, but something deep in my soul wants to be something more so I’m not forgotten about or replaceable. Started branding myself more as a gamer-musician and incorporating singing and playing guitar into my streams and other content, making up songs and silly little music videos choreographed in video games. Feels different enough to me to stand out. Hopefully :) Here’s to successful experimentation for everyone! 🙌
YES! This is what I think Harris was getting at! I've seen some other creators who seem to find massive success in taking time out of "gaming" to showcase a unique skill they have. Eventually they do incorporated into their gaming. Music is definitely a winner in most cases I've seen. Thanks for your insight!
I’ve actually thought of getting back into playing trumpet, just because of showcasing my skills and doing some covers but also because I need to know how to play an instrument for myself and so it can help me in times of need. I’m also trying to write fanfiction too, got a story in the works, but I want to write fanfics based on some ideas I get from gaming and play some music based off of what I write. It’s going to take a lot of work but it’ll pay off.
I’m so passionate about gaming it’s one of the only things I could actually picture myself doing and being happy it will be a long journey but with vids like this I will figure it out! I’ll keep pushing and taking new suggestions it’s not about the money it’s about doing what you love!
Love this video! I want to add an observation: I think a lot of us want to be content creators but we find it difficult to overcome certain roadblocks on our way to that destination. Like being in a lot of debt for example. Or having less than ideal living situations. I agree that at the core of it - you’re right. But I wouldn’t say that the dividing factor is binary. There are people who want to get paid for video games, and there are also people who want to be creators but can only afford to play video games for now.
It's not as hard as it seems to start on the path to content creating. I did it piece by piece over time. Look for deals on items, you DON'T need to get the same gear top streamers have at all. Buy stuff on sale, research what programs are compatible with what hardware you can buy. The biggest thing is developing your skillset with editing software and photoshop for thumbnails. I've looked over time at my stuff and I see skill improvement which leads to better quality. The biggest and first purchase I made was a laptop $600, then video editing software $60, then photoshop $80 or close to it, an elgato capture card refurbished for $125, then a mic setup on Amazon for $50. I already had my Xbox and games so I was good to go. I watched a ton of videos tried alot of the free stuff but most of it truthfully was garbage. I practiced alot on editing and I am way better than when I started. MOST importantly it took weeks to get all of the equipment. I didn't break the bank didn't rush purchases, bought wisely. I also bought extra storage to keep my vids,clips and media items on. This way I don't overtax my laptop. If you make thumbnails trust me you will need alot of jpeg like pics to use in them. If you have any questions I'll do my best to help. Just be patient with yourself and build that foundation from the bottom up. You got this!!!
I’ll say this as a nobody right now; never once in my life have I thought “I want to play games to make money”. It’s always been the principle of “I want to make content that makes peoples day a little better, because that’s what the creators I’ve watched for so long have done for me”. Even though I’m having a slow beginning I’m always trying to learn new ways to edit and expand on my editing talent. Here’s to hoping it goes well, and thanks for these videos to keep me on track 👍🏻
Yesss! I agree with this comment. Idk if Streaming is for me but I know editing is what I'm good at and recording whatever game I play. As a New Vtuber who doesn't stream I do want to make people's day a little better no matter what game I upload
I've always felt that games are more peripheral activities and if you can share the experience it becomes artistic expression, or if you can 'channel' the experience into real life it can also artistic expression.
It's funny, most people who win at "play games, get paid" end up losing the enjoyment of gaming. Being required to play games 8-12 hours a day, usually the same game, 6 days a week, for years and years turns it into a job, and a stressful one at that. The game could die. Some little kid could overtake you. There is very little transferability of skill, unless a similar game becomes very popular when your game dies. It's almost universal. I have always been in the "make lots of money so I have a lot of free time to play games as a hobby" camp.
You are correct with all of this! It is extremely difficult to grow a gaming channel especially since there’s most likely millions making the same content as you.
Content can be considered the same if it's the the same game, etc. If you can find a way to differentiate how you present the videos, and put your own style or twist on it, it is possible to see growth.
@@SlidurTV tbh i've seen people copied other people behavior and get a lot of tractions and hate at the same time, i just cannot get myself to copy other people 100% it feels fake and tiring in the long run... so i'll just be myself even though it's also tiring because you grow slowly as hell
@@anakmaganggaming I do my own style. I hate the copy and paste videos as well. I want to be different than everyone else and give them a reason to come back for something different
Top tips on being creative when showing games 1) Something funny happens and the way you react to it. Do you get red, do you become high pitch? 2) Are you showing something in game which is not the norm? Have you found a hack or a glitch? 3) You got add some fun and excitement if you doing commentary videos. Nobody wants to hear someone explain what is happening on screen. We can see that. So speak your reaction or crack a joke on what is happening in-game. 👍
@@SlidurTV How long did it take for you to get montized since you started your gaming channel? That kind of info would help me a lot if you don't mind sharing please.
Super interesting to hear you talk about this. My main goal is being a content creator on youtube rather than a streamer but it's a slow grind for sure. I'm a video editor as my main job which does give me the ability to create very polished content but it does take a lot of time and balancing that has been the biggest struggle for me so far.. I do really enjoy it though, seeing it as a marathon not a sprint to not stress myself out over it~
A lot of creators have that mind set of "I'm streaming! So people will watch!" One thing that I have learned over the last 2 years of streaming is its so much extra work and learning EVERYTHING. Keep up the great content!
I feel that. I've struggled hard with trying to keep with something. I have ADD and it's an everyday struggle. I get hyper fixated on something, I feel like I master it and then it's gone. I have all the equipment to do everything for content creation (a very nice computer, a sony camera, a good mic, all of it) but I can't bring myself to do anything. I start some and then I don't finish videos. I know I'm nervous at failing which I shouldn't be I know that's the only way to learn. Maybe commenting this will help me push myself. Maybe not. But here I am.
That's something a lot of us deal with. Not sure what the true remedy is other than to push yourself and be ready to do something you've never had to do before, which means don't put unrealistic expectations on yourself or your craft.
I'd say just start pumping out content and see where it goes. Any content is still better than no content, because it's out there in the open. F*ck the impostor syndrome (pardon my French) and start doing what you *want* to do just for the sake of feeling content.
I struggle with social anxiety and general anxiety.. and avoidant PD and psychotic episodes. I know.. it's unbelievable that I can even work or focus enough to create anything.. I hate getting attention on youtube which is why I don't show myself and rarely I record my voice but I know that as a video game modder I have something valuable and unique to provide.. something that no other person on earth is capable of doing.. which is why I have my youtube channel. What's worse is that my first monetized youtube channel was terminated by youtube after 2 and a half years of full time work.. still don't know why.. but I didn't give up and 1 year later I got my new youtube channel monetized again. At this point I feel like I wasted 3 and a half years from my life with youtube but that's okay because it's a passion. If I wanted money, I'd just look for a job or invest more time in my business.
Do what's best for you brotha. I understand how depression goes, and I completely get what you mean. Take time to do and learn the things you love. Enjoy your trip to Japan! Freakin awesome!
I think becoming a content creator means becoming multidimensional, and not being afraid to fail. It's about pursuing and sharing the thing that you love or are genuinely interested in learning, and not being afraid to put it out there. But finding new skills means sometimes stepping outside of your comfort zone. I think that why streamers become stagnant.
I struggle with social anxiety and anxiety. Showing myself in my youtube content is impossible but I know that I would get about 80% more subscribers and views if I'd show myself in my videos. Maybe one day I'll be able to not care so much and just show myself in my videos. I don't get it how others can do it. I hate getting attention.
So I've thought about what you said and my favorite type of content is humorous and attention grabbing at the same time. That got me thinking that if my videos aren't just straight uploads and I actually do some heavy editing, like adding in sound and visual effects, I would be a great deal happier with my content and create something I enjoy to watch. So my next video will be heavily edited and I'm going to do some research before I even start the editing process. I already love editing and think if I put my passion to work I will make something of myself in this fashion. Thank you for saying what needed to be said. 👍
Lemme tell you, after finished watching this video. I can't tell you when was the last time I felt touched and connected about how ACCURATE you are at putting these sentences together for so long Gaming, Personality, Content Creator I've been seeing these get correct so well through bunch of channels I enjoyed and followed along sometime (I.E. Jackseticeye, Markiplier, PewDiePie, etc. Very big I know) But when you split those three of each into different types of creator/streamer you like to watch. It's difficult and hard to keep up and care enough about their approach and appearance You were on point when you said Gaming and Personality. Just Camera and game footage just the thing I've seen all the time on RUclips that I don't mind... Yet it's been bugging me to TRY so hard for myself to seek through all the vids of just games (one only game or variety of game) with Personality Content Creation for a creator or gamer are always a pleasing one to enjoyed what they can do for their channel. Except that if they don't and they just play games for fun and created money off it with just little personality to carry on through it. Sure, that's fine. No problem with that I just cannot get myself through ALL of it, you know? Just maybe a Clips, Highlight, Vods, or things outside of their comfort zone Which is why I appreciate channels like (again) Markiplier and PewDiePie. They still sometime to occasionally played Horror Games, but not all time and guarantee to last (I mean come on) Love this video, keep up the great work! I felt a lot of emotional connection to this one for a lot of reason
Excellent video and definitely there is a clear dividing line between those who create unique content and those who just stream a game and try to be entertaining. I am currently the later but want to work towards being the former. Creating unique and entertaining content is however *much* harder overall. The biggest thing for me is the time it takes to do that. If I were already successful enough to rely on income from streaming/videos to pay the bills it would be easy to spend the time required to make good content, but when I am working full time its a much greater challenge. Much greater.
It's so helpful simplifying the current challenge most new and small creators seem to be having standing out in the gaming sphere, and whether or not the solution is easy, it's at least actionable! I appreciate the video 😊
Just yesterday I started streaming with a friend, and this matter is exactly something we talked about, that it's also about having fun... doing what we are passionate about: shortfilms and gaming... perfecting our skills and presenting good content, we're still learning 😎 Thanks for this, open our eyes all the more...
Generally, I love Harris' content. I think the delivery and the simplification down to something digestible is a great way to relate to people but also educate and encourage. Having said that, this video was a big miss for me because while it does outline the problem, the "solution" part of the equation was, candidly, quite low effort... and I said that with some sadness. Making the case that many gaming creators are just emulating larger creators and then using Casey Neistadt and Marques Brownlee as people who developed special skills is just incongruent - I appreciate that the intent was to say that Casey developed his storytelling skills and Marques spent years accumulating a vast depth of knowledge about consumer products, but they aren't "gaming creators" and they are the big creators that every RUclipsr who makes RUclips videos about being a better RUclipsr emulates... maybe you missed Peter McKinnon from that list. This style of education is best when it's delivered in an actionable way - telling people to develop a "special skill" but not using an example from the specific target niche the video addresses feels... wrong. It feels like this video wasn't really the "heart to heart" kind of chat it's trying to be and is more tailored to generate clicks and views. Every gaming creator that thinks seriously about their situation and craft realizes that standing out is hard and doing something different (and better) should be their focus. How does THIS video expand on that or work to solve it? How does it offer the intended audience an actionable solution? You could have replaced "gaming creator" with "makeup creator" or "foodie creator" and delivered almost the exact same scripted video with minor changes because there's almost nothing specific to gaming creators other than identifying the obvious problem and offering a rather generic, homogenized "solution". I dunno, this video feels pretty disappointing and super low effort.
I fully agree with you bro. You’re not alone. I read someone’s comment on this video and he said this video felt more like depression rather than advice. I’m a still do my thing and I hope you keep growing as well
Gaming has a low barrier of entry. Have a PC or console? You can start a gaming channel! There are so many of those out there it's incredibly difficult to separate yourself from the pack. My videos take a lot of time to edit because I wanted to start a gaming channel but do something different with it. I'm attempting to carve out my niche and not just blend in with the crowd.
I definitely see us as creators. A LOT of time is put into the actual edit of our gaming videos, which I would hope is going to set us apart in the long run 😁
What are you creating? Another gaming clip/montage video? I wouldn't call that being a creator, much like I wouldn't consider a baby mashing crayons as an artist. I can find more uniqueness in a 6 pack of eggs than those types of videos.
that's a bit different, if you are recording specifically for a video then that is content but if you are streaming and making the video for clout then that's not really content.
@@totally4reil definitely! Was talking specifically about what we work on. Lots of people think it’s just about playing a game, when the actual editing that goes into it is 99% of the work
@@NutsPlayGames bro fr, and when you record it seems real awkward until you fix it up in post and then that takes forever. So I definitely see what you mean.
Totally agree with “learning a skill” from getting into this type of creativity. I started gaming and streaming month 3 into the pandemic. I self-taught photoshop, vector based drawing, and motion fx since 2020 and created my own overlays, thumbnails, and transitions. This is just a hobby for me and enjoy every aspect of learning new things. New software, how to create cosplay costumes, understanding audio, and lighting, and balance of it all. Its a whole complete process.
It's funny that you say "gameplay + camera" as 99% of streams, because that is something I noticed a long time ago, and actually made an overlay that was reactive to my game, and while having something different and unique did set me apart (and yes, I'm one of those million people posting minecraft videos, haha) - it still wasn't enough because people still needed to GET to the stream to see those things. So, I focused more on the storytelling, and doing bit setpiece movies, I'm talking like 2+ hour videos, and oh, there's a secret ARG that's been going on on the channel for over a year now :D - It takes quite a bit to push those "other skills" into the limelight where many people only focus on skill or personality, so you kind of need all three in my opinion. It's a full time thing to get all done, just getting people who watch gaming to also notice those other skills is very difficult. Marketing that feature on top of the game or skills is such a difference maker, but it's probably the hardest part of content creation as a job. Good video!
I really like your 100 hour Minecraft video, I have just started watching it..... really good story telling.... W content man 🔥🔥 I need to get better with story telling for my channel.
For myself, I make videos for the fun of it. I don’t really care if it gets attention, I just enjoy the process of playing a game I like, editing it how I see fit, and then storing it somewhere for myself to look back at. I definitely agree with what you said about developing a skill though. It’s incredibly hard to find what it is and become good at it but doing so is super fulfilling. Great video 👍🏼
I like gaming, but I found quite quickly that making gaming content wasn't what I wanted to do when it came to youtube. It wasn't where I shined in my skill set. So I've been using this month to just dive into the creation process and find what kind of content I like to make as well as improving my skills for it. And this video definitely reinforced the thought that I'm at least doing something to benefit me.
Finding time for content creation around family and work are where its hitting hard right now. Would love to jump into content creation full time but bills are the thing thats stopping me. So I mean yea, streaming to make money would be the ideal situation but I also love creating content, editing the videos, chatting to anyone that comes in stream or comments on a youtube video. It feels good and I love it. I am totally on board with you with depression. I am pretty sure I had post natal depression from having my daughter 9 years ago and it has just never gone away, and if anything its worse now than ever. Something I have noticed with you as a content creator, you make it easy for others to share. We get the deep, meaningful conversations from you and I love it. Thank you.
you mentioned that we have to learn one skill to differentiate us from the others and mine has been knowing how to network and build social relationships so i can build a team and revolve myself around people smarter than me.. i'm still working on that but watching you for the past 2 years has continuously helped me refocus my career. thank you
You mentioned something like the "Fix" a few years ago, my memory is vague, but it seemed to be in a conversation you were having with someone, apologies I can't remember. But I listened back then, found more sources giving similar advice and for the past few years I have been doing exactly that, learning new skills. At the end of this video, when you mentioned the cost of focusing on your channel, man did that ring true for me, but my focus was on skills and mental health. Thank you for this video, the authenticity at the end gave me that cathartic "I feel for you man" feeling... greatly appreciated.
I think this was a very helpful video, and answer part of my question/comment on one of your stream uploads. I do think there is more that can be talked about as far as building a healthy state of mind for yourself and how to get there. I have heard many people that have unique qualities but may struggle with the anxiety of first starting a youtube channel. It can feel overwhelming and figuring out how to overcome that. Sometimes you are your own worst enemy in being confident in your own unique skills. But definitely agree with what you stated in the end that learning a new skill is always worth it even if it can't be applied in a streaming environment but can be useful somewhere else in your life.
The hardest challenge I face even after creating different content than gaming is the discoverability, having a same content on your channel is crucial to grow but being a musician and gamer, both takes you no where, it's an endless loop of creating content by following all the steps and then waiting for something to happen, I have lost ideas now and I come here to get motivated to keep doing it using more ideas and brain into it, thank you bro, you do a lot to us than you know, I will be a true senpai always, kuddos!
Don't lose faith. Show people HOW to do something musically, a cover tutorial or something along those lines and slowly interject more ideas of what you want your channel to become. People are inherently curious and want to learn. It should help with getting more traffic to you, utilize shorts as well. The more traffic you can expose yourself to the better chance you have of getting your channel to grow along with good content. Don't give up!!!
Hi, just wanted to say I had to log in and reply to ya. I definitely understand what you are saying. Infact I'm in the process of revamping my channel as well as the way I content create and the "following the steps till discovery" is something I have in the back of my mind sometimes. But I wanted to ask- have you thought about doing music reviews from games? Or dissecting game soundtracks. Or maybe your verison of game soundtracks? It maybe not a totally new idea but if there is one thing I know for certain is that the impact music has on us as gamers is HUGE. And when we link up with others who share the love of certain soundtracks from a game or just describing their feelings on a soundtrack when they played a game for the first time...idk something magical happens. This was very corny but nevertheless, I felt compelled to throw my unsolicited idea at ya. Also don't give up on your passions.
I appreciate the efforts and transparency behind this video. I appreciate you Senpai Gaming brother. I am curious to start myself, just got my XRL phone kit and pre-amp audio interface, now I just need time to get stuff organized. And begin practicing my arts. Definitly gonna watch and re-watch this video a few times. And I do agree, we gotta be a good creator, to make it, properly.
I have always found that "Gameplay" and "Personality" both fall under the "Entertainment" umbrella. Not a lot of people realize that the best way to grow a channel is to start under the "Education" umbrella instead. I have seen many creators around me try their heart out to make the BEST, MOST ENTERTAINING content they can, just to see it underperform time and time again. Something everyone needs is information on how to do something, and they don't care where they go to get that information, and they almost always SEARCH for that information on YT. Learning this and how to make educational gaming content AND utilize SEO, has drastically helped my channel grow! IMO educational content is the place to start for gaming.
I tried it backwards like you said, and started on RUclips. It helps to explain what it is you enjoy about the game you like to other people. Inform people about the thing you love, all those things that seem obvious aren't always, and a lot of the time other people want to know about it. Starting with the videos first, I think, helps put together streams later. Thanks so much for your videos. You helped me get my start.
I do see myself as a "creator", been doing youtube for 12 years, and only recently started it and streaming full-time. I love the creative process. I think another big difference is, some people just hit record, talk while playing and then upload it and wonder why people aren't watching. Then some of us spend hours editing, fine-tuning the video, adding in sound effects and extra shots to make it more of a "show" than just a gameplay.
That & on top of sound effects & memes to the edited content we trim a lot of the "Boring Fat" out of the video and try to make it action packed with the gameplay talking, etc.
He went dark Harris with this blue lighting on his face. Good points and absolute facts. This is an absolute divide of the community from a viewers perspective.
This is something I needed to watch, mainly because for the longest of time I feel I've wanted to be a content creator, yet part of me just wants to play games and get paid for it, which even I know can be a monumental feat. I do think I need to re-evaluate myself and see how to maybe switch to learning to be a content creator versus just focusing on the game itself. Thank you for this video, Harris.
It's definitely difficult for us gaming youtubers to grow, it's just important you do it for the right reasons. Do it because you enjoy it, not to get a successful channel 🙂 I started because I wanted to know how to edit videos (specifically gaming videos) and so I could save the funny phasmophobia gameplays for my friend and I to look back on, and now it's developed to me playing horror games solo. Just do what makes you happy.
there's definitely a steep learning curve when it comes to becoming a creator, from learning what the algorithm likes (certainly not my newest video) to learning how to edit good videos in programs that can feel archaic at times and crash if you try to do too much at a time it's still incredibly rewarding when you upload a video that you are proud of, and that's why I'll keep creating.
There is still a bunch of people who have the idea. "I will record a video and upload it and hope everyone watches it. " That doesn't happen anymore. It's 2022, not 2009. RUclips has evolved. In short, you need: An idea, an audience, a video, Google search rankings and then edit them, then release video. Then you may get some traction and interest. It's a steep learning curve. But RUclips is the new telly. 😉
You've been doing a great job Harris, but you can't do everything, you've given us plenty of helpful information, but ultimately it's up to us to get into gear and get the ball rolling on the things we wanted to do, which is more than likely the reason we started watching your content in the first place. Keep up the awesome work!
I’m so glad that I genuinely enjoy making gaming content. Not just uploading vods or clips. I love doing creative/unique content around the games i love playing.
Another BANGER from the Stream Doctor! There is a third type of gaming content creator but not sure if it's as big as the other two. It's the Educator. It also suffers from the same problem of longevity cause when you finish tutorials on a game and move to a new one, you lose that audience as well. Hm, becoming an export at something outside of gaming and pairing it with gaming content creations? That definitely will work, but is extremely difficult. I'll work on it! 🙏🏾
Good point about the educator here but I would say this is a type of content creator. It seems that an important difference, like with education content, is the audience. People want the content because they want to learn from it.
As a bystander who isn't interested in creating gaming content. It might help those who do want to create if I state what I look for in gaming content. Short version: Almost entirely people I met when doing something other than gaming. They make content doing 3D modeling for example. It's much easier to stand out that way. Then I often watch them while gaming as well. Long Form: Gaming content is so over-saturated that I'm not willing to give most people the time to prove themselves. You gotta have other tricks up your sleeves. The gaming content I watch for smaller creators I watch because I saw them make art, do programming, miniature painting, etc. Something niche and less saturated and easier to find people I get along with or find funny. And then when they do gaming content I watch because I know I like their humor and personality. And once you kinda get a small base of people it's much easier to grow.
Obviously, I don't speak for everyone. People have different wants, but sometimes it can be hard to get into someone else's headspace. I hope my opinions help you grow and get ideas.
This like opened my eyes up. It made me sit down and actually have a conversation with myself, and yeah I want to create content and have a personality and just have streaming as a side thing for people that want to know me better
I started with streams but now I spend more time creating content for my RUclips channel. Also...… Just looking through the comments, there are a lot of channels here with really good editing with great content!
Love your stuff, Senpai. Always food for thought and you have a great way of being honest in your message without being negatively blunt. Looks like I have some homework to do!
Ever since I'm getting serious with creating gaming videos, I've been researching on topics specifically on Gaming channel. The challenges faced by YT gaming creators are somewhat different to the non-gamers, and not many addressed this. The ones that are focused on the technical side of things, be it on YT algorithm or tech equipments. This video gives a fresh insight that's applicable specifically to gaming creators. It's a relief, as I'm a multipotentialite (tech entrepreneur, social scientist, polyglot). You're inspiring me to be authentic to myself and start incorporating other aspects of my life to the channel. 👍👍
Not only gaming channels. I feel like this applies to all sorts of channels. Now the hype seems to be reaction channels, you sit there, watch a video or read a reddit post and that's it. Not much different than sit there and play a game. It all comes down to the commentary or the ability of the "host" to be clever or funny enough. The personality, and maybe the editing will stand out, some people will stay or move on. There is not much space for special unique abilities on this ends, I think, but maybe I'm wrong haha. I think for gaming it also comes down to what kind of games are you playing? Same as everyone? Jumping on the hype train? I learned my lesson about that xD Don't play what everyone is doing. When I started to watch gaming channels, it was mostly because I couldn't afford to play those games myself. They were too expensive or needed a too good PC. I wonder how many people now a days watch gaming content for this same reason. Or horror games. Some people love it, but just can't handle it, so they watch it. I had comments before of people on my channel saying that. Certain games make them sick, so they watch it too. Every channel is hard to grow I guess, specially now with so much to choose from. So I guess keep enjoying what you are making, and it will get better over time. Almost no big youtuber today started thinking about being big, and there they are.
been watching since nearly the beginning and have learned so much through your tutorials and through your process. ty for always being a trusted resource and becoming my first stop for the streaming space. im looking forward to everything that's going to pop off here in 2023.
That's the problem of other gaming RUclipsrs/Twitch streamers, they just wanna be the next PewDiePie, MrBeast, Dr DisRespect, xQc, or Pokimane, just playing and making reaction videos. This is why I prefer gaming channels that also teach/coach than just personality-based streamers. Not everyone wants to be entertained all the time, there are plenty out there that seeks answers and want to learn from their favorite channels.
Glad you came out with this video. I think most streamers don't know how to diversify their content to other sub-niches that still appeal to their core audience. They are too focused on streaming rather than building a long term plan for content creation as a career.
Wow… that really put everything into perspective. Thanks for that! Like even if I put my heart and soul into something and I end up failing… I still bettered myself in some way. I’ve guilty of just streaming and not posting actual videos or making content… Thanks for being honest! I really needed that!
Always so truthful and to the point! Never sugar coats it and says "aw guys you can all do what I do" Harris does a great job being real and that's why these videos are always so credible
I'd like to add something, Coming from a starting content creator: In my oppinion it's also important that u enjoy the whole process no matter how hard or strenious it can be, because if you TRULY love what you are doing? It'le show in your video's, whether that's through editing. Or the general content. Or perhaps even.... You as a person and the thing u chose to make content about. Leme use myself as an example, I'm a 23 year old that has undergone lots in his life that he shouldn't have had to... Yet i pushed through years of feeling like my life was going nowhere, and a few ugly breakups later... I find the courage to finally start something new, to make a name for myself so to say, And my goal is to build a loving community and help share joy in the form of entertainment and leave a mark on the world, and maybe one day help the world out with a personal business regarding my channel... And me personally, i'm loving learning everything and there's alot to learn with this particular line of work, but i really want this. and i love doing it And i aint gonna quit till i make it :D Thanks for coming to my tedtalk lol
Always a wealth of information. I know I have a long way to go in my journey but your videos have been a valuable source for whatever I do. Thanks a lot! 🦁
Enjoyed the video and the insight for sure! You're definitely one of my go to because of similar ideas, as well as personality. Loved the check and have felt stuck for sure. The entertainment part comes easy, but what can I offer aside from an experience, as well as an overall good time? Things I have been sitting there and thinking about for several months now. I enjoy the process, it's an emotional roller coaster for sure... I wouldn't have it any other way! It's a marathon, not a sprint. The learning over these past two years has been incredible, and the skills I've learned just goes to show that if you want something you can do anything you put your mind to!
I feel the same way. I also offer personality and a overall good time to my audience but have been trying to come up with something more I can offer. The top performers in the space are either extreme in the entertainment part or extremely good at the gameplay part. This industry, as new as it is, changes so fast with what it finds attractive. Ultimately it comes down to what you are offering, how valuable is that offering, and many people need that offering.
@@DatSamurai ABSOLUTELY! I mean, the possibilities are endless, which is the wild part of it. Yet also, trying to figure out what to embark on can be overwhelming in the scheme of things too! Don't want to get stuck at that drawing board too long, yah know?
I love this channel so much, been here for years! Thank you for your help. I recently got into scootering actually as to add something NEW, and people seem to enjoy my progress from not being able to do a jump to being able to tailwhip on command almost. I feel I need to go 1 more step tho cuz then ima just gonna blend with the skating community.
Making something that I already like doing/ watching and that will be the first clue.... Okay. I needed to hear that. Thank you. I neither have time or patience for playing games all day, so eventually I would be tired of posting. As crazy as that sounds. I'll focus on my current brand. Again, thanks.
While I am sure others will find this useful, I need some timecodes to refer back to in the future. Part One - Gaming is Massive: 2:21 Part Two - The Half Solution: 3:29 Part Three - The Fix: 4:38 Part Four - Develop a Skill: 7:14 (Personally your best point) I think you have done a great job showcasing the secrets of the platform Harris. I definitely see the value in showcasing this for new people that are looking to make this a career.
I really like what you said about this regarding people wanting to just play games and be paid for it. I shifted my focus off of what I was doing here on RUclips and tried to do that, not thinking it was easy money, but thinking it would be a fun way to create content while I was going through some personal issues that stopped my video production. The problem is that life started getting in the way and it started feeling too much like work, now it's been six months since my last stream and two years since my last produced video. The thing about what I'm doing, and maybe I'm not unique in the position, is that I started creating content on RUclips to merge two of my favorite hobbies. Digital media creation, and the content my channel was focused on. Which is what I'm trying to get back to. In retrospect, I wish I had just stayed the course and continued with my video production. It's a marathon, not a sprint. I really appreciate you posting these videos, I pull them up to listen to when I need a bit of a pep talk.
You made a great point, i have started a few channels that never took off in the past. I think i found my "skill" now and that will be the focus of my current channel. Thanks!
I get this.. I fell into the category of wanting to get paid to game.. however, I stopped streaming for the most part and more focusing more on RUclips.. My biggest issues that I can pick out.. -Consistency -not knowing how to show my true self on a video -and I suck! At finding topics to talk about that are actually being searched
Great video, I've been racking my brain on how to do gaming differently, I stopped streaming to focus on content creation and just trying so many different things to find what suits me. I find everything on how to create videos is based on irl content which is very different.
I've just learned that teaching people something with your content is so much better than just gaming content, it's more searchable and people thank you for it and maby turn into loyal fans
Oh my. This hits home. I'm not especially great at gaming. My presence in videos is fairly calm, something a lot of people have said is really appealing to them because they're tired of the screaming gamers. But I'm about to do something that I don't see a lot of gaming content creators do, use the game to create a story. I see this with multiplayer games sometimes, but I play mostly single player, and I almost never see people making story videos by using games as the medium. I like creating stories, lore, history, and characters. And that's what I'm starting to do with gaming. I've had success with tutorials, and continue to do so, but my passion is with storytelling.
I in fact been fed up with not growing my channel and streaming often as well as long hours. This month I decided to stop streaming so much and worked on making videos. I kind of like the idea of creating videos, forms of storytelling, jokes and all has helped me pull in more views than being live. I want to put some little voice acting skills into a few videos for fun. Just takes time editing and stuff. Been dialing back wanting to add anime talk like Chainsaw Man into my channel.
I really enjoy this type of content both the "Here's how you implement X on streams" and the "You need to consider these things as a creator" type videos. I'm learning a ton about RUclips itself and how to optimize my content for it but I've also realized that some of my best videos on my channel were informational, topical, and relevant at the time. Maybe not the best for long-term growth but I like talking about the games industry and I like talking about streaming tech. Currently working on a tutorial to setup something that I thought was awesome from another big channel. So yeah I think I'm gonna focus on that type of stuff.
As a gaming content creator, what has really helped me was focusing on a specific genre of games (Japanese RPGs). I don’t have a HUGE channel, but I’ve slowly become an authority in this space and that has helped me grow.
I’m in the gaming community and it’s a third one, it falls under “lifestyle “ as with me I go out and show people you can build your video game collection for cheap and the Wright Way .
This video makes a lot of sense. The one thing I see a lot of in Minecraft (yay us always being called out for "it being hard") is some great streamers aren't very good on YT and some great YTers aren't any good at streaming live. It's almost like concert bands vs studio bands. Some bring energy and great vibes and a natural interaction with chat and others really do well when it's scripted out or planned and they have a single point to make. Taking one audience over to the other is great if you're "about the same" at both. Harder when you aren't.
Tried out creating videos on a gaming channel for 3 Years. Now I am one of the biggest channel in my niche. And its the most rewarding feeling, when people become to like your content. Happy to see more of that Gaming Content Videos here. Keep up the good work 💪
I've been watching too much YT. 100% thought the end bit about learning a new skill and not knowing what to learn was going to segway into a skillshare segment.
What’s up Harris. You were the only really helpful channel I could find when one of my clips blew up and my channel went from 50 to 1000 subs in a week. That was about 18 months ago. What I’ve discovered since is that you can either attack the oversaturated market through sheer volume (flood your channel with easier to make content), or you can spend a lot of time making a high quality video and roll the dice. I’ve found the 2nd tactic way more fulfilling creatively and a bit more exciting, though probably less lucrative, at least initially. I’m currently experiencing a growth wave after I spent about 20-30 hrs editing a video and it popped. I’ve gone from 9.3k total subs to almost 15k in 4 days. Just thought I’d offer one more data point and testimonial for the stream doc. Hope you’re well.
I'd say you hit the nail on the head. While my personal channel hasn't taken off as such, I focused my time mainly on learning content creation in general, from video editing and thumbnail design to SEO and analytics research. Actually playing games was (and is) the smallest part of that entire creative process, but even if you put all of the work in the niche is so saturated that you may never stand out. However the skills I've developed alongside making my own videos landed me full-time work in this field, which is a success in my eyes! The channel I work for is in the nature/rewilding niche and has gone from 700 to 142k subs in the 8 months since I joined, the shorts channel we launched overtook my own sub count in 19 days, and the TikTok is at 12.4k followers after about 1.5 months. The very first video I made for them is currently sitting at 2.7 million views, whereas my video of beating the first map of Pogostuck (with a roughly equal amount of effort since it was 18.5 hours of recording, likely quadruple that in editing and a total of 102GB of files) has 28 views after 33 days. While there are many other variables, such as how compelling the title and thumbnail were and how interesting the topic was, I can confidently say from many experiences that the more defined and the less saturated your niche is, the easier it is to grow with the same amount of effort. With all that said though I'm not concerned about growing this channel at all, it's 100% just for fun and to entertain the few regular viewers that I have. Personally I'd say don't start a gaming channel with the goal of making income from it, if you desperately want income from content creation make a different type of channel. If you want to just enjoy yourself, upload away and maybe it'll take off someday!
This video was a real eye opener man. . its been really rare to see smaller gaming channels get big in this day and age. If I don't bring something new to the table nothing will ever change.
I've been doing Gaming on RUclips for 6 years, I've learned a lot over time and truth is, you can still grow today. I start new channels that both fail and succeed on a consistent basis. However, you need to understand your niche and your audience, then you need to be forward thinking. Not only "what does the audience want today" but you also need to know "what will my audience want in the future". You are subject to the trend-graph of the game you are involved in so be ready to start over, pivot and get really creative to even stand a chance against it This goes with your main point at the end of the video, you need to be a creator with ideas, market research, and to master a niche. Not just another person who plays the game
my biggest hurdle is not knowing what i want to make/do other than streaming gameplay. like i have ideas and then in 24hrs i just dont think i can do it, or that no one else will care about it.
Appreciate how candid you always are, I can really sense that you make these informative videos from a place of desire to help others above anything else. Keep killin it!
What is your favorite type of youtube to watch?
Let's Plays are my jam!
Ones that can make me laugh and smile.
Typically stuff that helps me improve my content atm
Documentaries than something I want to learn than music
Harris sorry to say but I don't like the blue light on your face but great video as always... 🙂
“Most streamers don’t want to be content creators, they want to play games for money” hit the nail in the head there. Thanks for this video, good to get some insight to align us every once in a while!
Most doctors dont actually want to help people. They just want to make money from helping people.
@@dkoiop that's different though, at the end of the day if you got the degree you can be a doctor and make money regardless. You can't grow as a creator if you wanna make half assed videos just to try and get paid for playing games, no one's gonna watch that.
Exactly. You are NEVER GONNA GET ANYWHERE if you treat doing YT livestreaming and content creation as a money thing.
@@dkoiop that’s actually doing something for society you nerd
@@IonicSplash365 Well, yes and no. If you messed up big time as a doctor, you can say good bye to your doctor's license and reputation. Nobody really wants to deal with a doctor with a bad track record. Doctors have to provide a "quality service" as the best that they can while content creators have to make "quality content" if they want to grow.
Feels validating to see someone else say what I've been saying for a long time. Gaming is so 2 dimensional, you're either a pro or you're funny/entertaining. Once people understand which of those 2 paths they're taking it becomes a lot easier to figure out what kind of content to make. Pros need to simply grind and perform better than the rest. Some good editing can take amazing gameplay a long way. A lot of us need to look in the mirror and realize we are just not pro gamers and should take an entertaining angle. The faster you can do that the better
no you need to look in the mirror and decide, are you a streamer.. or are you a content creator.. because there is a difference.. most people watching livestreams care about the interaction more than the gameplay..
Took me a while to figure this out. Things have gone uphill since i have focused on the "funny" side of gaming.
If you're a pro into an older video game that is no longer popular, noone cares about you and your content.
You can't be a pro in every new game... and as a pro in a specific video game, playing every trending new game may get you more views, but you wouldn't play those new games for pleasure and youtube will quickly start to feel like a job you hate. What sucks is that youtube in the last years doesn't pay almost at all the content creators who may get a lot of views but are not uploading consistently. For example, if I have 10K videos on my channel, I'd get a lot of views even if I'd no longer upload new videos.. but the problem is that youtube doesn't pay us almost anything unless we upload at least weekly. This sucks for all youtubers, not just for gamers. Some videos take months to make.. and youtube is punishing youtubers who want to take their time in order to create high quality content. As a result, the quality of youtube videos is quickly going down because youtubers are pressured into uploading as often as possible in order to be paid.
@@SyKaDeLiCEyEzagreed. I have a lot more viewers when I’m just paused at the game chatting then so focused on the game without talking
Your advice to start on RUclips before streaming was the main reason why I started my channel 2 years ago.... turned out I enjoyed it so much that I never actually started streaming and focused on RUclips the whole time ^^' Thanks a lot for that
Hi Sir any advice for a NEW Content Creator like me?
Nice!
God's favorite son
And you made it and build a community!!!
2 years and 50 x the subs I have it's over gg boys
If you make a series of this, I'd recommend being more specific about the skills creators could add. Maybe even showcase gaming creators who have added some of them. So the advice becomes more concrete.
Check out Astroid Videos, I thought of him during this video. He’s a gamer who’s really learned new skills and is bringing them to his videos-might give you some ideas about what you could do
@@megodynamitewhat skills does he bring to his gaming videos?
For any one who wants to be a content creator, just make sure you are doing it for the right reason and have a goal set. Personally my main reason for Streaming was to force me to play games that I previously didn't have time for because of my schedule. Then I started posting to my already existing RUclips account because I wanted to have a reason to learn how to edit videos and make thumbnails. My Current goal is to be a an affordable RUclips video editor for up and coming content creators. I'm slowly making progress in getting better so I'm happy about that. I feel if I only did it for the money alone I would probably be discouraged, so make sure you have a goal besides just making money if you want to keep your sanity lol.
Um, not that i dont know how to edit, but how affordable...
@@TheGentooGamer I definitely want to provide a $10 basic option with some minor motion graphics involved eventually.
@@thatboylazo I would definitely love to have you edit some stuff for me whenever you do decide on that
I'd be very interested in this whenever you get to it. Feel free to reach out if you want to chat about it.
@@willthomas6057 My Email is listed on my "About" Section on my channel if you want to reach out. I thought I put my email here in the replies but they must've removed it, which I understand.
Honestly I think it’s all about what you bring to the table, showing that you are unique in your own way and not just doing what everyone else is doing
I think that's the case in any case, but it doesn't solve the absolute problem in the gaming community of longevity. What keeps people coming back to your channel even when you change the game you make content on or when that game becomes less popular. I'm a personality streamer by far and I've notice drop off of some older fans. People do move on from unique. But if I could provide some value that they would constantly need and be interested in, that would be game changing.
This is a interesting subject as I do building videos and I do it my way and try not to follow the others which does kinda work but at the same time I feel I'm for ever being compared to the more traditional types of content which then makes me question what I'm doing do I say unique or follow the norm
@Zahdorfi not sure if the reply was for me but I'm far from depressed I make the videos to show off my art as the builds I do are my creative outlet as well as the video's I create
Things is happening with me now...before I got to upload what other do ..but now I uploading my old games video in which I got most viewed...now I understand where I'm fail...it took 5 years to understand...now I'm uploading videos and ideas in which I'm best... surprisingly I don't expect views and subscribers but now slowly I got both ...it may be slow but I'm growing
As a video game modder, what I bring to the table is unique.. however, I don't want to show myself in my youtube content and I pay for that. 80% of views or watch time come from people who are not subscribed to my youtube channel. I know that if I'd show myself in my videos, I'd instantly get about 80% more subscribers.. but the thought of being watched by people who know me in real life, is making me feel like throwing up.
I can vouch that Gaming RUclipsrs are having a hard time right now. Especially the smaller creators like myself having to stay relevant against everyone popping up posting clip montages.
And to answer the question to the video, I’ve always seen myself as a content creator. Don’t get me wrong, getting paid to play video games sounds AWESOME.. but I just love the process of recording and editing videos and posting them
The process of your idea coming to light is such a wonderful feeling
If your intentions are true, then keep going for the fact that you enjoy the process of recording and editing videos and posting them because if you stay consistent then you for sure will grow. Obviously it may take 6months a year maybe even more, but if you stay consistent growth will happen.
Same here!
I started in July because I always had fun with my gaming buddies and decided I wanted to share the Squad chat during gameplay because most of the time it is hilarious and sometimes we compete but most of the time it is for fun. I record everything I play, every moment. Then I choose what I want to share, edit it and upload. Stuff I don't want to use I just delete. Been working out well for me so far.
Fr I felt this sm, it’s hard af to stay consistent when I pour so much editing time and effort on my gaming vids just to not even get 50 views :/ like my recent mk8 gameplay I went off on editing and it’s just depressing not getting any traction
I knew pretty early on that streaming on twitch wasn't cutting it. I did something like 400 hours in the first 6 weeks with little to no improvement. Decided to build skills on RUclips by learning something with every upload. Seems to workout so far. Although I am losing some interest in gaming as a whole these days which is making uploading difficult.
BRO! I definitely hear you on this one. You have great content from the looks of it. Actually learned some apex tips I didn't know from your trailer video lol thanks!
For sure you'd fall into the the category of creators, which Harris didn't mention, which is the educator. I think this one has the most probable success rate, but it's kinda hard to translate to long form streams I guess. And yeah gaming I think is stagnating as a whole. I think VR will be the next big thing if you are looking to revive your love for gaming, I'll look into VR. It's CRAZY in there. Good luck my friend!
Agreed, people who educate us a fantastic niche. People often use RUclips to ask questions, so making videos that answer common questions is very lucrative
@TimProVision - if you need a hand with video editing and upload. Drop me a message. I'm unemployed atm. 😥 Need to keep my mind focussed til then.
I this video resonates with me. I’ve recently discovered tons of smaller gaming creators. Some have been hidden gems but most I’ve gotten vibes that they were trying to emulate bigger creators to a fault. You can’t do what the top .01% are doing and expect the same results. Creators should uniquely be themselves and not have people say things like, “Oh he’s like a great value version of (insert creator)”. I’d rather be a content creator and not just a guy who wants to get paid to play games. Be creative. Be yourself. Grow every day.
I feel like I needed to read this
@@vicmendozacomedy It was a long paragraph but I had a lot to say haha.
I agree with this. If there was a better analogy, it would be "Everybody is trying to be Steve Jobs." You can't and never will be Steve Jobs. You are just you. I think that's why most people quit YT because they are trying to be somebody else that they are not. Same can be applied to real life.
Fantastic comment, thanks for sharing
@@jbock8159 ?
This video makes me feel better lmao!
I'm MOSTLY focused on gaming, like 98% gaming, but I consider myself a variety channel as I do enjoy creating other types of content like "How to ___", Unboxings, and the occasional Vlog here and there.
Thanks a ton, Harris, for reassuring me I'm making the right choice!
I've followed your advice pretty closely since the beginning and you haven't steered me wrong yet!
Glad to know you'll finally be able to slow down a bit in 2023 to do things you've not been able to do!
Just be sure to keep us posted every now and then, yeah? 😂
I greatly value this topic because it requires me to tap into who I am as a person, not just what I want as a gaming creator.
I was very fortunate to have several of my videos blow up on TikTok and Instagram, net me tens of thousands of followers across the board, get me partnered on Twitch and the whole shuh-bang.
And yet I STILL feel just like the rest. Commentary, personality, and good moments/highlights. My numbers may show the “success” that creators keep chasing after, and I’m grateful for that, but something deep in my soul wants to be something more so I’m not forgotten about or replaceable.
Started branding myself more as a gamer-musician and incorporating singing and playing guitar into my streams and other content, making up songs and silly little music videos choreographed in video games. Feels different enough to me to stand out. Hopefully :)
Here’s to successful experimentation for everyone! 🙌
YES! This is what I think Harris was getting at! I've seen some other creators who seem to find massive success in taking time out of "gaming" to showcase a unique skill they have. Eventually they do incorporated into their gaming. Music is definitely a winner in most cases I've seen. Thanks for your insight!
Love your content homie
I’ve actually thought of getting back into playing trumpet, just because of showcasing my skills and doing some covers but also because I need to know how to play an instrument for myself and so it can help me in times of need.
I’m also trying to write fanfiction too, got a story in the works, but I want to write fanfics based on some ideas I get from gaming and play some music based off of what I write.
It’s going to take a lot of work but it’ll pay off.
I’m so passionate about gaming it’s one of the only things I could actually picture myself doing and being happy it will be a long journey but with vids like this I will figure it out! I’ll keep pushing and taking new suggestions it’s not about the money it’s about doing what you love!
Love this video!
I want to add an observation: I think a lot of us want to be content creators but we find it difficult to overcome certain roadblocks on our way to that destination. Like being in a lot of debt for example. Or having less than ideal living situations. I agree that at the core of it - you’re right. But I wouldn’t say that the dividing factor is binary. There are people who want to get paid for video games, and there are also people who want to be creators but can only afford to play video games for now.
It's not as hard as it seems to start on the path to content creating. I did it piece by piece over time. Look for deals on items, you DON'T need to get the same gear top streamers have at all. Buy stuff on sale, research what programs are compatible with what hardware you can buy. The biggest thing is developing your skillset with editing software and photoshop for thumbnails. I've looked over time at my stuff and I see skill improvement which leads to better quality. The biggest and first purchase I made was a laptop $600, then video editing software $60, then photoshop $80 or close to it, an elgato capture card refurbished for $125, then a mic setup on Amazon for $50. I already had my Xbox and games so I was good to go. I watched a ton of videos tried alot of the free stuff but most of it truthfully was garbage. I practiced alot on editing and I am way better than when I started. MOST importantly it took weeks to get all of the equipment. I didn't break the bank didn't rush purchases, bought wisely. I also bought extra storage to keep my vids,clips and media items on. This way I don't overtax my laptop. If you make thumbnails trust me you will need alot of jpeg like pics to use in them. If you have any questions I'll do my best to help. Just be patient with yourself and build that foundation from the bottom up. You got this!!!
I’ll say this as a nobody right now; never once in my life have I thought “I want to play games to make money”. It’s always been the principle of “I want to make content that makes peoples day a little better, because that’s what the creators I’ve watched for so long have done for me”.
Even though I’m having a slow beginning I’m always trying to learn new ways to edit and expand on my editing talent. Here’s to hoping it goes well, and thanks for these videos to keep me on track 👍🏻
Yesss! I agree with this comment. Idk if Streaming is for me but I know editing is what I'm good at and recording whatever game I play. As a New Vtuber who doesn't stream I do want to make people's day a little better no matter what game I upload
I've always felt that games are more peripheral activities and if you can share the experience it becomes artistic expression, or if you can 'channel' the experience into real life it can also artistic expression.
@@Crabbadabba that's deep
@@Crabbadabba this
It's funny, most people who win at "play games, get paid" end up losing the enjoyment of gaming. Being required to play games 8-12 hours a day, usually the same game, 6 days a week, for years and years turns it into a job, and a stressful one at that. The game could die. Some little kid could overtake you. There is very little transferability of skill, unless a similar game becomes very popular when your game dies. It's almost universal. I have always been in the "make lots of money so I have a lot of free time to play games as a hobby" camp.
You are correct with all of this! It is extremely difficult to grow a gaming channel especially since there’s most likely millions making the same content as you.
Content can be considered the same if it's the the same game, etc. If you can find a way to differentiate how you present the videos, and put your own style or twist on it, it is possible to see growth.
@@SlidurTV tbh i've seen people copied other people behavior and get a lot of tractions and hate at the same time, i just cannot get myself to copy other people 100% it feels fake and tiring in the long run... so i'll just be myself even though it's also tiring because you grow slowly as hell
@@anakmaganggaming I do my own style. I hate the copy and paste videos as well. I want to be different than everyone else and give them a reason to come back for something different
Top tips on being creative when showing games
1) Something funny happens and the way you react to it. Do you get red, do you become high pitch?
2) Are you showing something in game which is not the norm? Have you found a hack or a glitch?
3) You got add some fun and excitement if you doing commentary videos. Nobody wants to hear someone explain what is happening on screen. We can see that. So speak your reaction or crack a joke on what is happening in-game.
👍
@@SlidurTV How long did it take for you to get montized since you started your gaming channel? That kind of info would help me a lot if you don't mind sharing please.
Super interesting to hear you talk about this. My main goal is being a content creator on youtube rather than a streamer but it's a slow grind for sure. I'm a video editor as my main job which does give me the ability to create very polished content but it does take a lot of time and balancing that has been the biggest struggle for me so far.. I do really enjoy it though, seeing it as a marathon not a sprint to not stress myself out over it~
A lot of creators have that mind set of "I'm streaming! So people will watch!" One thing that I have learned over the last 2 years of streaming is its so much extra work and learning EVERYTHING. Keep up the great content!
Harsh but maybe true. I hope that there isn't just room for the two extreme generalisations... because I'm not either!
I feel that. I've struggled hard with trying to keep with something. I have ADD and it's an everyday struggle. I get hyper fixated on something, I feel like I master it and then it's gone. I have all the equipment to do everything for content creation (a very nice computer, a sony camera, a good mic, all of it) but I can't bring myself to do anything. I start some and then I don't finish videos. I know I'm nervous at failing which I shouldn't be I know that's the only way to learn. Maybe commenting this will help me push myself. Maybe not. But here I am.
👋 100% the same situation :D
That's something a lot of us deal with. Not sure what the true remedy is other than to push yourself and be ready to do something you've never had to do before, which means don't put unrealistic expectations on yourself or your craft.
I'd say just start pumping out content and see where it goes. Any content is still better than no content, because it's out there in the open.
F*ck the impostor syndrome (pardon my French) and start doing what you *want* to do just for the sake of feeling content.
I struggle with social anxiety and general anxiety.. and avoidant PD and psychotic episodes. I know.. it's unbelievable that I can even work or focus enough to create anything..
I hate getting attention on youtube which is why I don't show myself and rarely I record my voice but I know that as a video game modder I have something valuable and unique to provide.. something that no other person on earth is capable of doing.. which is why I have my youtube channel. What's worse is that my first monetized youtube channel was terminated by youtube after 2 and a half years of full time work.. still don't know why.. but I didn't give up and 1 year later I got my new youtube channel monetized again. At this point I feel like I wasted 3 and a half years from my life with youtube but that's okay because it's a passion. If I wanted money, I'd just look for a job or invest more time in my business.
Do what's best for you brotha. I understand how depression goes, and I completely get what you mean. Take time to do and learn the things you love. Enjoy your trip to Japan! Freakin awesome!
I think becoming a content creator means becoming multidimensional, and not being afraid to fail. It's about pursuing and sharing the thing that you love or are genuinely interested in learning, and not being afraid to put it out there. But finding new skills means sometimes stepping outside of your comfort zone. I think that why streamers become stagnant.
I struggle with social anxiety and anxiety. Showing myself in my youtube content is impossible but I know that I would get about 80% more subscribers and views if I'd show myself in my videos. Maybe one day I'll be able to not care so much and just show myself in my videos. I don't get it how others can do it. I hate getting attention.
So I've thought about what you said and my favorite type of content is humorous and attention grabbing at the same time. That got me thinking that if my videos aren't just straight uploads and I actually do some heavy editing, like adding in sound and visual effects, I would be a great deal happier with my content and create something I enjoy to watch. So my next video will be heavily edited and I'm going to do some research before I even start the editing process. I already love editing and think if I put my passion to work I will make something of myself in this fashion. Thank you for saying what needed to be said. 👍
Lemme tell you, after finished watching this video. I can't tell you when was the last time I felt touched and connected about how ACCURATE you are at putting these sentences together for so long
Gaming, Personality, Content Creator
I've been seeing these get correct so well through bunch of channels I enjoyed and followed along sometime (I.E. Jackseticeye, Markiplier, PewDiePie, etc. Very big I know)
But when you split those three of each into different types of creator/streamer you like to watch. It's difficult and hard to keep up and care enough about their approach and appearance
You were on point when you said Gaming and Personality. Just Camera and game footage just the thing I've seen all the time on RUclips that I don't mind... Yet it's been bugging me to TRY so hard for myself to seek through all the vids of just games (one only game or variety of game) with Personality
Content Creation for a creator or gamer are always a pleasing one to enjoyed what they can do for their channel. Except that if they don't and they just play games for fun and created money off it with just little personality to carry on through it. Sure, that's fine. No problem with that
I just cannot get myself through ALL of it, you know? Just maybe a Clips, Highlight, Vods, or things outside of their comfort zone
Which is why I appreciate channels like (again) Markiplier and PewDiePie. They still sometime to occasionally played Horror Games, but not all time and guarantee to last (I mean come on)
Love this video, keep up the great work! I felt a lot of emotional connection to this one for a lot of reason
Anybody else breathe a sigh of relief when the crumb fell out of his beard at 2:56? Just me?
Excellent video and definitely there is a clear dividing line between those who create unique content and those who just stream a game and try to be entertaining. I am currently the later but want to work towards being the former. Creating unique and entertaining content is however *much* harder overall. The biggest thing for me is the time it takes to do that. If I were already successful enough to rely on income from streaming/videos to pay the bills it would be easy to spend the time required to make good content, but when I am working full time its a much greater challenge. Much greater.
It's so helpful simplifying the current challenge most new and small creators seem to be having standing out in the gaming sphere, and whether or not the solution is easy, it's at least actionable! I appreciate the video 😊
As a gaming youtuber for 2 years I can definetely agree
you are more fortunate than the rest of us lol
Just yesterday I started streaming with a friend, and this matter is exactly something we talked about, that it's also about having fun... doing what we are passionate about: shortfilms and gaming... perfecting our skills and presenting good content, we're still learning 😎 Thanks for this, open our eyes all the more...
Generally, I love Harris' content. I think the delivery and the simplification down to something digestible is a great way to relate to people but also educate and encourage.
Having said that, this video was a big miss for me because while it does outline the problem, the "solution" part of the equation was, candidly, quite low effort... and I said that with some sadness.
Making the case that many gaming creators are just emulating larger creators and then using Casey Neistadt and Marques Brownlee as people who developed special skills is just incongruent - I appreciate that the intent was to say that Casey developed his storytelling skills and Marques spent years accumulating a vast depth of knowledge about consumer products, but they aren't "gaming creators" and they are the big creators that every RUclipsr who makes RUclips videos about being a better RUclipsr emulates... maybe you missed Peter McKinnon from that list.
This style of education is best when it's delivered in an actionable way - telling people to develop a "special skill" but not using an example from the specific target niche the video addresses feels... wrong. It feels like this video wasn't really the "heart to heart" kind of chat it's trying to be and is more tailored to generate clicks and views.
Every gaming creator that thinks seriously about their situation and craft realizes that standing out is hard and doing something different (and better) should be their focus. How does THIS video expand on that or work to solve it? How does it offer the intended audience an actionable solution?
You could have replaced "gaming creator" with "makeup creator" or "foodie creator" and delivered almost the exact same scripted video with minor changes because there's almost nothing specific to gaming creators other than identifying the obvious problem and offering a rather generic, homogenized "solution".
I dunno, this video feels pretty disappointing and super low effort.
💯 agree on this, I thought the “fix” part was really lacking in any proper suggestions
I fully agree with you bro. You’re not alone. I read someone’s comment on this video and he said this video felt more like depression rather than advice. I’m a still do my thing and I hope you keep growing as well
@@Warrior_of_Sparta agree as well, also hey WoS how you doing? 😀
Gaming has a low barrier of entry. Have a PC or console? You can start a gaming channel! There are so many of those out there it's incredibly difficult to separate yourself from the pack. My videos take a lot of time to edit because I wanted to start a gaming channel but do something different with it. I'm attempting to carve out my niche and not just blend in with the crowd.
I definitely see us as creators. A LOT of time is put into the actual edit of our gaming videos, which I would hope is going to set us apart in the long run 😁
What are you creating? Another gaming clip/montage video? I wouldn't call that being a creator, much like I wouldn't consider a baby mashing crayons as an artist.
I can find more uniqueness in a 6 pack of eggs than those types of videos.
that's a bit different, if you are recording specifically for a video then that is content but if you are streaming and making the video for clout then that's not really content.
@@1braincellwhm that’s describing about 2% of our content, sure
@@totally4reil definitely! Was talking specifically about what we work on. Lots of people think it’s just about playing a game, when the actual editing that goes into it is 99% of the work
@@NutsPlayGames bro fr, and when you record it seems real awkward until you fix it up in post and then that takes forever. So I definitely see what you mean.
Totally agree with “learning a skill” from getting into this type of creativity. I started gaming and streaming month 3 into the pandemic. I self-taught photoshop, vector based drawing, and motion fx since 2020 and created my own overlays, thumbnails, and transitions. This is just a hobby for me and enjoy every aspect of learning new things. New software, how to create cosplay costumes, understanding audio, and lighting, and balance of it all. Its a whole complete process.
It's funny that you say "gameplay + camera" as 99% of streams, because that is something I noticed a long time ago, and actually made an overlay that was reactive to my game, and while having something different and unique did set me apart (and yes, I'm one of those million people posting minecraft videos, haha) - it still wasn't enough because people still needed to GET to the stream to see those things.
So, I focused more on the storytelling, and doing bit setpiece movies, I'm talking like 2+ hour videos, and oh, there's a secret ARG that's been going on on the channel for over a year now :D - It takes quite a bit to push those "other skills" into the limelight where many people only focus on skill or personality, so you kind of need all three in my opinion. It's a full time thing to get all done, just getting people who watch gaming to also notice those other skills is very difficult. Marketing that feature on top of the game or skills is such a difference maker, but it's probably the hardest part of content creation as a job.
Good video!
I really like your 100 hour Minecraft video, I have just started watching it..... really good story telling.... W content man 🔥🔥
I need to get better with story telling for my channel.
For myself, I make videos for the fun of it. I don’t really care if it gets attention, I just enjoy the process of playing a game I like, editing it how I see fit, and then storing it somewhere for myself to look back at. I definitely agree with what you said about developing a skill though. It’s incredibly hard to find what it is and become good at it but doing so is super fulfilling. Great video 👍🏼
I like gaming, but I found quite quickly that making gaming content wasn't what I wanted to do when it came to youtube. It wasn't where I shined in my skill set. So I've been using this month to just dive into the creation process and find what kind of content I like to make as well as improving my skills for it. And this video definitely reinforced the thought that I'm at least doing something to benefit me.
I think im realizing the same thing and will be exploring what as a creator fulfills me
Same! Streaming is fun but making gaming content for YT wasn't it for me. LOL Good luck to you!
Can you please elaborate on which part wasn’t for you? Was it the personality part? The editing part? Or maybe even the the gameplay part?
Finding time for content creation around family and work are where its hitting hard right now. Would love to jump into content creation full time but bills are the thing thats stopping me. So I mean yea, streaming to make money would be the ideal situation but I also love creating content, editing the videos, chatting to anyone that comes in stream or comments on a youtube video. It feels good and I love it. I am totally on board with you with depression. I am pretty sure I had post natal depression from having my daughter 9 years ago and it has just never gone away, and if anything its worse now than ever. Something I have noticed with you as a content creator, you make it easy for others to share. We get the deep, meaningful conversations from you and I love it. Thank you.
you mentioned that we have to learn one skill to differentiate us from the others and mine has been knowing how to network and build social relationships so i can build a team and revolve myself around people smarter than me.. i'm still working on that but watching you for the past 2 years has continuously helped me refocus my career. thank you
You mentioned something like the "Fix" a few years ago, my memory is vague, but it seemed to be in a conversation you were having with someone, apologies I can't remember. But I listened back then, found more sources giving similar advice and for the past few years I have been doing exactly that, learning new skills. At the end of this video, when you mentioned the cost of focusing on your channel, man did that ring true for me, but my focus was on skills and mental health. Thank you for this video, the authenticity at the end gave me that cathartic "I feel for you man" feeling... greatly appreciated.
I think this was a very helpful video, and answer part of my question/comment on one of your stream uploads. I do think there is more that can be talked about as far as building a healthy state of mind for yourself and how to get there. I have heard many people that have unique qualities but may struggle with the anxiety of first starting a youtube channel. It can feel overwhelming and figuring out how to overcome that. Sometimes you are your own worst enemy in being confident in your own unique skills. But definitely agree with what you stated in the end that learning a new skill is always worth it even if it can't be applied in a streaming environment but can be useful somewhere else in your life.
The hardest challenge I face even after creating different content than gaming is the discoverability, having a same content on your channel is crucial to grow but being a musician and gamer, both takes you no where, it's an endless loop of creating content by following all the steps and then waiting for something to happen, I have lost ideas now and I come here to get motivated to keep doing it using more ideas and brain into it, thank you bro, you do a lot to us than you know, I will be a true senpai always, kuddos!
Don't lose faith. Show people HOW to do something musically, a cover tutorial or something along those lines and slowly interject more ideas of what you want your channel to become. People are inherently curious and want to learn. It should help with getting more traffic to you, utilize shorts as well. The more traffic you can expose yourself to the better chance you have of getting your channel to grow along with good content. Don't give up!!!
@@thesanctionedone Thank you so much!! Will surely do it, just keeping myself motivated all the time!
Hi, just wanted to say I had to log in and reply to ya. I definitely understand what you are saying. Infact I'm in the process of revamping my channel as well as the way I content create and the "following the steps till discovery" is something I have in the back of my mind sometimes. But I wanted to ask- have you thought about doing music reviews from games? Or dissecting game soundtracks. Or maybe your verison of game soundtracks?
It maybe not a totally new idea but if there is one thing I know for certain is that the impact music has on us as gamers is HUGE. And when we link up with others who share the love of certain soundtracks from a game or just describing their feelings on a soundtrack when they played a game for the first time...idk something magical happens.
This was very corny but nevertheless, I felt compelled to throw my unsolicited idea at ya. Also don't give up on your passions.
@@shesamaniack so awesome, that's actually a brilliant idea and I really thank you for that, cheers :)
I appreciate the efforts and transparency behind this video.
I appreciate you Senpai Gaming brother.
I am curious to start myself, just got my XRL phone kit and pre-amp audio interface, now I just need time to get stuff organized. And begin practicing my arts.
Definitly gonna watch and re-watch this video a few times.
And I do agree, we gotta be a good creator, to make it, properly.
I have always found that "Gameplay" and "Personality" both fall under the "Entertainment" umbrella.
Not a lot of people realize that the best way to grow a channel is to start under the "Education" umbrella instead. I have seen many creators around me try their heart out to make the BEST, MOST ENTERTAINING content they can, just to see it underperform time and time again.
Something everyone needs is information on how to do something, and they don't care where they go to get that information, and they almost always SEARCH for that information on YT. Learning this and how to make educational gaming content AND utilize SEO, has drastically helped my channel grow!
IMO educational content is the place to start for gaming.
I tried it backwards like you said, and started on RUclips.
It helps to explain what it is you enjoy about the game you like to other people.
Inform people about the thing you love, all those things that seem obvious aren't always, and a lot of the time other people want to know about it.
Starting with the videos first, I think, helps put together streams later.
Thanks so much for your videos. You helped me get my start.
I do see myself as a "creator", been doing youtube for 12 years, and only recently started it and streaming full-time. I love the creative process. I think another big difference is, some people just hit record, talk while playing and then upload it and wonder why people aren't watching. Then some of us spend hours editing, fine-tuning the video, adding in sound effects and extra shots to make it more of a "show" than just a gameplay.
exactly
totally agree!
Do you have an advice for a beginner like me?
That & on top of sound effects & memes to the edited content we trim a lot of the "Boring Fat" out of the video and try to make it action packed with the gameplay talking, etc.
Agree.
He went dark Harris with this blue lighting on his face. Good points and absolute facts. This is an absolute divide of the community from a viewers perspective.
This is something I needed to watch, mainly because for the longest of time I feel I've wanted to be a content creator, yet part of me just wants to play games and get paid for it, which even I know can be a monumental feat. I do think I need to re-evaluate myself and see how to maybe switch to learning to be a content creator versus just focusing on the game itself. Thank you for this video, Harris.
It's definitely difficult for us gaming youtubers to grow, it's just important you do it for the right reasons. Do it because you enjoy it, not to get a successful channel 🙂
I started because I wanted to know how to edit videos (specifically gaming videos) and so I could save the funny phasmophobia gameplays for my friend and I to look back on, and now it's developed to me playing horror games solo.
Just do what makes you happy.
there's definitely a steep learning curve when it comes to becoming a creator, from learning what the algorithm likes (certainly not my newest video) to learning how to edit good videos in programs that can feel archaic at times and crash if you try to do too much at a time it's still incredibly rewarding when you upload a video that you are proud of, and that's why I'll keep creating.
There is still a bunch of people who have the idea.
"I will record a video and upload it and hope everyone watches it. "
That doesn't happen anymore. It's 2022, not 2009. RUclips has evolved.
In short, you need:
An idea, an audience, a video, Google search rankings and then edit them, then release video.
Then you may get some traction and interest.
It's a steep learning curve. But RUclips is the new telly.
😉
You've been doing a great job Harris, but you can't do everything, you've given us plenty of helpful information, but ultimately it's up to us to get into gear and get the ball rolling on the things we wanted to do, which is more than likely the reason we started watching your content in the first place. Keep up the awesome work!
Thanks for keeping it real and telling it like it is :) I still watch your videos to get reality checks and put myself on track :)
This is probably one of the best videos you've done, and i've watch most of them. Concise and clear. Well done man.
I’m so glad that I genuinely enjoy making gaming content. Not just uploading vods or clips. I love doing creative/unique content around the games i love playing.
Dude how comes that with 267k you views count per video or as incredibly low? Have you paid for the google ads campaing to get more subs?
@@Murglan1TV never paid for ads in my life
@@TwoQuickOnes Because with 267k subs you should an averge of 20k views per video.
This couldn't be more timely. I just launched my first "real" gaming RUclips video this past weekend and am excited to see where it takes me.
Yes agreed. It can’t be just gaming. There has to be an entertainment content or/and informational content. 🎉❤
Another BANGER from the Stream Doctor! There is a third type of gaming content creator but not sure if it's as big as the other two. It's the Educator. It also suffers from the same problem of longevity cause when you finish tutorials on a game and move to a new one, you lose that audience as well. Hm, becoming an export at something outside of gaming and pairing it with gaming content creations? That definitely will work, but is extremely difficult. I'll work on it! 🙏🏾
Good point about the educator here but I would say this is a type of content creator.
It seems that an important difference, like with education content, is the audience. People want the content because they want to learn from it.
As a bystander who isn't interested in creating gaming content. It might help those who do want to create if I state what I look for in gaming content.
Short version: Almost entirely people I met when doing something other than gaming. They make content doing 3D modeling for example. It's much easier to stand out that way. Then I often watch them while gaming as well.
Long Form:
Gaming content is so over-saturated that I'm not willing to give most people the time to prove themselves. You gotta have other tricks up your sleeves. The gaming content I watch for smaller creators I watch because I saw them make art, do programming, miniature painting, etc.
Something niche and less saturated and easier to find people I get along with or find funny. And then when they do gaming content I watch because I know I like their humor and personality.
And once you kinda get a small base of people it's much easier to grow.
Obviously, I don't speak for everyone. People have different wants, but sometimes it can be hard to get into someone else's headspace.
I hope my opinions help you grow and get ideas.
This like opened my eyes up. It made me sit down and actually have a conversation with myself, and yeah I want to create content and have a personality and just have streaming as a side thing for people that want to know me better
I started with streams but now I spend more time creating content for my RUclips channel.
Also...… Just looking through the comments, there are a lot of channels here with really good editing with great content!
Love your stuff, Senpai. Always food for thought and you have a great way of being honest in your message without being negatively blunt. Looks like I have some homework to do!
Ever since I'm getting serious with creating gaming videos, I've been researching on topics specifically on Gaming channel. The challenges faced by YT gaming creators are somewhat different to the non-gamers, and not many addressed this. The ones that are focused on the technical side of things, be it on YT algorithm or tech equipments. This video gives a fresh insight that's applicable specifically to gaming creators. It's a relief, as I'm a multipotentialite (tech entrepreneur, social scientist, polyglot). You're inspiring me to be authentic to myself and start incorporating other aspects of my life to the channel. 👍👍
Working and growing gaming channel is very hard
Not only gaming channels. I feel like this applies to all sorts of channels. Now the hype seems to be reaction channels, you sit there, watch a video or read a reddit post and that's it. Not much different than sit there and play a game. It all comes down to the commentary or the ability of the "host" to be clever or funny enough. The personality, and maybe the editing will stand out, some people will stay or move on. There is not much space for special unique abilities on this ends, I think, but maybe I'm wrong haha.
I think for gaming it also comes down to what kind of games are you playing? Same as everyone? Jumping on the hype train? I learned my lesson about that xD Don't play what everyone is doing.
When I started to watch gaming channels, it was mostly because I couldn't afford to play those games myself. They were too expensive or needed a too good PC. I wonder how many people now a days watch gaming content for this same reason. Or horror games. Some people love it, but just can't handle it, so they watch it. I had comments before of people on my channel saying that. Certain games make them sick, so they watch it too.
Every channel is hard to grow I guess, specially now with so much to choose from. So I guess keep enjoying what you are making, and it will get better over time. Almost no big youtuber today started thinking about being big, and there they are.
been watching since nearly the beginning and have learned so much through your tutorials and through your process. ty for always being a trusted resource and becoming my first stop for the streaming space. im looking forward to everything that's going to pop off here in 2023.
That's the problem of other gaming RUclipsrs/Twitch streamers, they just wanna be the next PewDiePie, MrBeast, Dr DisRespect, xQc, or Pokimane, just playing and making reaction videos. This is why I prefer gaming channels that also teach/coach than just personality-based streamers. Not everyone wants to be entertained all the time, there are plenty out there that seeks answers and want to learn from their favorite channels.
Glad you came out with this video. I think most streamers don't know how to diversify their content to other sub-niches that still appeal to their core audience. They are too focused on streaming rather than building a long term plan for content creation as a career.
Wow… that really put everything into perspective. Thanks for that! Like even if I put my heart and soul into something and I end up failing… I still bettered myself in some way. I’ve guilty of just streaming and not posting actual videos or making content…
Thanks for being honest! I really needed that!
Always so truthful and to the point! Never sugar coats it and says "aw guys you can all do what I do" Harris does a great job being real and that's why these videos are always so credible
honestly i go back to certain streamers because i like them and their content they push out. but at the same time i get where you're coming from.
I'd like to add something,
Coming from a starting content creator: In my oppinion it's also important that u enjoy the whole process no matter how hard or strenious it can be, because if you TRULY love what you are doing? It'le show in your video's, whether that's through editing. Or the general content. Or perhaps even.... You as a person and the thing u chose to make content about.
Leme use myself as an example, I'm a 23 year old that has undergone lots in his life that he shouldn't have had to...
Yet i pushed through years of feeling like my life was going nowhere, and a few ugly breakups later...
I find the courage to finally start something new, to make a name for myself so to say, And my goal is to build a loving community and help share joy in the form of entertainment and leave a mark on the world, and maybe one day help the world out with a personal business regarding my channel...
And me personally, i'm loving learning everything and there's alot to learn with this particular line of work, but i really want this. and i love doing it
And i aint gonna quit till i make it :D
Thanks for coming to my tedtalk lol
Always a wealth of information. I know I have a long way to go in my journey but your videos have been a valuable source for whatever I do. Thanks a lot! 🦁
Gratz on booking your trip. Excited to see what you capture when you go.
Enjoyed the video and the insight for sure! You're definitely one of my go to because of similar ideas, as well as personality. Loved the check and have felt stuck for sure. The entertainment part comes easy, but what can I offer aside from an experience, as well as an overall good time? Things I have been sitting there and thinking about for several months now. I enjoy the process, it's an emotional roller coaster for sure... I wouldn't have it any other way! It's a marathon, not a sprint. The learning over these past two years has been incredible, and the skills I've learned just goes to show that if you want something you can do anything you put your mind to!
I feel the same way. I also offer personality and a overall good time to my audience but have been trying to come up with something more I can offer. The top performers in the space are either extreme in the entertainment part or extremely good at the gameplay part. This industry, as new as it is, changes so fast with what it finds attractive. Ultimately it comes down to what you are offering, how valuable is that offering, and many people need that offering.
@@DatSamurai ABSOLUTELY! I mean, the possibilities are endless, which is the wild part of it. Yet also, trying to figure out what to embark on can be overwhelming in the scheme of things too! Don't want to get stuck at that drawing board too long, yah know?
I love this channel so much, been here for years! Thank you for your help. I recently got into scootering actually as to add something NEW, and people seem to enjoy my progress from not being able to do a jump to being able to tailwhip on command almost. I feel I need to go 1 more step tho cuz then ima just gonna blend with the skating community.
Making something that I already like doing/ watching and that will be the first clue.... Okay. I needed to hear that. Thank you.
I neither have time or patience for playing games all day, so eventually I would be tired of posting. As crazy as that sounds. I'll focus on my current brand. Again, thanks.
While I am sure others will find this useful, I need some timecodes to refer back to in the future.
Part One - Gaming is Massive: 2:21
Part Two - The Half Solution: 3:29
Part Three - The Fix: 4:38
Part Four - Develop a Skill: 7:14 (Personally your best point)
I think you have done a great job showcasing the secrets of the platform Harris. I definitely see the value in showcasing this for new people that are looking to make this a career.
I really like what you said about this regarding people wanting to just play games and be paid for it. I shifted my focus off of what I was doing here on RUclips and tried to do that, not thinking it was easy money, but thinking it would be a fun way to create content while I was going through some personal issues that stopped my video production. The problem is that life started getting in the way and it started feeling too much like work, now it's been six months since my last stream and two years since my last produced video.
The thing about what I'm doing, and maybe I'm not unique in the position, is that I started creating content on RUclips to merge two of my favorite hobbies. Digital media creation, and the content my channel was focused on. Which is what I'm trying to get back to. In retrospect, I wish I had just stayed the course and continued with my video production. It's a marathon, not a sprint.
I really appreciate you posting these videos, I pull them up to listen to when I need a bit of a pep talk.
You made a great point, i have started a few channels that never took off in the past. I think i found my "skill" now and that will be the focus of my current channel. Thanks!
“And no one can take it away from you”. Best feeling in the world. Love this video.
I get this.. I fell into the category of wanting to get paid to game.. however, I stopped streaming for the most part and more focusing more on RUclips..
My biggest issues that I can pick out..
-Consistency
-not knowing how to show my true self on a video
-and I suck! At finding topics to talk about that are actually being searched
I honestly couldn't have said this any better. I've had this conversation with some of my streamer friends, I want do be more than a gamer Andy.
This hit a big nail on the head for me and I love it. Watched it on the eve heading into 2023. Let's get it boys!
The ending of this video is worth waiting around for. From someone feeling pretty depressed about where I am in life, this helped me a lot.
Great video, I've been racking my brain on how to do gaming differently, I stopped streaming to focus on content creation and just trying so many different things to find what suits me. I find everything on how to create videos is based on irl content which is very different.
I've just learned that teaching people something with your content is so much better than just gaming content, it's more searchable and people thank you for it and maby turn into loyal fans
Oh my. This hits home. I'm not especially great at gaming. My presence in videos is fairly calm, something a lot of people have said is really appealing to them because they're tired of the screaming gamers. But I'm about to do something that I don't see a lot of gaming content creators do, use the game to create a story. I see this with multiplayer games sometimes, but I play mostly single player, and I almost never see people making story videos by using games as the medium. I like creating stories, lore, history, and characters. And that's what I'm starting to do with gaming. I've had success with tutorials, and continue to do so, but my passion is with storytelling.
I in fact been fed up with not growing my channel and streaming often as well as long hours. This month I decided to stop streaming so much and worked on making videos. I kind of like the idea of creating videos, forms of storytelling, jokes and all has helped me pull in more views than being live. I want to put some little voice acting skills into a few videos for fun. Just takes time editing and stuff. Been dialing back wanting to add anime talk like Chainsaw Man into my channel.
I really enjoy this type of content both the "Here's how you implement X on streams" and the "You need to consider these things as a creator" type videos. I'm learning a ton about RUclips itself and how to optimize my content for it but I've also realized that some of my best videos on my channel were informational, topical, and relevant at the time. Maybe not the best for long-term growth but I like talking about the games industry and I like talking about streaming tech.
Currently working on a tutorial to setup something that I thought was awesome from another big channel.
So yeah I think I'm gonna focus on that type of stuff.
As a gaming content creator, what has really helped me was focusing on a specific genre of games (Japanese RPGs). I don’t have a HUGE channel, but I’ve slowly become an authority in this space and that has helped me grow.
I’m in the gaming community and it’s a third one, it falls under “lifestyle “ as with me I go out and show people you can build your video game collection for cheap and the Wright Way .
This video makes a lot of sense. The one thing I see a lot of in Minecraft (yay us always being called out for "it being hard") is some great streamers aren't very good on YT and some great YTers aren't any good at streaming live. It's almost like concert bands vs studio bands. Some bring energy and great vibes and a natural interaction with chat and others really do well when it's scripted out or planned and they have a single point to make. Taking one audience over to the other is great if you're "about the same" at both. Harder when you aren't.
Tried out creating videos on a gaming channel for 3 Years. Now I am one of the biggest channel in my niche. And its the most rewarding feeling, when people become to like your content. Happy to see more of that Gaming Content Videos here. Keep up the good work 💪
I've been watching too much YT. 100% thought the end bit about learning a new skill and not knowing what to learn was going to segway into a skillshare segment.
You’re so damn awesome man, 5 years in and you’ve helped me so much along the way.
What’s up Harris. You were the only really helpful channel I could find when one of my clips blew up and my channel went from 50 to 1000 subs in a week. That was about 18 months ago.
What I’ve discovered since is that you can either attack the oversaturated market through sheer volume (flood your channel with easier to make content), or you can spend a lot of time making a high quality video and roll the dice.
I’ve found the 2nd tactic way more fulfilling creatively and a bit more exciting, though probably less lucrative, at least initially. I’m currently experiencing a growth wave after I spent about 20-30 hrs editing a video and it popped. I’ve gone from 9.3k total subs to almost 15k in 4 days. Just thought I’d offer one more data point and testimonial for the stream doc.
Hope you’re well.
I'd say you hit the nail on the head. While my personal channel hasn't taken off as such, I focused my time mainly on learning content creation in general, from video editing and thumbnail design to SEO and analytics research. Actually playing games was (and is) the smallest part of that entire creative process, but even if you put all of the work in the niche is so saturated that you may never stand out. However the skills I've developed alongside making my own videos landed me full-time work in this field, which is a success in my eyes!
The channel I work for is in the nature/rewilding niche and has gone from 700 to 142k subs in the 8 months since I joined, the shorts channel we launched overtook my own sub count in 19 days, and the TikTok is at 12.4k followers after about 1.5 months. The very first video I made for them is currently sitting at 2.7 million views, whereas my video of beating the first map of Pogostuck (with a roughly equal amount of effort since it was 18.5 hours of recording, likely quadruple that in editing and a total of 102GB of files) has 28 views after 33 days.
While there are many other variables, such as how compelling the title and thumbnail were and how interesting the topic was, I can confidently say from many experiences that the more defined and the less saturated your niche is, the easier it is to grow with the same amount of effort. With all that said though I'm not concerned about growing this channel at all, it's 100% just for fun and to entertain the few regular viewers that I have. Personally I'd say don't start a gaming channel with the goal of making income from it, if you desperately want income from content creation make a different type of channel. If you want to just enjoy yourself, upload away and maybe it'll take off someday!
This video was a real eye opener man. . its been really rare to see smaller gaming channels get big in this day and age. If I don't bring something new to the table nothing will ever change.
I've been doing Gaming on RUclips for 6 years, I've learned a lot over time and truth is, you can still grow today. I start new channels that both fail and succeed on a consistent basis. However, you need to understand your niche and your audience, then you need to be forward thinking. Not only "what does the audience want today" but you also need to know "what will my audience want in the future". You are subject to the trend-graph of the game you are involved in so be ready to start over, pivot and get really creative to even stand a chance against it
This goes with your main point at the end of the video, you need to be a creator with ideas, market research, and to master a niche. Not just another person who plays the game
my biggest hurdle is not knowing what i want to make/do other than streaming gameplay. like i have ideas and then in 24hrs i just dont think i can do it, or that no one else will care about it.
Appreciate how candid you always are, I can really sense that you make these informative videos from a place of desire to help others above anything else. Keep killin it!