Why is Gaming an Excellent Niche for Affiliate Marketing in 2023?

Gaming has become one of the most popular activities among young people. This once niche hobby is now one of the largest markets in the world. Experts estimate that by 2025, the gaming industry will be worth more than $268 billion. There is money in gaming – why not rake in your share?

Gamers and geeks used to be portrayed by the mass media as a somewhat nerdy, not very social, minority. According to Newzoo, by the end of 2020, there were 2.69 billion of them! This is not a minority!

More and more young people are becoming interested in gaming. It is the perfect activity to unwind after a long day at work or school, and – contrary to popular belief – it can help socialize, as many gamers enjoy engaging in team-based and communication-oriented games. 2020 and 2021 were particularly good for the industry, as many people had to stay cooped up in their homes.

If you are into games and feel you can influence some like-minded people, 2023 could be the perfect time to cash in on your interests!

What is affiliate marketing?

In the simplest terms, affiliate marketing is the process of making money by convincing someone to buy a company’s product. In other words:

1. You and the vendor sign a contract. You agree to advertise the vendor’s product or service to your audience using your website, blog, social media, etc.
2. Someone from your audience buys the product thanks to your advertising.
3. The company selling the product pays you for driving a sale.

A single share of the profits from sales is not the biggest, but if you have a large audience – the money can get pretty big!

Who can get into affiliate marketing in the gaming niche?

Gaming blogs and websites are usually created out of pure passion. Most gamers want to share their love for their favorite titles, consoles, and other gaming-related things. For many, passion projects become a major source of income through affiliate marketing.

Monetizing games can be difficult if you are not passionate about games. Blogs, websites, and video channels are time-consuming and require knowledge that is best gained through an interest in the subject. Furthermore, audiences tend to follow people who are sincere – no one wants to listen to someone who is only in it for the money.

But if you are a gamer, and you can advise others on which gaming VPN is best for FPS games or which chair is actually good (and not just overhyped), then starting a project about the gaming industry (and monetizing it) might be for you.

How to start making money through affiliate marketing?

1. Decide what you are going to do.

When it comes to gaming projects, you have many options to choose from. For example, you can start a blog and write about:

• Tips and tricks for beating and speedrunning various titles
• News from the video game industry
• Reviews of games, consoles, and hardware (controllers, headsets, etc.)
• Retro games and consoles

If you don’t like to write – you don’t have to. You can stream gameplays on Twitch or other platforms. They have affiliate programs that allow you to earn money by showing ads to your viewers.

2. Choose a platform and buy a domain.

If you want to grow your project and make money, don’t host your blog on Tumblr or a similar platform. These are great for things related to fandoms, memes, or jokes but are community-driven and don’t feel “businessy.” If you want companies to take you seriously in the future, invest in hosting. You will gain more personalization and optimization possibilities, which will be necessary for SEO and marketing.

3. Start with your project (and advertise it!).

If you have a website (or a channel), you can start publishing content and attracting an audience of like-minded people. Don’t forget about social media – set up accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and maybe even TikTok. Be active on them. Invest in professional marketing if necessary. Many people will find your social media accounts before going to your website.

4. Look for affiliate networks and start making money!

If some people are already following you online and your opinions are trustworthy, it is time to look for monetization opportunities. Many gaming-related companies have affiliate programs: Nvidia, Razer, Logitech, and others. Do your research, reach out to one of them (if someone didn’t contact you first), and if you think their products are good – sign a contract, put affiliate links in your content and start promoting.

Happy gaming!