hello, i have some questions regarding getting viewers

shatteredking

i stream fairly often but seem to pick up little to 0 viewers wich can be kind of disheartning. so what can i do to get viewers not looking for 10,000 like 10-20 good following viewers would be wonderful so any suggestions? tips? anything thank you

PIPe

Play an original game, have commentary, promote your stream on various social networks and be yourself.

shatteredking

i do most of that but can rarely pick up viewers

chatia12

If I may add my two cents, being active in other communities can be a big boon for viewership.  I would say the majority of my viewers knew me from the chat in other casts first, then came and saw my cast, so if there's a streamer you like, talk in their chat, get to know people, it can help to get the word out ^^

shatteredking

ty ^^

whitesammy

Being someone who has been streaming for over three years i have a stock set of advice that i give to everyone who asks.

1) Invite Viewers to Play:

People are selfish and yearn for attention, why else do you think they are watching YOU play a game that they could just as easily go play? By inviting viewers to games you play you earn their respect and get their attention. You make them feel like they are appreciated and will get repaid in some way for watching in the future.

2) Talk to Your Chat:

It's simply not good enough to just stream. Sure you can every once in while respond to someone, but if you have the ability to either have your voice put through your stream along with the game sound and you maintain a conversation with your viewers you keep them entertained. I bet you've wondered why people that are completely awful at the games they play have so many viewers, it's because they have charisma and add a personality to their stream that others don't have.

3) Steam When the "Big Boys" Aren't:

When i started streaming there was three main streamers at the time(Ulirocks, EvilGamer, and Eg0(I don't count 4PP and the GameOn guys)). They whored all the viewers and there is no way that you can fight them. Watch for the people taking all the viewers, try to get in on a game they are playing(by invite only dont be a douche and join in progress), and when they decided to get off ask if you can throw up your link for your channel. There is no sure fire way to get viewers but if you get referrals to your channel that means a lot to a viewer. If the person they are watching suggests your channel then you must be worth watching.

4) Stay Consistent:

Back in my "hay-day" i averaged around 200 viewers at a time for hours because they knew when i was going to be on. During the school year one of the best times to start streaming is around 9-12am and to stream as long as you can. You pull people from Europe who just got off work, college students on their laptops in class, and people in the US who don't want to be working. Plus most of the big streamers are at their real jobs(including me).

5) Keeping a Clean Chat:

On of the biggest mistakes i see is people trying to over-moderate their chats. Mod true friends at first and only the ones that are in your chat every time you're streaming(not necessarily literally). Set your chat rules and make sure everyone adheres to them, including your mods. Nothing makes people more frustrated than hypocrisy. Avoid modding other streamers because, more than likely, when they are on twitch/jtv they are there to stream, not watch other people stream.  No point in having mods you don't need. Having a minimal amount of mods makes your job of keeping them in line even easier. I have a couple "sets" of mods depending on where they live and what time they are normally in my stream so no matter what time i'm streaming i know one of them will be on.

I hope this helps in some regard and good luck building your viewer base. My only warning to you is that if you link your channel uninvited in other stream chats you will never get viewers no matter how often you do it. If you build it they will come, don't force the issue. I was stuck at around 15-25 viewers for the longest time but those regulars whose respect i earned opened the door to get noticed by more people.