Every day on Twitch, over a million streamers switch on their live streaming gear, grab a beverage, and go live, broadcasting gaming, chatting, travel streams, music performance, and more to their viewers. Some stream on Twitch to thousands of viewers and subscribers; others to 5 or 10 people. 

As a new streamer, though, how do you even get followers on Twitch? In the vast Twitch system, full of streamers of all experience levels and so many different types of content, it can seem impossible to get noticed at all, especially if you’re not yet Partnered or Affiliated on Twitch.

We’re here to help! We’ll walk you through some proven strategies to help increase your Twitch following, from making your Twitch channel and content the best it can be, to streaming schedules, ideas for going live, what to offer your subscribers (including great merch from Fourthwall!), and growth tactics to help get more viewers. Then, turn those viewers into followers and subscribers, and max your presence as a Twitch streamer on this pivotal live streaming platform.

Why Should You Have a Twitch Followers Goal?

Followers are essentially the gas to Twitch’s live streaming engine. Streaming on Twitch to an engaged, hyped Twitch chat can improve your content simply through the power of social interaction. Streaming is a social activity, so most Twitch streamers do much better with viewers to talk to! Having a strong Twitch following also helps boost your brand, and can even open doors to more monetization opportunities.

Got big streaming dreams? Get started by working on ways to increase your follower count! (Stats from TwitchTracker) You may not hit millions of followers right away, but even a couple thousand can really get your streaming career moving forward.

The larger your Twitch follower count, the higher the chances that viewers will return to your Twitch streams, engage with (and share!) your content both on and outside of Twitch, and become Twitch subscribers and community members. This is what Twitch is built for; its socially-focused environment encourages high numbers of followers and strong connections with viewers, allowing streamers to grow genuine communities and a real fan base.

Set Up Your Twitch Account for Success!

As a streamer trying to attract followers on Twitch, setting up a polished, pro Twitch channel is your first step. Showing potential Twitch viewers that you’re serious about streaming - and will likely bring them entertainment that’s worth their watch time - can be communicated through the visuals on your Twitch channel, as well as how you promote your Twitch streams. Let’s go over some basics!

• Twitch Channel Graphics: Choose a high quality profile picture, whether of yourself or your channel logo, that reflects your Twitch channel’s theme or personality. Then complement your profile pic with a Twitch top banner, text, and info panels that continue those themes and color choices. Having cohesive, well designed visuals on your Twitch channel creates a strong first impression for new viewers and potential followers.

Australian variety gamer and chatter Bajo created a consistent look for his brand, info panels, bio, and the over 1,000 stream alerts on his Twitch channel.

• Your Bio: Along with your coordinating graphics and panels, craft a concise, engaging Twitch bio about yourself that highlights your niche or content type, such as gaming, lifestyle, or music streaming. This helps new viewers that find your Twitch channel to get a quick idea of what you, your content, and your streams on Twitch are all about.
  
• Your Socials: Utilizing your external socials is a great way to keep your Twitch followers connected, so they can become part of your support network and get updates on your streaming schedule and your other activities outside of Twitch. Add links to social platforms like Twitter (X), Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and of course your YouTube to the social media section on your Twitch profile.
  
• Stream Schedule: Being dependable as a Twitch streamer is more important than you might think. Establishing a consistent streaming schedule on Twitch helps build a loyal viewership, as some of your fans will likely make watching your Twitch streams part of their leisure time or workdays. Be sure to keep your streaming schedule updated on your profile, so viewers know when they can expect to catch your Twitch streams.

8 Proven Methods to Gain Followers on Twitch

1. Offer Unique Content

While there are definitely a lot of streamers on Twitch, everyone’s making their own version of streaming content, and that’s one way you can stand out. Create content that only you can create - content that reflects your individual interests - and don’t be afraid to experiment with new ways of presenting your Twitch content, or yourself as the streamer. 

Whether it’s your personality, your stream or set design, your choice of games, or the way you handle your chat interactions, put your own twist on it to offer your followers on Twitch something they won’t be able to see anywhere else on the platform!

2.  Hey, Chat!

Interacting with viewers in real time really does help build your Twitch community. Be attentive to your Twitch chat when you go live, welcoming new followers, responding to comments, and encouraging chat participation. Recognize regular viewers when they arrive; try to place personalities with usernames, so your viewers feel seen as “real people.” 

For larger Twitch channels, consider using moderators (trusted community members who help oversee chat moderation) or chatbots to help keep the conversation flowing. Directly asking viewers to follow by using CTAs (calls to action) can be effective in building your Twitch following. While streaming on Twitch, simply remind viewers in a friendly way to follow your Twitch channel, and to switch on notifications if they’re enjoying your content.

3. Use Great Graphics

We’ve already established the need to put some good design into your Twitch channel. This also extends to your active streams. Having professional overlays and alerts on your live streams makes them feel even more polished and engaging for your followers on Twitch.

To get those graphics, you can utilize free resources, like those available on Streamlabs or StreamElements; make your own graphics using a site like Canva; or, if you have a budget, seek out designers on places like Fiverr or Etsy who can create custom Twitch alerts and overlays for you that coordinate with your brand. And don’t forget your Twitch titles - a catchy stream title that reflects your content, plus relevant keywords for each stream, helps attract new viewers who may turn into followers and eventually subscribers.

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Art streamer Julieee22 themes all of her Twitch panels, schedule, and links on her Twitch channel page to match the rest of her whimsical artwork.

4. Find Your Niche

Streaming niche content helps attract dedicated viewers who are seeking out that niche on Twitch. Choose games or themes that align with both your interests and audience preferences, and then dig down even farther to find stream content that sets you apart. 

For a Twitch gamer, this could be an older version of a game in your chosen niche that still has an enthused fandom; for an IRL streamer, this could be a favorite IRL location narrowed down to visit the best coffeeshops or parks in that location. Niche topics allow you to carve out a loyal audience of Twitch followers who are drawn to your specific expertise and style.

5. Network!

Collaborating with other Twitch streamers is always a great way to increase your exposure to new audiences. Approach streamers in your niche with a similar audience size and stream sensibilities (if you’re a wholesome/chill PG streamer, it might not work well if you team up with an R-rated hype streamer, for instance) and time zones. 

Collab by co-streaming remotely; share the microphone by having another streamer as a physical guest on your stream; or use Twitch’s "Raid" feature to introduce your audiences to each other. Co-streaming and cross promoting with a fellow creator whose content complements your own can get both of you more Twitch followers.

6. Host Events

Schedule fun events or challenges on your Twitch streams to foster a sense of community and attract new followers. Some ideas include gaming challenges with members of chat; subscriber-only special events; Twitch subscriber “subathons” (where you strive to get a certain amount of Twitch subscriptions); or milestone celebrations, like your "streamiversary" (the anniversary of the day you started streaming.)

These events provide interactive experiences that build rapport with viewers, and can draw in new followers who catch the hype happening on your channel!

7. Give Stuff Away

Giveaways are a quick and easy way to attract interest on Twitch, encouraging casual viewers to follow and check out your content. While new viewers might initially arrive simply because they saw the word “giveaway” in your stream title, if you provide good entertainment they can rapidly turn into followers.
Choose some digital rewards or physical rewards that you can offer your Twitch viewers (custom branded merchandise like tees, mugs, and stickers from your Fourthwall store makes for great prizes!), and clearly state that all viewers are eligible to enter. (Make sure you’re following Twitch’s TOS when giving away any prizes on the platform.)

8. Analyze to Grow

Twitch analytics are one of the best tools you can use to help you grow. Use your analytics to track metrics like viewer count, chat engagement, and follower growth; especially the latter. Check out streams where your follower and/or subscriber count increased, and review what you did as the streamer to encourage those people to follow your channel.

Regularly reviewing your Twitch analytics will help you understand which content resonates with viewers, what you can add/remove, and where you can improve your Twitch streams.

Quick Pro Tips to Get More Followers:

• Utilize Other Platforms: Direct your subscribers and followers on other social platforms, like Twitter and YouTube, to also come over and follow you on Twitch. Tag some of your posts with CTAs like “check out even more of this content on my Twitch channel!”
  
• Upgrade Your Gear: When possible, invest in better cameras, lights, and microphones for better video and audio. Improving your streaming equipment as you grow, even just upgrading your microphone, can improve the Twitch viewing experience for your viewers and add to your professionalism as a streamer.
  
• Keep It Fresh: It can be easy to fall back on doing similar content each day on Twitch. All streamers should continually experiment with new content to retain your viewers’ interest and bring in more followers; some ideas would be to go live with new games, share behind the scenes content, and commission new alerts and refreshed Twitch stream overlays.
  
• Stay Patient and Be Persistent: Growth on Twitch takes time! And consistency is crucial for any Twitch streamer's long-term success. Stay focused, be patient, and keep trying different types of content and different ways to promote your Twitch streams to get more viewers and followers. 

Send Your Followers to Fourthwall!

To grow your followers on Twitch, a combination of engaging content, consistent streaming, smart social media management, and strong community interaction is essential. Building a successful Twitch following takes time and effort; all Twitch streamers can benefit from having the best tools and platform partners available to help you in your journey.

‍Fourthwall is the perfect partner for building your Twitch channel! Gain more followers, subscribers, and fans by offering them more: Fourthwall can get you all set up with a full custom merch store, socials integrations, Twitch Gifting (so your followers can gift each other directly in your Twitch chat!), and lots of other features perfectly set up to help expand your Twitch community. Drive more followers to your Twitch channel, and get started on Fourthwall today!