How to Set up Your Own Discord Server

Discord is a popular tool aimed at bringing people together. If you are a content creator, having your own Discord server can be a great way to stay connected with followers. The best thing about Discord is that you can customize your server to fit your interests, thereby creating a space where you and your community will enjoy spending time with each other. If you’re wondering how to set up a Discord server, we’ve got you covered!

What is Discord?

Discord is an app (available for desktop and mobile) that lets you join communities or create your own. Through the Discord app, you can post messages in text channels as well as talk in real time through audio and video channels. A lot of people use Discord for voice chatting while they are playing multiplayer games. There are thousands of different ways to use Discord - from forming study groups to keeping up with a book club to starting a D&D campaign. If you have a favorite content creator, odds are they have a Discord server.

Why Should I Start a Discord Server?

For streamers and creators, a dedicated Discord server is the perfect way to interact with your community. Not only can you get to know more about your followers, they can get to know each other too. Here are some ideas for creating a lively Discord server:

• Set up a Welcome channel to make your new followers feel at home.
• If you’re a streamer, post clips from your favorite moments on stream so everyone can view them.
• Create channels for your favorite topics such as games you’re currently loving.
• Set up a bot to notify members of the server whenever you go live.
• Post your channel rules and FAQ.
• Use a bot to link your socials and post your TikToks, Instagram posts, or YouTube videos.

These are just a few ideas - there are endless ways to personalize your Discord server! Before we get overwhelmed with customizations, let’s look at the first steps you need to take to start a Discord server.

How Do I Set up a Discord Server?

1. Download the free app at https://discord.com/download.
2. Set up a free account if you don’t already have one.
3. Click on the plus sign on the left side of the screen to create a server.
4. Select “Create My Own” from the popup or use one of the templates that Discord has listed. Note: the “Gaming” template automatically includes a “Clips and Highlights” channel.
5. Select what kind of server you want from the popup. If your goal as a creator is to gain a large following, select “Community.” If you want to keep your server more private, select “Me and My Friends.”
6. Name your server and upload a photo.
7. Your server is ready to go!

Before adding people to your server, it would probably be best to create a few categories and channels. Either click the “+” icons next to the “Text Channels” or “Voice Channels” labels or right click anywhere on the left hand side of the screen to create a new category or channel. Here are some ideas on how to organize them:

• “Games” category followed by channels of different games you want to talk about
• “Welcome” category followed by an FAQ channel, a Rules channel, and an “Introduce Yourself” channel
• “Twitch” category with a “Schedule” channel, a “Clips and Highlights” channel, and a “Chat” channel so you can keep the conversation going after you’ve finished streaming for the day
• “Socials” category with channels for your social media accounts, whether you have your own website, Instagram, TikTok, a blog, a YouTube channel, or Twitter
• “Patreon” or other membership service (Ko-fi, Buy Me a Coffee, etc.) with channels explaining tiers and benefits

Don’t worry too much about getting everything perfectly organized right away. As your server evolves over time, your categories and channels may need updating. For example, if you notice recurring conversation topics, you can make designated text channels as needed. If certain channels aren’t getting a lot of use, you can edit or delete them. 

Finally, it’s time to invite people to your server! There are a few different ways to do this:

• If you already have friends on Discord, you can search for their username or simply click the “Invite” button next to their username and photo.
• Copy the invite link and send it to someone via email or message (be sure to check under the invite link to see when it will expire - you can adjust the time in settings).
• If you’re a streamer, you can offer your Discord invite as a reward (for following, subscribing, accumulating a certain number of chat points, etc.).
• Use a free service like Link Space to post the link in your bio across all of your social media channels.

By now you should have all of the tools and knowledge you need to set up your own Discord server. As your community grows, you may want to assign roles, such as Admin or Mod, to people you trust in order to keep things running smoothly. Watch this space for more information on how to customize your server with roles, bots, and more.