The old adage says that knowledge is power and that’s just as true for streaming. Knowing your Twitch audience and what makes it tick is what will help you take your content to the next level. It’s not enough to play games that they like as those were merely the catalyst that brought them to your channel. You also have to tailor what you do on stream toward your viewers’ identities, beliefs, and ideas.
So, here are four key tips for developing an understanding of your Twitch audience.
Related: How To Plan A Stream Filled With Engaging Content On Twitch
Build a profile for your Twitch audience
Marketers use what are called “customer personas” to get into the heads of their target Twitch audience. While on the surface that sounds creepy, it’s actually a sound methodology. All you need to do is imagine your ideal audience member and consider who they are.
Think of their age, interests, beliefs, and values. Even consider stuff they dislike and the challenges they face. All of this information can be lumped into one singular person that would likely find your content fun and engaging.
Building a persona, though, isn’t enough. You need to use field data to tweak and improve over time. To acquire this information, you need to stream and use the following tips in this post.
Use the three “I”s
Interaction, interaction, interaction. A word so important, it needs to be said three times over. The name of the Twitch streaming game is to continuously engage with the people who are there watching you. The more you give them the time of day, the better you’ll get to know them.
It’s like you’re hosting a party for VIPs. You want to entertain them but also spend time learning about them. Hearing about the things they like and the stuff that gets them excited (or angry) will give you the most knowledge about them.
So, put on your best listening ears and have a notepad at the ready. Whenever you see or hear something interesting about your viewers, make a note and see how you can make that a part of your stream.
Let them vote
Viewers love it when they have a chance to put a part of themselves into the experience you deliver. This is what makes polls and voting such powerful tools in your streaming arsenal. From small things, such as picking your character/weapon/deck/whathaveyou, to choosing what you play in your next broadcast, voting for stuff will tell you a lot about your audience.
For instance, if you’re the kind of streamer who teaches people how to play a certain game, polling your viewers will give you an idea of what kind of skills they want to acquire. If you’re a pro at a certain game, your viewers may want to see how good you are with a low-tier class or character. Or maybe they just want you to pick the meme loadout to have a laugh.
The things they collectively vote for the most should give you an idea of what your Twitch audience will enjoy about your stream.
Subvert expectations
Humans show their true colors when they encounter the unexpected. This very behavioral pattern can teach you a lot about your Twitch audience. By doing something completely out of left field, you can see how your viewers react and get an idea of how far you can push your content.
Let’s say for example that you’re a bit on the serious side in terms of your stream demeanor. Your audience clearly likes that, otherwise, they wouldn’t be there. However, that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t appreciate you doing something silly or goofy every once in a while. You can try cosplay, challenges, funny builds, or even just dive into games you’d never play.
The way your Twitch audience reacts to these occasional moments of spontaneity will give you an idea of how much you can stretch your content.
Related: How To Cope With Stress While Streaming On Twitch