How to Start up a YouTube eSports Gaming Channel
Starting up an eSports YouTube channel can seem like a difficult task for those unfamiliar with the world of content creation, but with some nifty tricks and tips, it’s easy to get started and build a modest following.
eSports, short for ‘electronic sports’, are competitive online video gaming leagues that showcase some of the world’s best virtual gaming talent. Their growing popularity has led to an explosion of content covering matches and tournaments on social media platforms like YouTube. These leagues are a great foundation to build new YouTube channels, as they already come with built-in audiences looking for updates on games and their favourite teams.
Whether you’re starting an eSports channel for fantasy football, cricket, rugby or something else, keep reading to learn some of the key components to getting your eSports YouTube channel up and running and get started off on the right foot, so to speak. We’ll turn you into a popular eSports YouTube gamer before you know it.
1. Create Your Channel Style & Focus
First, decide on your eSport and video style. Of course, choosing an eSport that you enjoy watching is a great way to go about selecting one, as you’ll have an organic and authentic passion, which will make it easier to produce content. It will also result in content that is more engaging as the audience will sense and feed off your enthusiasm.
From here, you can design the look and feel of your channel. Browse through some YouTube banner templates to access, create and edit a range of engaging banners to entice people to your videos. Don’t forget to design a profile image too, as this will give new visitors an idea of what to expect from your channel at a glance. YouTube is a competitive platform, so it can take some effort to stand out. Be bold and creative with your channel design to make a strong first (and lasting) impression.
As well as using bold graphics, it’s important to decide on a niche early and to avoid changing it too much, as this can confuse and alienate your audience. Decide on a game and a league to cover, making this clear at the start and throughout your content and stay consistent to help build a loyal following that knows what to expect.
2. Start Out With The Right Equipment
A strong PC with a capable GPU and CPU (Graphics & Central Processing Units) is necessary to produce quality eSports content for YouTube. Installing complex video editing software can be taxing on a PC, which is why you should always check the hardware requirements before committing to a subscription or downloading a large program.
Alongside getting the right computer, you should also invest in a high-quality microphone and camera if you want to include yourself in the content. These don’t have to be expensive, and you can also look at second-hand options if you’re setting up your eSports channel on a budget.
A USB condenser microphone and an HD USB webcam will be enough to get started. To record your computer screen, you will need digital capture software, too. Free software such as OBS or NVIDIA Shadow Play are two great options for capturing gameplay.
3. Record High-Quality Footage
When capturing the raw footage, make sure to record at the maximum quality and frame rate. YouTube can support up to 4K resolution at 24 frames per second, or 1080p at 60 frames per second. Recording your footage at the highest quality your computer can handle will lead to a much more immersive video experience for your audience.
Raw recording files can take up a lot of storage space, so make sure you have enough before you get locked into a game. Your recording will be interrupted if you run out of space and potentially force you to restart the entire video.
To prevent interruptions during your recording sessions, regularly offload and discard old videos and recordings so that they don’t slow down your computer. Alternatively, transfer larger files onto USB sticks and SD cards so you can safely secure them off your computer’s hard drive.
4. Edit Your Footage Into Engaging Content
Once you’ve finished recording, take the time to go through your footage before you edit. This will help you reflect on your recording ability and show you which areas you could improve on, whether it’s making eye contact with the camera, speaking clearly, or positioning your microphone differently. The more you improve your recording ability, the easier the editing will become.
It can help to follow some editing tutorials while you learn the ropes for your first few videos. As you pick up more techniques, you’ll be able to mix them into your own unique content creation style.
5. Upload The Video To Your Channel
Before you upload your final edit to your YouTube channel, review the thumbnail and title to make sure your video will get maximum engagement. Make use of the banner templates mentioned above, choosing bright colours and striking shots to draw attention. You should also choose a provocative title featuring a key headline from your gameplay that will spike interest.
Make sure your channel description and icon or profile picture are clearly defined, so you can start to build followers right from the start. It might be a good idea to upload multiple videos at the same time for your initial ‘channel launch’, so those who watch the first one they click on can spend more time exploring your channel if they enjoyed the content.
Setting Up A Successful YouTube eSports Gaming Channel
It can be intimidating to get into the world of content creation, but with practice, it’s a rewarding experience that connects you with other eSports players and fans around the world. Who knows, if you set up a really popular YouTube channel, you may even be able to monetise your videos.
For now, let’s go over the five steps to starting up a YouTube eSports gaming channel.
- Define your channel niche, choosing a unique video style and eSports game to focus on producing content for.
- Gather the necessary equipment, including a PC with ample storage space and processing units, high-quality recording devices such as a webcam and microphone, and digital capture software.
- Record the raw footage at a high resolution, ensuring you won’t be cut off mid-game by a lack of storage.
- Produce a YouTube-ready video learning editing techniques from software experimentation and tutorials, making note of improvements on your filming processes for next time.
- Upload your content with a catchy title, visually arresting thumbnail, and clear video and channel description.
Follow our tips, and good luck on becoming the next successful eSports YouTuber. Don’t forget to check out today’s Dream11 cricket predictions and more, for inspiration on your next content angle.