Everything to know on how to build your own live stream audience

One of the trickiest aspects of trying to be a content creator is building a live stream audience, but by following the tips outlined below on how to build your own live stream audience up from scratch, anyone can potentially become the next xQc.

Whether they stream on Kick or elsewhere, live stream content creators are some of the biggest celebrities on the internet today, with millions upon millions of followers across a variety of social platforms. From vtubers to gamers, from chatters to diverse content creators, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Every day, more and more people are making accounts and starting to stream online.

But much of the enjoyment, and eventual monetization, of livestreaming depends on having a reliable audience. Here’s how to build that live stream audience and potentially reach your streaming goals.

Understanding the basics of livestreaming

Before building an audience for live streams, a creator has to decide on basic equipment and what platform they want to post on to get started with livestreaming.

Essential basic equipment for streamers includes a decent quality microphone, a webcam, a PC with enough RAM and processing power to effectively run live streams, and a good lighting setup. No one wants to watch a blurry stream or try to figure out what’s being said through lag and muffled sound. There are a number of options in each category, but creators should look for:

• A condenser microphone with a 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz frequency response and polar pattern.
• A webcam that can capture facial tracking; a newer iPhone can work well as a webcam.
• A PC with 16 GB DDR5 RAM and a 14th & 13th Gen Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor.

Streamers can also choose to invest in the very best streaming gear, like an Audio-Technica AT2020 cardioid condenser microphone. But for those who are testing the waters or otherwise want to wait before dropping potentially hundreds of dollars on equpiment, the basics will work well enough when you’re starting out.

Another important decision is what platform to stream on primarily. YouTube, Twitch, and Kick are the three top places to find live streams. Each has its own benefits:

• Twitch is specifically built around live stream content and has over 240 unique visitors per month. For livestreaming, it’s still the largest platform.
• Kick isn’t yet as large as Twitch, but it provides a much better monetization model for streamers through the Kick Partnership program and other incentives. Streamers can earn up to 95% of subscriber revenue compared to Twitch’s relatively low 50%, and Kick continues to grow month after month.
• YouTube is best for VODs, and thus for content creators who don’t rely as much on live audience interaction. That said, YouTube does also offer robust livestreaming services.

Though many streamers end up posting content across multiple platforms, it’s sometimes best to start cultivating viewership on just one first. Once you decide on a starting platform and get the necessary equipment, you next need to figure out what type of content you want to upload to begin building up your live stream audience.

Determining streaming goals and building a live stream persona

Live stream audiences want to watch compelling characters who know what they want, and understanding one’s own persona and content goals is critical in meeting an audience’s needs.

One question every potential streamer should ask themselves is, why do they want to be a content creator? There are a million possible answers, from having fun with friends to wanting to try and make an actual living out of it. Another important question is to ask why people should choose to watch the creator’s stream over another one. Whatever the reasons, the answer will dictate how much time and energy they have to put into a personality and a cultivated audience experience, as well as what the content looks and feels like.

With so many streamers out there, creators should next focus on their interests and finding ways to stand out. Some common categories of content include IRL streams, video game streaming, and ASMR. A content creator also has to decide how they want to appear, whether it’s with a vtuber avatar, their real face, or with no physical presence at all.

Some of the most famous streamers offer good examples of character types to take inspiration from and do something more with. Bao the Whale, for instance, pitches herself as a kind and enthusiastic whale deity who also creates her own music. One of Kick’s top streamers, xQc, initially became famous on Twitch due to his status and gameplay as a former pro Overwatch player, but later played a broader variety of games, then reacted to other peoples’ content and got involved in slots and online betting.

You don’t necessarily want to steal the gimmick or theme of another streamer as it’s important to be yourself, but watching a lot of other streamers’ content can help one figure out what they might try to do differently.

Interacting with a livestreaming audience

Once a creator draws in a livestreaming audience, it’ important to interact during live streams to keep those new viewers engaged.

One easy way to interact with a live stream audience is by asking questions and responding to answeres given in the chat. This helps to keep viewers engaged and also makes them feel like part of the stream. Call out specific commenters when and where possible. Some streamers, such as Alpharad, even set up games where the stream chat is collectively in charge of all gameplay. He will also let commenters interact with streams by naming his Pokemon while he’s playing Pokemon games, as another example of interactivity.

Streamers can also use streaming tools to support audience engagement. Polls, for instance, can easily be overlaid on top of a video and can directly invite the audience to contribute. Other downloadable plug-ins let viewers add sound effects to the stream, supplement their chat with their own emotes, and more.

Good tips for building a live stream audience

Once a streamer starts cultivating their live stream audience, there are a few more good tips that are worth considering.

Getting the right gear, creating an interesting personality, setting streaming goals, and interacting with viewers are all crucial parts to building a live stream audience, but they aren’t the only factors. Consider these tips as well:

• Set a consistent streaming schedule. When viewers know exactly when a streamer is going to be live and online each and every week, they’re more likely to tune into that rather than waiting for someone who logs in only on a whim.
• Combine the live stream account with other social media accounts, ideally using the same name. This lets the streamer engage with their audience outside of streaming in addition to promoting their videos to new potential viewers, and makes the streamer’s accounts more easily discoverable.
• Consider making an optional subscription available for the account, complete with perks and special emotes. Viewers who feel valued and that they’re getting something special may also tell more people to come to and potentially invest in the stream.
• Have fun! This may sound obvious, but an audience can tell when the creator they’re watching dislikes what they’re doing. If the streamer doesn’t like it, then why would the audience? Be yourself and have a good time, and your good vibes will attract more viewers.

With a little luck, the above advice could be enough to start building a strong and engaged live stream audience on any streaming platform a new content creator decides to take on. If something isn’t working, that’s okay too, as livestreaming can be a learning process and it’s never too late to do something differently. Viewership isn’t built in a day, after all.