Twitch offers something you can’t find anywhere else: live gaming feeds. As it turns out, millions of viewers are keen to watch funny and talented gamers play. Right now, there are more than 140 million active streams, and it’s easy to join in.
Broadcasting your game might seem a little confusing if you’ve never done it before, but a couple tools will make it easy and seamless. Then you can concentrate on gameplay and building up followers for your channel. Below, find five of the best tools for Twitch.
1. OBS Studio
OBS is at the top of this list because it’s a powerful screen recorder. It is open source and free, which is a major pro, and allows you to record videos directly from the webcam and mic. You can also add clips from your game so that they occupy part of the screen. You can also direct your stream to multiple sharing platforms at the same time.
If you want to expand beyond Twitch, OBS is also compatible with YouTube, Livecoding.tv, and more. The interface is fairly straightforward and easy to use, with audio, video, and screen recording set out separately. A great basic starter’s tool if you’re ready to begin live streaming via Windows.
2. Stream-Aid
Stream-Aid will make it easier for you to begin to monetize your gaming on Twitch. The platform allows streamers to set up custom pages and offer unique experiences to your viewers. You boost your channel revenue by enabling viewers to trigger fun, text-to-speech animated scenes on your stream when donating. Rather than your run-of-the-mill donation alerts, these are immersive animations, and there are new ones every week. There are also “Listings,” which are fun offers that viewers can purchase which you design: play a game together, 1v1 you in Fortnite, get game coaching, whatever you want. Finally, there are Missions, which allow viewers to send you on stream missions to complete for money: the viewers can design the Mission themselves (though you decide whether to accept them). That makes it more fun for both of you!
3. Snap Camera
Snap Camera’s Twitch extension allows you to bring Snapchat Lenses to your livestreams. This lets you amplify your streaming persona and express yourself in fun, engaging ways so that your audiences feel extra inoled. Snap Camera lets you have more fun with your interactions with viewers while building your personal brand.
4. Buffer
Buffer is a social media tool whose free version is handy and easy to use. This will allow you to expand your reach and grow your audience: you can post to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and more. It’s easy to upload text and screencaps or clips from your gaming, so that you can reach a wider audience. On top of that, you get basic analytics on your content, so you know what’s grabbing your audience’s attention. You can schedule content so that you have a consistent output, which will also boost your visibility in most social media’s algorithms.
Buffer is the one we recommend, but there are plenty of different types of social management tools, and you’ll want to choose one that’s easy to use.
5. Crowd Control
This is a tool that will get your viewers engaged like never before– which is what they want most, really. The tool allows viewers to participate in the game while the streamer is playing live. Your viewers can aid you by sending you in-game items, for example. They can also make things trickier for you, by enabling effects like powerups and instant death (yikes). Not all games are supported, but it’s a great way to turn casual viewers into devoted fans who keep coming back for more.
These are just a few of the tools that will help you start out on Twitch and then grow your fanbase. But most of all, you want to communicate and have fun– get streaming up, play a game you love, and talk to your viewers so they feel like they’re in on the action. As long as you’ve got that covered, you can’t go wrong. Happy gaming!