How to Become a Twitch Streamer

If you are like many in the world that want to know how to become a Twitch streamer, you have likely heard many different stories of other already highly successful streamers.

Whether you want to stream for fun, part-time, or full-time, there are a few important points that need to be talked about before you set off on your streaming venture.

These streaming tips on how to become a Twitch streamer will cover many basics that you must know. These are a few points that you should master in order to become a good streamer.

Having The Essential Streaming Equipment

When learning how to streamer like a pro, it is important to first make sure you have the right equipment to maintain the live stream. Gaming on a PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, or even a Switch may seem pretty simple, but when combined with the element of streaming, you can get bogged down extremely quickly.

Make sure you have a computer powerful enough for Twitch broadcasting. Download the right streaming software for you and test it out while playing some of your favorite games. If the games are laggy or the FPS is too low, you can adjust the settings or get an external card that can be used to help hold the broadcast up.

Microphone and Webcam

Once you have the computer components and everything looks good, make sure that you have a webcam and microphone. We already made a list featuring the best microphones for Twitch streaming as well as a list with the best webcams for streaming that you can take a look at if you are not sure what to look for.

Having a webcam and microphone makes your Twitch stream a million times more personal. Viewers can put a face and voice to your name. Chances are low that you’ll be getting many viewers if you are just showing generic gameplay so be sure to get your face and voice across to the viewers!

Find Your Own Niche & Personal

Who are you going to be, or WHAT are you going to be? Your persona is what people will see on your stream. Find what you work well with, or what you feel comfortable with. You could be anything, a pirate-like Burkeblack, an 80’s action hero like DrDisrespect, or you could be like any of the top Twitch streamers. You could also just be yourself if that is what you want to do.

In terms of Niche, there are many different options to pick from, including:

• Variety Gaming Streams
• Competitive Streams
• Singing/Dancing Streams
• Real Life / Just Chatting Streams
• Cosplay Streams

These are just a few of the niches that have grown on Twitch recently. You are not limited to just one or the other. You can make your Twitch channel as vibrant and unique as you want. For instance, if your niche or persona has you cosplaying while gaming or dancing in real life, that can definitely be for you. Or, if you are more of the competitive side, you may be the hardcore gaming type and show people your skills. Whatever you choose to go with, make sure you bring your own flavor to it as well. Don’t fall into the pitfall of becoming like everyone else.

Avoid ‘Shiny Object Syndrome’

It is dangerous to fall into the pitfall of hopping onto every brand new game that was just released. When learning how to become a twitch streamer it is especially important to stay focused once you have your foot in the door.

If you are still stuck at less than 10 viewers then you can still bounce around to try to find something better. Once your viewers are consistent & growing over time then it is best to stay focused, no matter how many people are watching the new game. A sudden change can create complications with your existing viewers which may actually shift audiences away from your channel.

This is not to say that you shouldn’t try out new games that come out. New games mean a new audience that may stick around. Be sure when streaming new games that the game you are playing fits with your existing audience. If you like Battle Royale games and you play Fortnite, you can also stream Apex Legends as they are in the same category. Most big streamers stick to one game for a longer period of time.

If you want to experiment or play other games that don’t belong in your streaming genre, be sure to do it outside of your Twitch stream. You could also have certain time frames where you play certain games and switch after that. Set a goal and stick to it.

If you like competitive gaming, have a set time frame where you play games like League of Legends or Dota 2. Afterward, swap over to a different game or new trend that the communities may be interested in. This allows you to keep a steady base of consistent viewers, while still going out to entice new viewers to come to watch your channel.

Make Smaller Goals For Yourself

This is probably the largest and most impactful part of streaming. Streaming is not a wondrous hobby and job that will suddenly bring you large quantities of money and fame. People that kind of treatment usually come from a background that has seen them before they switched to streaming. You will most likely not have many viewers, if at all when you first start.

There may be days where viewers come in and are just rude to you, and you will need to straighten your back and keep pushing through. Don’t be afraid to fail, and look at making small improvements.

Start small, and work your way up. You will most likely only start out with maybe 1 to 5 viewers at a time for many weeks. Count that as a good starting point. Make a goal for yourself of getting 10 viewers by the end of the month consistently, and from there, keep making small improvements to get to 20, 50, 100 viewers. Smaller steps pave the way for progress and create opportunities for success.

These are the small keys of advice that you should follow to become a good Twitch streamer. Starting small, work your way up. Find your own niche that you can follow and keep up with, whether that be gaming, cosplay, or something else. Don’t be afraid to fail and experiment with different niches, but don’t just mindlessly follow different trends without proper research. Always try to get proper streaming gear, such as a webcam and microphone so you can interact with your viewers.