How to Become an Influencer on Twitch
What gamer doesn’t want to play video games all day long? A few years ago, that might have sounded like an outlandish dream, but today, with platforms like Twitch, it’s become a real possiblity.
Twitch Streamers Are On the Up
Social media and video streaming platforms are generating an astounding amount of money, and everyone is after a piece of the pie. There are many ways to get in on the action, whether it’s working as an affiliate marketer, a content creator, or an influencer. Many people have relied on Instagram to become successful influencers organically but, when it comes to gaming, it isn’t the best platform. For starters, Instagram content is meant to be seen on the small screen of a phone, so, if you were to do a playthrough of a video game, no one could really see what was happening on your screen. Secondly, Instagram veers towards ecommerce, which is not the main focus in gaming circles.
That’s where Twitch comes in. A live video streaming service that showcases gaming, it's meant to be watched on computer screens so that all the action happening in a game can be seen. Twitch makes more sense for gamers. On top of that, the way gamers get to promote on Twitch is much more relaxed compared to the way influencers on Instagram do things. Doing a simple shoutout or just chatting about topics you like that relate to your affiliates’ companies makes your page feel organic and trustworthy for viewers.
In short, streaming on Twitch is a great way to become a professional gamer. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Find Your Niche
Before you can sign up for Twitch’s affiliate program, there are a few things you need to sort out. On technical terms, you have to meet certain requirements first, such as broadcasting over 500 minutes and having at least fifty followers. The unspoken requirement you also have to achieve is creating a unique niche that viewers will want to come back to. For example, if you have a group of people interested in working on Twitch together, you could do something like Perception Check, a channel where irreverent puppets play Dungeons and Dragons. Obviously, that might be a bit too much production for someone who wants to have a solo show, so emulating the wildcard element like Jack Dire, who streams jars of peanut butter or plays Animal Crossing, might be more achieveable.
In any case, sitting down and coming up with some ideas can help you get the ball rolling in terms of finding a niche. Whether it’s wacky and out-of-the-box or straightforward traditional streaming, planning your broadcasts will help create a cohesive image for your channel.
Find Affiliates
Twitch influencers are quite creative with the way they promote their affiliates’ products, content, or services. An interesting yet organic way in which many streamers choose to promote things is directly within gameplay. For instance, Twitch iGaming streamers like Xposed gain lots of views while playing blackjack, while other creators who play slots showcase games' features for their viewers, whether that's multiple pay lines or through free spins, one of the methods used by the platforms as a form of customer reward.
On the other hand, Twitch users also help companies rack up pre-orders by doing game launches on their channels. Like the users who play slots, they show their audience the features of the game, but also their first reactions and opinions. These impressions greatly influence whether gamers will purchase the title upon release, and it's a great strategy for developers.
Maintain Your Relevance
As you start to broadcast more, your channel will probably get more traffic. As exciting as it is to see your channel picking up, you might start to struggle to come up with new ideas for a broadcast. This can be particularly anxiety-inducing when affiliate partners are expecting great content from you, but don’t fret. The trick to maintaining relevance is right under your nose.
It all goes back to your niche. Picking a niche is tied to your persona, which is any influencer’s greatest tool. Twitch is a massive platform, and there are a sea of streamers playing the same games or promoting the same products as you. The reason viewers come back to you is that they want to hear your individual opinion and what you have to say. Use that to your advantage; give your honest opinion on things, ask questions to start conversations, and collaborate with viewers
