Streaming on Twitch: How to Get Your Gaming Channel More Viewers

Choose Your Games Wisely

Not every game will have the same number of interested viewers. But if you choose a popular title, like Valorant and PartyPoker, your channel will end up at the bottom of the list. This is because Twitch’s algorithm sorts streams in the category based on those with the most viewers to those with the least. Therefore, it’s important to be strategic with the games you play. Choose games that have a lot of followers but don’t have a lot of streamers playing them like Animal Crossing and Spelunky.

You’ll also attract a lot of viewers if you stream games for a cause, as they’ll feel like their time is going to be spent meaningfully. This is a trend that is becoming popular across all types of gaming platforms. One of the rooms at gaming platform Foxy Bingo is Charity Bingo, whose profits go to an animal charity. It has evening games on the weekend, which is the perfect time to stream. The games at Quingo also donate their revenue to its charity partners like the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and PAWS.

Invest In Good Equipment

Whether you only provide voice commentary or play with a camera, good equipment can help increase the production value of your stream. Good equipment doesn’t have to be expensive. For example, you don’t need a DSLR camera if you have a decent webcam. The Logitech C922 Pro (a 1080p webcam released in 2012), for instance, is still one of the best pieces of equipment you can get today, and at an affordable price too.

Many webcams will have built-in microphones as well, but it’s best not to rely on these. After all, you’ll be positioning your webcam away from your face, so it won’t be able to pick up your voice well. Instead, get a microphone with a cardioid polar pattern or one that’s sensitive to sound coming from the front. Budget cardioid microphones like Rode NT1 and Blackout Spark SL are more than enough to satisfy this equipment requirement.

For more audio recommendations, checkout our list of the best microphones for streaming.

Pick A Good Time Slot

Small streamers should only focus on three time slots: weekday nights, early mornings, and weekends. These are moments where people aren’t attending to personal commitments (such as work and school), granting them the opportunity to go on Twitch. Make sure you’re consistent about your schedule as well, so viewers that do decide to stick around know when they should expect you next.

Plus, be sure to stream long enough for people to discover your channel. The more successful streamers, like Ninja and JoshOG, know to go live for around three to four hours every session.