Going Live
There’s a lot to learn about going live on Twitch, but we are here to help you get started. We’ve simplified the process from PC to consoles, so you can take your first steps into streaming and start building your community.
Every successful streamer starts at square one when creating a new account on Twitch. Focus on creating a stable and enjoyable experience for you first.
What Can I Stream?
You can stream anything you like as long as you follow the terms of service and as long as you own and maintain full rights to everything shown on your broadcast. It is incredibly important to be mindful of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which will help to protect and ensure success in your online career.
What Should I Stream?
You can balance what you want to stream with what you should stream by exploring your streaming identity and discovering what Twitch category works best for you. A balance of all five categories below will add together to help you find your place on Twitch.
What Category will you broadcast to?
Categories with a high number of broadcasters create competition for growing channels, however categories with a low number of broadcasters can be difficult to gain viewers in. Finding the perfect category that aligns with your interest is essential to getting your community started. We recommend streaming to the same category for your first three broadcasts while following a regular schedule.
TWITCH TIP:
You can find detailed information on different Twitch categories in the Analytics section of your Creator Home.
How will you stand out?
Your uniqueness is what will attract potential viewers to your stream. Stream something you are genuinely interested in or something you would like to explore. Your streaming identity will attract viewers to your passion, skill, entertainment value, or community focus.
Who is your audience?
What demographic to whom are you advertising and selling your content? Researching who your current audience is and comparing it to the audience of a new category you’d like to explore can help inform you if it’s a good fit.
Why do you create?
The reason behind why you do what you do is part of the reason why viewers are attracted to you and your stream. You want to ensure that you share your origin story, what you are passionate about, and why you chose streaming as a way to tell your story.
Where will audiences find your content?
Distributing your content outside of Twitch is essential. Select services to highlight different parts of your content and then review analytics to see what works well where. Utilize your VODs and transform them into mini marketable moments in the form of Clips.