Ultra.
Mods are the unsung heroes of Twitch. A hard job with few perks, moderation requires multitasking, attention to detail, people skills, and so much more. If you’d like to try your hand at becoming a mod on Twitch, it’s a good idea to start practicing sooner rather than later. Today we’ll look at typical moderation duties and talk about the differences between a good mod and a great mod.
Consistently Show Up in Chat
If there’s a streamer you’re interested in modding for, make sure to show up to their streams regularly and participate in chat as much as you can (without taking it over). Showing up and providing regular support builds trust with the streamer. Trust is one of, if not the most important, factors in streamer-mod relationship dynamics.
Streamers appreciate regular viewers and chatters more than you know. Certain viewers can make a streamer’s day just by participating in chat. Though sometimes regular donors end up becoming mods, monetary contributions are not required. Most streamers will tell you that simply being a top contributor of good vibes is more important.
Also, it goes without saying that if you’ve never been a mod before, you should start with smaller streamers. Mod positions for big streamers are very competitive and you’ll need plenty of experience before you can apply. If a streamer has an average viewer count of over 100, it’s likely they have mods already. For the best chance of success, aim for a streamer with under 50 average viewers.
Get to Know the Streamer
As human beings, we all have our own idiosyncrasies. The better you know the streamer, the quicker you’ll be able to pick up on certain cues, such as when the streamer is feeling uncomfortable. Mods who can deftly redirect the conversation to make the streamer feel at ease are worth their weight in gold.
If the streamer is the actor, producer, and director, the mod is their personal assistant, PR manager, and security team. It’s the mod’s job to protect the streamer whilst making them look good. Naturally, the more you watch and interact with a streamer, the more you’ll get to know them, their likes and dislikes, etc. Also, be sure to familiarize yourself with the streamer’s rules so that you can abide by them and encourage others to do the same.
Learn Twitch’s Mod Tools Inside and Out
With the release of “Mod View,” Twitch effectively streamlined mod duties. Our article on Twitch Mod View will show you the ropes. Start playing with Mod View on your own channel and customizing the screen to your liking. Make sure you know how to timeout and ban people, quickly throw the chat into slow or follower-only mode, and permit or block certain terms.
Keep the Chat In Line
When most people think of mod duties, they picture timeouts, banning, deleting inappropriate comments, etc. However, chat moderation goes far beyond these tasks. Great mods not only welcome new viewers to the chat, they remember chat regulars and greet them warmly. Simply saying “Welcome back” or “Nice to see you again” can make a repeat viewer feel appreciated and will keep them coming back to the stream.
Furthermore, great mods can sense when the chat is becoming stagnant and know just what to say to get things lively again. While this may seem like a daunting task, once you know the streamer well and understand the typical cadence of their streams, the job will get easier. It’s a good idea to discuss goals for the stream ahead of time and ascertain whether or not there are certain points of discussion that the streamer wants to touch on. It’s easy for streamers to get distracted so one of your jobs will be to keep the stream on track.
Be Invisible (Kind Of)
If you’re interested in becoming a mod for glory and special perks, then you’ve missed the point entirely. Great mods are rarely seen or heard. Rather, they keep everything running smoothly from behind the scenes, only popping up in chat once in a while as needed. If you enjoy chatting regularly, you’d be better off as a viewer or a streamer yourself.
Your focus should always be on drawing attention back to the streamer. While viewers love and appreciate mods, ultimately, they come to see the streamer. If the streamer shows you too much favoritism or if you’re talking a lot in the chat, you risk alienating viewers. If you’re unsure about how much or how little you should chat, you can always ask the streamer for feedback once the stream is over.
Let’s recap: To be a great mod, you should show up regularly to streams to prove you’re reliable and trustworthy. Take the time to study your streamer, such as what topics of conversation they do or don’t enjoy, and steer the chat accordingly. Know all of the mod tools available on your platform of choice and make sure you’re proficient in them. Greet new viewers, welcome back old ones, and do your best to revive the chat when things get dull. And as always, focus on drawing attention to the streamer and away from yourself. Who knows, with practice and a little luck, you could be modding for your favorite streamer sooner than you think!