Twitch is a live video streaming service that is mostly for gamers. But other programs such as talk shows, cooking shows, and sporting events are also on Twitch.
With Twitch’s fast-growing popularity, especially in the past five years, there are plenty of great opportunities to make money while regularly streaming live videos.
PROS:
– You can make money doing what you love, especially if you’re good with tech and/or enjoy gaming.
– You get to connect with others online who share your interests
– There are many different ways to make money both with Twitch’s programs and by connecting other money-earning programs outside of Twitch to your Twitch account
CONS:
– You need some patience. It takes weeks and even months to build a big enough audience to start earning a decent amount of money from Twitch
– It can be hard to take a break from Twitch streaming. Some Twitch money-earning programs may stop paying you if you do less streaming and no longer meet their requirements to earn money.
How to Get Started:
NOTE: Before you start your business, you should read the page on this website entitled “things to think about before you get started.” After you have taken the preliminary steps for starting any business, you can take the specific steps outlined below.
1. Sign up and create a Twitch account. You can create a unique look and feel for your channel by including things like a profile picture, a profile banner, a video player banner, profile color, and other features.
Now that you’re on Twitch the next steps are about building your audience.
2. Choose your Twitch channel’s topic. It’s tempting to try to get everyone on Twitch to follow you.
But focusing your channel on one thing is the best way to attract followers who share your interest in that topic. For example, you could focus your channel on a certain type of music, or Minecraft gaming.
3. Talk to your viewers. Make comments and talk with your audience while streaming and/or playing a game on Twitch. Watch other streamers to get ideas on how to connect and engage with your followers.
4. Support other streamers. There are a lot of great communities on Twitch. Watching other streamers and making positive comments can help you connect with people who share your interests.
Also, you could start streaming together with your friends on Twitch to reach even more viewers and grow your audience.
5. Think about accepting donations. It takes a while for most new Twitch streamers to be allowed to make money from subscriptions. The good thing is you can still accept donations from your Twitch viewers.
Talk to a parent about setting up a PayPal account or another payment service, especially if you’re under the age of 18.
How Much to Charge:
The more viewers your livestreams have, the more money you can make.
The average Twitch channel has around 60 subscribers. Even getting just five to 10 average viewers per stream can take a little longer compared to getting viewers on TikTok or YouTube.
You can start making some money with Twitch, even if you have less than 10 average viewers per stream. Here are some general numbers, according to the website Streamer Facts.
Twitch streamers with five to 10 average views per stream make about $50 to $200 monthly on average.
Streamers with an average of 20 viewers per stream can make $200 to $400 per month. Twitch channels with an average of 50 viewers per stream can make $500 to $750 per month.
And if you get an average of 100 or more viewers per stream, you could earn $1,000 or more during an average month.
Taking it to the Next Level:
1. Don’t make Twitch your only social media site. Consider setting up a website. You can also set up accounts on other social media sites that are popular with Twitch followers such as TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube.
2. Consider using Twitch’s programs to earn income. You can apply for the Twitch Affiliate Program and the Twitch Partner Program if your channel meets certain viewer and use requirements.
3. Add on other ways to make money with Twitch. As your channel grows, you will be able to make money with different levels of subscriptions.
Think about having a family member or friend help you sell T-shirts and/or other merchandise related to your channel.
Twitch streamers also use other platforms including Patreon, Amazon (the Amazon Associates program), and other sites to make money.
