What is Twitch and how does it Work :- If you’re new to streaming platforms and Twitch is Chinese to you, you’ve come to the right place.
What is this story about Twitch, the beta version of Twitter? Twitch is the largest live video or streaming platform today. Here, streamers of all ages stream their video games or esports teams stream their professional competitions
Are you ready to embark on the streaming craze? We’ll show you how to use Twitch while you think about “going live.”
Table of Contents
What is Twitch and what is it for?
It’s a streaming platform, ok, but has it always been oriented towards the world of “gamers”?
Twitch was born in 2011 so that streamers around the world can broadcast their video game games to spectators or viewers for free. Viewers who can also watch any channel for free.
In 2014, Amazon bought the platform and Twitch, which is still focused on streaming video games, expanded its boundaries.
Since then, we can see channels of live music or artistic creations. In short, it’s a world to discover.
Okay and now, what is Twitch for?
It’s easier than you think.
If you are a person who wants to evolve in the world of streaming.
This platform is free for you, all you need is a good computer with plenty of hard drive memory, a microphone and a webcam. With that, you can already go live and create a community.
If you are an all-terrain spectator.
For you, television does not exist and your hobby is to watch streaming. Here you can find a lot of channels about video games, live chats or music channels. Pure and simple entertainment… and free!
You can also interact with your favorite streamer and support their broadcast with financial donations.
How do I subscribe to a Twitch channel?
Subscriptions are one of the methods to support your streamer economically.
Twitch offers three types of subscriptions: €4.99, €9.99, and €24.99. In each of them, the streamer can apply different things: custom emoticons, subscription emblems, etc.
That’s it, you know what Twitch is and its little story… But how do we use it?
How does Twitch Work?
As soon as you set foot on the Twitch platform , you realize one thing: it’s free.
You can blow your eyes out watching all the streams you want and watch for free.
But we’re here to learn, so check out that video game you love, then click “Sign Up” and start your adventure.
You can change your Twitch username at any time and your profile picture . However, if you changed it recently, you will have to wait at least 60 days to change it again.
How to use Twitch?
When you get to the homepage, you’ll find a simple control panel, where you can see a slider with several channels broadcasting live at a glance.
Home Twitch
In the sliders at the beginning, you will see videos with the user, the video game he is playing, the live viewers , the language and a small bio on his channel.
There it will not be possible to interact with the streamer, but if you click on the screen you will go to the broadcast where, once connected, you can do it.
If you scroll down the page, you’ll see recommendations by category: video games, lectures, or music and art.
In the top bar you will have different options.
The “Twitch home” and “Discover” button to return to the main screen.
In the Explore option, you will find the different categories of Twitch divided into video games, chat or music and performing arts. You can also search by tags or browse channels directly and spend some time until you find one you like.
The “Try Prime” button provides direct access to a page for subscribing to this type of service. The search feature, you can search the channels of your favorite streamer, if you know the name.
Finally, you’ll see Twitch notifications of freebies you can access if you have a prime membership.
In the left column, there is a new set of recommended channels that you can visit.
Unlike the middle slider, here you can only see the username and the number of viewers at that time.
If you click on the live channel you want to watch, you will have a small control panel where you can see the streaming.
You can follow the streamer, subscribe with monthly payments or send messages to the live chat.
Inside the video, you can change the reproduction quality, in case you don’t have a good Internet connection, set theater mode or zoom to full screen.
Finally, in the lower part, you will see the title of the live which will inform you about what it is, the category assigned according to the video game, the labels, and if it belongs to a team. You will also also see the number of viewers at that time and the total number of views.
Please note that Twitch no longer allows you to use copyrighted music in your live streams and may penalize you for doing so.
To learn more about the type of music you can use in your Twitch streams, click here.
What is Twitch Prime or Prime Gaming?
If you have Amazon Prime, you know the principle. Twitch Prime is included with Amazon Prime and Prime video. It gives you the option to subscribe to a channel once a month at no additional cost to support your favorite streamer.
Twitch Prime offers additional benefits, such as access to specific games and content, freebies, exclusive emotes, chat color options, and the members-only Prime chat emblem.
Plus, you can save your old Twitch streams for 60 days instead of the usual 14 days.
Prime Gaming and Twitch
How to start streaming on Twitch
Once you have the whole system in place, you need streaming software. We recommend the most used, ‘OBS Studio’, which is also the one Twitch recommends to start with.
Download and install streaming software
If you don’t know how to do this, go to the “Control Panel” column of your profile and click on “Get streaming software”.
Connect to your channel
If you’ve already signed up, as you learned in the previous step, and are logged in, all you need to do is edit your channel so viewers know who you are.
Configure your streaming information
In the “Edit stream information” icon, you can add your creative part before the live. Choose a good headline that lets people know what you’re going to talk about and entices them to click on it. Change the notification that appears on Twitch or leave the default message. Define a category and add tags to make your content easier to find and don’t forget the language of the live stream.
Connect OBS to Twitch
Connect to the OBS streaming program and connect to Twitch by clicking on the streaming option. This is a simple step, as the default OBS settings are sufficient and recommended for streaming on Twitch.
Start streaming
Once logged in, go to the OBS platform and click on source / recording source and choose the one you are going to use – an image from your PC, from the camera or static image that you decide to put, etc.
If you are not sure if everything is correct, you can see a preview in the studio mode option. If you think everything is fine, click on “Start Streaming” and finally on “Stop Streaming” .
It’s time to start earning viewers, views and, why not, money with Twitch.
Recommended channels by category IRL
If you’re new to Twitch, you might not know which channels to follow.
In addition to video games, which have their own category, Twitch offers you the IRL category . This refers to In Real Life, which means “in real life, away from video games”.
Which ones should you follow in your profile?
If you want to delete a live stream that you don’t like the look of, don’t panic, we show you how to do it step by step: How to delete a live video on Twitch.
How to create a community on Twitch?
One of the ways to grow on Twitch is to reward your community and make them feel part of every stream.
For this, using channel points or Twitch commands are a great way to achieve this.
Host other channels
Are you a high impact streamer? Hosting other channels will give you visibility and a good reputation within the Twitch community, as it helps support other smaller streamers.
With hosting, your viewers can watch another streamer while you’re off air. If they visit your channel, they will find another streamer’s live stream.
Raid on another channel
One of the ways to build community on your channel is to raid another streamer. This action means that when you end your stream, viewers will be moved to another channel of your choice.
With this type of action, you gain the respect of your community, because you are helping another streamer, and you will be more valued on the platform.
Chain stitches
Channel points are one way to help your stream’s chat attendance.
With these points, which are free, they can unlock certain rewards and interact with you in the chat.
Orders on Twitch
Twitch commands are used to automatically send messages in chat.
How to put commands on Twitch
Twitch has a default set of commands, but you can also create your own.
What are Twitch Bits?
With Bits, you can help the streamer earn money while hosting the chat during the broadcasts.
These Bits are virtual items that you buy on Twitch with real money, with which you can Cheer in chat and actively participate in live videos.
What is a Twitch clip?
A Twitch clip is a 5-60 second video segment that you and your viewers can create on your streams.
You can also download a Twitch video to watch it offline later or , if you’re a streamer, so you don’t lose any broadcasts you make. A full detailed guide on Twitch Clips: Everything You Need to Know
How to Create a poll on Twitch
In-show polls help you connect with your audience and viewers.
You can ask them for their opinion on a topic to discuss or to help you decide what to do in today’s stream.
Through commands or from the Creator Dashboard, you can design your own polls.
Create a poll on Twitch step by step
A full Detailed guide on What are Twitch Polls and How to Create Twitch Polls?
Statistics on Twitch
It is just as important to be live and maintain your channel as to control the data and statistics of your broadcasts.
In Twitch, you have access to metrics for the channel in general and for each live video in particular.
On the other hand, you have all the information of your channel in one click, all on the same platform. Also, the ability to upload PDF or PPT reports to present will be your main ally as a content creator.
In addition to your stats, you can analyze your competitors’ Twitch channels . Enter the streamer’s username and view all their channel information and data.
How to moderate your Twitch streams?
Moderating Twitch live streams is one way to make sure everything is going well during your broadcast.
You can choose a platform user as a moderator from the chat or from your dashboard. Keep in mind that the people you choose will be responsible for managing your community during broadcasts.
How to monetize on Twitch
In addition to voluntary donations from your followers, Twitch offers two ways to earn money with your channel.
Twitch Affiliate Program
Joining this program will cost you very little, but you will need to meet a number of conditions:
- You must have at least 50 followers to become a Twitch Affiliate. Take care of your content, it will not generate itself.
- You must have a minimum of 500 minutes of streaming in the last 30 days – press the “play” button on your OBS studio!
- Get at least 3 viewers on average in the last 7 days before applying to join this program.
- At least 7 unique streaming days in the last 30 days.
As you can see, they are simple, but they do take some work. 500 minutes, for example, is almost 9 hours.
If you meet these requirements, you will be able to:
- Accept subscriptions from viewers and set up memberships.
- Receive money through bits, virtual currencies that your subscribers buy and for which you will receive part of the cost.
- Sell Twitch-related games and receive 5% of sales revenue.
Twitch Partner
The Twitch Partner Program is the next level of membership that Twitch offers you to generate revenue .
How to participate in this program?
- You will need to stream 25 hours in the last 30 days.
- You will need to stream at least 12 different days out of the last 30 days.
- You will need an average of 75 viewers over the past 30 days.
Is that all you need?
Not really, because achieving this does not guarantee you a partner.
You can then click the “Apply” button and the Twitch team will review your request, expecting a response within 7 business days.
This step is a bit more complicated, and you will have to work hard to become a Twitch Partner.
Now the benefits are even greater than being an affiliate. In addition to what you can get with the previous one, by being a partner you will be able to:
- Earn money from ads. Here you can choose the duration and frequency of ads and take a share of the revenue they generate.
- Customize your channel in different ways: chat badges, custom emoticons, bit badges or lifetime subscriptions.
- Store your live streams for up to 60 days for 14 affiliates.
- Receive priority support from the Twitch team.
As we can see, Twitch is a streaming and entertainment platform that offers a wide variety of channels from the first time you enter it.