Are you a passionate gamer who dreams of turning your hobby into a source of income? Do you spend hours perfecting your gaming skills and want to be recognized for your expertise? You could land a gamer influencer sponsorship.
A gaming influencer is someone who has taken their hobby of gaming to another level by sharing their expertise and technique with the world via social media. Platforms like Twitch, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube are the perfect platforms to share your gaming skills with the world.
But don’t worry — you don’t need the largest gaming audience online to work with brands on your gaming content. While mega-gamers may have brands reaching out to them directly for sponsorships, that doesn’t mean smaller gamers can’t get paid to play. Once you’ve established your content, platform and niche, you can start looking for sponsored content and watch those partnerships start rolling in.
How to land your first gamer influencer sponsorship
Do your research
See what other gaming influencers are talking about and which brands they’re working with. How are they incorporating brands into their content on Twitch or TikTok? Do you like the way they’re sharing or do you have a unique idea for your own audience?
Once you’ve understood how sponsorships in the gaming world are currently happening, pick out a few brands or types of brands you’d like to work with. Don’t feel like the big brands are out of the question, either. Micro- and nano-influencers are rising in popularity with brands every single year.
Interact with brands
The first way to get on a brand’s radar is by interacting with them on social media. If you truly love a brand, share them authentically in what you’re currently doing and tag them. You can also interact with their content by resharing on your Instagram Stories, doing a Stitch on TikTok, or commenting on a YouTube video. The people behind these brands’ social media platforms pick up on those who are already connected with their content because they’re looking for authentic partnerships.
Share your uniqueness
It’s no secret that gaming is one of the most popular niches online, but that shouldn’t discourage you. Figure out what makes you unique, whether it’s the games you play, your personality, your editing style or something in between. Brand yourself as the funniest gamer on TikTok or the most skilled on YouTube. While it’s important to see what’s popular in the niche, adding your own twist on things will give you an advantage over those out there copying the big gaming influencers.
Consider whether you want to specialize in a specific form of gaming on certain consoles or a particular platform, too.
Start reaching out to brands
Establishing a connection with a brand doesn’t mean you have to land a big sponsorship right away. As we said earlier, interacting with brands and sharing your interest is important, even if it doesn’t outwardly benefit you right away.
You can also organically reach out to the brands you’d like to work with and pitch them an idea that would benefit both of you. Showing that you did your research and didn’t just copy and paste to multiple brands is the way to go. Reach out via email, DMs or tagging them in posts you’re currently doing. You can also pitch them in an influencer marketplace.
Use Your network
One of the best parts about creating a community online is just that — the community. Reach out to your network of other gamers to see if they have any brand relationships that could help you get in on the conversation. Ask your followers if they know of any partners they’d like to see incorporated into your content.
Create a Marketplace profile
Another easy way to get started on influencer partnerships is by signing up for IZEA’s Marketplace, which is free to join. You can set up your profile quickly and see if you get any traction with the brands searching for gamers. Make sure you fully set up your public profile because this is essential in making you more searchable on the site. Create listings for sponsorships on each platform you use to maximize the opportunities.
For example, @TechGeekNelson has created a listing for sponsored Instagram post.
Influencers:
Looking to partner with industry-leading brands? Create your free profile today.
Marketers:
The world’s biggest brands trust IZEA’s influencer marketing software and managed solutions. Find out which solution is right for you.
