This short “Twitch for Dummies” post is going to walk you through what Twitch is, how to start streaming on the platform and how you can use it to build your very own gaming brand.

Ready?

Okay, let’s jump straight in…

First off, Twitch is a platform where people broadcast themselves playing – for the most part – games.

Fun games.

Games that attract the attention of THOUSANDS of viewers.

Then those viewers, in turn, become subscribers; they donate, they sponsor; they, for lack of a better word, help their streamers earn a LIVING doing what they love.

And that, my fellow gamer, is why you (I’m guessing) have stumbled upon this Twitch for Dummies post.

You want to learn the basics so you can do the same, right?

Right!

So let’s learn the basics…

Twitch Streaming for Dummies

1. Get a channel name

Getting your Twitch name is one of the first steps towards starting a successful stream.

What’s in a name?

Well, that depends on how you look at it.

Here are some guidelines:

  • Make it easy to remember, especially if you plan on streaming full-time and want your viewers to be able to find you again.
  • Make it an extension of you. If your name was Joe, would JoeDoesGaming be a good idea? Probably not…
  • Don’t use numbers or special characters unless you have a specific reason for using them.
  • The fewer characters in your name, the easier it will be to remember.

And always remember to be careful NOT to infringe on any trademarks (especially if you’re planning on live-streaming games that other people make).

2. Get a gaming logo

When people hear or see your name for the first time, the next thing they’re going to look at is your gaming logo.

Is it a generic template like everyone else’s?

Or is it unique to you?

Here are some questions you should ask yourself to help figure out what type of logo you’d like designed:

  • What theme do I want?
  • What colors would I like included?
  • Who are my favorite characters?
  • Which are my favorite games?

“What do I need to know before starting Twitch?”

3. Decide on your streaming schedule

This is something you need to decide ahead of time.  

There are some people who TRY to stream 24/7, but they tend to burn out quickly and their stream loses its fun factor (unless they’re super entertaining and have energy for days – literally).

So, it’s best to start off with a couple of days a week and then spread out from there.

This will let you not only get to know your viewers, but it’ll also make sure that people are interested in coming back for more.

It’s kind of like when a new restaurant opens up – they want to have enough time to work out the kinks in their menu and service before they start getting slammed with orders.

4. Get a mic and webcam

This is pretty self-explanatory, but you’ll need both to get your stream up and running.

A good mic will make you SOUND like a pro.

And a solid webcam with good lighting (that’s key) will make you LOOK like a pro.

This’ll make all the difference in the world when your viewers first find you in Twitch.

5. Set up your streaming software and hardware

This is where the real magic happens!

Once you have everything set up, it’s finally time to turn the switch on and start streaming (again, with a few exceptions).

If you need help with this, you can check out Twitch’s own list of manual setups for different types of streaming software.

Twitch Streaming Basics 

6. Network before you go live

Before you ever hit the “start streaming” button, make friends with other streamers by joining their communities and following them around Twitch.tv.  

This will let them find YOUR stream when you’re ready to go live.

And if THEY have a lot of viewers, your stream will get a nice boost from their viewership as well.

7. Engage your viewers

The whole point of starting a Twitch stream is to have fun and entertain people, right?

Well, the only way to do that is by engaging them somehow – whether it’s through banter, giveaways, or even having them join in the game!

A community cannot thrive without mutual involvement.

You have to give to get.

8. Get involved in local gaming communities

Twitch isn’t JUST for online gamers.

It’s also a great way to connect with people at conventions and expos .

So after you’ve tested your stream out a few times and feel confident in what you’re doing, go for it!

9. Get creative with the graphics on your channel

This is actually something that isn’t recommended unless you have experience working with editing software.

If not, I HIGHLY recommend you outsource this to a graphic design team who know what they’re doing with overlays and banners and videos and panels and alerts… and, well, everything (*cough* Gaming Zombies *cough*).

In conclusion:

In the end, your Twitch channel is all about having fun.

But it’s also about being professional and “put together.”

And if you do it right, you could easily grow your following and maybe even turn it into a full-time gig.

It’s just all about putting in the work, my fellow gamer.

Oh, and as always, have fun gaming!

-The Zombie Writing Team