The Power of Collaboration: How to Work with Other Gaming Content Creators

Collaboration is one of the most effective strategies for gaming content creators and gaming studios. If you’re looking to promote your content, foster community growth, and expand your audience, then working with likeminded creators with a similar audience demographic can offer explosive results.

At MinMxD, we provide strategies and guidance to help you skyrocket your gaming channel’s growth. In this guide, we highlight the benefits of teaming up with other content creators, and provide practical steps for initiating and executing successful channel collaborations.

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While other gaming channels could be seen as your competitors, in reality most viewers won’t want to stick to a single creator. Most often, this is out of a desire for two main things:

• More content
• Different content

Being a carbon copy of your competitors is never ideal, as this means you can’t carve out your own niche and bears the risk of your content feeling repetitive.

When it comes to collaboration, this difference in content and styles can be incredibly impactful. Working with creators who have a similar demographic to you, but potentially different styles, can open you up to a lot of potential new viewers.

Collaboration puts your channel in front of an audience that likely has some crossover with your own, if you’ve chosen the right partner. It also validates your content by featuring a trusted member of the community (i.e. your collaborator), and helps you build bonds with other content creators.

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Finding the right partner can be challenging, with so many other creators out there. Even if there’s a creator that’s in your niche whose vibe you dig, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the right fit for a collaboration.

Here’s a few things you should consider when looking for the right collaboration partner:

Audience Crossover

The ideal candidate for a collaboration will have some audience crossover already. This helps people feel familiar with both collaborators, improving the reception of the appearances. Additionally, audience crossover shows that you’re targeting the same audience, validating the impact the collaboration will have.

Channel Size

Larger content creators are always a great choice as they open you up to a much wider audience, so shoot for the stars! That’s not to count out the smaller channels, however, as more down-to-earth collaborations can still offer channel growth.

One risk you run by collaborating with a channel that’s too big is being alienated by their audience. To mitigate this risk, it can be best to pursue collaborations with channels a similar size to your own.

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How Well You Get On

An often-overlooked part of gaming channel collaboration is the dynamic between both creators. If you don’t actually get on, then the content will likely feel strained or forced, which the audience will definitely pick up on.

Have a few preliminary calls with your potential collaborator, get to know them, maybe even meet in person. If you get on well, then great! You’ve not only secured a successful collaboration, but also a new ally in the same industry as you.

Revenue Split

Finally comes the important consideration on how you split the money. Some collaborations result in a 50/50 split of profits, less the editing and other costs, while others have a setup where each channel uploads a video and receives the full income from their own channel.

Regardless of how you split the revenue, what’s important is setting expectations beforehand so there’s no nasty surprises when it comes to payday.

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Larger channels offer a massive audience pool that has likely not seen or heard of you, which is both a blessing and a curse.

On the one hand, this means a much wider range of potential new viewers, increasing the impact of the collaboration. On the other, this means approaching a large and established audience with an unknown brand.

If you’re set on a larger channel, however, you need to know how to approach them. After all, you’re likely much smaller than them, so they need to know what they’re getting out of it as well. Here are a few different options:

1. Explore Audience Differences. Even if your audience is smaller than theirs, it might not fully overlap. Highlighting any differences could show a potential viewership increase for your collaborator as well.
2. Give Up Your Share of the Revenue. It’s a tough decision to work for free, but sometimes exposure really does pay dividends. A larger channel might not want to split its income with you, or at least not evenly, so showing your willingness to take a pay cut could make them more likely to accept a collaboration.
3. Build a Rapport. As with any relationship, and any collaboration, having a good connection is vital to success. Try to bond with the creator, get to know them, and create a reason for them to work with you outside of the statistics.
4. Develop a Unique Brand Image. Sometimes, a creator will be willing to partner up if they like your style. By developing a truly unique brand and personality, you open the doors of intrigue, and as fellow creatives these larger channels will often want to come along for the ride.

Before we close, here are a few top tips and ideas, along with a refresh of a few we’ve already mentioned, to help you prepare for your upcoming collaboration:

• Promote your collaboration on various social media channels for maximum impact.
• Play games both your audiences are comfortable with.
• Create content on both channels so neither audience misses out on the collaboration.
• Try to aim for channels a similar size to your own.
• Develop a connection and ongoing partnership for content creation with your collaborator.
• Work with people you get on with.
• Target popular co-op games to show both teamwork and relevance.

Hopefully, these tips will help you get the most out of your collaboration!

Collaboration is great for growing your channel, building connections, and engaging your audience. With the right partner, you can see incredible results while building a bond to last.

At MinMxD, we help you through all aspects of growing your channel, including the process of finding and landing channel collaborations. If you’re looking to min-max your potential, get in touch today!

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