As the world’s leading streaming platform for gamers, Twitch has millions of viewers every day. Users can watch, interact, play, and support fellow streamers – all from the comfort of home. If you’re looking at building a Twitch account, establishing your brand is a critical step in your success. After all, your brand isn’t just the name attached to your profile; it’s everything you do with the account.
Consider Your Account Name
The username is the first point of contact with your viewers, and it needs to stand out. Great names are brief, punchy, descriptive, and memorable. You’ll want to keep the name between twelve and fifteen characters. Studies have shown anything longer than that is easy to forget.
Confirm Brand Availability
With over a million registered accounts, twitch username availability isn’t the easiest thing to navigate. Spend some time researching popular channels and establish whether they have anything in common. Maybe they all target keywords or phrases users will search; perhaps the name is unique and original. Try to find something that matches both your brand and relevant keywords.
Expand Beyond Twitch Registration
Having a decent username is only the beginning of building your brand on Twitch. You’ll need to expand your reach to different social media accounts too. Once you’ve decided on a brand name, register the account name with all social media platforms you intend to use.
Find a Niche for your Channel
A niche is a specific area of gaming that you want to focus on. Ask yourself the following questions. How am I going to stand out? What games am I going to play? How am I going to interact with the community? What streaming are you going to offer? Knowing the type of content you want to share will help you market the channel in the future.
Develop Some Custom Graphics
Having a professional-looking logo can set you apart from other streamers. A logo should offer insight into the type of channel, content, and personality on the site. It needs to appeal to your target audience and should stand out among other logos. You want a logo that’s easy to spot and memorable. Research color psychology and how they influence your brand and build from there.
Use a Personal Photo for Your Profile
The profile photo is potentially the first visual a viewer will see when connecting to your brand. You want the image to be clear and high-resolution while staying within the optimal size for the Twitch profile. Photos must be under 10MB and in JPEG, GIF, or PNG formats.
Upload Your Profile Banner
Although it’s not as important as it used to be, the banner is still used across platforms. You’ll want to keep this image professional (preferably in the same colors and fonts as your logo). Try to use the same images across all social media platforms, integrating the same brand simultaneously. Banner sizing should be 1200x480px to prevent stretching or warping upon upload.
Understand the Importance of Overlays
An overlay can help a streamer block out sensitive information (like chats or maps) or offer additional information to viewers on the channel. It’s essential to keep the overlay clean and straightforward. You don’t want to overlay to be too cluttered, or they become distracting. You want the focus to be on your content, not the overlay.
Always Integrate Transition Screens
If you’re stepping away from your camera, keep your viewers informed with transition screens. These screens can appear when you’re taking a quick bathroom break, received a quick phone call, or decided to have a coughing fit live. Consider using high-quality images that advertise your social media, domains, or other ways to stay connected. You should also include additional information about your next streaming session, which can market your services when you’re not around.
Consider Other Income Opportunities
What you wear in front of the camera can make all the difference in your streams. Users can wear anything from pajamas to scuba diving gear if it meets the platform’s rules. As your channel builds in popularity, consider branching into merchandise for your brand. This merchandise can include t-shirts, sweaters, pajamas, or accessories. Wear them in your stream and sponsor yourself!
Act Professional and Be Accountable
If you’re hoping to turn your Twitch channel into a full-time career, you need to treat it seriously. Establish a streaming schedule and stick with it. There’s nothing worse than viewers showing up, and there’s no content. Share your content schedule with social media channels and maintain contact with your followers. You want to balance your content, brand, and channel, which only happens with consistent work and dedication.
