trustreaming-blog1

[trustreaming-blog1]

How to Grow Your Twitch Audience

Getting started on Twitch can be daunting at first. For a while, it can feel like you're just spinning your wheels and getting nowhere. The common question many noobies ask when they're first setting out on their course for Twitch streaming success is usually, "how can I get more viewers on my Twitch channel?"

There is no magic bullet or secret formula that can answer this question and guarantee a massive, international audience just like that. However, there are some universal factors that every new streamer should optimize to ensure they're getting the most out of the channel. Acknowledging these factors early on can mean the difference between a channel succeeding and failing prematurely.

Twitch has organized it's platform to list channels with a large viewership ahead of their less popular counterparts. This dilemma makes it easy for channels to fall into a cycle and never get off the ground. If you want your audience to explode and your channel to succeed in the future, then it is time to take inventory and make sure you're taking the right approach.

Before you go live, make sure you are doing the following:

1. Stream in high quality: The first thing anyone will notice when trying to pick out a new streamer to follow is the quality of their stream. If the streamer sounds like they are in an echo chamber, or if the video looks like it was shot on a flip phone, viewers are likely to be turned off before they even think about judging the actual content. It is surprisingly easy and affordable to set up a relatively high quality stream in this day and age.

2. Pick a good title for your stream: If you're running a streaming channel, you're trying to market yourself. Just like on YouTube, Google, Instagram and even the traditional newspaper, this starts with having an attention grabbing message. The first thing potential viewers will see is the title of your stream, so you want to make sure your future audience is intrigued early on. Feel free to be humorous and light-hearted, but remember that this title should be informative and attention-grabbing. This does not mean you should use spammy tactics or try to create click-bait titles because it won't take long for visitors to get the message.

3. Be consistent and maintain a schedule: Every successful streamer will make it abundantly clear that scheduling your content is crucial. People need to know when and where they can find you, and watching your Twitch stream needs to fit into their existing schedule. Find out when your target audience is online, establish a consistent schedule and make sure you stick to it. Posting spontaneous content is okay, but this is only in addition to a consistent baseline of content.

4. Let people know when you're streaming with social media: You always make the most of social media when it comes to promoting your Twitch channel. Be sure to always let people know when your will be streaming and where (with a helpful link to your channel). It never hurts to spread you message across platforms. You should also use your social media accounts for other posts to avoid creating an incessant stream of announcements and noise. Be genuine, and keep people in the loop.

5. Collaborate with other streamers: The video game and streaming communities are vast, social environments. With so many interesting and like minded people out there, collaborating is an excellent way to improve the experience and your potential audiences. Offer a helping hand to other streamers, and they will be likely to do the same. You can achieve this by streaming together or by hosting each other's content on your channels. Viewers will be happy to visit multiple channels with similar but unique angles, and all parties will see benefits.

6. Choose the best game for you: It may be natural to assume that streaming the games with the largest audiences will result in the largest number of views on your end. However, these big name titles like Fortnite, DOTA, and League of Legends are already being covered by countless different streamers. The odds that you will stand out among this kind of competition become more slim. You should choose to stream games that you enjoy playing and that you can provide a unique perspective on. If people see you having fun, then the feeling will be infectious. This isn't to say you shouldn't stay abreast of what's trending, but don't let this guide your every decision.

If you want to learn more about growing your audience on Twitch, there are so many more things you can take into consideration. More and more experienced streamers are popping up every day, and many are actively sharing their models and strategies with the world. One of the best things you can do as a new streamer is to follow those who have already found success in growing their audience. The community is friendly, and those with experience are generally willing to lend a hand or at least share a nugget of wisdom. Engage with other streamers, and participate in online communities, and before long, you could have the knowledge, tools, and friends necessary to take your streaming channel to knew and exciting heights! If you’re just starting your Twitch stream, looking to get more viewers, or trying to boost your followers, don’t miss our other articles!