Many streamers need help to build an audience. To succeed, find ways to grow organically.
Focus on offering value to your viewers – entertainment, sexiness, celebrity interviews, or educational (how-to videos). When possible, combine multiple elements to achieve maximum effect.
- Build a Community
Building a community around your stream is critical to engaging viewers through chat discussions or YouTube videos showcasing its members.
An established community can not only increase feelings of inclusion but can also help you stand out from the competition. By creating an engaged following for your content, viewers will more likely share it and return regularly, becoming advocates for it and returning regularly themselves.
As many viewers come to streams for entertainment value, be sure to provide it. Think about why you watch your favorite streamers: it is likely because they are charismatic, amusing, or simply enjoyable to watch.
Make an effort to encourage discussion by soliciting opinions in your chat or polling viewers about what type of video they would like next. Don’t be intimidated by creating controversial videos; use these opportunities to spark debate! Remember to delete any hateful or indecent comments quickly, as this shows that you care about the Community in which you reside.
Though much of streaming can be accomplished solo, you can foster a sense of Community by organizing events in real life. These could range from group game nights and cosplay events to meetups at local bars or coffee shops; hosting these will make viewers feel part of something bigger while increasing viewership numbers and supporting each other as an audience. It can even serve as an effective strategy to expand it further!
If you can’t host a live event, use your platform to create a sense of Community by hosting raids or Q&A sessions. By making these group activities on the platform, you may draw in new viewers who will subscribe to your channel!
YouTube videos can be an effective tool for building a Community. As they’re more accessible than live streams, upload various clips – from behind-the-scenes pieces to humorous bloopers – on YouTube and upload them all via the Community tab of your account. In addition, use Community for casual updates about yourself that don’t belong in your stream, such as personal messages or shoutouts to viewers.
- Create a Consistent Streaming Schedule
Maintaining a regular streaming schedule is vitally important as it informs viewers when your stream will go live, builds loyalty among followers, and demonstrates professionalism when streaming online content.
Consistent streaming will help expand your audience and bring in new viewers, but it may only sometimes be possible to stream at optimal times – this can be incredibly challenging for small streams or those just starting. Standing out during peak hours may prove challenging with so many people tuning in then. However, creating a regular streaming schedule will still help build your following even when streaming isn’t optimal.
A good streaming schedule involves uploading four hours of content every few days for several sessions each week. This provides your audience with high-value pieces that engage and entertain them. Furthermore, stream various games and content to increase viewership and keep everyone interested.
While establishing a consistent streaming schedule is essential, leave enough time for yourself and other personal commitments. Overscheduling may harm your mental and physical well-being; you need more downtime between streams to produce quality content.
Collaboration can be an excellent way to expand your audience and reach. You may find like-minded broadcasters on popular Discord channels, gaming groups on social media, or within your genre. Choosing those with similar audiences will help you expand viewers quickly and effortlessly.
Once you’ve created a schedule for your streams, post it on your channel page and social media accounts so your viewers know when you will go live. Automated messaging tools such as Zapya can also help keep viewers up-to-date about upcoming shows. Furthermore, update it frequently to reflect any changes in your availability.
- Interact With Your Audience
Interacting with your viewers during a stream can create an atmosphere of Community and foster loyalty among them. Greet regular viewers, answer any queries, or share personal details to make viewers feel like they know you better – this will break up gameplay monotony while engaging your viewers further.
Interacting with your audience demonstrates your care for them and desire to connect. For instance, if someone frequently comments on your videos, say something kind and thank them; showing this appreciation for their views will increase engagement on YouTube/Twitch platforms.
If you’re new to streaming, watching videos from established creators in your niche can provide invaluable insight into how best to interact with audiences. They’ll give you an idea of the type of content to produce and how best to structure videos; additionally, viewing other videos in your niche’s comments section will show what questions different viewers are raising and addressing.
Whether you use software to optimize video content for watch time or make an effort to interact authentically with viewers, Twitch and YouTube provide opportunities to build an engaged community that keeps viewers coming back for more. Remember to be yourself, have fun with it, and entertain your audience!
Rachel is a content marketer at Podia, an all-in-one platform where online courses, digital downloads, and communities scale alongside their creators. She delights in helping brands find success through effective marketing and stands firm by the Oxford comma!
Building an audience on Twitch and YouTube takes time and dedication but is integral to building your online presence. Whether you’re a beginning or an established streamer, these tips can help you expand your following and generate income on these platforms. Stay true to yourself when creating content, focus on building communities, and post high-quality material regularly!
- Encourage Subscriptions
Starting out in streaming can be tempting, especially for new streamers who are trying to make money through subscriptions. However, relying on something other than monetizing content for profit is essential, as this could distract viewers and lead them away from your stream altogether. Instead, focus on building Community through quality gameplay while offering subscribers badges or special shoutouts during streams as rewards.
Finding your first subscriber can be an essential milestone for streamers. It marks success, expands your audience, and opens doors that may eventually turn into full-time careers for some streamers. To improve your chances of snaring that first sub, keep up-to-date on gaming trends while finding ways to engage your target audience through your content.
If you want to monetize your content, YouTube and Twitch provide that option. YouTube features multiple tiers for monetizing channels, while Twitch uses its Affiliate and Partner programs as more straightforward monetization processes. Both platforms also offer similar monetization features like ads, Bits/YouTube Super Chats, and channel memberships; however, Twitch stands out slightly in supporting direct donations from viewers.
Encourage subscriptions through various methods, but remember that asking for them may come across as aggressive to some viewers. Always ask for subscriptions in a natural manner for your stream—an abrupt pause during gameplay to request subscriptions can turn viewers away while offering quick asides during gameplay or periodic reminders that subscriptions are appreciated is more effective.
Establishing subscriber goals is another great way of encouraging subscriptions and celebrating achievement when viewers hit them, such as providing rewards like shoutouts on stream or extra subscriber benefits such as an exclusive day for playing games together. Setting subscriber goals publicly can motivate viewers to work toward one shared goal while providing something extraordinary when they reach it – such as special shoutouts in your stream or offering subscriber benefits like dedicated game days dedicated just for subscribers!