As a Twitch streamer, you want your viewership to be as high as possible. Numerous people use this platform for various streaming purposes, with gaming taking up the largest piece of the pie. So, if you want to focus on video game streaming, then you can’t just start recording gameplay and share it on Twitch. You need to stand out and vamp up your Twitch stream.
The best way to do this is to uplift your streaming quality and plan out your stream more efficiently. Once you have everything in place, then you’re sure to see results. Of course, this sort of change will take some time, but here are a few tips to get you started with a new and improved Twitch stream.
Create attractive visuals with Twitch overlays
Visuals play a major role when it comes to Twitch streams. Use overlays to give your channel a new look and create a strong personal brand. When your viewers see the branding from your overlay, they should immediately be able to identify your channel. Use the Twitch overlay templates on PosterMyWall to find the right option for you, and then customize the colors and content according to your requirements.
Plan out your streaming content
It’s a great idea to map out a streaming schedule in advance. Sit down once a month to plan out what you’ll be doing over the next month, and create content outlines. You don’t have to stick to a specific script, of course. However, you should ensure that your stream follows a certain flow and time limit every time to remain consistent.
This way, your audience will know what to expect as well. To further reinforce this, set out certain days for different types of streams, if you cover a variety of topics. For example, if you stream your favorite FPS once a week, then set a day for that; and if you cover new indie games as well, then you can set aside a day for that. This will give your channel a solid streaming calendar your audience will appreciate.
Invest in decent equipment
Your equipment can make a huge difference in your streaming quality. This does not mean that you splurge on top-of-the-line items right away. In fact, you should do your research and find the essentials within your budget. Decent recording equipment is a must, along with a good microphone. You can find these in a wide pricing range, and can even find second-hand equipment in mint condition, so do your research thoroughly.
One piece of equipment which will really help you is a stream controller. This will let you start and stop your stream with the push of a button, insert transitions, change overlays, and do much more. These are also available in a wide price range, so you’ll definitely find one which suits your requirements and budget.
Interact with your viewers
Viewer engagement is a must when it comes to streaming on Twitch. Involve your audience with Q&A segments in your streams. Set aside the last few minutes of your stream to answer questions and respond to comments.
You can also incorporate giveaways and run contests to improve viewer engagement and also increase your viewership. Many streamers keep an eye on their comments during the livestream and interject with their own comments, so that is a good idea as well.
Add excitement with stinger transitions & stream notifications
Twitch streams involve a lot of excitement and activity. So, do add action like stinger transitions into your repertoire. There are a number of tools out there which let you make these transitions, so use these, and then add the transitions to your streams. Add these transitions between stream segments, and at the beginning and end.
In addition, you should also add Stream alerts. When you enable these, you’ll see little notifications popping up in your stream when someone subscribes to your channel or joins your stream. You can add these using tools such as TwitchAlerts, and customize them accordingly.
Use a green screen
A green screen can really add to your Twitch stream experience. It gives you a lot of freedom to add your own backgrounds, and makes your stream look professional too. After all, if you don’t use one, someone’s bound to spot that pile of laundry you have just right out of the frame.
With a green screen, there’s a lot you can do visually, and this has the added benefit of protecting your location’s privacy as well.
Make custom gaming posters
When you’re streaming a certain video game, you can really amp things up with custom gaming posters. These posters will add some excellent visuals to your stream, and can be used as backgrounds as well. They will also make it clear immediately what game you’re streaming, especially for viewers who join in the middle and have no idea what’s going on.
Who knows, such things might get you noticed by gaming studios as well, opening up a number of sponsorship opportunities. Just make sure you’re not breaching any copyrights, and you’re good to go.
So, these were a few simple tips for vamping up your Twitch stream. Follow these to really get things up and running, and you’re sure to see the results rolling in over time.
