Wondering how to become a popular streamer on Twitch?
Well, let’s cut the fluff and jump straight in…
Here are 13 Top Tips how to grow your channel:
1. Choose a stream and stick to it
What I mean by this is that you should choose one game, and then stick with it.
Don’t start streaming games like Dota 2, Overwatch, chat room simulator 2016 and expect to become popular right away.
If you try to be everything for everyone, people will not watch your stream.
So choose one game, and stick to it.
It’s the only way you will grow your followers.
2. Broadcast on a regular basis
People need to know when they can tune in to find you live, so try broadcasting at least 3 times per week.
Of course some streamers might go for 5 days straight when they are in the zone, but 3 days is a good start.
You need to be consistent with broadcasting frequencies in order to have any measurable viewership.
How to Get Popular on Twitch
3. Do something that makes you interesting
This is important because people want someone that interacts with them, rather than just playing video games.
So how do you become more interesting?
Well, you need to do things to make your stream stand out.
For instance, how about trying a personality quiz?
Take an interesting personality quiz every week and share the results on your channel.
People will love it because they always learn something new about how their personality works.
Just one idea.
4. Configure your stream settings correctly
This is how people will find out about you on Twitch, so make sure to configure the following:
- Stream key (so people can subscribe to your channel)
- Stream title (so that people know what your channel is about)
- Alert sound (so that when someone subscribes or donates, you will know about it)
5. Interact with your chat
Remember that people want to feel involved and want to be heard.
You need to give them the opportunity to participate in the stream, so how about:
- having a role on your channel (so everyone feels like they belong and have their voice heard)
- having a discord (so people can chat with you outside of your Twitch channel)
- hosting giveaways (it makes people feel special, and more likely to subscribe)
6. Interact with your followers on social media
We live in a society where people don’t like to follow channels, they like to follow people.
You need to build the relationship (both ways) by interacting with your Twitch followers on social media platforms.
So how about getting them excited?
- Share your upcoming schedule on how and when you will be streaming
- Follow back everyone that follows you
- Comment time to time on their Instagram or Facebook posts
If they follow you on social media too, then they can easily stay up-to-date with how the channel is going.
How to Become A Well-Known Streamer
7. Take the time to reach out
Now how exactly do you reach out?
Take time to listen to your stream.
If someone is mentioning how something is wrong, reach out and let them know how you are currently trying to fix it.
If someone complains about how long it takes for the game to start loading, tell them how you are currently working on improving the set-up.
8. Participate in other streams
The easiest way to get noticed is by appearing in someone else’s stream.
People will see how you interact and how well your personality works, and they might be interested in coming to your channel too.
9. Host a contest
A great way to get people excited about visiting your channel is by joining a contest.
But how exactly does this help?
Well, you can join a viewer contest, or maybe even host your own contest where the prize is to come and watch you live during an entire 24 hour period.
For example, how about hosting a quiz show where people have to answer questions about how well they know you?
10. Be transparent about how you are doing
Don’t be afraid to let your viewers know how well you are doing.
Share how much money you have earned, how many followers or how much viewership you have had in the past week/month/year.
People love to compare themselves with others, so give them something to compare.
How to Be A Successful Streamer on Twitch
11. Always be grateful
Always remember how people are watching you, and how they work hard so that you can grow as a streamer.
So how about showing your gratitude?
- Reply to everyone that donates or subscribes (especially if they have stuck by you during the good and bad times).
- Thank them for coming to your channel (share how excited you are about seeing them in chat).
- Make sure to let everyone (from the biggest to the smallest viewer) know how much it means to you, how grateful you are and how much they mean to you.
12. Keep ahead of the latest trends
How about staying up to date with how technology is growing?
By keeping ahead of the latest trends, you’ll be able to come up with how it can help grow your stream.
This means:
- Keeping an eye on how chat bots and apps are developing so that you can implement them into your channel.
- Staying up-to-date with how the games are changing (new skins, new modes etc.).
- If everyone in your chat keeps asking for a certain skin, then why not find out how you can get that skin?
Do some research and make it happen.
13. Announce how busy you are going to be (and stick to it)
Yes, we all know how frustrating it can get when someone keeps promising how they will be back SOON and then… nothing happens.
But how about trying something different?
Let your viewers know how long you are going to be busy for and how you plan on keeping your word.
By doing so, you will keep your viewers happy because they know how long they can expect to wait (if at all) until your return.
You’ll also build trust by planning how busy you are going to be in advance.
Posting about how you will be gone for 2-3 days and how you plan to keep up the stream while gone shows how dedicated you are.
If something does happen, how about telling how it can affect your schedule?
This could mean:
- How busy work is making it hard to get into streaming (and how much you hate that work is getting in the way).
- How you are working on how to make streaming your full-time job.
- …or how about how you are planning on taking time off for Christmas/Halloween/Valentines Day?
In conclusion:
If you apply these 13 top tips, our viewers will notice how much time and effort you put in to make your stream a success.
It will make them want to come back for more, and maybe even tell their friends how they should come and follow you.
Anyway, apply them and see what works for you,.
And as always, have fun gaming!
-The Zombie Writing Team