The biggest individual gaming influencers in India make anywhere between five and 20 lakhs per month. Top esports teams in India can earn twenty to thirty lakhs a month. Smaller teams can earn as little as two lakhs per month. This money comes from tournament prize money, streaming deals and brand endorsements. But how do these individuals and teams become so successful?
Twitch
According to a report, gaming influencers are generating organic endorsements for brands at a rate of about two million views per month, with streaming deals and model partnerships adding another tens of millions of dollars to their earnings. In fact, these influencers often promote brands for free. That means that the gaming brands do not have to pay any money to these influencers, which makes the gaming industry all the more profitable.
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As of December 2018, Twitch accounted for 67% of all live streaming gaming streams, although this number has dropped to 61% in January. The video platform has also seen some talent leave, and YouTube, Facebook Gaming, and Mixer have all been luring top streamers to their platforms. While Twitch may have been able to keep its top gaming streamers, its strict content moderation policy may have caused it to lose some of its top talent.
Big gaming brands are turning to esports influencers to market their products, and these individuals are benefiting from the booming trend. According to one report, gaming influencers’ posts perform eight times better than brand-sponsored content. Their unique insights into gaming are also highly desirable to brands, which can use their influence to reach younger gamers. Whether through model endorsements or competition prize money, gaming influencers are worth millions of dollars.
Popular YouTubers have been able to make millions by monetizing their content. One such influencer is SSSniperWolf, who has 30.9 million subscribers. Her content ranges from online art to gaming. The gamer is well-known for her Call of Duty playthroughs, and her audience is made up of a younger demographic. The 30-year-old, born in England, has an impressive number of followers on Instagram. Her second YouTube channel is devoted to arts and crafts. Her popularity has led to brand partnerships, and she has worked with some of the world’s biggest names.
YouTube
YouTube and Facebook are among the top platforms that allow gaming influencers to engage with their target audience. They have been able to establish a connection with this audience, and these personalities can also garner organic endorsements and revenue from these brands. According to reports, gaming influencers’ posts outperform branded content by eight times. This is largely due to the fact that these personalities are able to provide their audience with an honest opinion of a game or brand. In addition, gaming influencers who live-stream can get feedback from their audience, which allows them to tailor their products to the preferences of their audience. Moreover, gaming influencers can also host events to promote gaming brands, which can help increase their brand visibility and revenue.
YouTube is also a great option for gaming influencers, thanks to its monetization model. YouTube has long enticed creators with its ad revenue, which has soared to $15 billion, more than Twitch’s reported ad revenue. The video platform also offers members a membership program similar to Twitch’s subscription program. However, while YouTube offers a wide range of monetization options, advertising revenue remains a major draw for new creators. YouTube also offers a revenue sharing program, which lets creators earn a portion of the money from YouTube Premium.
Lilly Geek
Big gaming companies have realized the immense potential of gaming influencers in boosting their brand visibility and driving revenue. Their social media posts generate eight times the engagement of branded content. Gaming influencers can provide an honest review of the games they play, as well as interact with fans. Moreover, live-streaming games can provide the gaming brand with detailed feedback, allowing them to tailor their products to the preferences of their audience.
One such micro-influencer is Amanda Dyar. With 2.7 million YouTube subscribers, Lilly shares gaming and cosplay content on her channels. She also sells photo sets on her website. Moreover, she has received numerous invitations to judge cosplay competitions. Her interests include horror, adventure, open world games, platformers, and RPGs. In addition, she is also a renowned mental health counselor and public relations manager.