So you want to know how to become a streamer? I’ve got you covered! We’re going to start with the basics and work our way up to how to get big on twitch with a loyal community, awesome style and big earnings!
Answering all your questions:
How do twitch streamers make money?
How much do twitch streamers make per sub?
How to get affiliate on twitch?
…and more!
Let’s start at the very beginning…
How to Become a Streamer
What is twitch?
Twitch is a live streaming platform where you can watch and chat to people doing a multitude of things from gaming to cooking, drawing and more! Think of it like a real-time, interactive youtube video!
People’s streams usually last for a good few hours depending on what the streamer is doing and you can watch for however long you like. Streams are also really interactive with the ability to talk live to the streamer via text chat and trigger fun sounds and alerts on screen!
No stream is the same and there are thousands of streams you can jump into with the click of a button. Plus, it’s all FREE to watch!
Hang on, if twitch is free to watch, how do twitch streamers make money?
How do twitch streamers make money?
In order to earn money on Twitch you must achieve affiliate level and once you reach affiliate there are a few different ways you can earn money on twitch:
– Subscriptions: They cost the viewer around £4.99 per month and come with added benefits for each stream. Subscriber perks include special emotes to use, no adverts, subscriber only chats and more.
How much do twitch streamers make per sub? Subs have a 50/50 split between the streamer and twitch, which means the streamer at affiliate level earns around £2.50 per subscription.
– Bits: Bits are Twitch’s in-app currency. 1 bit = 1 cent (roughly), so 100 bits = $1 etc. Bits are shared with an 80/20 split which means the streamer receives 80% of all bits they earn.
As a viewer you spend your bits by ‘cheering’ an amount of bits in stream. Often this will trigger fun alerts live on screen!
– Direct tips/donations: You can also donate or tip the streamer directly via PayPal and the streamer keeps 100% of these earnings (minus PayPal fees of around 1.2%)
Other Stream Income…
– Brand Sponsorships: Sometimes brands will sponsor streamers to wear or use their products during the stream. The streamer keeps 100% of these earnings and the fee is dependent on your agreement with the brand.
– Merch: The revenue split on merch depends on how it’s made. If it’s a print on demand service often the profit margins for streamers are quite low but the effort is minimal. You can also print and distribute merch yourself. This gives a higher profit margin but it takes a lot more effort.
– Ads on stream: Like Youtube, Twitch also has pre-roll and mid-roll ads that play throughout streams. The streamer will receive a % split of those ads.
How much do streamers make?
It’s completely free to watch twitch and you don’t have to subscribe, tip or cheer to enjoy a stream. It is however customary on twitch to support your favourite streamers and thank them for the entertainment they provide.
Asking ‘how much do streamers make?’ is like asking ‘how long is a piece of string?’ as it’s completely dependent on the streamer! However, the possibilities for earning on Twitch are endless and a lot of people make twitch streaming into a full time job!
How much do streamers make per sub?
At affiliate level the revenue share for subscriptions is 50/50. Partnered streamers can make up to 70% of revenue.
How to Become a Twitch Streamer
Ok, so let’s talk about how to become a twitch streamer. What exactly do you need to do in order to get set up and start streaming…
- Make a twitch account
- Find your niche
- Set up your stream
- Start streaming
- Build your community
- Go for affiliate!
Let’s break each step down with a bit more information…
1. Make a twitch account: Ok this one’s pretty easy! Start by making a Twitch account on their website here.
2. Find your niche: It’s time to decide what you’re going to stream! Will you be hosting cook-alongs? Streaming your favourite game? Showing people your crafts? Hosting live workouts? Work out what you would like to stream and build your channel around that.
3. Set up your stream: You’ll need to learn how to set up and use a streaming software in order to broadcast your stream. The two most popular choices for streaming software are streamlabs or OBS studio and they’re both free to use!
There’s lots of helpful YouTube videos teaching you how to create a basic streaming set up and how to use each programme. Dedicate a bit of time to sit and watch some of those – it’s not as tricky as it seems, I promise. I have a really handy list of educational videos and links in the resources section of my digital guide: Upgrade Your Stream.
Equipment:
Once you have your streaming software you’ll also need a microphone so people can hear you talking and a camera/webcam to show your face when instructing or chatting on stream. You may need to set up two cameras if you want to show your face and your hands when doing things like drawing streams or crafts.
If you’re starting a gaming stream channel you don’t have to have your face on screen. However, a lot of people are in agreement that face cams help your stream and community grow.
Take a look at my digital guide: Upgrade Your Stream
– for more tips on how to set up your stream and make it the best it can be!
Time to Stream…
4. Start streaming! The best way to learn and to find your style on twitch is to simply start streaming! Get your name and your face out there to start building a community and don’t be disheartened if no-one watches at first. These things take time and remember, we’re here to have fun!
5. Build your community: Talk to your audience – don’t just sit in silence waiting for them to talk. Ask questions and encourage a warm and friendly environment for your viewers. At the end of every stream you do, make sure to raid other streamers and share the love. It’s a great way to help build a community and I’ve made some wonderful friends on twitch.
Watch other people’s streams and get chatting with them in their chat. It’s important not to just go in to promote your own stream and leave! This is considered incredibly rude on Twitch. Instead, talk to people in the chat along with the streamers themselves and make some genuine connections.
Time to earn…
6. Go for affiliate – How to get affiliate on twitch: The Criteria –
- At least 500 total minutes broadcast in the last 30 days.
- At least 7 unique broadcast days in the last 30 days.
- An average of 3 concurrent viewers or more over the last 30 days.
- At least 50 Followers.
Once you are a twitch affiliate you can start earning money from your streams. People will be able to cheer bits, subscribe to your channel and gift subscriptions to other people. How much you earn is up to you and how you grow your channel from here!
How to get affiliate on twitch:
If you’re struggling to meet the criteria for affiliate then I’d suggest reading my digital guide: Upgrade Your Stream.
“Using the tips from this guide I got affiliate status in 8 days and after four months of streaming I just hit my first $1,000 month!”
“I raised my average viewers from 3 to 31 in just three months and I’m now on the path to partner!”
Easy to read, concise and full of tried and tested insider tips, Upgrade Your Stream is an ESSENTIAL for anyone looking to monetize their Twitch.
Learn how to set up your channel, gain affiliate status and build a brand on Twitch. Gain new and regular viewers and grow a supportive and loyal community. It’s time to take your channel to the next level!
AVAILABLE HERE for just £7.99!
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