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Streaming platforms like Twitch and Facebook Gaming have been a revelation since they burst onto the online gaming scene, blurring the lines of what constitutes a gamer, broadcaster, and industry taste maker.
The great thing about these platforms is that they are completely open for anyone to live stream on, meaning that the breadth of live and recorded content that is out there is immense. Feel like watching a chess grand master do their thing? No problem. Want to watch a poker pro take down a high roller event? Just tune in. Enjoy watching a Call of Duty star tear through a lobby? Streaming platforms have you covered.
However, the added beauty of these platforms is that, aside from encouraging people to watch online gaming, they also encourage those same folks to get involved themselves and try their hand at launching their own career as a superstar online gaming streamer. Here we take a look at some top tips on how to become an online gaming streamer, with a good dose of inspiration from top players who have already made it.
Many dedicated online gamers are choosing to stream their gaming exploits as they go about trying to build a following and a unique gaming community to boot
Innovation the Key to Success
One of the toughest things to do on any streaming platform is find a way to stand out from the increasingly large crowd. This can be done in any number of ways, although some of them come naturally rather than being things that you can practice or study.
An engaging personality is a good example of this, with some of Twitch’s biggest personalities and egos also being some of the most watched accounts – the likes of Nick Mercs, Lex Veldhuis, and the Botez sisters come to mind. Of course, not everyone is blessed with natural charm and charisma but there are other ways to make your stream pop. Innovation is one of them, with streamers who use unique special effects, original prize giveaways, graphically superior stream overlays, and break time video segments standing head and shoulders above their rivals. These are just some ideas to set your stream apart from the rest of the pack; the rest is up to you and your imagination.
Chess is just one of the classic games that has found a new home on Twitch as thousands of people tune in every day to watch and compete against their favorite grand masters
Daring to Be Different
Something else that most new Twitch streamers forget is that you only get out as much as you put in, and that is particularly true when it comes to baring your soul during a broadcast. Sure, you can remain calm and collected throughout a stream and stick to having a double-digit viewership, but give the personal touch to your viewers and, before you know it, they will be queuing up to not only watch you play, but to be a part of your story and life journey. After all, there’s a reason why top streamers keep their followers up to date on everything from house moves to wedding plans. Just be aware that success comes with a price, and the whole world knowing your personal business comes with its own issues and problems.
Building a Community More Than Just Views and Follows
Part of the key to building a big following on Twitch or other streaming platforms is ensuring that you create a community where viewers feel valued and where they can, in some small way, impact the direction or theme of the channel and its protagonist.
One of the most obvious ways to do that is to create a fertile chat area, where carefully chosen moderators can remove unwanted spam or unsavory comments. Aside from this, streamers should take the time to engage with their fans on social media and via other social networks like Discord. By adopting a community mindset, streamers will find that their viewership numbers will increase exponentially as people visit the stream and then never want to leave.
