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Ever dreamed of earning money with online gaming content or even review codes for your favorite video games? I am here to help you get on the right track and Start a Gaming Blog.
In 2016, when I was still a student, I saw myself with too much spare time, and I was spending most of it playing video games. So, my girlfriend suggested the following:
“Why don’t you start a gaming blog? Once you get popular, you’ll get free games and products!”
My blog is not by any means popular, but it gets enough attention that in 2024 a known publisher approached me and offered my first review code. Then in the following months, I got so many that I was having a difficult time managing everything with my 9-5 and baby girl.
It took me a lot of time to get here, but if I knew what I know today, things would’ve been much easier.
What’s the Goal?
I’m writing this guide so you can create your own gaming blog, grow it into something you’re proud of, and avoid the mistakes I made.
This is the first part of a series, so consider subscribing to my newsletter to get the next parts in your inbox as soon as I publish them!
This part is all about setting up your blog by going through the following:
1. Defining your niche
2. Choosing your blog’s name
3. Domain Hosting
Defining Your Niche
What separates your blog from others? Are you just another gaming blog writing about your favorite games? Or do you write about a well-defined niche? You will achieve success much faster if you use the latter.
There are thousands of blogs out there, and you need to stand out. So, niching down is your best option when starting.
If you focus on writing only about Sega Saturn games, you will show the Search Algorithm that you are a great choice for this topic, resulting in better rankings, which will generate more impressions and clicks over time.
This doesn’t mean you need to just write about Sega Saturn Games for the rest of your life. Once you gain more clicks, you can expand into related niches.
However, you can still find success by focusing on general topics, but it will take you more time.
With 7 years, my blog has enough authority in several topics that allow me to write about different niches. However, if I try to review the latest Pokémon game, I will always lose to bigger websites.
To avoid lost time, I talk about niche content such as:
• Reviews of less-known video games
• Reviews of less-known products
By utilizing this approach, I have gradually earned the trust of Google’s algorithm, enabling me to generate enough organic traffic to secure review codes!
Key Takeaway: Focus on a specific gaming niche to stand out faster and signal to search engines that you’re an authority on your topic. You can expand once you build traffic and credibility.
Choosing Your Domain Name
When reading the name ‘Gamer By Mistake’, what comes to mind? Probably not a review about a niche arcade leverless controller such as the Haute42 G16. This was my biggest mistake.
Your website’s purpose should be clear without even reading a blog post. That’s why you should select a name that matches the content you write.
More importantly, your name helps Google decide whether your content is worth showing when a user makes a search.
For example, for a Sega Saturn Blog, a name like ‘Sega Saturn Gamer’ would be perfect. With this name, you know exactly what to expect, and it would be strange if there were no blog posts about Sega Saturn and instead posts about the Nintendo 64.
However, this name will only work for Sega Saturn content. If you want to branch out to Dreamcast games, maybe a more suitable name would be ‘Sega Retro Gamer’. But ultimately, it’s your decision, so be mindful that a name defines your entire content and should be chosen carefully.
Even after picking a name, you might need to compromise since that name might not be available.
Key Takeaway: Choose a blog name that directly reflects your niche to attract the right audience and help search engines understand your content. A strong name sets clear expectations for readers.
Domain and Hosting
In the summer of 2023, I decided to transfer my entire blog from Blogger to WordPress. It was a nightmare for me, but it won’t be for you.
If you’re starting a blog with no money, Blogger is a suitable option, but after six years, I felt it was limiting my growth potential. I wanted more control with SEO tools and a modern template.
So, I decided to invest in a WordPress Hosting Service in Amen.pt.
However, my domain was still in DreamHost, and to have a WordPress Hosting in Amen.pt, I had to transfer my domain there. This entire process cost me numerous headaches, traffic, and money.
Even if you want to start with Bloggger, confirm that you have your domain on a host that also has a WordPress Hosting Service.
If I had to choose a host in 2024, I’d go with Bluehost. It’s cheap, offers both Domain Hosting and WordPress Hosting, and has support to help you set up your website
When starting you can choose just buying the Domain and then commit to a WordPress Hosting:
When selecting your domain name, the price may vary, since certain words are pricier to host.
This seems daunting, but it’s not. You need to select the correct option and buy it accordingly. I recommend the Basic plan for any beginner.
You might need to upgrade your storage in a few years, but hopefully, by then, you’re already making enough money from your blog to cover your yearly costs, like I am.
But for a 7-year-old blog like mine, I’m nowhere near reaching the max storage.
Key Takeaway: For long-term growth, pick a hosting provider that offers flexibility to expand, like WordPress with Bluehost. Starting with the right host saves you from painful migrations down the road.
Do I really need a Domain?
You can start a website on Blogger, and the link to your website will be something like ‘yourdomainname.blogspot.com’, which adds zero credibility to your brand.
Go For it!
I’m glad you chose to start your gaming blog, and if you keep following these guides, you’ll definitely find some form of success.
To set you up on this journey, I want you to take the following actions:
• Think about points 1 and 2 (Defining Your Niche and Choosing Your Name) for the next few days or week.
• Create a free blog using Blogger.
• Write your first post!
It’s important to get a feel for operating a blog. And if you’re confident, go for a domain hosting or even a WordPress hosting on Bluehost.
As an optional step, send me your work! You can contact me by Email, Instagram, or even Substack (preferably).
Good luck! We’ll continue in the next part, where I’ll talk about how to design and structure your gaming blog.
Continue to part 2 where I’ll discuss Gaming Blog Design and Content Structure
Key Takeaways:
• Focus on a specific gaming niche to establish authority and stand out faster.
• Choose a blog name that reflects your niche to attract the right audience and set clear expectations.
• Start with a reliable hosting provider to avoid issues when upgrading or expanding in the future.
• A custom domain gives your blog credibility and professionalism—essential for serious bloggers.
• Begin simply by defining your niche, deciding a name, and writing your first post; upgrade hosting and domain as you grow.