Running an effective Twitch SEO strategy is important because it can help you grow your Twitch following, without having to spend a single penny on advertising.
And with over 3 million monthly broadcasters and 140 million Twitch visitors a month, Twitch makes an excellent platform for Twitch streamers to grow their following organically.
So, in this article I’m going to share 7 Twitch SEO strategies that will help New Twitch streamers grow their Twitch channels.
1. Keyword Research
Research Twitch’s most popular games and streamers to find the best Twitch SEO keywords.
Twitch has a full list of its most streamed games here, so you can start your Twitch keyword search there.
Not only that, Twitch also shows the top 100 Twitch streams on this page which you can use for Twitch competitor analysis.
Then try to include your keywords in your Twitch title and description.
2. Build Your Twitch Brand on Other Social Networks
Grow your Twitch following by using the social media presence you already have.
For example, if you already have Twitter and Facebook followings, now is a good time to use those social networks to build your Twitch following.
You can tweet when you’re live on Twitch or even provide Twitch updates in your Facebook status updates.
When you grow a Twitch audience from the social networks you already have, it will be easier to communicate with them and get them to follow you on Twitch later.
Doing this will also help you build backlinks back to your channel and, in turn, help move you up the Google and Twitch search rankings.
3. Build Your Twitch Brand using YouTube Videos
When you run Twitch streams, upload snippets of them to YouTube and then link back to your channel.
Why?
Well, links added to external websites – especially authoritative websites – are indexed by Twitch, which, of course, will help raise your ranking in the Twitch search results.
What’s more is if you create valuable content on YouTube – the type of content that users share with each other – YouTube will give these videos priority in search results which can indirectly help with your Twitch SEO efforts.
4. Which Twitch Titles Gain the Most Viewers?
It’s no secret that Twitch viewers love certain games, so try to play those “hidden gem” games that are high in popularity but low in competition.
For example, if you’re creating Overwatch gameplay videos and commentary, make sure to use relevant curiosity-inducing titles like:
“Here’s how to complete Overwatch in a single weekend”
The more specific you are in your Twitch title, the easier it will be for users to find you when they search for keywords related to your Twitch stream.
5. Create Twitch Thumbnails That Appeal To Viewers
Your Twitch thumbnails are an opportunity to build your Twitch brand and create curiosity among Twitch users.
So, make sure you:
- Pick a consistent style for your Twitch thumbnails (keeping them in line with the direction of your logo and its colors)
- Use bold colors that stand out against Twitch’s vibrant background to catch Twitch viewers’ attention
- Make them large enough to be seen from far away (at least 1280×720 pixels wide)
These Twitch thumbnails are extra important if you’re streaming to Twitch on mobile.
By working on your thumbnails in this way, your click through rate will increase, which will then improve your ranking in the search results.
6. Create Content That Twitch Users Want To Share
Sounds obvious, I know.
But if you want Twitch users to share your content, make sure it is compelling enough for them to do so.
People share things that are fun, amazing, interesting, useful and inspiring. If you can incorporate these qualities into your Twitch content, Twitch users will be more likely to share it with others via Twitch chat and social media posts.
You want Twitch viewers to be shouting your channel name from the rooftops!
7. Use Pinterest to Grow Your Twitch Following
After you’ve set up Twitch, head over to Pinterest and create a couple of boards related to your Twitch channel.
For example, if you’re creating League of Legends tutorials, you might want to create one for guides on how players can improve their gameplay and another showcasing the best League of Legends cosplays.
Then add links back to your Twitch channel on your Twitch boards so viewers can click through and follow you on Twitch.
This will help grow your Twitch following by exposing your Twitch channel to Pinterest users who have a similar taste to those following you on Pinterest.
The more Twitch followers you have, the higher ranking Twitch will give you in its search results – another good reason for using Pinterest to grow your Twitch following.
And, here are some bonus Twitch SEO strategies you should know about:
- Identify Twitch influencers who have a similar target audience and reach out to them for links back to your Twitch stream, but first build that all-important win-win relationship.
- Build valuable resources related to the games you play on Twitch so users will link back to them.
- Try running a couple of tournaments on Twitch.
- You can use Twitch analytics to find out which games, streamers and broadcasters your Twitch viewers like the most. Then try to create content related to those topics.
- If you provide valuable new information on Twitch that nobody else is doing – i.e., if you’re an Twitch expert – Twitch users will start following you organically.
In conclusion
As Twitch grows in popularity, its advertising revenue has grown to “millions of dollars each month” making it a viable career opportunity to create Twitch content full-time.
But if you’re just starting out on Twitch, the best way to grow your Twitch viewership is by using Twitch search to your advantage.
So, what are you waiting for? Start using these Twitch SEO strategies today and grow your following.
And, as always, have fun gaming!
-The Zombie Writing Team