Your Be Right Back Screen is the difference between catching someone’s attention or losing it… in milliseconds.      

Why?

Because there are hundreds of thousands of gamers on Twitch trying to steal your viewers from you.

And that number is only growing by the day.

That’s the bad news.

Here’s the good news:

If you have a BRB Screen that’s designed to keep your viewer’s engaged whenever you run off to the toilet, it can be the difference between feeling relaxed leaving your stream for a couple minutes and worrying everyone is going to click away.

Comprende?

Cool.

So, here are 11 Be Right Back Screen tips you should keep in mind when designing your BRB Screen if you want to keep your viewers watching your channel…

Be Right Back Stream Overlay Tips

1. Keep it simple

Seriously, Be Right Back Screens work best when you keep them as simple as possible.

And there’s a number of benefits to this:

  • Your BRB Screen will be quick and easy for your viewers to understand.
  • It’ll be easier to design.
  • You’ll be able to save time and money on your design.

And your viewers will be more likely to return when you get back from brushing your teeth/catching some Pokemon… whatever you do in the bathroom.

2. Keep it pertinent

You want to make sure you tune your BRB Screen so it’s perfectly suited to the content of your stream.

That way, when you come back from tending to whatever biological needs you have, your viewers will feel comfortable returning because they know what they’re getting into.

3. Make it animated

If you leave your viewers staring at the same Be Right Back Screen every time you run away for a couple minutes, they’ll get bored.

You want to make sure that when you return from doing whatever you’re doing in the bathroom/Pokemon hunting/being fabulous somewhere else, your BRB Screen is in motion.

Twitch Be Right Back Screen Tips

4. Be consistent

You’ll want to make sure you keep your BRB Screen consistent… with your brand.

That means incorporating

  • your gaming logo.
  • its colours, and
  • your socials

across your Be Right Back Screen AND all of your other screens.

5. Make it attractive

You want to come back from the bathroom looking good, right?

Same thing goes for your BRB Screen.

If you have a BRB screen that’s low-quality or looks like it was designed by a 5 year old, then you’re going to look bad when you come back into your stream.

So make sure you invest a little time and money into a design that looks nice.

6. Make it promotional

There are a couple of ways you can use your BRB Screen to keep users hooked… even when you’re not there.

The first is to add socials to your BRB screen (this is an obvious one).

The second is to use what’s called an ‘open loop’ BEFORE you head off to the toilet.

For example, you might say:

‘When I come back, I’ll be announcing the winner of today’s in-chat competition. It will only be available for those that stay on until the end of my stream.’

Something like that.

Your viewers will then WANT to stay on and engage with your chat.

Clever, right?

BRB Screen Don’ts

7. Don’t use a blank screen

If you want to keep your viewers around for as long as possible, do NOT leave them staring at a boring ol’ black screen with muted audio for 5 minutes.

Your viewers will click away in a heartbeat.

Yes, you want simple.

But you don’t want nothing.

8. Don’t make your BRB Screen too long

You’ll want to make sure your BRB Screen is short.

Anything longer than 15 seconds will likely annoy viewers who are waiting to return to your stream.

So make sure you design a short, snappy screen for when you go and do whatever it is you need to do in the bathroom… or elsewhere.

9. Don’t use copyrighted content

Don’t try and be funny by using other people’s copyrighted content for humour – or other – purposes.

Twitch will not be pleased.

That means no memes, movies, TV shows etc.

You’ll have your Twitch account terminated faster than you can say ‘gaming with friends’.

10. Don’t use low-quality images or text

Your BRB screen needs to look good.

So don’t skimp on the quality of your design.

If you find yourself having to squint at your BRB Screen because it’s so badly designed, then do yourself a favour and invest in something nice that’s actually legible.

11. Don’t use copyrighted music

Whatever you do, don’t put on the latest hit song and leave your viewers waiting 5 minutes.

You’ll get in trouble with the rights holders.

And Twitch won’t be happy at all.

The same goes for movie soundtracks.

And, well, all other sounds you don’t own.

So just don’t.

In conclusion:

If you want to keep your viewers watching your stream until you return, then you need to have an eye catching Be Right Back Screen that’s short and to the point.

You also need to make sure it doesn’t take away from or distract from your brand.

Keep it consistent across all of your screens.

You’ll also want to make sure your BRB screen is engaging for viewers who are waiting for you to return. You can do this by using open loops and offering them something exclusive while they wait.

And then, of course, make sure that when you do eventually come back, you’re providing a high-quality fun stream to keep your viewers coming back for more.

Okay?

Awesome.

And, as always, have fun gaming!

-The Zombie Writing Team