How To Get Followers On Twitch In 2021

Although the streaming industry is extremely competitive, it is also more profitable than it has ever been before. In this guide, we will reveal some of the top strategies on how to get followers on Twitch, so you can turn streaming into a full-time hustle.

Becoming a Twitch streamer is a very challenging, but ultimately extremely rewarding venture. What makes it particularly rough is how heavily you rely on your viewer and follower count to succeed.

 

In fact, it is estimated that around 80% of streamers quit within their first 3 months of streaming. Do not let that discourage you. The fact that you are reading this guide and researching how to get Twitch followers indicates that you will not be one of the quitters. 

 

In this guide, we’re going to skip all the vague cookie-cutter advice that gets thrown around, such as “stay consistent”. You know that already. Instead, we’re going to cover some of the top strategies used by pro streamers  that are proven to get you more followers on Twitch. 

 

Before we get into that, let’s cover some “don’ts”.

What Doesn’t Get You Followers On Twitch

There is a lot of bad advice out there that can significantly hinder your progress.

There are so many misconceptions out there about what does and doesn’t work to gain followers. Therefore, before we actually cover how to get more Twitch followers, we want to quickly mention the mental traps that might be detrimental to your progress.

Your equipment

Don’t get us wrong, your equipment is important. However, remember that the tools of your trade are there to help make your content happen, not impress viewers.

 

In other words, no one is going to care that your audio quality is great, if your content is subpar.

Being lazy with your social media

Simply posting that you’re going live on Instagram or Twitter doesn’t cut it anymore. You will have to put in a little bit more effort than that to get Twitch followers in 2021.

Your appearance or natural charm

Sure, a pretty face is definitely an advantage. However, to build a lasting and loyal following, you’ll need to do way more.

Being a half-clothed female streamer

This one is quite controversial. Sure, it may help you get followers, but do you really want followers who are only interested because of a cute face and hot body?

Being purposely controversial or "edgy"

You actually can build a following this way, but it would be like joining the Dark Side. You’ll be on the constant edge of getting banned.

If you want to build a long-lasting channel with quality viewers, make your Twitch stream a force for good.

Gimmicks and stunts

Doing challenges on stream is all the rage. They do work for spicing up your stream, but don’t make this the main charm of your stream.

 

The challenges have to make sense and be something your viewers will actually appreciate. 

Now that we know what we shouldn’t focus on, let’s dive deep into the world of how to get Twitch followers, and make sure they keep tuning in to support you.

Make Your Audio Clean

Audio is king in the content creation world, and even more so for Twitch.

You can have the cleanest looking video quality, top-notch overlays, and heaps of personality. If your mic sounds like you’re speaking through a fan into a walkie-talkie, nobody is going to stick around. 

 

Our ears are sensitive and hate audio levels that are imbalanced and distorted. If you’ve got a bit of money lying around for gear, invest it in your audio.

We surveyed our Instagram followers and found that bad audio quality is the biggest pet peeve for viewers.

Even if you don’t, an Apple headset close to your mouth is going to sound infinitely better than a Shure SM7b mic that is poorly set up. 

Bottom line, educate yourself about audio and test endlessly until you’ve got clean and clear levels hitting your viewers’ eardrums.

Here are some more tips on how to improve audio quality.

Lock in Your Streamer Type

Which type of streamer are you?

Everybody and their uncle wants to be a Twitch streamer these days. You need to make sure you categorize yourself correctly from the start to avoid confusion and form a clear identity as a creator.

 

We like to divide streamers into three main categories:

Personality Streamer - naturally entertaining and outgoing.

Educators - aim to help their viewers in certain areas.

Pro Streamer - highly-talented and showcases skills for the viewer’s pleasure

In almost all cases, we would recommend sticking to one of the three categories and truly mastering it. However, certain streamers can certainly fit into multiple categories.

 

Many popular streamers are a combination of many categories, such as Ninja who is both a pro and personality streamer.

Learn to Talk to Yourself

One of the most important skills you can develop to get more Twitch followers.

We’re not going to beat around the bush. The days of streaming yourself playing a game in silence are over. This has never been a successful way to get followers on Twitch. 

After all, why would someone watch you just play a game when they can be doing it themselves? Face the facts. You have to talk while streaming.

This is arguably one of the hardest things to get good at as a Twitch streamer. Talking to yourself feels unnatural and awkward to most people, so don’t feel bad about your performance. 

Try to think of your stream more like a YouTube video. Once the stream is over, it becomes a video. Will anyone want to watch that video?

Before you start streaming, write a list of topics so you don’t run out of things to talk about while streaming. We know it feels stupid to talk to yourself, but keep in mind you’re developing a very important skill.

Be sure to also comment on the game you’re playing, or activity that you’re doing. If you’re more of an educator, explain why you use the tactics / weapons / characters / abilities that you do. Personality streamers entertain by making jokes and funny comments.

Pro Tip

Think of your stream more like a YouTube video. Write a short list of things to talk about during your stream, so that you don’t run out of things to discuss.

Understand Twitch Categories

Twitch categories can't help you get discovered... or can they?

Whether you play video games, body paint, or talk about philosophy, your stream is organized under a Twitch category. 

 

Categories like Creative and Just Chatting are pretty broad and are narrowed down through tags. Games, however, are a different ball game because each title is its own category. 

 

Unfortunately, as covered in our article about Twitch vs Youtube, Twitch offers terrible discoverability for smaller streamers. 

 

If you play popular games like Fortnite or League of Legends, you’ll be competing against tons of other channels that are streaming the same game. Streaming less popular games may make your channel more discoverable, but the potential of growth is relatively low.

 

At the end of the day, we recommend playing something you truly enjoy.

Optimize Your Twitch Thumbnail

With Twitch's poor discoverability, this is a must.

This is something very few streamers talk about when it comes to how to get followers on Twitch. During regular intervals, Twitch will generate a preview image of your stream while you’re live. This serves as the thumbnail image viewers will see while browsing Twitch categories.

 

In order to stand out from the hundreds of other channels streaming the same game, your thumbnail simply has to be better than theirs. 

 

Make sure your webcam is visible clearly visible and not covered by the viewer count. People want to click on faces they can see. Make sure your game is also clearly visible, and last but not least, do not clutter your stream.

 

This is quite an underutilized tip, so get this one right and we can guarantee the follows will slowly but surely start rolling in.

Make It All About Your Viewers

You should stream how you want, but always put your viewers first.

You can’t expect people to show up without getting something out of your broadcasts. A personality streamer needs to be entertaining. Educators need to teach people what they want to learn. Pros have to keep performing on a decent level. 

 

You’ll soon start to notice that your growing viewership is developing its own culture. You have to tap into that and use it. Your community should be your first priority. 

 

For example, if your fans are making art about you, showcase it on your stream. Got some inside jokes? Reference them, or better yet, hire us to turn those inside jokes into custom emotes for your community. 

 

Viewers want to feel valued, and as long as you show them they matter, they’ll love you for it.

Pro Tip

If you’re lucky enough to have people watching you live, ask them what they think you can do to improve your stream.

Always Be Critiquing (Yourself)

Be grateful, but never settle.

You might have heard this before, but we truly feel it’s worth the mention. If you treat streaming like an actual business, you will start reaping the fruits of your labour a lot sooner.

 

Spend a lot of time watching your past streams and critiquing yourself. Try and see things from the lens of your viewers and ask yourself how you can do better. Even better, ask a viewer what you can do to improve the stream.

 

Quick clarification, we are not talking about aspects of your personality or other things beyond your control. We mean to critique the times you didn’t respond to chat, the moments you got upset at the game, and other low points.

 

Take notes and come up with ways to do better in those areas. Be firm with yourself but not too harsh. Critiquing yourself should be about improving as a Twitch streamer, not about bashing yourself .

 

Learning from your mistakes is part of the journey. Enjoy it for both its highs and its lows.

Your Twitch Profile Is The Ultimate Key

If you take away only one thing from this article, please let it be this.

If you’ve made it this far, you deserve to know the most important tip when it comes to how to get followers on twitch. 

You need to optimize your Twitch profile. Read the previous sentence again. The importance of optimizing your Twitch profile can literally determine whether you make it as a streamer or not.

Being a stream design studio, we are obviously slightly biased. However, after having worked with thousands of streamers, it is clear that those who take their branding seriously are much more likely to succeed.

By optimizing your Twitch profile, we mean optimizing everything that is visible on your profile when you’re live, but also when you are offline.

Here is how you should go about optimizing your offline Twitch profile:

Your Twitch Username

Most streamers don’t even give their Twitch username a second thought, which is ridiculous. By spending some time coming up with a memorable name, you’re already miles ahead from thousands of other streamers. 

Here’s a more in-depth tutorial on how to pick a great Twitch username.

Your Profile Picture

There are two options here, either you upload a high-resolution picture of you, or then go for a more professional look with your own custom logo.

Your Twitch Banner

Due to recent Twitch updates, the banner is now more of a background image for your entire profile. Keep it simple and make sure your banner matches the general color scheme you’re going for.

Your Twitch Bio

Quickly introduce yourself and what the stream is all about. Let your personality shine. For a more in-depth guide on how to write a good bio, check out this guide.

Your Profile Panels

Twitch panels are a phenomenal way to add some flair to your profile, while organizing important information a viewer might want to know. You can use our free panel maker to design yourself some amazing panels, within minutes.

Pokimane’s profile is optimized perfectly

Making sure your profile and stream looks good when you’re online is equally important. No one wants to stick around and watch a stream with awful overlays and terrible alerts.

 

Here is how you should optimize profile & stream when online:

Your Stream Title

Write a good, engaging title for your stream. This is something very few streamers actually do, but it definitely makes a difference. A potential viewer is much more likely to discover your stream if you have a well-written title.

Your Overlays

If you want to stand out, you need phenomenal overlays. It’s as simple as that. Having the same boring overlays as all other streamers out there is not going to do you any good.

If you’re interested in investing in amazing custom overlays for your stream, you can start here.

Your Audio & Webcam Quality

Make sure your audio and camera quality is decent. Look, we understand that not everyone can spend hundreds on a high-end setup. However, if you want to be taken seriously, you’ll need to have a decent mic and webcam.

By optimizing your stream and Twitch profile to look good both when you’re online and offline, you’ll maximize the chances of a viewer hitting that follow button and becoming a member of your community.

Wrapping Up

Becoming a full-time streamer in today’s competitive industry is by no means easy, but remember that the start is always the hardest. Consistent smart and hard work always pays off. However, if you’re in a bit of a hurry, check out this amazing guide on how you can become a Twitch affiliate within 30 days.

 

By following the tips in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to making streaming your full-time hustle. Keep researching, keep improving and never settle. That’s how to get followers on Twitch.

Author Bio

David Sandström

David Sandström is a first-year BSc student in Business & Economics at the Stockholm School of Economics. David has been interested in the gaming industry since a young age, and has written for numerous gaming publications.

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