Do you enjoy playing online games but don't have the money to buy all those expensive items? Do you want to increase your income from your internet connection by doing something that you already do for free? If you're a gamer with a broadband connection, then there are some great opportunities to earn money while playing online games.
This article will explain how play to earn games work and show you how you can get paid for doing something that you love!
Introducing Players and Developers
The next option is being a middleman between players and game developers. In this case, you will provide them with an opportunity to contact each other. You can do that directly on your own website or through IM (Instant Messengers).
Earnings from this method come from affiliate payments every time someone makes a purchase through your website or referral code.
Become a Game Item Seller
One of the most common ways that you can earn money by playing online games is to become an item seller. To begin with, you should find an established game in which you are interested. Then think about buying virtual items for this game and reselling them at higher prices.
You can sell items for any game you like, but the most popular ones are World of Warcraft (WoW), Lineage 2, and Everquest (EQ). For this business, you'll need to keep some basic things in mind:
Know your Market
Know what sells well and at what prices. You can use price comparison sites that provide comparison tables or conduct your own research. Be sure to check out the levels of these items, as, for example, level 10 items will be at a lower price compared to one that's level 30. People will always pay more for an item that has more abilities (strength) and more experience or proficiency.
Watch Game Play for Trends
Being observant during your game play is another recommended tactic. Make a note of what players are buying from other people. For instance, if someone is selling Orc's Blood Shield with a +4 strength bonus on eBay, make sure that you watch the bids to see just how popular or not this item is.
Another way to find good deals on popular online games is to look for stores that have high traffic. For example, if there is a popular online store selling virtual entertainment products, the chances are that you'll find the items you're interested in there as well
Identify the Best Marketplace to Sell Your Items
It's important not to assume that eBay is necessarily the right marketplace for you. Check out other web-based auction sites such as Yahoo! Auctions or Bidz.com, as they often provide great deals and lower fees.
You can also sell items on your own websites and place advertisements on forums to refer visitors to your site. You are likely to make more money this way but don't forget that you will need a way of processing payments. PayPal might be one option for this, but don't forget to factor in their fees.
Selling on eBay
Once you have an idea of how much items cost, who needs them, and what they are willing to pay for them, you're ready to begin your online business. You can start it just by registering with eBay or any other web-based auction site which suits your needs the best. This reduces the initial expense, and there's no need to worry about domains, hosting, and designing your own site.
After that, upload some screenshots of game items on their description page and place their price on them. If these items haven't been sold within a week, don't panic. Many users of eBay can find that something that gained no interest one week can sell really quickly the following week.
Gain a Reputation for Great Customer Service
Sadly, there are many scam artists who take people's money and then never deliver the goods. This then means that potential customers can be suspicious of a new seller until they gain a good reputation. You can do this by:
Respond quickly to emails and messages
Everyone is now used to getting exactly what they want very quickly, and some customers can have that same expectation from a small business. There's also the risk that if you don't reply quickly, then the potential customer might go somewhere else for their purchase.
Handle complaints effectively
If someone has a genuine complaint, the best option is to refund them promptly. When people know that you have an excellent customer service ethic, they will come back and make further purchases and recommend you to other gamers.
Equally, if you gain a reputation for selling in-game items that don't work in the way they should, and you're not refunding, then word will soon get around. It won't be long before you have no customers at all.
Be an ExpertIf you really understand the workings of a game, then you can make great recommendations to your customers, and they'll come back for more.
Our Final Thoughts on Earning Money While Playing Games
The opportunities to earn money through gaming are growing every day. But you should carefully check out the terms and conditions of each site before committing your time and money to their scheme. Make sure you know how you can withdraw your money and by what means and that it really is a viable option.
We also recommend chatting to other gamers who can share their experiences, good and bad, before you leap in.