Streaming on Twitch can be a lot of fun, and it can also be a great way to connect with other gamers and build a community around your content. Here are a few tips for becoming a successful streamer on Twitch:
Choose a game or games that you enjoy playing
If you’re going to be streaming for hours at a time, it’s important to choose games that you enjoy and won’t get tired of quickly. This will help keep you motivated and engaged with your audience. You don’t have to stream the latest trending games you just need to stream games that you enjoy. Pick 3 or 4 that you really like and alternate between them. That way you don’t get bored with playing the same game over and over and you will also give your followers a choice in what they want to watch.
Invest in good equipment
To stream high-quality content, you’ll need a good microphone, webcam, and possibly other equipment like lighting and a green screen. Investing in good equipment will make a big difference in the quality of your streams.
However, don’t let a lack of equipment stop you from streaming. You can actually stream with just a cell phone and a game system. I actually started streaming with just my Xbox and my phone. My current setup (Jan 2023) is my Xbox Series S on a TV, a desktop computer that I use to manage my stream and chat, a nice headset with a good mic, and of course my comfortable gaming chair. I also have a small little webcam too.
Promote your streams
Use social media, Discord, and other platforms to let people know when you’ll be streaming. You can also use Twitch’s built-in promotion tools to advertise your streams to other users. If you don’t know anything about marketing or how to promote your stream then find someone who does to help you, as I did. Shout out to my girlfriend! Or do your research. There are tons of youtubes out there that will give you information on how to market and promote your streams. Here’s one I found useful.
Engage with your audience
Building a community around your streams is key to success on Twitch. Make an effort to chat with your viewers and answer their questions. This will help create a more interactive and enjoyable experience for everyone. Make sure your personality shows through in your stream. People can watch anybody play the game, they watch you because they like you. The more you talk and interact with people in your chat the more they will watch. Here are a couple of tips on engaging in your chat:
- When someone enters your chat call them out by name. People love to be shouted out so when you see them pop up in the chat welcome them in by name.
- Talk, just talk. Talk about the game, talk about your day, and talk about whatever is on your mind at the moment. Answer questions and ask your followers questions. Let people see the real you.
- Make sure you have a mod in your chat that can answer questions, welcome people, and keep the chat going. Shout out your mods multiple times during your stream.
Be consistent
Try to stream on a regular schedule so your followers know when you will be streaming. Twitch has a section where you can post your schedule so that anyone visiting your channel can find it. Some rules of thumb are to stream for at least 2 hours at one time and to stream at least 3 times a week. There is no hard and fast rule about what time of day works best. For me, evenings work better because of my work schedule but late nights or daytime hours might work better for you. You need to play around and figure out what days and times work best for you. You can always change your schedule if it’s not working but try not to do that too often.
