The Ultimate Twitch Starter Pack

Your First Steps to Twitch Stardom

You have been gaming for as long as you can remember. Tons of hours of gameplay have naturally contributed to your becoming a Master in your trade. A new power is rising, and you have become very well aware of your level. It just feels like it has to pay off at some point. All those hours should count for something in the end. When your “Hooray” and “Wow” moments during play start prevailing you may have reached the point where you have something to share with the rest of the community. In a world of free market you have an asset and there is demand for it. So, you ask yourself “What if I started streaming and got paid while doing what I love?”

It is a niche and therefore there will be others who will come up with the same idea. Do not by any means get discouraged by them vultures. If you have the spark, you’re on. In order to be well prepared for the long way to the top, there is a lot to consider before starting your Twitch journey.

1. Your Battle Station: Choose Your Weapon

With so many people wanting the same thing it might be safe to assume that you will be going to war. It is understandable that you will then need every advantage. Choose you weapon wisely, as a lot of wise men have already noted. Twitch supports a lot of platforms. Choose the one that suits you best. Make sure the selection process is comprehensive and unforgiving. The outcome will be very important.

PC or Mac

The good news is that you don’t need to pay an arm and a leg for a gaming rig… yet. Twitch is lenient with system requirements. This is the list:

• Intel Core i5-4670 processor or AMD FX-6300 onwards
• 8GB of RAM
• Windows 7 onwards
• Dedicated video card DDR5 up

Don’t own a windows PC? Mac users can still stream, though Twitch recommends that you used a Mac with a dedicated GPU, as the built-in Intel HD Graphics will take away processing power from the CPU.

If you’re streaming PC games, you’ll need a graphics card powerful enough to support the game. The GPU must support DirectX 10 and up.

For the best streaming experience, we recommend that you did it from a desktop. With that said streaming from a laptop is possible with the right specs and enough power.

While Twitch’s system specifications are rather tolerant, streaming high-end games which eat RAM and GPU for breakfast will need an equally powerful machine. An intense session of streaming and running a demanding game at the same time can put your PC companion under extreme pressure. Some streamers have come up with an interesting countermeasure – they use two PCs at the same time, one for gaming, and another for streaming.

Xbox

Xbox owners can join the fun and continue chasing the dream of becoming the next online A-lister. Broadcasting to Twitch right from your Xbox is super easy. Just download and launch the free Twitch app from the Xbox Store and you are ready to go!

PS4

PS4 just outdid others and launched a button to rule them all. To start your Twitch career just press the share button on your PS4 controller while in-game. Then voila, say hello, because you are live! No fuss, no mess. Convenience at your fingertips!

Nintendo Switch

Unlike other consoles on this list, the Nintendo Switch doesn’t support internal streaming.  To proceed with broadcasting, you will need a capture card. Once you have picked the best card just plug it in your PC and you are good to go.

Mobile

Streaming your favorite mobile game directly to Twitch using your smartphone is a no go. But don’t lose hope because you can still show your mobile gaming moves by using the Reflector 3 app and a PC. The show must go on.

2. Internet Connection: Don’t Let Bad ISP Disconnect your Dream

No one wants to watch a lagging streamer that is having ISP problems. To avoid that, make sure that your internet connection is fast and stable. It is also probably smart to have a back-up connection. A reliable router is also a good idea. Invest in routers that support lag-free gaming.

3. Twitch Account: Your Gateway to Online Hooray

This is a no-brainer. Sign up toTwitch.tv to join for free. There are ways to mark your progress in the streaming site. You can be either a Partner or an Affiliate. These are special types of Twitch accounts that basically allow monetization of streams. Anyone can be a Twitch Affiliate or Partner, however, several conditions must be matched to qualify. This ranges from the stream’s following and popularity to the number of subscribers a channel has.

Twitch Affiliates are granted access to Bits which is like mini-donations from viewers and 5% of game sale profits earned by their channel. Twitch Partners additionally have perks. Plus, they can have video ads, paid subscriptions rights, custom badges, personalized emoticons, and other added exclusive content.

4. Picking Streaming Software

To commence your Twitch career, you must pick a broadcasting application for your channel. There is a lot of free and paid software for this purpose. Though you could choose the best that suits you it is recommended to try using the OBS first. Open Broadcaster Software or most commonly known as the OBS is proficient software for starters.

5. Your gear

Good equipment will provide equivalent quality. However, I’m not telling you to buy the tools that Ninja uses for his streams or start installing a green screen.

First things first. What the viewers want to watch other than the game is you. They want to see and hear you clearly. Remember, you are an entertainer and your followers will love a vocal captain. That is why investing in a high-quality microphone and a camera will go a long way.

You already have a built-in mic in your my gaming headset. True as this is you will still benefit greatly from a dedicated microphone so that your viewers can understand you clearly. If you have no clue which one is right for you, check out our guide about the best microphones for streaming.

Your facial reactions are a significant part of you overall act. A bunch or mushed pixels on the screen will be sure to spoil the experience. Invest in a quality streaming camera that will serve you well.

Evaluate your peripherals too. Optimize your mouse, keyboard and headset. Poor equipment might result in poor games. No one will watch if all they see is you dying all the time.

Remember, your viewers will grow if you continue to show off your awesome entertaining skills and montage-worthy plays.

6. Picking Your Game: The Right One for You

You love League of Legends and play Fortnite like a true champion, so you plan on streaming it. You might want to reconsider. A sound strategy is a must.  

There are tons of streamers under that content. Big sharks too. Muscling your way through that jungle is like draining the sea with a bucket. Maybe you are some prodigy in marketing or you already have a fan base somewhere else and you are just looking to migrate it. But if you are not one of these exceptions, then forget it, at least for now.

There must be some sort of golden middle. Find a game that is not polluted with streamers. A good game with a decent following is your chance to fame. Start with a small community and as you gather momentum, start streaming the top tiers and aim for the big guns.

7. Building a Fanbase: Fans Are Your Lifelines

You are all set, your battle station is gleaming with goodies and you are ready to show the world your skills. Now the real game starts. But no one shows up to your stream. Only a couple of friends and relatives. Yikes!

Don’t lose heart, my young Padawan, this is just the beginning of your journey!

Grow your channels by small bounds first, such as having a custom avatar, a banner, and witty bio so you will have a bit of online branding. You may also want to stream on a certain schedule. No one would check on you every day so it is best to start with a regular stream as you build your following.

Have a Social Media presence, this is important. Make a dedicated Twitter, Facebook and Instagram account for your channel. These links must be visible on your channel so viewers could easily click it and follow you. Having outlets like these will strengthen online imprint and increase your chances of success.

Let’s Wrap It Up!

Streaming can seem frightening at first. This makes perfect sense, as we all know that in all spheres of life the first step is always the hardest. Love what you do and aim for perfection. Make room for mistakes and take them as lessons learned.  Make noise and plan your marketing strategy. Let people know that you are on Twitch and you are a fun guy to spend time with.

To start a successful channel, you have to keep moving forward even when it’s not as easy as a walk in the park. Press on and work your craft. Learn every day and most importantly have fun. You wouldn’t watch a guy who hates his job, right?