YouTube live donations are a great way to earn some extra cash from your channel.

Reason being?

Plain and simple, streaming on YouTube is a great way for you – as a content creator – to engage with your fans on a more personal level.

I mean, think about it, you can use it to:

  • Attract new audiences
  • Increase viewer engagement for your channel
  • And, of course, drive more donations

But, all of these benefits are only possible if you know how to increase your YouTube live donations the right way.

So, with that said, here are 6 ways you can tweak your stream to generate more YouTube live donations:

1. Select a “niche” stream

People tend to avoid donating to YouTube live streams that are too broad in scope.

Why?

Because there’s nothing on your channel that will emotionally HOOK them.

Whereas, if you “niche down” your stream and focus on a specific type of audience, you’ll instantly separate yourself from everyone else on YouTube because you’ll be in a market of one.

You’ll be providing unique content for a unique set of people that will entertain them for hours on end.

As a result, they will become RAVING fans.

Raving fans who will then donate to your channel.

And not merely spectators watching you because they’re a bit bored.

How to Get Donations on Youtube Live Stream

2. Raise awareness on social media

Your YouTube live stream is your “social media home base.”

It’s where you’ll post updates for everything related to your YouTube channel.

As a result, it makes sense to promote your stream all over social media.

I’m talking:

Basically, everywhere and anywhere you have an audience that can find you.

Provide content – valuable content – on those platforms.

Entertain your viewers.

Pose questions.

Keep them engaged.

In other words, build a relationship with them and in so doing, they’ll be more likely to donate to your channel when you ask them to.

Comprende?

Cool.

3. Do a YouTube live stream AMA

An AMA – or “Ask Me Anything” session – is one of the best YouTube live stream ideas you can employ.

Basically, you do a YouTube live stream where you answer every single question your viewers have for you.

The intent behind it should be to build rapport with them so they emotionally align with you as a YouTube content creator.

As a result, they’re more likely to donate to your YouTube live stream when, of course, you ask them to.

Just remember, though, you’re not creating an ‘Ask Me Anything’ stream JUST to receive donations.

Donations are just a byproduct of that.

Your creating an AMA stream because you:

  • Genuinely want to build a relationship with your audience
  • Want to get to know them a little better
  • Want to find out what they expect from you as a content creator

Donations on YouTube Live Stream

4. Implement YouTube donation alerts

Donation alerts are little pop-ups that appear when one of your viewers donates to your channel.

And they normally contain the user’s name and donation amount.

Now, the reason they’re so powerful is because they provide INSTANT social proof for you and everyone watching your stream.

In other words:

  • People will think it’s “normal” to donate to you when they see other people doing it
  • Your other viewers will want their name shown during your live stream, so they’ll donate to get that exposure

This, my fellow gamer, is social proof.

A powerful tool you can use to get your viewers to donate to your channel.

Use it wisely.

5. Provide YouTube live chat badges

Providing YouTube live chat badges for your viewers is a great way to increase YouTube donations.

Why?

Because, plain and simple, it will generate more engagement in your chat.

People will be more inclined to chat because they have a badge of honor next to their name.

And because more people are chatting, more people will be willing to donate to your channel.

Again, the power of social proof at work.

6. Create YouTube live donation goals

Let’s say, hypothetically, you’ve been streaming on YouTube for a year or so and have, on average, 100 unique viewers per stream.

Then let’s say 5% of them donate $2 to your stream.

Well, that means you’re making $10 per stream.

If you’re streaming every day, that’s $300 per month from a tiny 100 unique viewers.

Now just increase those unique viewers and work on ways to increase the percentage of people who donate to your stream.

How?

Well, by introducing YouTube live donation goals.

They’ll entice your viewers to donate because they’ll be able to see the progress you’re making towards, for example, your $300 goal for the month, which will allow you to buy more equipment for your stream.

Which, in turn, will improve your viewers’ experience.

Make sense?

Cool.

In conclusion:

YouTube live donations can add a nice chunk of change to your YouTube income.

If you want them to add up, follow the YouTube live donation tips above.

Just make sure to provide VALUABLE content and the rest, if you ask, will sort itself out.

Oh, and as always, have fun gaming!

-The Zombie Writing Team