Ultra.
So you want to grow on Twitch, but you aren't sure what to do other than putting your best foot forward and consistently creating amazing content? The simple answer is to get comfortable with promoting your Twitch channel. We understand that self-promotion may be uncomfortable for most people. However, why would you want to keep your Twitch channel a secret when you're dedicating your precious time and resources to build it?
If you want to learn more about how to promote your Twitch channel to gain more subscribers and viewers, keep reading this blog post.
Develop a Consistent Brand
While good branding isn't technically a tool for promoting your Twitch channel, having consistent brand elements can do wonders for your brand recognition. When it comes to being a content creator, branding can make a huge difference in regards to growing your following and getting more traction on your content. Whether it's your logo and branding colors or your tone across multiple social media channels, having a solid and consistent brand can help you gain the trust of your followers and target audience. A constantly changing brand will confuse your audience and make them lose interest. Not sure how to get started? Check out our guide on how to brand your stream.
Post Regularly on Social Media
We can't stress enough how important it is to get comfortable with promoting your Twitch on other platforms. Being consistent on Twitch is essential for growing your audience. However, it's important to note that, when done right, promoting your Twitch content on other platforms has the potential to help you grow your audience and get more eyes on your content. Below are a few social media platforms to consider.
Many streamers love Twitter to promote their Twitch channels because it's a platform where you can quickly post announcements and clickable links even in the moment. When using Twitter to promote your Twitch channel, you want to ensure that you give your followers reminders about your upcoming streams/streaming schedule and invite them to join you when you're live.
It's also good practice to build relationships by regularly engaging with other streamers, enthusiasts, and influencers in your niche. Twitter is a platform that makes it extremely easy to start or join in on a conversation, so make sure you actively do so to gain the trust of other streamers, industry experts, and followers—in time, some will likely convert into Twitch supporters.
YouTube
If you're an active YouTuber, there are a few ways to use the platform to gain traction on Twitch. The first way is to create Twitch highlight videos to share with your audience on YouTube. Try compiling some of the best moments from your Twitch streams and putting them in one video for your audience on YouTube to watch (and hopefully follow you on Twitch afterward). If you’re not an editing whiz and need a simple tool to help you, try Video Editor, a web-based editor with everything you need to make compelling video content.
Whether you're posting a Twitch highlight video or content specifically made for YouTube, it's a brilliant idea to link your Twitch channel in the description box of your videos along with your other social media platforms. This way, your followers know how they can connect with you between uploads.
Lastly, don't forget to shamelessly plug your Twitch streams in original YouTube content when it makes sense. You don't want to promote excessively, but you also don't want to miss out on an opportunity to convert YouTube subscribers to Twitch subscribers.
TikTok
TikTok's algorithm is unlike any other platform ever to exist, and that's no exaggeration. The platform has mastered connecting the right people with the right content. This means for creators (including Twitch streamers) that, unlike other platforms, the chances of going viral (or at least getting your content seen) are much higher, even if you don't have a large following. Try repurposing your Twitch Clips on TikTok, jumping on trends (of course, tweaking them to relate to your niche), and giving people an inside look at your life as a streamer to help get folks from TikTok over to your Twitch channel.
Pro-Tip: A huge part of growing on TikTok is using trending sounds, creating relatable content, and writing captions that help optimize your videos for search. However, it's also important to post regularly. Most experts recommend posting 2-3 TikToks daily to grow on the platform. While this may seem overwhelming, TikTokers enjoy authentic content, not over-curated full-on productions. Don't think too hard about what you're posting but make sure it connects with your audience.
If you're looking for an easy way to make TikToks or other short-form videos from your Twitch (especially of your gameplay), try using Cross Clip, a simple browser-based tool to create 60-sec short-form videos in a flash.
Recently, Instagram relinquished its title as a photo-sharing platform to focus on four key areas—Creators, Video, Shopping, and Messaging. While this may be very confusing for creators and their audience, what remains the same is that Instagram is a visual platform (which makes it pretty easy to repurpose Twitch content on the app).
Similarly to TikTok, you can post highlights or Twitch Clips in the form of Reels on Instagram or create behind-the-scenes content for your followers to get more insight into your life as a creator. Additionally, you can use your Story to drive traffic to your Twitch channel by adding a clickable link button to your channel (which is now available to everyone on the platform if you haven't gotten the memo).
Collaborate with Other Streamers
At the beginning of your journey as a Twitch streamer, you'll find yourself taking on many roles with little to no help. This can make the journey feel pretty lonely, but it doesn't have to be. One reason we mentioned engaging with other streamers earlier in this blog post is that networking with your peers is a great way to learn from others and grow by collaborating. Whether you stream together or host a giveaway, make it a habit to connect with others, as it's more than enough space for everyone to grow.
If you're unsure how to start working with other streamers and influencers in your niche, you can read this guide featuring a few collaboration ideas to get you started.
Host a Giveaway
Yes, people love freebies. However, to have a successful giveaway that attracts more subscribers to your channel, you must ensure that your giveaway is mutually beneficial for you and your audience. Make sure your prize is something your target audience would love to win and that one of the requirements is that you must be subscribed to your Twitch channel to win.
Whether your prize is merchandise or a custom item, one of the easiest ways to host a giveaway on Twitch is by using Cloudbot for Streamlabs Desktop. Cloudbot allows you to do everything from setting the ticket costs (if you're using the Streamlabs loyalty system to give subscribers virtual currency) to ensuring only those subscribed to your channel are eligible to win (which we highly recommend). Interested in learning more? Check out this comprehensive guide on using Cloudbot to host a giveaway with Streamlabs.
As you can see, there are quite a few ways to promote your Twitch channel to bring more viewers and subscribers to your channel. Try out the tips listed in this blog post, and Tweet us to let us know how it's working out for you.