If you're interested in starting your streaming journey in 2024, you've come to the right place. We have a complete guide that will help you become a streamer and grow your audience. You may be concerned that it's too late to start streaming, but don't worry. This industry is still evolving, with new genres, platforms, and opportunities emerging all the time. We'll help you figure out where to begin.
Equipment needed to begin streaming in 2024
- Powerful Computer: When it comes to streaming games, your workstation should be powerful enough to handle high-quality broadcasting while maintaining resources for smooth streaming. Even though basic computers may be able to handle streaming, the quality of such broadcasts is questionable, and viewers may not stick around if they experience lags.
- Microphone and Camera: It's crucial to rely on a separate microphone that delivers high-quality sound and avoid using built-in laptop microphones or basic headsets that often introduce too much background noise. Even budget versions of separate microphones around $50 offer good quality. You can find out more about microphones here. As for the camera, it's essential to use everything that will help attract viewers, build long-term relationships, and contribute to your personal brand. If you don't have a dedicated camera, you can always use your phone.
- Lighting: Finally, lighting is a crucial detail that many overlook. A small lamp can enhance the quality of your image by thousands of dollars with just a few dollars invested. You can find more details about this in our article on lighting for streaming.
What to do on stream pre-launch
- Streaming Platform: At this stage, it is crucial to decide on the platforms where you want to stream. Currently, there are four main platforms: Twitch, YouTube, Kick, and TikTok, with some restrictions on the latter. You should familiarize yourself with the rules and features of each platform, observe other streamers, and determine where you want to build your community. Each platform has its pros and cons. For example, YouTube offers a synergy of online and offline content, aiding in faster audience growth. You can also use a multi-streaming service like Restream.io to broadcast simultaneously on multiple platforms, although Twitch may not appreciate this approach. We have an article that can help you decide which platform to choose for streaming.
- Define Your Niche: You should decide what content you want to broadcast. If it's gaming, then you should consider the genre you are interested in. While deciding, you should also consider the audience you want to attract and formulate hypotheses to test. These should be ideas that help you find your growth platform. You should analyze your colleagues, focusing not only on their strengths but also on their weaknesses to understand how you can outperform them.
- **Personal Brand: **You should define your positioning by listing your strengths and weaknesses. You should elevate your strengths to an absolute level and brainstorm ways to overcome your weaknesses. You can't hide them for long, so think about your interests beyond streaming and incorporate details of your hobbies into your broadcasts to make your image more cohesive.
- Tools: Once you have figured out the creative aspects, it's time to address the technical settings. You should choose a streaming program, configure graphics and alerts, and identify other useful tools. We have compiled a list of the best tools here.
How to grow stream
- Promoting Your First Stream: If you're a new streamer, it's important to promote your first stream properly so that you can attract an audience and make a good impression. Instead of spamming people with invitations, create videos related to your upcoming stream and share them on platforms like YouTube or TikTok. You can also encourage people to subscribe to your channel for updates on when you'll be streaming.
- Creating Offline Content: Streaming around the clock can be exhausting, so it's a good idea to create offline content that can attract new viewers even when you're not live. YouTube videos, shorts, and TikToks are great ways to do this and increase your visibility.
- Networking: In addition to promoting your content, it's important to connect with other streamers in your community. Collaborating with others can lead to unique creations and opportunities you might not have on your own. You can play games together, organize shows, or ask them to raid your channel. Building these connections can also provide you with valuable advice and support.
If you have any questions, feel free to join our Discord channel, where you can chat with numerous other streamers. We also recommend reading these articles:
How to get followers
How do streamers make money?
The difference between a Twitch Affiliate and a Partner
