Livestreaming on Twitch has exploded in popularity over the last decade. The platform now boasts over 30 million daily active users, and that number is projected to continue rising at a compound annual growth rate of 10% through 2024 according to Business of Apps.
This presents a huge opportunity for aspiring streamers to build an audience and potentially turn broadcasting into a full-time career. But in such a saturated market, standing out takes skill and determination.
As an entrepreneurship consultant who has helped launch many successful streaming channels, I want to share the most effective tactics I‘ve seen for attracting more viewers on Twitch. Let‘s take a look at our 5 tried & true ways for getting more twitch viewers.
1. Identify Your Niche and Build Authority
When starting out, avoid overly competitive categories like Just Chatting, Fortnite, or League of Legends. With millions of streams in these directories, you‘ll simply get buried.
Instead, become THE authority in a narrow niche that you‘re passionate about. For example, if you love retro games, create the go-to channel for old school RPGs and platformers.
Choose niche games with under 20,000 total channels on Twitch to stand out more easily. Become known as the expert streamer other fans come to for commentary and skill in your specialty.
2. Deliver Premium Production Quality
High video resolution, smooth frame rates, and excellent audio quality create an immersive viewing experience that keeps audiences engaged.
For video, stream at 1080p 60fps if your internet can handle it. At minimum, maintain a crisp 720p 30fps stream. Reduce pixelation and compression artifacts by optimizing encoder settings in OBS or other software.
On the audio side, invest in a professional microphone like the Blue Yeti or Shure SM7B. Add acoustic treatment to remove reverb and echoes. An amateurish technical setup screams rookie mistake.
3. Build Relationships With Fellow Streamers
One of the fastest ways to gain exposure as a new streamer is collaborating with others. But you can‘t just directly ask a top streamer to host you.
First, connect with peers around your size on Twitter and Discord. Play co-op games together and participate in each other‘s communities.
Once you‘ve built rapport and trust, exchange hosted streams, make special collab content together, plan giveaways across audiences, and more. This compounds both of your audiences.
4. Create Snackable Clips for YouTube
Short, viral clips extended your reach beyond just live viewers. But raw VODs rarely gain traction on YouTube.
Edit and export highlight reels, funny moments, and gameplay montages tailored to YouTube. These condensed videos cater to shorter attention spans.
Include your channel name, Catchy thumbnails and titles boost clicks. Upload clips 2-3X per week to keep YouTube viewers engaged and funnel them to your Twitch.
5. Use Social Media to Promote Streams
Share when you go live across Twitter, Instagram, Facebook Groups, subreddits, and anywhere your niche audience is active online.
Post eye-catching graphics with your stream title and schedule. Engage with your followers daily, not just during streams. Build genuine relationships.
Ask mods to retweet your posts too for added reach. Cross-promote giveaways, events, and collabs. Make content specifically to share on social media and drive traffic.
Key Takeaways:
- Pick a focused niche with room to dominate, not oversaturated directories
- Invest in pro-level video, audio, and overlays for premium production quality
- Network and collaborate with peers to compound audiences
- Repurpose streams into YouTube clips to maximize discoverability
- Promote streams and engage with followers across social media
The path to Twitch success takes dedication and persistence. But committing to these proven tactics positions you for steady growth and more viewers. Now get out there and start building your streaming empire!
