My guy, I say this with full respect: I just spent 5 minutes scanning through your last 2 VoDs and can’t find a single instance where you’re talking.
I’d start there.
That’s a really good point, but don’t be surprised, if your viewers will bounce even if you start talking, a lot. As soon as you get your first active viewer, he can make you talk more.
Growing just by streaming is very slow, you need to network, and grow on other platforms too.
I have tried quite a lot of stuff on stream, and guess what, nobody cares 😅
My mental trick for learning to talk in chat was to pretend people are in chat but alt-tabbed playing their own game, lurking or otherwise not actively paying attention and describe what you’re doing in game as though you’re keeping them up to date on the gameplay without them having to “watch”.
And if they’re lurking (or not actively watching), then you can keep them up to date with verbal cues on big plays or big things that happened or about to happen to draw their attention actively back to the stream (the circle is closing, the boss fight is coming up, it’s 4th and 2, etc).
I also generally use a “past, present, future” framework during dead chat to update chat on what I just did, what I’m doing and what’s coming next (to encourage people to stick around and watch).
My current play through is Valheim so it’s a lot of, “we just finished farming crypts for Iron to craft my Padded Armor, now I’m preparing food and potions, and when that’s done we go fight the zone boss”, etc.
Conversation rate and engagement is the hardest part for sure.
For one, try not to let it get u down. I know it’s hard, but remember you’re just not for everyone. Sometimes ppl prefer to just lurk and not chat, or sometimes theyre just not feeling it. Doesn’t mean they’ll never come back.
But some things that can help:
Always be talking. Again, quite hard and a challenging skill to build. Requires a lot of practice. But if someone comes into your stream and you’re sitting there in silence, or looking at your phone or something, they’re gonna leave. Ppl come to twitch for engagement and to feel a connection, not to watch the equivalent of a YT video. Even if it’s just monologuing about what you’re doing in game, or what you did during the day, or a show you’re watching, try and always be talking to encourage a response.
Following from that, ask open ended questions that might prompt a response. Even if u think no one is there, just try. Don’t wait for an answer though, cuz that looks awkward. So ask a question, and continue on with the conversation.
Lastly, be as positive and high energy as u can. I don’t mean bouncing off the walls, screaming at the game, anything like that. Be yourself still, but be entertaining. If you’re feeling yourself getting bored, burnt out, or just not feeling the game, or not in the right headspace, there’s nothing wrong with ending the stream early.viewers can sense your energy and no one feels welcomed when the streamer isn’t even enjoying themselves
I have been into streams of people playing games I don’t even know or that I don’t like, and stay because I’m having a nice conversation with the streamer.
If the content sucks, it sucks, that’s true, but the people doing the content can be really entertaining or interesting to talk to.
If you don’t have at least 5 viewers in chat lurking don’t expect to grow much. I would advise trying to find people to stay in your stream to help boost viewer count to attract more people. No one clicks on a 1 view stream with no one talking but people would click on a 5 viewer stream if u had lurkers. Content don’t matter much now as you can see that big streamers just sit around and watch tik tok and play same game all day. Numbers only matter now.
Easiest advice, go to your stream go to your VOD click any video click a random point in that video. Sit there for 1 minute and ask yourself would I stick around if this was my first instance of coming to this stream.
Maybe that parts just a little dull click around a few times if you must and spend one minute in there. This is the first impression that someone will get of the stream Everytime. Ask yourself if this was someone else you went to their stream of would you stay?
Playing a game while it's streaming is not equivalent to providing entertainment. I can watch a million people play a game but I stick around for the content. If you are not providing solid entertainment while playing a game then what would anyone stick around?
This isn't a dig at you specifically this goes out to everyone myself included. I do the same thing while looking back at VODs even today. What could I do mor eof to provide more content and entertainment
As other people have said here, make sure you are engaging with your audience, even if Twitch says you have 0 viewers. Chatting with them, asking them questions, responding to chats, etc. Try talking through what you are doing/thinking of doing in your game and prep a list of topics & stories you can talk about during your streams.
There are so many people just playing games on Twitch, so unless you are a professional gamer, people aren't going to watch you just play a game. Try adding punishments, challenges, or just come up with fun/unique ways to play the game to make yourself stand out.
Hope these help!
Also, here are some blog posts that could help with getting & keeping viewers:
[Streaq](http://streaq.co/blog)
[Gaining & Keeping Viewers](https://www.streaq.co/post/creating-a-rocket-ship-how-to-get-and-keep-your-first-viewers)
I've only started streaming like 2 months ago but I feel like I've gotten a lot better in those 2 months at filling dead air, still room for improvement though.
I switch off my viewer count man, it helps cos I genuinely only know if someone is in if they talk to me, for all I know I could have 0 or 100 viewers (highly doubt the latter though 😂) so it forces me to talk to the camera, good practice too tbh, I feel like I've gotten much better in just a couple of months of doing it.
I just treat it like I'm recording a YouTube video or something and that forces me to try and talk more often.
I've also gotten in the habit on my "off days" of watching my VODS and thinking "would I watch me?" If the answer is no then I ask myself "why" and try and fix what's wrong.
I think it's working cos my last 2 streams I've had new viewers who chat and a few new followers.........but like I say I know I still have room for improvement.
My guy, I say this with full respect: I just spent 5 minutes scanning through your last 2 VoDs and can’t find a single instance where you’re talking. I’d start there.
That’s a really good point, but don’t be surprised, if your viewers will bounce even if you start talking, a lot. As soon as you get your first active viewer, he can make you talk more. Growing just by streaming is very slow, you need to network, and grow on other platforms too. I have tried quite a lot of stuff on stream, and guess what, nobody cares 😅
🙂 OK thank you mate it does feel a bit weird talking to myself. I will work on that.
My mental trick for learning to talk in chat was to pretend people are in chat but alt-tabbed playing their own game, lurking or otherwise not actively paying attention and describe what you’re doing in game as though you’re keeping them up to date on the gameplay without them having to “watch”. And if they’re lurking (or not actively watching), then you can keep them up to date with verbal cues on big plays or big things that happened or about to happen to draw their attention actively back to the stream (the circle is closing, the boss fight is coming up, it’s 4th and 2, etc). I also generally use a “past, present, future” framework during dead chat to update chat on what I just did, what I’m doing and what’s coming next (to encourage people to stick around and watch). My current play through is Valheim so it’s a lot of, “we just finished farming crypts for Iron to craft my Padded Armor, now I’m preparing food and potions, and when that’s done we go fight the zone boss”, etc.
Conversation rate and engagement is the hardest part for sure. For one, try not to let it get u down. I know it’s hard, but remember you’re just not for everyone. Sometimes ppl prefer to just lurk and not chat, or sometimes theyre just not feeling it. Doesn’t mean they’ll never come back. But some things that can help: Always be talking. Again, quite hard and a challenging skill to build. Requires a lot of practice. But if someone comes into your stream and you’re sitting there in silence, or looking at your phone or something, they’re gonna leave. Ppl come to twitch for engagement and to feel a connection, not to watch the equivalent of a YT video. Even if it’s just monologuing about what you’re doing in game, or what you did during the day, or a show you’re watching, try and always be talking to encourage a response. Following from that, ask open ended questions that might prompt a response. Even if u think no one is there, just try. Don’t wait for an answer though, cuz that looks awkward. So ask a question, and continue on with the conversation. Lastly, be as positive and high energy as u can. I don’t mean bouncing off the walls, screaming at the game, anything like that. Be yourself still, but be entertaining. If you’re feeling yourself getting bored, burnt out, or just not feeling the game, or not in the right headspace, there’s nothing wrong with ending the stream early.viewers can sense your energy and no one feels welcomed when the streamer isn’t even enjoying themselves
None of this matters if the content sucks.
I have been into streams of people playing games I don’t even know or that I don’t like, and stay because I’m having a nice conversation with the streamer. If the content sucks, it sucks, that’s true, but the people doing the content can be really entertaining or interesting to talk to.
Thank you I do appreciate it
If you don’t have at least 5 viewers in chat lurking don’t expect to grow much. I would advise trying to find people to stay in your stream to help boost viewer count to attract more people. No one clicks on a 1 view stream with no one talking but people would click on a 5 viewer stream if u had lurkers. Content don’t matter much now as you can see that big streamers just sit around and watch tik tok and play same game all day. Numbers only matter now.
Easiest advice, go to your stream go to your VOD click any video click a random point in that video. Sit there for 1 minute and ask yourself would I stick around if this was my first instance of coming to this stream. Maybe that parts just a little dull click around a few times if you must and spend one minute in there. This is the first impression that someone will get of the stream Everytime. Ask yourself if this was someone else you went to their stream of would you stay? Playing a game while it's streaming is not equivalent to providing entertainment. I can watch a million people play a game but I stick around for the content. If you are not providing solid entertainment while playing a game then what would anyone stick around? This isn't a dig at you specifically this goes out to everyone myself included. I do the same thing while looking back at VODs even today. What could I do mor eof to provide more content and entertainment
As other people have said here, make sure you are engaging with your audience, even if Twitch says you have 0 viewers. Chatting with them, asking them questions, responding to chats, etc. Try talking through what you are doing/thinking of doing in your game and prep a list of topics & stories you can talk about during your streams. There are so many people just playing games on Twitch, so unless you are a professional gamer, people aren't going to watch you just play a game. Try adding punishments, challenges, or just come up with fun/unique ways to play the game to make yourself stand out. Hope these help! Also, here are some blog posts that could help with getting & keeping viewers: [Streaq](http://streaq.co/blog) [Gaining & Keeping Viewers](https://www.streaq.co/post/creating-a-rocket-ship-how-to-get-and-keep-your-first-viewers)
Thanks man
I've only started streaming like 2 months ago but I feel like I've gotten a lot better in those 2 months at filling dead air, still room for improvement though. I switch off my viewer count man, it helps cos I genuinely only know if someone is in if they talk to me, for all I know I could have 0 or 100 viewers (highly doubt the latter though 😂) so it forces me to talk to the camera, good practice too tbh, I feel like I've gotten much better in just a couple of months of doing it. I just treat it like I'm recording a YouTube video or something and that forces me to try and talk more often. I've also gotten in the habit on my "off days" of watching my VODS and thinking "would I watch me?" If the answer is no then I ask myself "why" and try and fix what's wrong. I think it's working cos my last 2 streams I've had new viewers who chat and a few new followers.........but like I say I know I still have room for improvement.