How to Win Brand Collaborations for Your Gaming Channel

Brand collaborations are a great source of revenue for gaming channels. When done correctly, they provide your viewer base with something they might want while also setting you up for lucrative repeat business. One of the main issues content creators often have, however, is securing a brand collaboration in the first place.

At MinMxD, we provide a space for content creators to learn about methods of maximising their channel’s potential. Here, we’ll explain not only how you can win brand collaborations, but also how you can make these collabs a win for your viewers as well.

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Put simply, a brand collaboration is an agreement between a business and a content creator to promote their products on the creator’s channel. For gaming channels on YouTube or Twitch, this often means including a segment in your content which describes the product and directs viewers to try it out – often with added incentives like free benefits or a discount code.

For gaming channels, however, brand collaborations are more than just that. They can provide a consistent and valuable source of income, as many brands are willing to pay big just to have access to the reach of your channel. It’s a way of leveraging your community and success, while also giving something back to viewers who might be interested in the product – especially when it comes with added incentives.

Brand Collaborations for Content Creators

Also known as sponsorship deals, brand collaborations for content creators are a routine part of the gaming industry. Viewers expect – and sometimes even seek out – in-video ads as part of brand collaborations. Many of the services advertised are used often by gamers, and the benefits offered as part of the brand collaboration can help cut costs for wily subscribers.

Video ads are the main way that gaming channels uphold their end of the brand collaboration, usually in the form of a 30-second to 2-minute ad, scripted or otherwise, that shows the benefits of the product in a relatable fashion. Other advertisements are also used, like sponsored posts on social media.

Brand collaborations are also related to being a brand ambassador, where a creator can receive a sponsorship fee to showcase the brand in all their content.

Brand collaborations are just one of many great ways to monetize your gaming channel – discover more >

The hardest part for many content creators is actually acquiring a brand deal in the first place – especially a high value one. However, it might be easier than it seems – here’s our seven simple steps to follow if you want to boost your chances of a brand collaboration you’ll love:

1. Produce Quality Content

The first step to getting any brand deal is to create confidence in online advertisers. If your content is inappropriate or of poor quality, they won’t want their products being displayed alongside it. Therefore, the road to success is paved with good quality content – and a passion for what you do.

2. Vet Your Offers

Not every brand deal will be a good one. Some may even go against terms of service for certain games, so you want to make your decisions carefully. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is – although to be sure, working with a trusted consultant can help you make the right move.

3. Be Honest

As a gaming channel, you’ll have many restrictions on how you display your sponsorships to make sure you’re not misleading your viewers. Whether you’re on YouTube, Twitch, or elsewhere, following sponsorship guidelines is important to get the best results from your audience, platform, and the brands themselves.

4. Maintain a Healthy Community

Rather than numbers, a healthy community consists of people that support you and what you do. Without this, your attempts at brand collaborations may be met with distrust or annoyance, so working to build a good community first will help your efforts flourish.

5. Advertise Enthusiastically

Run enthusiastic or interesting ads – while there are often scripts to follow, many gaming channels like to find unique ways to present them, often with short skits or animations. These greatly increase user engagement, and actually make your ads something to look forward to rather than skip over.

6. Be Open to New Ideas

Don’t bash brands you might not like as much. While you may not personally like them, that won’t hold true for everyone. Avoiding negative comments on brands will keep these fans happy while leaving you open for brand collaborations in the future.

7. Run Successful Collaborations

Showing you can produce results means bigger brands are more likely to get in touch. Frequent collaborations are a good sign of a healthy channel, and can mean you get even more business while also giving you a steady revenue stream.

The Benefits of Brand Collaborations for Gaming Channels

The benefits of a brand collaboration are generally quite well known. As a revenue source, sponsorship deals with brands can be one of the most reliable and lucrative forms of income – especially with the repeat business that gaming channels often receive.

As you do more business with brands, you’ll start to get a reputation for the quality of your collaboration. This, in turn, may lead to even more brands approaching you for deals – further increasing your revenue.

Brand collaborations also offer things to your viewers. They:

• Give a deal for a product or service they may be interested in
• Offer an additional way for them to support your channel while also getting something out of it, such as through following an affiliate link and purchasing a product
• Represent how your community has grown

While not a sure sign that you’ve “made it”, brand collaborations signal that people are taking significant interest in your gaming channel. In the distant past, brand deals weren’t seen as favourably, but the modern content creation landscape sees fans offering support for brand collaborations as a show of admiration for their favourite creators.

To make sure you’re giving your audience great deals in return, you first need to know what brands are likely to want to collaborate with you.

Learn more about networking in the gaming industry >

There are as many potential brand collaborators as there are businesses, so it’s important to pick and choose the ones that are best for you. This means knowing your worth and not underselling yourself, but it also means knowing your audience.

If you advertise something completely unrelated to their interests, your audience won’t engage well with the ad – reflecting on both the collaboration and your channel as a whole. To help you in the right direction, we’ve made a list of common brand collaborations that have been successful for gaming content creators.

Mobile Games

Since gaming is your main niche, mobile games are a sure-fire fit for your audience. While not everyone appreciates the allure of mobile games, their convenience and casual nature means anyone can enjoy them.

The market of mobile games is quite saturated, meaning it can be hard for developers to get their new app out there. Brand collaborations with content creators presents a great opportunity for both parties. In particular, sponsorships from mobile games like the well-known Raid: Shadow Legends often offer great compensation, making this a great avenue to pursue.

Find out more with our guide to mobile gaming for content creators >

Gaming Accessories

Enhancing your gaming set-up means knowing what tech is out there. Whether you’re on the go or at home, there’s plenty of brands and products that can help you out. Raycon commonly collaborate with content creators, showing off the value of their wireless earbuds.

Your fans might also be interested in:

• Blue-light glasses
• Gaming headphones
• LED light setups
• Gaming mice

VPNs

Although not intrinsically tied to gaming, VPNs (virtual private networks) are a great tool for netizens everywhere. They offer access to locked content, and anonymity from the big data organisations on the web. There are lots of competing VPN brands like Nord VPN and Express VPN, meaning there are plenty to choose from when it comes to brand collaborations.

Food Subscription Services

A surprising entry into this list is food subscription services. These tend to offer easy, pre-planned meals, giving a nutritious and quick-to-prepare food to busy gamers. This can help support a healthy lifestyle, and can be considered one of the most wholesome options on this list. Brands like Hello Fresh tend to offer discounts for your audience through their brand collaborations – and you, as a creator, might even get a tasty meal out of it yourself!

Other Common Brand Collaborations

The businesses above are all common choices for gaming channels, but really the possibilities are endless! Most companies can be tied in to your offering with some creative advertising, so all it takes is for you to find a sponsorship you’re passionate about and you’re well on your way to getting a brand deal.

Here are some other common brand collaborations you could benefit from:

• Opera GX – a web browser that’s geared specifically for gamers.
• Manscaped – a men’s’ hair accessories company.
• Keeps – an anti-hair-loss company.
• Indie developers – small to medium-sized gaming studios will often reach out to content creators to play their games as part of a brand deal.
• The game you play – occasionally, even the developers of your main game might reach out for a collaboration – a real sign of your status and renown in your niche!

Getting your first brand collaboration is a great sign that your channel has made strides. What you need to do next is find the right brands to work with and the right way to showcase their offering. If done correctly, you can take your content creation to new heights.

MinMxD is here as your partner for brand collaborations and more, offering consultation to help your channel grow and maximise the potential of your platforms and reach. Get in touch today to level up your online presence!

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