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How To Start Streaming On Twitch? | A Complete Guide

Getting started with streaming on Twitch is easy. So easy that millions of people around the world stream every month on Twitch. Even better, you can start streaming for free. Free 99. But, how do you get started with streaming on Twitch? That’s the question!

How to Start Streaming on Twitch

To start streaming on Twitch, you will need to:

  1. Create an account on Twitch
  2. Download a streaming software (such as StreamLabs OBS)
  3. (Optional) Setup your hardware (camera, microphone, etc.)
  4. (Optional) Customize your channel with things such as overlays and emotes. Steps three and four are optional, but highly recommended as they will greatly help improve your stream.  

Yes, it is just that easy to begin streaming on Twitch. You can get started streaming in less than thirty minutes if you just stick to steps one and two. If you do choose to use a webcam and mic, which is highly recommended for streaming, then I recommend the Logitech C922x Webcam and the Blue Snowball iCE mic.

Both the webcam and the mic I listed above are great quality and you can get them at a reasonable price. They are also great for beginner streamers because you get some quality equipment without breaking the bank.

As a new streamer you don’t want to drop a ton of money on equipment at the beginning. First, try streaming, get used to it, and then you will have a much better idea of what you want. Once you know what you want, then you can start upgrading.

All those who wish to stream on Twitch, keep reading this article as we’ll walk you through the process of beginning to stream on Twitch.

How to Create An Account on Twitch

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The first step to begin streaming on Twitch is creating a Twitch account. We’ll walk you though how to create one on PC and on mobile.  

Creating a Twitch account on PC

To create a Twitch account using your PC, follow these steps:

  1. Visit the official Twitch website https://www.twitch.tv. Look for the signup button on the top right corner of the screen. Click on it.
  2. Once the user registration form opens up, fill the details accordingly. They are all the usual details (password, email, username, etc.). Nothing out of the ordinary.
  3. The username must be unique, and the length must be between 4 to 25 characters. If you want help choosing a username, check out this article.
  4. That’s it. Let the back-end do its thing, and your account creation will complete within a few seconds. You can now sign into the dashboard and proceed.

Creating a Twitch account on mobile

To create a Twitch account on mobile, follow these easy steps: 

  1. Download the official Twitch mobile app. Install and launch the application.
  2. Tap on the “Sign Up” button.
  3. Here, you can sign up using your mobile numbers. (Keep in mind that landline and VoIP phone numbers aren’t allowed). Alternatively, you can sign up using an email address.
  4. Twitch highly recommends signing up with a mobile number and add the email address for extended security.
  5. Verify the mobile number by entering the received verification code on your mobile phone.
  6. That’s it. You’re good to go now.

Creating Additional Twitch Accounts

Twitch allows their users to create additional Twitch accounts using the same email.

To create an additional Twitch account follow these steps:

  1. Login with your existing Twitch account.
  2. Go to the security settings, and look for something that says, “Enable additional account creation.” 
  3. Enable the already disabled setting.
  4. You can now create additional Twitch accounts using the same email.

Choose Your Streaming Software

The next step is to choose a streaming software to use. Twitch streaming isn’t complete without streaming software. Don’t worry, it’s not at all scary or difficult. 

Streaming software is what you will use to record and edit your stream. Twitch is just the platform that you use to broadcast that stream to the world. So edits to your webcam, mic, scene changes and overlays will be done on your streaming software and then broadcast on Twitch.  

The software that I use to stream with is Streamlabs OBS also known as SLOBS. There are endless streaming softwares to choose from, but Streamlabs OBS is generally considered to be the best streaming software for beginners because of how simple it is to setup and use. Not to mention it is free to use. 

I use this software and so I can speak personally about how great and simple this streaming software is. I also recently upgraded to Streamlabs Prime which gives you access to hundreds of overlays, alerts and other cool customizations.

Not to mention, Streamlabs Prime gives you the ability to multi-stream (stream to multiple platforms at once). This means you can stream to Twitch, Youtube, Facebook Gaming or any other platform all at once which helps to even further your reach across multiple streaming platforms.

Once you feel like you have the hang of streaming, and you are ready for a major upgrade, then I highly recommend going with Streamlabs Prime. Also, if you get it through my link here, you will get a discount.

If you would like a list of some of the best streaming platforms, then check out my complete guide to streaming softwares here. And even better, the softwares on this list can be used for free; however, you have to pay if you want to upgrade them. 

Ok moving on, for the sake of this article I am going to focus on Streamlabs OBS just to give you a general idea of how these streaming softwares work and how to get started.   

How to get Started with StreamLabs OBS?

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Setting up SLOBS for your Twitch stream can be done by following a few easy steps. Completing the entire process won’t take more than 10 minutes if you just want to download it and go live.  

However, if you want to do lots of customizations to your stream such as overlays, transition scenes, alert, etc. then this will obviously take a lot more time to set up.

Here are the steps to get started streaming on SLOBS:

  1. Visit the official Streamlabs website https://streamlabs.com/, download, and install the desktop application
  2. Alternatively, you can complete the procedure on the website. On https://streamlabs.com/, look for the Login button. Click on it.
  3. On the newly opened page, look for the button that says log in with Twitch.
  4. Then a new page will open up. If you’re not registered, click on the signup tab. Complete the registration process by following the on-screen instructions.
  5. Once you’re registered, come back to the sign-in page, and log in to Streamlabs with your Twitch account.
  6. On the dashboard, look for connections settings.
  7. Now, you will have to generate an authentication token. Look for the button that says something like that.
  8. Click on it, and then a new window will open up. Click on the Approve button. As you signed in previously to your Streamlabs account via Twitch, this authentication will automatically connect both the accounts.
  9. Once the accounts are linked, you will want to add some sources. You do this by clicking the ” + ” button located right next to sources. To begin, add the gameplay video record source, or whichever sources you are going to use.
  10. Once all your sources are added, click that “Go Live” button in the bottom right corner and you are live my friend!

You have now completed the connection part. But there’s still more to do before you can start streaming. But before that, you will have to complete the hardware setup. Keep reading to find out that procedure.

NOTE: The desktop application will let you do all the streaming work from your PC without a browser. Keep it installed beforehand (in other words, please don’t skip that step).

Equipment You Will Need to Stream on Twitch

As I touched on at the beginning, some of the hardware for streaming is recommended but not required such as a webcam or a mic.

However, there is some hardware that is absolutely required for you to be able to stream. In this section, I will talk about some of the hardware that I recommend for streaming on Twitch. 

Here the equipment means the hardware that you will need to stream your. Keep in mind that he hardware you use may vary from console to console and from PC to console. One mic that works on Xbox might not work on the Playstation. 

Below I will go over the different hardware as well as what systems support that hardware. 

Hardware You Will Need for Streaming

These are the things that will be required for you to stream:

  1. Device to stream from (PC, phone, Console, IRL Kit).
  2. A Display Unit (Monitor, TV, Phone, etc.)
  3. Internet Connection

Hardware that is Recommended for Streaming

This is hardware that is highly recommended, but not necessarily required for streaming:

  1. Webcam
  2. Microphone
  3. Headphones
  4. Lighting
  5. Capture Card
  6. USB Cables
  7. HDMI Cables

Now that I have touched on some of the hardware that is recommended, as well as some of the required hardware, let me now go into each of these devices in greater detail below:

A device to stream from

The first, and most important thing that you will need for streaming is a device to stream from. The most common devices that people use to stream from are PCs, phones, consoles and IRL kits.

A PC is what I use to stream with. If you want to know which PC I recommend for new streamers then check out my recommended streaming PC page here.

Phones are also common for live streaming. If you are going to be streaming from your phone, check out my page here about live streaming from your phone here. I have tips for live streaming with your phone as well as phones that I recommend for live streaming.

Consoles are less common to stream from, but they can work if you are in a pinch. However, if you want to add cool customizations to your stream, you will need to use a capture card to connect to your computer or laptop.

IRL kits are also less common, but they are growing in popularity because of how popular IRL streaming is becoming. They can be pricey, but totally worth it if you are interested in IRL streaming.

A display unit

The next thing you will need is some kind of display unit. This could be a TV/Monitor with HDMI capabilities or a Phone.

In order to stream on Twitch, you will need something that you can broadcast to Twitch. This will be different for people who do IRL streams and people who stream the games they play, and different from console to PC. I’ll go over all three. 

For most people, it is your gameplay that you want to stream. If you are on PC and want to stream, then you need to get a streaming software like StreamLabs OBS.

What StreamLabs OBS does is capture whatever is on your screen, sends it to your streaming platform (Twitch), and then your platform broadcasts it to the world. 

Once you have your streaming software, you will then want to get a quality monitor. The better your monitor is, the better your stream will look on Twitch. 

Now you don’t need a 4k monitor to look good on Twitch. In fact, most top streamers don’t even use 4k monitors.

There are two main reasons for this: for one, streaming in 4k puts a lot of strain on your system. This could cause your game play to lag and if your internet sucks, it could cause your stream to be choppy.

The other reason is that the people on the other end will have to have a device with 4k capabilities in order to watch your stream in 4k. If they don’t, your stream might be choppy or laggy when they try to watch it.

Long story short, 4k is just not there yet when it comes to video games and live streaming and so it is NOT something you MUST have in a gaming monitor. 

The monitor used by several top streamers and video game pros is this Alienware gaming monitor (click to see it on Amazon). It has everything you need in a gaming monitor; high fps, low response time, 240, etc. This monitor looks great and is perfect for gaming.

Moving onto consoles, you can stream straight from your console to Twitch if you are on Xbox or Playstation; however, this is not recommended. If you stream this way, you are extremely limited on the customizations that you can make on your stream. Not to mention you will need a capture card to stream if you are on the Switch. 

I’ll touch on capture cards further below, but if you just want to stream straight from your console to Twitch, you will still want a quality monitor. 

The monitor that I recommend for streaming on console is the Asus VP (which you can view here on Amazon). This monitor has everything you will need for console gaming such as high fps and a 1 mm response time which basically eliminates input lag.

You could also stream using your TV, but it is far less common and as we all know playing video games on a TV really effects your gameplay because of how high input lag can be.

Ok now IRL streamers, it’s your turn. IRL (In Real Life) streams are different because it is not a person sitting down and playing. You may be doing things like cooking, dancing at a party or otherwise out and about. 

If you plan on doing an IRL stream, you will either want to use a laptop since it is portable or use some kind of IRL kit like this one on Amazon. You will also need to use a capture card so you can better customize your stream. 

IRL streams are growing and more and more hardware is being created to make IRL streaming easier to do. 

Like I mentioned, if you want to better customize your streams on console and IRL streams, then you will need a capture card.

Internet Connection

Not much to say here. You need internet to stream. You want to have good connection as well so that way your stream doesn’t lag. I recommend getting good quality ethernet cables so that way you connect directly to your ethernet outlet or router.

These are the ethernet cables that I use (click to view them on Amazon). They are great quality and they get the job done for me. It also comes in a pack of two. Big win!

Ok, now I have broken down the things that are required for you to stream, now let me breakdown some of the things that are not required, but highly recommended for a quality stream.

Webcam (Optional but Recommended)

Do you need a webcam to stream on Twitch? No. Is it recommend to use a webcam while you stream? YES! Highly recommended. 

People use Twitch because they want to interact with you. They want to be part of a community. A webcam makes your stream much more personal and people will be much more likely to visit your stream if you are using a webcam. 

When I first started streaming, I didn’t use a webcam. I just streamed my gameplay (which wasn’t very good by the way. Insert sad face). I did this for almost a month. I got nobody in my channel. 

I bought a webcam, hooked it up and within that first week I had about 3 people come and visit my channel. And my webcam was nothing fancy.

I used the Aukey FHD webcam, which you can check out here on Amazon. It’s a great budget webcam, but it is far from being one of the best webcams out there. 

The point is that it didn’t matter. What people were interested in was chopping it up with me in the chat. A webcam is just way more personal and engaging. And when you are a small streamer like I am, those small little improvements to your stream can make a major difference. 

If you want an inexpensive webcam, then I recommend using the Aukey FHD Webcam. It is a great webcam for the price. If you would like to other webcams that I recommend that are even better than the Aukey, then check out my recommended webcams page here.  

Microphone (Optional but Recommended)

Just like a webcam, a microphone is also highly recommended. In my personal opinion, a microphone is even more important than a webcam. 

People can handle not seeing a streamer while they game; but nobody is going to stick around and have their ears beaten down by your terrible audio. If someone tunes in and your audio is terrible, they will immediately leave. Trust me on that. 

Having good audio is not difficult. If you have a decent microphone, you can adjust your audio settings on your streaming software to have you sounding like a champion. A 3x world champion. 

If you are looking for a good quality microphone at a fair price, then look no further than the Blue Snowball iCE, which you can view here on Amazon. If you do a little research, you will see that this is the budget mic most recommended by streamers. 

You will not be able to get the same quality for such a low price anywhere else. This mic is an awesome starter mic! Now the Snowball Mic is great for beginners, but if you are ready for an upgrade, then check out some of the other mics that I recommend as well as which mic I feel is the best for streamers by going to this page.

I like microphones because of the audio quality and how customizable they are, but if you game on both console and PC then you might want to consider getting a nice headset.

Headsets are a 2 for 1 combo. With headsets you have your microphone and your headphones all built into one. Headsets are nice for streaming because you just plug them in and you are good to go. You don’t have to customize them a whole lot to sound good. 

You can get a nice headset for around $60. One of the best known brands for headsets is Turtle Beach. Turtle Beach is known for making quality headsets and is used by several big time streamers such as Dr. Disrespect.

If you want a good headset, but are not trying to break the bank, then I like the Turtle Beach Recon 200, which you can check out here on Amazon. I use the model just a step down from these and I love them. They work great on my Xbox and on my computer. 

Headphones (Optional but Recommended)

If you are choosing to stream using a mic, then you have to get a good pair of headphones to go with it. 

Headphones are going to not only allow you to hear your gameplay, but they will let you hear your alerts as well. Also, if you plan on streaming music, then a good pair of headphones are just about a must.

A good pair of headphones will give you a quality sound that is crucial for streaming music. 

If you want a great pair of headphones that you can use for a variety of streams (gaming, music, etc.) then you have to go with the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, which you can see here on Amazon. These are the headphones that I use and they are amazing!

I use them mainly for video games and for listening to music and the sound is super good quality. Given the amazing quality, they are also very well priced and I would recommend them to anyone trying to jump into the streaming scene. Not to mention they look awesome.

Again, the Audio Technicas are what I use and recommend, but if you would like to check out other headphones that I recommend then check out my page here. There you will find headphones for all different budgets and needs.

Lighting (Optional but Recommended)

When you are streaming or making videos, having good lighting is crucial. Good lighting is going to make your videos stand out and will make your streams look a lot more professional.

If you are looking for good lighting, then I recommend going with the El Gato Key Light, which you can check out here on Amazon. El Gato is one of the best in the industry when it comes to streaming equipment. In fact, the Key Light is used by many top streamers on their streams.

I also like the Key Light because you can connect it to El Gato Stream Deck (click here to see on Amazon). This means you can control your lighting through the Stream Deck which means you don’t have to get up and adjust the dial on the light to brighten or dim your lights. You can sit down and control your lighting with your Stream Deck. Super cool!

If you are just starting to stream, don’t stress about buying lights. Focus on other hardware first. But if you have been streaming for a bit, and are looking for an upgrade, then lighting is a great way to go.

Capture Card (Will depend on what you are streaming from)

If you are streaming from console, or are streaming using two PCs, then you will need a capture card if you want to add things like overlays and alerts to your stream.

The capture card that I recommend is the El Gato HD60 S+ Game Capture Card (click to see it on Amazon). This capture card offers great quality at a fair price.

If you want more information on how a capture card works, as well as how to set one up, then check out this article I wrote about capture cards by clicking here.

Also, if you want to see of my recommended capture cards, then click here.

HDMI Cables (Will depend on what you are streaming from)

Not much to say here. If you use a a capture card, you will need HDMI cables. Here is a pack of 6 foot HDMI cables that you can get on Amazon. Most capture cards will come with HDMI cables, so you may not even need to buy any extras. But just in case you do, there you go.

USB Cables (Will depend on what you are streaming from)

Just like HDMI cables, you need a USB cable to connect your capture card (if your card requires one and if your card does not come with one). You will also need USB cables for things like your mic, webcam, and other hardware you may use.

If you need some extra USB cables, I like this two pack USB 3.0 to USB 3.0 on Amazon. If your capture card needs a USB to a USB type C, this cable here on Amazon is what you will need. The USB to type C is less common, but it is still you may run into. 

Again, what kind of cables you need will depend on your setup and and what that setup requires. It’s not a one size fits all approach.

How To Setup Your Stream

Now that you’ve gathered all the required hardware, let’s dive into how to set up your stream based on your streaming device. This section is all about the final steps needed for you to start streaming on Twitch.

Setting Up Your PC

If you are on PC, the process to setting up your stream is simple:

  1. Connect all the necessary hardware (monitor, webcam, mic, headphones).
  2. Open up your streaming software (like I mentioned above, I am using StreamLabs OBS).
  3. Add each of your sources (webcam, mic, etc.) by clicking the plus icon. See the images below to guide you. 
  4. Adjust your settings. You can adjust your settings by clicking the little gear icon as seen below. 
  5. Position your display how you want it. You do this by clicking on the different video outputs and moving them around. See below. 

If you are using two PCs to stream, then setting up your PC can be a bit tricky since it involves two computers. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Connect the gaming PC to the capture card

  • Look for the HDMI OUT on the gaming PC. The graphics card supports HDMI output, so it shouldn’t be a problem locating it. Please keep in mind that capture cards support only HDMI input. If you’re not using a graphics card, then maybe your motherboard might have an HDMI OUT.
  • Next, connect the HDMI cable in that located socket.
  • Look for the IN connection on the capture card.
  • Simply connect that HDMI cable into it. You’re already halfway there.

2.Connect the streaming PC to the capture card.

  • Now connect the capture card to the streaming PC via USB. For this, look for the USB OUT in the capture card.
  • Connect a USB cable in it, and finally, the remaining line will connect to the USB IN socket of your streaming PC.

3. Connect your hardware (mic, webcam, etc.)

  • Open the Streamlabs OBS software on your PC (remember that you downloaded and installed it earlier).
  • Now on the main screen of Streamlabs, right-click on the sources box, select Add, and then click on Game Capture.
  • A pop-up window will open up. Select your game that you wish to record. Click OK.
  • On the software’s main screen, look out for the button that says “start streaming.” It will put you on a live stream on your Twitch account. So be careful. There’s no room for mistakes now!

It’s a good idea to play around with the entire software to know more interesting, exciting, and advanced features.

Voila. You’re all done setting up your PC for streaming.

Setting Up Your Nintendo Switch

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  1. The Switch doesn’t have any video output. For this, you will have to connect your Nintendo Switch to a Nintendo Switch dock.
  2. This dock has an HDMI OUT port. Look for that port, and connect your HDMI cable with it.
  3. Now look for the IN port on the capture card and connect the other end of the HDMI cable end.
  4. Take another HDMI cable, and connect the capture card with the display (TV or monitor) via HDMI.
  5. Look for the USB OUT port on the capture card, and attach a USB cable in it.
  6. Finally, attach that USB cable to your streaming PC.
  7. Now when you open up your StreamLabs OBS software on the streaming PC, you can capture your gameplay from your Nintendo Switch just like on a PC. 

It’s important to note that any customizations that you do to your stream such as overlays, alerts, camera settings, etc. will be done in your streaming software, in this case StreamLabs OBS, and NOT on the Switch itself.

And just like that your Nintendo Switch is on Twitch. Happy Animal Crossing!

Setting Up Your Xbox

Streaming on Twitch from your Xbox console has a different process. If you wish to broadcast your gameplay, and not do any customizations, then you don’t necessarily require a capture card because you can stream straight from the console. 

However, if you want to customize your stream then you will need a capture card. I’ll teach you how to setup your stream both with and without a capture card below. 

To stream without a capture card, follow these steps:

  1. Install the free Twitch application on your Xbox console.
  2. Press the home button (big X in the middle of your controller) on your Xbox to open the guide.
  3. Select My games and apps > See all > Apps.
  4. Select Twitch to start the application.
  5. It will require you to sign in to your Twitch account. Its completely safe, so log in to your Twitch account on your Xbox console.
  6. Go to the broadcast tab and choose the broadcast settings. Here, take your time and configure your settings how you want them. This includes microphone settings, webcam settings, streaming resolution, etc.
  7. Now finally, to start, select “start streaming.” Your Twitch part is all done.
  8. Once again, open the guide by pressing the (X) button.
  9. If you want to stop broadcasting, simply launch the Twitch app and select “stop streaming.”

If you want to stream more than just your game play, and add more customizations to your stream, then you will want to use a capture card so that you can hook up your Xbox to your laptop or PC. 

To setup your Xbox using a capture card, follow these steps:

  1. Connect the Xbox console with the capture card.
  • Look for the HDMI output on the Xbox console. Connect the HDMI cable.
  • Now look for the IN port in the capture card and connect your HDMI cable.  
  1. Connect the capture card to the display.
  • Finally, look for the OUT port on the capture card.
  • Take another HDMI cable, and connect the capture card with the display (TV or monitor) via HDMI.
  • You can use a TV or a monitor that supports HDMI connections.
  • Lastly, if needs be, connect your capture card to your PC with a USB cable.

And just like that you’re all done setting up your Xbox for streaming.

Setting Up Your PlayStation

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When streaming from your PlayStation console, always remember the share button. It will be of great use. Follow the easy steps to start streaming your gameplay on Twitch:

  1. Open up the settings in your PlayStation console.
  2. Select account management > Link with other services.
  3. Choose Twitch and sign in to your Twitch account.
  4. Before completing everything, you will have to set up a 2FA, i.e. two-Factor authentication on your Twitch account.
  5. Now, finally, launch the game that you wish to stream.
  6. Hit the share button on your DUALSHOCK wireless controller > broadcast gameplay. Select a service where you wish to stream (Twitch, of course).
  7. It will ask you to sign in to your Twitch account. Everything is safe, so sign in and adjust your streaming settings. Adjust settings related to webcam, microphone, PlayStation Camera, etc.

If you want to use a capture card to stream with PlayStation, follow these steps:

  1. Connect the PlayStation console with the capture card.
  • Look for the HDMI output on the PlayStation cosnole. Connect the HDMI cable.
  • Now look for the IN port in the capture card and connect your HDMI cable.  
  1. Connect the capture card to the display.
  • Finally, look for the OUT port on the capture card.
  • Take another HDMI cable, and connect the capture card with the display (TV or monitor) via HDMI.
  • You can use a TV or a monitor that supports HDMI connections.
  • Lastly, if needs be, connect your capture card to your PC with a USB cable.

You’re all done setting up your PlayStation for streaming. The hardware assembly is now complete.

Tips To Grow On Twitch When You are New

Growing on Twitch means increasing your audience and traffic to your Twitch account. Half the fun is setting up and creating a cool stream, the other part of the fun is growing and meeting new people. However that second part can be tricky. 

Here are a few things you can do as a new streamer to help you grow. If you want an even bigger and more thorough list of how to get more viewers on Twitch, then check out this article I wrote by clicking here.

Stick to a schedule

You must have an active schedule. Your audience must be well aware of when you will be streaming.  Streaming randomly won’t help, as people won’t know when you’re coming online. 

Just like every TV show has its proper and strict schedule, so should. You are in the entertainment business baby!

Not only must you stick to a schedule, make sure that you are a regular streamer. Streaming once a month won’t help. In short, don’t make such huge gaps in your schedule.

Typically, it is recommended that you stream at least three days a week for at least 3 hours each stream. Obviously the more you are able to stream the more chances you have of getting noticed by others. 

Unlike other platforms, Twitch is struggles at promoting newer streamers and so being online often is sometimes the best strategy that you can use.   

In addition to having a schedule, make sure that people know about your schedule too. Put it on your socials or there is also a way to add your schedule to your Twitch channel.

For more info on why a schedule is important, and how to add one to your channel, check out this article that I wrote about having a streaming schedule here. 

Network with others

Being social on the Twitch platform is essential for your growth. Connecting with other streamers is important. It gets your name out there and helps to build your brand. 

If you start to get close to some of these streamers, it’s not a bad idea to ask them for some tips and tricks that you can use in your stream. However, DO NOT self promote!

Self promoting on others’ channels is a big no no. It can get you blocked for one and will give you a bad name in the streaming community. If you can’t make it yourself by being a good streamer, then you won’t make it by poaching viewers from other people. 

Twitch itself is obviously the best place to network for Twitch. To to this try just go into others channels and get to know people. Don’t talk about your stream. Just be a friend. Being a friend is the most important part of networking. 

Another good way to network is on Reddit. Reddit has so many great forums and posts. Going on Reddit and helping a few people answer some questions is a great way to get your name out there and building a network. 

Maybe you help a few people answer some questions about a game you both like. Or maybe you answer a stream related question.

Either way, it is much more appropriate to invite someone to your stream in Reddit than it is on another person’s Twitch channel. 

And not to mention they will be more likely to support you since you helped them out with something. 

Networking with others is key to growing on Twitch.

Be Yourself

Don’t copy other people on the platform. People don’t like copycats. Being yourself and enhancing your personality on Twitch will help you in the long run.

I see streamers all the time try to say catch phrases and act just like another, more popular streamer. Don’t do that! Why is someone going to want to watch an imitation of a certain streamer when they could just watch the original, and often better version?

Be yourself dude! Create your own catch phrases. Your own layouts. Just do you! People want something unique. Nobody likes a knockoff. Don’t be the generic brand to a big streamer.

Over time, viewers will start to recognize you based on your personality. Since you will stand out from the crowd and will appear unique, people will know you differently.

Interact With The Viewers

Merely streaming won’t be sufficient enough. You can’t just sit there eating Doritos and game and expect anyone to stick around. People like Twitch because they like interacting with streamers. 

Get to know your viewers talk to them. Be positive. Be energetic. Never be arrogant, harsh, or rude to anyone, even if they’re doing the same to you.

Always remember that even the most potent business tycoons tend to be humorous to their trollers. If the rude guy or girl is taking the lower road, you have to take the higher road. Don’t sink to their level. 

If you interact with your viewers, they will feel special and will not only want to interact back but stay on your channel.  It builds a sense of friendship. Listen to their messages, queries, and suggestions.

Once you start getting so many viewers that it becomes difficult to keep up with chat, consider getting a chat bot to help you moderate your chat. 

Again, if you want to continue to grow on Twitch, you have to build a community. You do this by being friendly and interacting with those who watch your channel. 

Play Games that aren’t Mainstream

Don’t just stick to the cool and popular games if you want to grow. Out of 100 games launched in the market every month, only one or two manage to gain fame. But that doesn’t mean that those other games have no players.

You can find countless players playing many lesser known games. Don’t look down on those players; they are potential viewers. Stream games for them too.

If you are trying to get more viewers, try streaming games with a lot of viewers, but not a lot of streamers streaming that game. This will give you more potential viewers and less competition. 

The big games are fun, but everyone plays them and everyone streams them and so it is a lot harder to get recognized. They are what we called “saturated”. Stick to the low key games in the beginning and you will have a lot more success.

If you want more info on which games you should stream, check out this article I wrote about which games are best to stream.

Provide Quality Content

Quality content doesn’t mean having the best webcam, or the best mic, but your equipment should be quality. 

If you are new to streaming, you can get a decent webcam like the Aukey FHD webcam on Amazon and a decent mic like the Blue Snowball iCE, also on Amazon and you already have better a better quality stream than a lot of streamers out there. 

Even better, these items won’t break your bank account. They are great quality and budget friendly. 

When I first started streaming I didn’t use a webcam and I got literally 0 viewers. The week I added a webcam, I had 3 people pop in my channel and check me out. Twitch is all about building relationships and having a good mic and camera helps you to connect with others. 

If you want to see even more, and even better products that I recommend then check out my recommended products page here. There you will find all kinds of products to help improve your stream from budget friendly items to top of the line stuff. 

Now we talked about some of the hardware involved in quality content, but quality content also involves creating content that is fun and that your viewers want to see.

Try to do random challenges, or go for some cool clips. I’m sure you have seen some of your favorite content creators do some cool things like this. 

Then post those cool moments on your social medias and if the content is good enough, you will start to see people trickle in little by little. 

Be unique. Be creative. And always strive to produce quality content.

Be Patient

Growing on Twitch takes time, so be patient. If you look into some of the top streamers you will see that many of them streamed for years before they had their breakthroughs. So be patient and be consistent.

Being consistent is key. Don’t expect to stream for a month and reach affiliate or have a ton of viewers. Twitch is a grind. So be patient and enjoy the journey.

If you are not enjoying streaming then you are doing it wrong.

Create a Youtube Channel

Creating a Youtube channel is what just about all streamers do? But why? 

Well like I already touched on, Twitch is a great platform, but it does not do a great job of promoting new streamers.

Those are just the facts. Twitch does have tags that you can use to help get noticed, for more on tags check out this article, but for the most part it’s up to you to promote your channel. 

Youtube on the other hand does do a good job of pushing videos and recommending content. If you make helpful content that people want to watch, then Youtube will give you a shot. 

When you make a Youtube channel, don’t just upload your gameplay. There are hundreds, maybe thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands of people doing just that.

Your chance at getting noticed by uploading typical gaming content is slim to none.

If you have cool gaming clips you want to push out, try sending it to channels that already have an established base of followers. They will usually put your name on the clip to give you credit and people can see your cool gameplay that way. 

Cool clips is one way, but making helpful videos and tutorials of a game you play is another way to get noticed. How to videos and strategies will get you noticed a lot easier since it is less competitive. 

Just like Twitch, Youtube takes time so be consistent and be patient if you want to see results.  

Use Social Media

Using social media to promote your channel is just another way for you to get your brand out there. If you are going to use social media to promote, stick with Twitter and Instagram. 

Twitter and Instagram are where you are going to find most gamers and other people who are interested in streaming. I am not saying you can’t use other social media platforms, I am just saying you may be wasting your time by doing so.

As always, if you have any questions or just want to hang with me, stop by my Twitch channel here and say what’s up!



For even more streaming tips and how-to content check out my Youtube channel here. And if you want to check out my streams then stop by my Twitch channel here.

By the end of this article, I hope you have a better understanding of how to start streaming on Twitch. As you can see, it’s really not too hard to do.

Most of the streaming process won’t cost you money, but if you don’t have the right hardware, then, of course, you will have to shed a few bucks to get it.

Finally, I hope you have learned a few tricks and tips to grow your Twitch network. Fame on Twitch won’t come quickly. Hard work is the key to success. 

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me on my Twitter.

Best of luck to everyone and keep chasing those stream dreams!

👋 Hey There, I'm Eric!

Since 2018, I've been making streams come true.

I like gaming, streaming and watching other people stream. I created this website to help streamers, viewers, and gamers answer questions they have regarding live streaming, gaming, and PCs. I am a Twitch affiliate and currently stream on Twitch 3 days a week. I also have a Youtube channel where I make videos about streaming. I hope you find my content helpful. Feel free to stop by one of my streams to say hi.