How to Become a Streamer - Your 6 Step Guide

Want to learn how to become a streamer? If so, we’ve got the answers for you right here!

Streaming has become a big business in recent years - from vloggers to gamers showing off their talents, streamers have become modern-day celebrities.

With platforms such as Twitch boasting upwards of 1.4 million concurrent viewers at any one time, there are plenty of people waiting for new content. Naturally, every aspiring streamer wants to know how to get popular on Twitch or YouTube.

Before you can start thinking about how to become a successful streamer, you need to start from the bottom, or in other words - know how to become a streamer.

Here we will provide you with a few basic tips on how to build up a following on the top streaming sites, focusing on how to become a video game streamer. 

1. Get the Right Equipment

A lot of people jump too far ahead and dream about the type of content they’re going to produce before they even think about the basics. The first step, however, in any guide on how to become a streamer, should always start with equipment. Without the right tools, you can’t produce anything.

The good news is that you don’t need the most expensive kit from Alienware. You do, however, need the following items to stream effectively:

• A laptop, PC, or Mac. Make sure your device has USB ports to connect your streaming devices to. Also, if possible, have a device with a solid-state hard drive and at least 8GB of RAM to ensure everything loads quickly and smoothly.
• A camera. You can use a simple webcam if your budget is small. If you’ve got a bit more to spend, look for something that records video and audio - cameras offering 160-degree recording coverage and 4K quality are a great place to start. If you're on a tighter budget, you can buy similar cameras without 4K recording quality.
• A microphone. Most beginners who are learning how to become a streamer will use a USB mic. These are simple plug-and-play devices that allow you to record basic audio. However, as you start to become more advanced, you might want to use a mixer. If that’s the case, you’ll need an XLR mic. Using a mixer can be daunting at first. Fortunately, today’s products are fairly easy to use, so don’t be afraid to step up your audio game when the time is right.

2. Know Your Niche

You need an idea, the right equipment, and a place to stream. Gaming offers plenty of opportunities to create unique, entertaining content. However, it’s not easy. You can learn how to become a streamer in a few minutes, but it may take months or even years to build up enough of a fanbase to make some real money.

Once you’ve got your equipment, the next thing you need to think about is your niche. Given that gaming is our field, we already know that this is where your focus will be.

Then, you need to think about your intended audience and gaming genre. Do you want to play MMOs or MMORPGs? If you decide that MMORPGs will be your niche, are you going to focus on PvP or PvE games? These are the types of questions you should ask yourself.

In fact, you also need to delve a little deeper once you’ve identified the types of game you’re going to stream. You should think about the type of content you want to produce. Are you going to be a serious player who focuses on hardcore tactics and strategy? Are you going to be a social player who takes a laid-back approach and focuses more on audience interaction?

Your style of streaming should match your personality. A lot of people learn to become streamers based on what other people have done. However, almost all of the famous names in the business carved out their own path. Yes, there is value in taking inspiration from others, but what you shouldn’t do is copy their style. 

Find your own voice and image, with a great gaming logo, and produce content that matches your interests and personality. This will make your streams authentic which, in turn, makes them more engaging. This is the best answer for how to become a successful streamer.

Be yourself and people will see that you’re genuine, making them more likely to tune in regularly.  

3. Pick Your Platform

Most people in gaming want to know how to become a twitch streamer. This platform was built on the shoulders of gaming and remains the most popular place for this type of content. That said, as much as people want to know how to become popular on Twitch, it’s important to remember that it’s not the only platform in town.

There are thousands of streamers on Twitch, which means it can be hard to breakthrough. Therefore, you might want to consider starting on YouTube or one of the niche sites.

Even if you eventually move across to Twitch, it doesn’t have to be the place you start when you’re learning how to become a streamer.

How much money does the average Twitch streamer make?

The average streamer with a few thousand followers can make approximately $5,000 a month if they’re playing for 40 hours a week. This figure is not set in stone and the amounts people make will vary.

In general, you can make up to $250 per 100 subscribers per month. So, if you’ve got 2,000 subscribers, it’s possible to make $5,000 per month.  

4. Create a Schedule and Stick to It

As is the case with many industries that seem very glamorous, people always want to know how to become a video game streamer, without really understanding the commitment it takes. They see the celebrities with millions of followers making upwards of $1 million a year and they want a piece of the action.

What people don’t see are the roads popular streamers had to take. They didn’t start streaming one day and became superstars the next. They put in countless hours, often with very few people watching, to build up a following.

Consistency and dedication count for a lot when you’re learning how to become a streamer. It’s important to create a schedule and stick to it. Just like your favorite TV show, people come to expect a certain type of content on a certain day at certain times.

If you start streaming on a Monday night at 8 pm, stick to it for a few weeks. If your viewing figures increase, keep to that schedule. If not, try another day and time. Once you’ve found the optimal times to stream, don’t deviate from your schedule.

People will start planning their days around your streams. This is how you build up a loyal following and, in turn, become a popular streamer.

5. Start Streaming and be Yourself

The penultimate step in this guide on how to become a streamer is broadcasting your content. By now, you’ve got the right equipment, you know the type of content you’re going to produce, and you know when and where you’re going to stream it. The next step is to do it. Dive in and start showing off your talents.

Your first few streams aren’t going to be great. In fact, they might be terrible - but don’t let that put you off! Everyone’s first stream is fairly poor. Remember that once you become comfortable and find your voice, things will improve.

The main things you need to focus on are engagement and creativity. Treat each stream as though it’s a meeting with your friends. Talk to the viewers directly and don’t become too engrossed in the game you’re playing. Remember that this is entertainment.

It’s ok to be silent and play, but people want to feel like they’re part of the action. This is what separates live streams from TV shows. There’s a certain amount of interaction that’s expected.

Keep in mind that it’s probably best to wait a while before you start testing out crazy ideas or creating competitions. As noted above, it is true that the more you can make your stream stand out, the better.

But there are thousands of streams out there, and learning how to get popular on Twitch isn’t easy. You've got to learn the rules before you break them.

If you’re confident, friendly, engaging, and creative, you stand a much better chance of making it. Above all else, quality counts. Even if your stream only lasts 30 minutes, make every minute count. A short burst of high-quality content is much better than hours of mediocre content.

How much does a beginner streamer make?

You need around 500 regular viewers to start making money as a Twitch streamer. You can make around $3.50 per 1,000 views. Therefore, when you’re just starting out, you may only make $100-$500 a month. Your earnings can increase quickly, though, as you become more popular.

6. Becoming a Successful Streamer: Analyze Your Content

The final step in this guide on how to become a streamer is analysis. Running the numbers and reviewing your content is hugely important.

• How many viewers are you getting?
• Are certain days more popular than others?
• How about the style of content you’re producing?
• Are the walkthroughs getting better ratings than your free-play sessions?
• What about your social media channels?
• Are links to your streams getting a lot of clicks or are people naturally finding your content via the streaming platform?

All of these questions need to be answered if you want to refine your product. Learning how to become a video game streamer is fairly simple. What’s not simple is learning how to become a successful streamer. There are people out there who do this for a living.

What’s more, they have teams of people working for them. From audience engagement to social media posting, these teams of people help to make the top streamers even more popular. You won’t be able to compete with them at the start.

If you’re actively analyzing your content though, and thinking about ways to improve, you can start increasing your viewing figures. Then, once you identify and correct your weaknesses, it’s a matter of consistency. Keep doing the things that work well for you and, over time, you’ll have the best chance of succeeding.

Figuring out how to become a streamer doesn’t take a lot of effort. Discovering ways to get popular on Twitch and other platforms does.

If you’re willing to embrace the hard work, have fun, and enjoy what you’re doing, there’s no reason you can’t become a top-rated streamer. That’s how to become a streamer and, moreover - that’s how to be the best you can be!