There is a major shift going on in the culture of the entire world right now. Kids do not watch TV – they watch Youtube. Many like to watch people play video games rather than play the games themselves.
If you might be, or you want to be internet famous, how do you know? One of the most popular people on Youtube is Pewdiepie. He gets flow in in to America to appear on Jimmy Kimmel and other mainstream TV shows. Increasingly, the internet is creating celebrities and pushing TV and movie stars aside.
How do you know if you are internet famous?
1. You Have a Lot of Subscribers
Whether streaming on Twitch, making videos on Youtube or chronicling your life on Instagram, once you have a certain number of loyal viewers, you’re in. You will know you are a big deal if Youtube starts featuring you on the front page or if they invite you to use their facility in California to make videos and hone your craft. With Twitch, once you are featured on the front page, you’re big. The donations will fly in and your chat room will explode.
2. You Will be Invited to Conventions
All year long there are conventions for video games, streams, you name it. TwitchCon gets bigger every year. League of Legends finals are shown in a stadium. Stars like ProJared go to a few cons each month. Commander Holly has appeared at cons in Australia. Your travel and hotel expenses are paid for and you can sell merchandise while meeting fans.
3. You will be Invited to do Crossovers
When other internet celebrities contact you to team up on a project, you are big time. This has happened from the early days of Youtube with the Angry Video Game Nerd and the Nostalgia Critic. It happens regularly today and is part of reaching thousands of new viewers who will probably like you. Remember to return the favor when you find an up and comer that you like.
4. You are Mentioned on “Drama Shows”
There are shows run by personalities that actually focus on internet celebrities and keep up with what they are doing. Some of these shows are quite toxic and off-putting, like Keemstar. Others are more measured and mature. If you are mentioned on these shows, you are on the radar.
5. Someone Made a Wikipedia Page of You
In this day and age, having someone you don’t know take the time to research and create your wikipedia page is quite an honor. You have fans who care enough that they are helping to promote you unsolicited. Remember that wikipedia reputation management is very important. Trolls like to leave a little comment in them if they can. Some wikipedia entries are inaccurate or incomplete. You can touch it up when you like and there is a system in place to handle 4chan and other trolls.
6. You are a Meme
Memes come and go, sometimes in the span of a few days. If you see people on the internet reference you in some way as a touchstone in a conversation, you are internet famous. When people online can refer to you as a reference point that everyone instantly recognizes and understands, you have broken through. When people use your catchphrases or sayings as their signature or to make someone else laugh, that means you are a part of someone’s life. They identify with you.
Internet stardom isn’t for everyone. Achieving this kind of fame requires a weird combination of tenacity, ingenuity, and charisma. But the internet age has made it possible to reach a wider audience with even less of a start. If you aspire to digital greatness, begin by creating high-quality, valuable content and putting yourself out here. These benchmarks can be yours with enough time, effort, and luck.