If you ask around for advice on growing as a smaller streamer here on the subreddit, someone will inevitably point you towards using social media. They're entirely correct: social media allows broadcasters to expand their reach and interact with viewers outside of the broadcast. But usually the discussion ends there, leaving out the "how" entirely. Just like any other equipment or tools you use while streaming, it takes experience and effort to learn how to get the most out of each form of social media.
I won't pretend to be an absolute expert on the issue, but Twitter definitely plays a role in the promotion of our broadcast. What I can offer are some general tips that have been personally useful as well as techniques other broadcasters commonly use to increase awareness about of their channels:
- Create and maintain a twitter account that represents your broadcast. Your profile should reflect all the relevant information the uninitiated might need to find your broadcast. Don't be afraid to inject some personality (interesting personality and content can be huge for attracting new followers) but always remember the focus is improving your brand.
- Direct your viewers to your Twitter account. If you want active twitter participation from your audience, you need to actively encourage it. Create an on stream pop-up with your twitter information. Directly ask viewers to follow your Twitter account before you go on breaks. Create an automated CTT message for your chat. Thank individual viewers that Tweet about your stream. Create a twitter widget to display your retweets, capture it with CLR Browser, and display your retweets on broadcast/during breaks.
- Using a relative image or gif greatly increases engagement with posts. Do so whenever possible
- Make good use of hashtags and tweet at the appropriate people. If you're playing a game, figure out any appropriate hashtags related to the game and find the developer's twitter. Tweet out with this information before you start a game and send updates with your thoughts as you play the game. For popular games, you're tapping into a potentially huge audience. For smaller games, you have a chance to get the attention of the developers directly. Everyone wants to encourage excitement about their game, and most developers/promoters will be more than happy when you bring yourself to their attention.
- When in doubt, you can run with a simple:
"I'm live playing GameName!" www.twitch.tv/yournamehere #RelatedTag @GameDev @RelevantCommunity (add an image of the game)"
- Use Twitter to keep your audience up to date on your broadcast. Tweet your broadcast before you go live. In streams that go more than a few hours or where you plan on switching games partway through, tweet out updates. Schedule automated update tweets if you don't plan on doing this mid-broadcast. Just be careful to keep your Twitter feed from becoming spammy and make your twitter feed more than just a wall of going-live posts.
- Continue the conversation. Remember that your Twitter account is an extension of your broadcast. Give your thoughts about the games you are playing and have played. Reply to what other people playing that game are tweeting about. Ask your twitter audience questions and encourage them to share their opinions. This is your chance to tap into pre-existing communities on Twitter and to strengthen yours at the same time.
- Use twitter as a general networking tool. As you discover other broadcasters that you enjoy, proactively tweet at them and retweet/favorite their content. Unless you're talking to someone ridiculously famous, they will take notice of the people who regularly interact with them. Don't attempt to measure the impact and don't be upset if nothing comes of it. At worst, you're helping out someone whose content you enjoy. And at best... well, that's the way several of our friendships on Twitch began.
- Avoid follow for follows, auto-messagin and other similar low-effort schemes. You'll gain relatively little value from them and tend to annoy your actual, interested followers.
- Always focus on content and value. When your channel is smaller, your channel's content is the most important thing. Don't waste too much time working with social media when you can find ways to improve your main content. Likewise, make sure that what you end up sharing on Twitter adds value to your followers. Don't expect to get followers or engagement if you're not adding value to their experience