The 3 Most Common Tips Given to New Streamers

Nothing says “hard” like trying to win over millions of people with nothing but your personality, a computer, and a game. Yet that’s what thousands try to do every day with streaming.

If you are reading this post, you already know what streaming is. I’m not going to go into it. But it's something that a lot of gamers, like us, want to go into it. That's right. I’m not a streamer. I’m at a place just like the rest of you. I want to start streaming.

There are many articles out there that can give you more advice than you know what to do with. But if you’re like me, and have done even the tiniest bit of research on how to start streaming. You’ll realize that a lot of it isn't that different.

That's why this isn’t a blog post from a streamer on how to stream. This is a blog from a potential streamer taking the three most reoccurring topics he found in articles about learning how to stream, and putting them all in one article for your convenience.

*Be advised: This article, by no means, takes into consideration every article written on this topic. It’s pulled from the most popular articles and the top three most common topics I found in those articles. I’ll have links to the articles related to certain topics below.

1. The Right Equipment

As I was reading all the different articles, the usual starting item was having the right equipment. Which makes sense right? How many of us have started watching a stream online only to turned away due to bad video quality, poor audio, and terrible voice quality caused by a terrible mic?

Not only that but normally you need a decent computer to balance running a demanding game and all the other stream apps that are up and running.

It’s expensive to start, frustrating to maintain, and difficult to set up, but worth it to get that clean cut stream.

If you want more info on the equipment, the links below go more in-depth and have lists of recommended equipment.

1a. Technical Know-How

I’m putting this as 1a because technical know-how is a part of getting the right equipment. The best equipment is useless without knowing how to use it.

Many of the articles I read, listed below, talk about the need to have a banner, setting up split-screen recordings, getting the audio through the right channels, and setting up alerts for when people sub.

Difficult at first, but again, incredibly necessary.

2. Set a Schedule

A set schedule is crucial when you first start streaming. I think a story would better illustrate this point.

I just got off work after a long day. When I walk in my front door all I want to do is kick off my shoes, pull open a stream of my favorite game, and veg.

I get on twitch or mixer and realize I’m bored of all my favorite streamers. So I start searching through some of the lesser-known streams, with barely anyone on.

That's when I come across you. And I love you. You catch my attention, have some quality banter that I like, and are pretty decent at the game. I leave the stream content and happy.

Next week, same day, I get on to watch your quality to stream and. . . and you’re not on. I check the next day, and you’re not on again. At that point, I give up. I forget your name, forget the stream, and move on.

Some of larger streamers can bet by streaming on a “when they can” basis. Smaller streamers can’t afford to do that. People need to know when they can get on to watch you.

3. Interact With Your Viewers

We’ve probably all experienced interacting with our favorite streamer. We either sub and leave a comment or leave a message in the chat and have them answer a question or laugh at a comment. It’s a good feeling.

That's because, starting out, you’re building a community. You’ll have smaller numbers of people watching you and interacting with them is how you build that starting group.

A part of this is being active on social media, leaving comments on other people's comments, talking to chat, mentioning people when they sub, etc. Many streamers will have a discord where they can message everyone and say they are streaming and talk about topics that they all have in common.

The more you are able to connect with your viewers, the better.

Bonus: Don't Go With the Crowd

This isn’t one of the top three. I read this in a Reddit post and I thought it was brilliant. DO YOUR RESEARCH!

There are a million people playing super popular games. You’ll blend in and have a harder time starting out if you play a game everyone else is streaming. Do some research. I looked at sullygnome.com and was impressed with the data they have there.

Ideally, if you can, play a game people are watching but that people aren’t streaming. A little harder to find than it sounds, but it will work well when you start out. As you get bigger you can branch out into other games (which is also good for a contingent plan if that game ever died.)

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A Word of Encouragement

Streaming is hard. Especially starting out. One article I read from The Verge, was entitled "The Streamers With no Viewers". That article basically says the following.

There are thousands of streamers out there who have no one watching them. They will go months with no one in their chat and its a hard thing to keep up. But don’t quit.

Streaming is a way to bring people closer together and to build online communities. I’ve heard streamers mention subs in their streams and ask them how they are doing. You hear stories as well of how streamers have saved someone's life because they were going through a hard time.

It's hard but, worth it. So don’t give up. Give it your all, and remember that viewers don’t measure self-worth. Just do what you love.