Twitch is one of the largest streaming platforms out there and it’s the perfect place for you to build a community. However, to build a community, you need people subscribing to your channel. So, how do you get subscribers on Twitch?
Building a community on Twitch is an outstanding opportunity for many streamers. Not only is there a huge user base, but it also allows creators with a following to earn money through ad revenue, subscriptions, donations, affiliate links and merchandising. To reach that level of success, though, you need to build your community and that can be difficult.
It’s important to consider that you can never convince someone to subscribe to you. Viewers, ultimately, will make the decision on whether they want to stick around on your channel. However, that are a few things you can do that will make them feel welcomed and excited to see more from you.
Stream as much as you can
It’s crucial that you spend a lot of time on the platform. This might go without saying that the more time you stream, the more likely people will catch you live. You will naturally gain subs as people come in to check out the stream. Additionally, you should save all your streams on Twitch. Having a healthy amount of VODs available for people to check out is critical to growing your community on Twitch. They allow people who didn’t catch you live to still watch your content and potentially sub. The more you stream, the more VODs you’ll have available for people to watch while you’re offline. So you will still be gaining subs when you’re not even streaming.
Also, develop a schedule for when you’ll stream and stick to it. Make the schedule public. Let people know in your streams and around your social media when you’ll be live. Let your audience know when what days you normally stream and what time. Consistency on your end will ultimately lead to consistency from your audience. They’ll have a good understanding of when you will be online and make plans to catch the stream. That will increase the likelihood of getting more consistent subscribers on Twitch.
Set channel goals
Nothing rallies a community more than a channel goal. For instance, you can hold subathon streams, gifting your community emotes or merch if you reach a certain number of subscribers throughout the stream. You could even have a friendly subscriber battle with another fellow streamer to see who can reach a certain subscriber goal first.
It’s also good to set goals for yourself and your channel. Ask yourself what you want from streaming and creating your channel. Once you can answer those questions, break down your ultimate channel goals into smaller, more achievable goals. This way, you will be better able to construct a strategy to achieve these smaller goals, rather than one ultimate goal.
For instance, if you have a channel goal to gain more subscribers than Shroud, you would break that down into smaller goals to make the goal more achievable. You may set your first goal to get 100 subs. Once you reach that, you would next shoot for 100 subs. Always have goals no matter how big your community gets.
Use quality equipment
The quality of your stream does play a role in gaining subscribers on Twitch. While you don’t need to have the most expensive equipment or software out there, the viewing experience still needs to be an enjoyable one for viewers. They won’t stick around if the camera quality makes it hard for them to see you clearly or your mic isn’t clear.
Webcams will work, but make sure that the camera is of higher quality. Look for a webcam that’s capable of capturing 1080p resolution. If you own a DSLR or a Mirrorless camera already, you can opt to use them as your webcam. They’ll automatically boost the image quality of your stream more than a typical webcam. Make sure to get a good microphone to go with your camera as well. It’s important that your viewers can clearly hear you as you stream. USB microphones are more popular because they’re more affordable, but XLR mics offer more sound quality. However, depending on the mic, both options are viable.
As for streaming software, you should use broadcast software. Look into using either OBS, XSplit or Wirecast. However, they are more expensive than other software, but they are what the majority of streamers use. There are also more affordable options out there you can use.
Check out Videomaker’s streaming equipment buyer’s guide for a more in-depth look at what you’ll need.
Communicate and engage with your audience
If you want your community to grow and keep gaining subscribers on Twitch, you’ll have to keep your audience engaged. So, how do you do that? Show them that you care about what they say and how they’re all feeling. Be friendly and respond to chat. It’ll show that you care about what they’re saying in chat.
Make sure to not stay silent too long. Otherwise, people will become less engaged in the conversation and content. If you run out of things to say, look to chat for inspiration. As you become more accustomed to streaming, you can develop a communication style to follow. However, when starting out on Twitch, you should just keep it natural and talk as you normally would.
Also, use social media to communicate with your audience and to promote your Twitch channel. You can give your audience updates about streaming times or just to check in. You can also use your social media to highlight your live streams.
Be an authority in your space
Act like an authority in the space you are streaming. For instance, if you’re striving to be a top Valorant streamer, make sure that you’re good at the game. Practice a little before you start streaming the game, so people will watch you because for your skill. However, know too that it’s fine to not be okay at a game and to try it out on stream. Your audience will know you’re new and enjoy your journey to learning the mechanics. Regardless, be knowledgeable about the game before you play it and the video game industry, so you’ll be able to discuss these topics with your chat. Not only will it make you look like an authority in the video game space, but you’ll also engage viewers in the conversation.
Keep at it!
Building a community and gaining subscribers on Twitch can be difficult, but keep at it. If you stay consistent with your streaming schedule and give it your best, people will eventually notice. You may even consider becoming a Twitch Affiliate. This is a program that supports streamers in making a living from streaming. It’s a good option for streamers just starting out on Twitch.
Image courtesy: Twitch