Reasons Your Twitch Stream Isn't Successful
You love video games, your friends tell you you’re hilarious, and what do you think comes next? Duh, you start a Twitch stream. Streaming might seem easy, but it’s not. The truth is, everyone and their mother has had this bright idea. The result? A super oversaturated market where it’s nearly impossible to stand out. Thousands of streamers go live every day for the same audience attention. So, to give yourself a fighting chance, here are some tips and tricks to keep in mind.
Just Keep Talking
The worst thing you can do when you first start streaming is to be quiet and wait for viewers. Streaming is an interactive medium, and that means you should be talking constantly. Even if you have zero viewers on your stream right now, you should still be talking to the four walls. Twitch has a buffer of about a minute or so when a new person joins your stream, so if you are sitting quietly, they might just turn away without you ever knowing they were there.
Talking also gives you time to practice being entertaining and thinking on your feet. It will help you build up flow and personality, so when someone finally drops in, viewers will stick around because you are fun to watch. To keep from getting stuck in awkward silences, write down a few topics or talking points on a sticky note. These can be things related to your game plan, funny stories, or whatever, maybe even commentary on the latest gaming news.
Production Value
You don't have to have a fancy studio, but some basic equipment goes a long way. At minimum, a good microphone is important so people can hear you. Laggy gameplay and poor video quality will also drive people away right away, so ensure your capture software runs smooth and consistent. Don't feel bad if you wait to go live until your setup is halfway decent. People expect a professional stream, and it's better to have a good setup so they keep coming back.
Avoid Oversaturated Games
It's easy to want to hop on the next League of Legends or Fortnite bandwagon, but these games are highly competitive. Tens of thousands of streamers are doing the same thing every day, and most of them are at 0 viewers. Breaking into these categories is nearly impossible. Pick games that have an established audience but don't have hundreds of active streamers on Twitch. You'll be more likely to be discovered, and you can still pick up viewers who care about that specific game.
Your Titles Need Work
A lot of streamers make the mistake of using very basic titles. “Playing League of Legends Mid” is not going to make someone click your stream over someone else. Get creative with your titles and tags. Pose a question, tell a joke, or make a bold statement that viewers are going to want to see more of and click on your stream.
Your title is your first impression. Pair a good title with relevant tags that reflect what you are playing, your mood, or any other unique qualities about your stream. Clever titles with buzz factor and the right tags can mean the difference between streaming into an empty room and an audience that will actually watch your content.
