Laura 
Standing out from the crowd is clearly the toughest challenge for new streamers on platforms like YouTube or Twitch. In effect, you are entering a marketplace with millions of competitors. And while there can be some sense in covering topics that are universally popular – from the NFL to Minecraft to US politics – it’s nonetheless the case that you are going into areas already saturated with those topics.
It is, of course, not essential that your channel cover something unique, nor is there any guarantee of success. Moreover, it is not always the topic but the approach to content creation that is the difference-maker: Great content creators can make anything interesting. That said, looking at underrepresented subject matter or niches within popular topics can help streamers and creators stand out to the crowd.
Below, we provide seven ideas that will, at the very least, show there are still many avenues to explore:
1. “Real Jobs” Diaries
If you have come across the Salaryman Tokyo account on YouTube (283K followers), you will quickly understand that people are fascinated by “day in the life” style content centeredon non-glamorous jobs. Channels covering everyday jobs, like plumbers and line cooks, could be well received if they show the challenges and highs and lows. Many people are wise to the fabrication. There’s a real appetite for honest portrayals of work and lifestyles, and it can act as an antidote to the perfect-life influencer content.
2. Local History Deep Dives
Most history channels cover wars and empires. A channel that digs into regional stories, looking at small towns or underrepresented areas, could really stand out. Now, there is obviously a hurdle to overcome in terms of local appeal, yet a good creator can make niche histories compelling to everyone. If the chemistry is right and the creator does enough to ‘sell’ the story, the history of a small town in Missouri can be just as fascinating as the downfall of the Roman Empire.
3. Everyday Economics Explained
Not stock markets – YouTube is littered with financial gurus explaining how to get rich – but everyday economics, covering things like car insurance pricing policies or the economics behind parking meters. There are so many fascinating areas to explore that we were never taught in school. The key, arguably, is to make content that both informs and satisfies curiosity.
4. Casino Streaming
Casino streaming operates in an interesting space on YouTube and Twitch, with much of the focus on high-stakes players who wager large sums. Yet, there’s also room for low-stakes content. Indeed, the rise in popularity of social casinos like Pulsz online shows there’s an appetite to focus on entertainment, not money.
5. Niche Sports Explainers
You are probably fighting a losing battle to stand out among NFL and NBA content creators, but many global sports have room for growth. Irish hurling is a prime example. A channel showing how these sports work, their culture, and their biggest characters could carve out a unique global audience.
6. Legal Gray Areas Explained Simply
Law content tends to gravitate to platforms like LinkedIn, but a channel explaining interesting aspects of the law, particularly gray areas, would be interesting. Consider topics that make the news – such as squatting rights in houses – and how useful it would be for someone to explain the legal reasoning behind such laws.
7. Micro-Budget Filmmaking
There are numerous filmmaking channels on YouTube, but few are aimed at absolute beginners with cheap gear. A channel built around something like “film-making on a $100 budget” could be compelling, showing how to shoot films on a phone, lighting hacks, and editing with free software. Of course, as a streamer, you’ll have to know what you are doing, but the micro-budget rule can be applied to everything from building an app to launching side hustles.