Love it or hate it, eSports have become extremely popular globally, and many entrepreneurs have considered creating their own eSports team.
eSports might have been once at the centre of controversy, with many people raising objections to whether these games could be considered a real sport. Either way, eSports today are very popular, with substantial cash prizes attached to these tournaments standing a testament to their worldwide recognition.
It’s perhaps no surprise that many entrepreneurs are turning their attention to the eSports arena and setting up their own teams as a form of investment. While creating and running your own eSports team is not a walk in the park, it’s not impossible, as long as you have deep pockets and the necessary know-how.
So, if you’re keen to give it a shot, here are a few guidelines to running your own eSports team:
Set Up the Team
Getting the right team together is vital when setting up any business. Nevertheless, when it comes to eSports, the people you pick can significantly impact the success of your overall venture. Several members would have to take a hands-on approach to the day-to-day management of the team, so selecting those who can do this is critical.
Begin by getting the founders, owners, and executive board members on board. You would need a:
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- Chief Gaming Officer (CGO)
- Chief Market Officer (CMO)
Select Players
While this is an exciting step to setting up your team, it can be frustrating. You need to pick players who match your team category. Getting the highest calibre of players could cost you millions. So, unless you have significant capital that you can access to entice these well-established players, you’d probably end up looking in amateur rankings instead.
Here, you’ll find free agents who are talented and who can be a great asset to your team at a fraction of the cost of a professional. You should begin by looking at local and university groups because these are reliable sources of talent.
Check the Legalities
While you might be tempted to try and cash in on the currently lax legal state surrounding eSports, you must remember that your name is everything in the eSports industry. The community remains the key driver, and if you break their trust, your team will never succeed.
Also, remember that running your own eSports team often means registering as a company, so check local laws to ensure you don’t become entangled in lengthy and expensive legal mêlées at some point in the future.
Establishing a Brand
Brand identity is crucial when running your own eSports team, just as it is in many other industries. Your team brand must push your team forward. The community needs to generate most of your team’s revenue in the long run. So, pulling together a dedicated fan base might be a challenge, although it is essential.
Of course, picking the right name is critical. However, you should also source professional help when it comes to graphic design so that you can build up a unique identity. All aspects of your eSports brand matter, so seek professional guidance if you lack the skill with this process.
Market Your Team
After developing a solid brand identity, you should launch your marketing scheme. Your first step should be to target classic social media forums – setting up and maintaining team presence on the leading platforms is the best idea. However, quality content is key to reaching your intended audience, so avoid using generic and impersonal copy.
Generate Revenue
You should use your imagination to pull in revenue for your eSports team. Most traditional ways of driving revenue are inappropriate for this industry. Advertising is one channel that has proven to be ineffective, and your eSport team’s site is unlikely to attract the same number of visitors as social media.
Instead, you need to find something unique to your team. Merchandising is a big opportunity. However, this is only successful once your team and brand have become recognisable enough to generate sufficient income.
Some brands create value-added websites with guides to the games, while others rely heavily on sponsorships. You must ultimately consider all of these ideas to determine which one would be appropriate for you and your team.
