Growing your Community

To effectively grow a community on Twitch you will need to connect with viewers in a variety of ways. When viewers are greeted by familiar names in chat , have their questions answered by you, and see others enjoying the stream, it helps build genuine bonds. This organic interaction creates a welcoming environment that encourages viewers to return and become active community members.

Building a strong Twitch community takes time, dedication, and mindfulness for your viewers. Focus on creating an environment where people feel valued and eager to return. Remember that every community is unique, and what works for one channel might not work for another. Stay authentic to your streaming style while remaining open to evolution as your stream grows.

TWITCH TIP:
Chatting isn’t for everyone and that’s okay. If someone is “lurking” (watching but not chatting), they are still supporting you from the sidelines. Consider opportunities to provide all of your audience recognition, regardless if they are actively chatting or not. It is recommended not to force or coerce lurkers into chatting - they will step into chat when they want to.

Keeping the Door Open

Viewers can drop into live broadcasts at any time. Keep your performance active and inviting, so that no matter when someone pops in they will be engaged. Try and strike a balance between what you’re doing on stream and how you engage your viewers.

How much you want to share with your community is up to you and there is no right way to guide conversation between chat and yourself. Keeping a conversation going is a skill many creators work hard to develop over many hours of streaming.

TWITCH TIP:
If you’re struggling to keep the stream active, think of things that you could talk about for hours on end. Try talking about something new you learned, your favorite game of all time, or a show you recently watched.

Before going live, consider what you’re going to talk about or do on each broadcast. Taking time offline to set a plan for yourself that is sustainable, will help you have a more successful stream.