In a nutshell

  • The best way to find ideas is to do some keyword research using Google Trends or SEO tools like TubeBuddy or Ahrefs
  • You can also look at what other creators are making
  • As long as you can put your own unique spin on an idea, it’s fair game

Finding ideas for video content to livestream on YouTube can be challenging. Aside from knowing what content works with your brand, you need to know what resonates with your audience. That’s quite a difficult task; there are many things to consider.

Whether you’re new to livestreaming on YouTube or have been doing it for a while, we have a few tips to help you discover a plethora of fresh ideas. Let’s get started.

Answer some questions first

Before generating ideas for your YouTube livestream, consider the following questions to determine if an idea is worth your time and effort:

  • Will the idea captivate your target audience?
  • Does the idea have enough public interest to attract new viewers to your stream?
  • Does the idea align with your brand?
  • Can you execute the idea with your current budget and equipment?
  • Does the idea excite you?

Answer these questions whenever you come across an idea that catches your eye. They will help evaluate the idea objectively. If you answer no to any of them, the idea likely isn’t worth it.

Where should you start?

It can be challenging to come up with completely original ideas on your own, and some even argue it’s not possible. Mark Twain once said, “There is no such thing as a new idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope.” If you need help coming up with ideas for your YouTube livestream, the best thing you can do is look outward.

So, how can you find ideas? Here are a few methods.

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. There are many types of livestream content on YouTube to draw inspiration from. Check what’s trending on YouTube’s Live tab. To get an accurate view of what’s popular, use incognito mode so your previous searches don’t affect the content recommendations. You can do this using other popular livestream platforms like Twitch. There may be a trend blowing up on Twitch and it hasn’t reached YouTube yet.

Whatever you find during your search, be sure that you have enough inspiration to put your own spin on it. It’s okay to be inspired by something, but if you outright copy without asking, that will blacklist you in the creator community and steer viewers away from your streams.

While following popular trends can bring in some viewers, most people will flock to the most prominent YouTubers making that type of content. To stand out, focus on trends gaining momentum but have yet to hit the mainstream. This way, you can become the leading creator for that topic and attract more viewers. You can gauge interest in topics by using tools such as Google Trends or keyword research tools like TubeBuddy or Ahrefs. Look for topics with high search volume but limited competition.

For instance, when streamer Ludwig started his livestreaming channel on Twitch, he grew his live audience to hundreds of people by streaming the video game Pogostuck. That game was relatively unknown at the time. Still, he dedicated 75 hours to playing the game on stream. Eventually, he became one of the most skilled streamers at playing Pogostuck, making him a go-to streamer for viewers looking for Pogostuck content. Ludwig found a game that had public interest but hadn’t yet reached its peak popularity. This concept applies not just to Twitch but to YouTube streamers as well.

Image courtesy: Ludwig

Poll your audience

Your YouTube audience can often provide valuable ideas. Consider polling their opinion through your Community tab or during a livestream. You will have to provide a few ideas to poll, but your YouTube audience’s feedback help determine what to prioritize.

Additionally, you can mine ideas from the comments on your saved streams or pre-recorded YouTube videos. Viewers frequently share thoughts and suggestions for the content they’d like to see in the YouTube comment section. While not all ideas will be great, they can be great starting points.

Do a series

If something works, milk it. If your audience responds well to a particular stream, make it into a series you do on your livestreams. For example, if your baking blindfold challenge stream is successful, consider creating a series where you attempt different activities while blindfolded. Series are a great way to turn one great idea into many great ideas.

A stream of ideas

At the end of the day, you want to find ideas that will satisfy your current audience, attract new viewers and make you excited to stream. Finding good ideas takes time and research. Look at what others are doing and check what’s trending. Also, consider trends that have the potential to take off. That way, you can become the go-to streamer for that type of content.