Streamers that get thousands of viewers per stream can avoid sticking to a plan, but if you want to expand your brand and channel, creating a streaming schedule is essential. Most streamers maintain a schedule even if they have thousands of viewers. Why? The typical human attention span these days is less than that of a goldfish. Which means you’re not just trying to build loyalty, you’re trying to capture return viewers before they subscribe to someone else. And while creating and sticking to a schedule can feel more like work than fun, the results will speak for themselves.
So how can a streaming schedule increase my audience and fan base? What time of day on Twitch receives the most viewers, followers, and subscribers? What day of the week is essential? Does my channel’s audience size matter? We answer all of your questions about streaming on a schedule.
How to build an effective streaming schedule
Take your target audience into account while creating your streaming schedule so that you can connect with them at the appropriate time. The ideal time to stream on Twitch is between 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., when most viewers are getting home from work or school. The midnight to nine a.m. in the morning time slot is another option since there are fewer competitors online. Night owls also like to browse for entertainment, and since there are fewer channels available, the competition isn’t as prevalent.
Keep in mind that the length of each stream has an impact on the number of followers. Start out slowly and gradually extend the time you spend online live streaming. Take into account other aspects of your life like your job, school, family, physical and emotional well-being, and chores around the house. In short, don’t over do it – you don’t want to burnout.
It’s recommended that streams should last no less than 2 hours and no more than 4 hours at a time, as a general rule of thumb. If you only stream for 30 to 60 minutes, your stream will likely fall short of its potential and you will have trouble persuading viewers to subscribe to your channel. A StreamScheme survey of nearly 100 streamers interested in developing their channels professionally reported that 76% of respondents stream between 3-5 days per week. Consistency builds momentum.
If you can only build up on your off days, look for additional ways to develop your brand by concentrating on producing videos for YouTube, networking, and investigating ways to improve your streams. Over time, investing in growing your audience or expanding your skill set will keep your work rewarding and intriguing. Pay close attention to your stream’s metrics if gaining subscribers and followers is your main goal. A when creating your schedule, find out which games and at what hour the most viewers are streaming, and take advantage of this data. Don’t swim upstream.
Before you go
Here are some bonus tips to improve your stream and add viewers.
- Utilize social media to build hype for your upcoming stream throughout the week.
- Your audience will be more inclined to attend your live stream as soon as you go live if you stay in touch with your audience and engage them on different platforms.
- Connect with your audience and provide them value, share funny, relevant, and helpful content.
About Shubh Dangi: Apart from being a freelance content writer and an esports journalist, I’m also the hero of a thousand stories, a vigilante, an assassin and a soldier. I’ve slain thousands of dragons and traveled through several universes. I am a spartan of the 300, a commander and a king. I’ve saved a thousand cities and countless more lives. A daydream dressed as a nightmare, I am a gamer.