Streaming became extremely popular in recent years – from being a hobby to becoming a legitimate job that can earn you a lot of money. But it’s not as simple as turning on a camera and filming yourself. A lot of elements go into it that can contribute and truly transform your streaming experience. So if you are someone who is interested in pursuing streaming, regardless if it’s a hobby or as a profession, here are some useful tips that can help you!
Get inspired
First things first, most people won’t just turn their front cameras and instantly become a streamer, especially not a successful one at that. So in order to get the best results and to have more fun along the way, it’s to know what kind of content you want to stream. It’s not a good idea if you are interested in streaming just because it’s popular and profitable at the moment – you never know what might become popular next, so are you going to drop streaming and do that instead? If you are truly interested and passionate about streaming, it’s a good idea to involve your other interests, like playing video games, making art, talking, doing ASMR, or literally anything that makes you happy. Whilst this is far from a 9 to 5 kind of job, you’ll still have to spend a lot of time on stream, so better do something you live while you’re at it!
Equipment is key
After you’ve figured out what kind of content you want to make, it’s important to figure out how to do it in the first place! Starting from the obvious, you’ll need a computer with a camera or a laptop – even a smartphone. But it’s always better to stream on your computer for better quality and speed. Another extremely important thing is a microphone and a headset, preferably ones that are better quality so that your audience can hear you clearly! You want to have everything you need at your desk, including a put-together setup that’s organized – the last thing you want to do is have a messy surrounding. If possible, have a spare camera, mouse, earphones, cables, and anything that can easily get faulty.
Make a list of everything you need, especially if you are just a beginner – finding a good computer can be tricky, especially if you are financially restricted but it’s also necessary to do the job right. If you are unable to buy a new setup, make the best of what you already have and start investing little by little, this might take a while but at least you’ll have great equipment at the end of the day.
Softwares and helpful tools
Whilst equipment is extremely important, so is the software that will make your streaming dreams come to life. Starting from the streaming platform – the most famous one being Twitch, where lots and lots of streamers work at and create all sorts and kinds of content. But that doesn’t stop there, you can add a lot more with additional tools! Even if you are just starting your streaming era and have no idea what works hot, there is plenty of software that has the easiest interface for streaming, also they are easy to use for someone who is just starting. There are plenty of useful apps and software that can help with managing the quality of your streams, especially when it comes to video and audio, and those two are essential for a streaming career!
Your environment matters too
The room you are streaming in matters more than you can imagine – especially if you are the focus of the stream, but even if you are sharing the screen and not moving at all, the room behind you is still noticeable. You can always go with the basic gamer or streamer aesthetic with the gaming setup, chair, and purple neon lights in the background. Whilst that might work for some, there are different ways to arrange and decorate the room you’ll be streaming in. Not only will a pretty environment help you stay calm and relaxed, but it will also appeal to the audience as well. Try to find suitable furniture and decor – even change the color of your room to a more muted, light color, especially if you are planning on adding neon lights, or even fairy lights to make the environment look cozy!
Engage with the audience
There is a reason why streaming is so well perceived and liked by so many people – the creators are approachable and people simply like long-term content. Being a streamer is far different than filming a video and uploading it on youtube, where technically you don’t even have to engage with anyone, whilst the streaming system opens up a lot of doors for fans to talk to the creators. As a creator, make sure you are engaging with the chart, talk to your watchers, and discuss various topics depending on your streaming content. Regardless of whether you have 10 followers or 10.000 followers, giving them the attention and acknowledging them is key and they certainly won’t forget it!
Being persistent
Being persistent is crucial, regardless of the job, it’s all about the work you put into it. Lot’s and lots of streamers start small, with zero views and followers – but that shouldn’t stop them, everyone starts at the same place but you never know where life might lead you. Keep in mind that someone like Ninja or Pokimane started somewhere too, so you can achieve that level of greatness as well. But nothing comes without a price – be persistent with your streams, endure long and sometimes boring hours, bit all for a good cause!
See what others are doing
There is a sea of creators, everyone is jumping on the streaming bandwagon – and for a good reason. Who wouldn’t like to work from home, playing video games? But even if you have a niche interest and a small group of people to follow, it’s smart to take a look at the community, how are they like, what are the creators like? You can learn a lot from watching other people, this can give you a jump start and give you a good image of what to expect. The important thing is not to copy other streamers, see what works for them and how they tick, but never blatantly make a copy of their content and call it yours. Always strive to be authentic and original, as this will draw in more curious people!
Practice makes perfect
Just like anything else, practice makes perfect! Not a lot of people are used to a camera, it takes some time to adjust yourself to filming. So your first few tries might seem awkward or uncomfortable, it gets better over time. The truth is, you should act like yourself, but be aware that you are on camera. This is unsettling for some people, especially the live streaming element of it, but streamers got used to it and it doesn’t really bother them. The more you stream the less you’ll be awkward and shy, it’s as simple as that – and remember that your viewers are there to support you!
Be up to date
It’s extremely helpful to be up to date as a streamer, and this can be applied to many things at once. It’s important to be engaged enough when being a part of a community- if you are a gamer and want to stream yourself playing video games and making jokes, it’s smart if you are also educated and caught up with the latest news and releases in the gaming industry. This can open a lot of doors later on, for possible sponsors that are in the same industry as you, follow them, contact them and eventually work with them if you want.
Expand your presence
Even if your goal is to become a streamer, you shouldn’t limit yourself to one type of platform. Some streamers started on Instagram, some on TikTok, some on a completely different platform – and some use those same social media platforms to promote their streams. It all comes down to spreading the word about your work and drawing in more viewers, how are people going to watch you if they don’t even know you exist? With the power of social media algorithms, you can reach your target audience no matter how niche it might be!
Don’t give up
The last thing you want to keep in mind is – don’t give up. Sure, you probably won’t be an overnight sensation like some streamers, but as long as you are doing it out of love and adoration for streaming, it doesn’t matter. It all comes down to your wants and goals, but if you put your mind to it who knows how far you can reach. So if things get rough, if people disapprove and bully you against this, it’s a sign you should most definitely do it!
At the end of the day, there isn’t a universal guide on how to become a successful streamer, but there are plenty of ways for me to make the process easier for you. It’s all about having fun and enjoying the time with your viewers, streaming is simply that kind of activity – you are expected to be relaxed and genuinely enjoy your time. So if you are looking to start your live streaming career, even as a hobby, make sure to have fun with it!
