Did you know more than 5 billion people use the internet today? Yes, you heard that right.
That’s about 63% of the world’s population with internet connectivity. What’s more, the average time spent on the internet per person is about seven hours per day.
For many, this time is spent scrolling through social media pages and looking for interesting videos.
eSports players can take this opportunity to connect with their fans and build an audience. But how exactly can they use different social media platforms to build online followership?
If you’ve ever wondered how eSports players use social media to communicate with their audience, this post is for you. In it, you’ll learn how gamers use multiple social media platforms, from YouTube to Facebook, to connect with their audience.
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Background of Esports and Competitive Gaming
Esports continue to grow in popularity and make their way into the mainstream. And unless you’ve been in competitive gaming for years, you may feel like the competitive gaming has come from nowhere.
If that’s you, you are wrong; competitive computer games date back to the 1950s. Let’s take a quick look at the background of eSports and competitive gaming according to ISPO.
The 1950s: Computer games are born
Alexander Douglas, a computer scientist, came up with the idea of a computer game in 1952 – the ‘XOX’ game. However, the game only involved humans playing against the computer – the first multiplayer game (Tennis for Two) came in 1958. This game is today regarded as the birth of eSports.
The 1960s: eSports are born
In 1962, computer scientist Steve Russel and his colleagues wrote the space game “Spacewar!”. Although the game was first played in 1972, its concept was born in the 1960s.
The 1970s and 1980s: Consoles and arcades celebrate, and high score lists come into existence
In the late 1970s, video games entered the home with consoles that could be connected to any TV. The high score lists were introduced in the 80s, making the games more competitive.
From the 1990s and onwards: Better technology makes eSports suitable for the masses
In the ‘90s, new technology made it possible for more people to participate in competitive games. The internet was introduced, attracting people from across the world to participate in the games. Nintendo held its first Nintendo World Championships in the United States.
In the years that followed, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and Twitch were created, helping build an audience around eSports. Today, social media plays a vital role in helping eSports players connect with their audience.
The Role Social Media Plays in Building an Audience
Social media is undoubtedly one of the best ways for eSports players to get attention and build an audience. It helps them create a brand, connect with fans, and establish themselves as professionals.
However, as with any brand, an eSports player must choose the right social media platform to connect with the right audience. If you’re wondering what media is used for eSports, don’t fret. This next section will discuss the social media platforms that work well for eSports teams.
Social Media Channels that Work Well for eSports Teams
Gamers thrive on social media platforms and the internet in general. Social media is crucial for gamers, from discovering new game releases to connecting with like-minded game fanatics. As an eSports player, learning which social media platform hosts the largest number of your fans is key to building an audience.
Here are the commonly used social media channels for eSports:
- Twitch
- YouTube
And if you’re wondering how to build an audience on social media, it’s simple. You only need to target the right social media platform and share content that resonates with the audience.
Twitch for Live Streaming Events
If you’ve heard the term Twitch often recently, it isn’t a cryptic message from the divine. Instead, you are being introduced to one of the best streaming trends that recently exploded in popularity.
The social media platform has millions of daily active users, making it a perfect platform to reach potential fans. Twitch is also built for interaction and broadcasting, giving you control over how you stream and who can see it.
If you’re still sitting on the fence on whether to start live streaming events on Twitch, here are some features that set the platform apart from others:
- No one can interrupt your live broadcast
- Real-time chat moderation tools
- Panic mode
- You can use broadcasting software-overlays
- Mod mode
YouTube for Live Streaming and Archiving Gameplay
YouTube is yet another influential channel for gamers. And like Twitch, YouTube allows gamers to connect with the gaming community in real time.
With over 2 billion monthly users, YouTube provides eSports players an avenue to reach their fans and build an online audience. Plus, it allows you to be discoverable on Google search results if you rank for keywords.
If you’re wondering, “are YouTube live streams archived?”, the answer is yes. YouTube automatically archives live streams that are less than 12 hours long.
This applies to all live stream types, including webcam, mobile, and encoder. The video will be archived regardless of its resolution.
Twitter for announcing upcoming eSports events
Twitter is one of the biggest and best marketing phenomena in the online business world. Over the past few years, Twitter has been growing at a higher rate – more than any other social network.
As a marketing platform, Twitter provides innumerable benefits to business organizations.
But why do gamers use Twitter?
Twitter is one of the best platforms for eSport players to announce upcoming eSports events. It also allows the gaming community to engage through features like Twitter polls.
For instance, gamers can put a poll out at the beginning of the day with the question of who will win the upcoming eSports tournament.
A blog by Twitter also recommends the following tips to increase Twitter engagements:
- Start the conversation early
- Use high-quality images
- Use match highlights to showcase the best moments
Instagram for Sharing Short Videos and Images of the Team and Gameplay
Instagram is one of the most effective social media platforms for businesses. It helps them boost sales, drive brand awareness, and increase online visibility. It’s also a great tool to gather valuable audience insight for marketing.
But why do gamers use Instagram?
Instagram is an excellent tool for eSport players looking to become successful. It allows them to connect with their audience visually through high-quality images, short videos, and lengthy Instagram reels. For instance, you can share images of your team and gameplay videos on IGTV.
Facebook for Communicating with eSports Parents
Facebook is an excellent social media platform for players that want to communicate with their parents. Many eSports parents’ groups on Facebook allow parents to get valuable information about eSports tournaments.
The Bottom Line
With its 24/7 real-time worldwide reach, social media is the go-to platform for eSports enthusiasts. Let us know how you use social media to interact with your followers in the comments!
