Streaming has become a legitimate career opportunity over the last decade. That’s not to say everyone makes money via platforms such as Twitch. However, if you strike the right balance between information, entertainment and consistency, there’s a ton of potential to make money.
This, of course, is easier said than done, and we can’t tell you how to be informative or entertaining. What we can do, however, is help you find a niche that’s not oversaturated. This means avoiding things tons of other people are streaming. With this in mind, here are some untapped niches in which you could make moves.
Casino Gaming
Gaming is the biggest thing on Twitch, so why not tap into this by focusing on a relatively niche area of the industry? Millions of people enjoy the ups and downs of gambling, so you could stream yourself playing something like blackjack at Paddy Power and give them a front-row seat.
Of all the casino games you can play, blackjack is perfect for streamers because there are decisions to be made. For example, let’s say you play Paddy Power Premium Blackjack with Side Bets. Talking through your decision to hit on certain numbers, split pairs, and double down is both interesting and informative.
You could argue that the payouts for blackjack (1:1 and 3:2) aren’t as exciting as they are in other casino games such as slots (100:1 and over) and roulette (35:1).
However, what you get with a game such as Premier Blackjack with Side Bets are additional wagers. These wagers add extra excitement to the mix because they have payouts worth 100:1 or more.
Poker
Another niche that’s gained traction in recent years is poker. Closely related to casino gaming, poker is all about ups, downs, emotions, and strategy. That’s the perfect combination of elements for a stream. Much like blackjack, there are decisions to be made throughout a poker hand.
Verbalizing these decisions gives the audience something to think about while they watch you play for cash prizes. The more things you’ve got to say during a streamer, the more likely you are to inform and entertain.
Some of the best streamers to learn from in this niche are Phil Galfond, Lex Veldhuis, and Parker Talbot. Each streamer has a very different style, but they all manage to communicate the nuances of poker in accessible ways while also being fun to watch.
Chess
OK, so maybe it’s not as easy to start a chess stream as one focused on casino games if you’re a novice, but there are options here. Firstly, if you’re an experienced chess player, putting your skills on display for the world to see could prove popular.
Again, like blackjack and poker, there are plenty of opportunities to inform and entertain people while you’re playing chess.
If you’re new to the game, why not make that the topic of your stream? Chess has undergone a renaissance in recent years. According to Chess.com, the number of people playing chess is at an all-time high thanks to popular streamers such as Hikaru Nakamura and Netflix shows like The Queen’s Gambit.
You could tap into this by admitting your ignorance and learning how to play chess as you stream. Essentially, you’d be taking viewers on a journey through which you all learn the fundamentals of chess at the same time.
Find Your Niche
These are just three niches that have space for you to grow into as a streamer. However, what’s important to remember is that authenticity matters.
Viewers will know if you truly care about a topic. Therefore, if our suggestions don’t match your passions, focus on something you actually like. Do that, and you’ll stand a much better chance of creating a popular stream.
