Original: Pro tips on how to reach Twitch affiliate stats
Are you looking for how to reach Twitch affiliate status fast? Twitch’s affiliate program allows qualified streamers to monetize their channel as they build viewers and share in the revenue Twitch earns off live streaming. The program is for dedicated, professional live streamers ready to level up their live streaming experience. But what are the requirements and tips for how to reach Twitch affiliate status? How did the pros do it?
We dive in: here’s how to reach Twitch affiliate status.
Related: Looking For Alternative Ways To Monetize Your Twitch Stream?
Tips for how to reach Twitch affiliate status
The first thing most regular streamers will tell you is to reset your expectations and perspective about live streaming. We’ve spent quite a bit of time helicoptering Discord servers and interviewing streamers with thousands of followers. Their advice is almost unanimous: do what you love. If you’re only doing it for the money, don’t.
But beyond that, there are practical things to consider. Should you stream on PS5? Xbox? PC? Which game? Should you take a bong hit while you stream? Give out free merch? Here are pro tips on how to reach Twitch affiliate status.
And don’t feel bad, most new streamers have no idea how to reach Twitch affiliate status.
Related: How 2 Apply And Optimize Twitch For SEO Now
Take a comedy class
You read it right. One corporate live streamer we spoke with was adamant about it too. “I took an improv class,” she says. “Remember, you are entertaining on screen. People don’t want to watch you play a game or promote a product and then interpret your feelings and thoughts. They are there to watch you. You need to be engaging. It’s a performance.”
In other words, don’t do this:
Lol. Emotional outbursts without forming a sentence. Basically the opposite of how to reach Twitch affiliate status.
Her advice certainly makes sense. And we should note it was echoed by another member of the Small Streamer Community, a Discord server for small streamers, when we asked for the best strategies on how to reach Twitch affiliate status.
Even civil rights advocates say that taking an acting or having a sales background can be exceptionally useful in their line of work. Instead of stomping on the ground demanding change (or, in this case, views), they try to pull the other person into their world, listen to their interests first and then align them with their own—no easy task.
Live streamers also need to understand their audience. Gamers who don’t talk don’t have followers, but they also need to engage their viewers, which means listening, understanding what they care about, and acknowledging them; qualities that may be just as important as the live streamer’s ability to perform. Something great stand-up comics do well.
Stick to a schedule
Another piece of advice we got from live streamers seems obvious, but for whatever reason, there are many questions about whether maintaining a schedule make sense. It does. Successful streamers who spoke to us or added their knowledge to one of our favorite Discord servers said that sticking to a schedule improves engagement and viewer retention. The only real drawback was the work that went into it.
@Scamble_ch (Egg) from the Small Streaming Community wrote that “planning in advance helps for sure! for things like twitter/insta i can just schedule it for the week and then not touch it for the rest of the week.”
Great advice we can attest to in the publishing business as well (and very similar to how to teach Twitch affiliate status).
Of course, not all streamers stick to a schedule. The wisdom we’ve been able to pull from this tight-knit group though is that ultimately you have to do what works for you. But if you are a planner (good for you), we’ve included a few more tips from K.M. Robinson if you’re interested.
How to reach Twitch affiliate
Play the games you love
So many would-be live streamers make the same mistake. You’re hunting for new followers and want more views, so you decide to start streaming whatever is trending. However, most successful streamers say this is a mistake.
@idKatherine, who streams retro games and has over 1,000 followers, advised one streamer on Discord that “the most important thing is playing a game you enjoy because that will show through more than if you’re doing something purely for the sake of it.”
In other words, do what you love, and the rest will come. If you love horror, play horror games (@ProwlingDead only plays horror). The point is, you don’t have to play Fortnite because you think that’s what everyone wants to see. Play what you love. That’s how to reach Twitch affiliate.
Requirements to reach affiliate status on Twitch
So you’re playing a game you love, you’ve set some schedule, and you’re ready to perform on stage like the next Daniel Tosh. What next?
To begin monetizing your content on Twitch, a few boxes must first be checked to reach affiliate status. Namely, you’ll need to have:
- At least 500 total minutes broadcast in the last 30 days
- At least 7 unique broadcast days in the last 30 days
- An average of 3 concurrent viewers or more over the last 30 days
- At least 50 Followers
In other words, you must obtain at least three concurrent viewers to reach affiliate status and be a “regular.” This means you need at least three people (not you or your bots, @LexLutherAK) viewing your stream concurrently in the last 30 days. The 500 minutes requirement is pretty straightforward, but those minutes will need to be broken up over at least seven unique streams over 30 days. And finally, you’ll need at least 50 followers to meet Twitch’s eligibility requirements.
And we get it; if you’re new to streaming, this may seem like a lot. But relatively speaking, it’s peanuts in contrast to Youtube’s Affiliate program requirements.
Once you’ve met all of the preliminary criteria to become an affiliate, you’ll need to do some last-minute shopkeep stuff like enabling two-step authentication of your account and setting up automatic payment – a final gasp, yes, one last push to get you past the finish line of the grueling marathon you just ran to be considered “eligible.”
More benefits for Twitch affiliates
Knowing how to reach Twitch affiliate has other perks as well. In addition to having the right to claim their seat at the profit-sharing table, affiliates are also eligible to participate in other programs that generate income, like subscriptions, cheering with bits, and revenue sharing from game sales (when you play a new game on sale).
Once you’ve reached affiliate status, the sky’s the limit (theoretically). Because affiliates can pick the length and frequency of their streams, revenue generation depends on viewers and program duration (advertising breaks); in other words, the more viewers you attract, the more money you make.
And as an affiliate, not only are you entitled to revenue sharing with Twitch, but you can also begin to build direct relationships with other advertisers that may have products that fit your niche more appropriately.
You can even earn a cut of the profit on new game sales. The possibilities are endless.
Related: 6 Ways To Monetize Your Twitch Stream Without Partner Achievement
More on how to reach Twitch affiliate
Live streaming is a great way to turn your passion into a real and consistent income-generating gig. But you’ve got to cross the Rubicon first. Saying you want to get paid to play video games is much different than buying the proper rig, dedicating the time to learn the industry, building an audience, and establishing channels to earn revenue. Your live stream channel is your business, but if you aren’t doing it because you love it, you’re unlikely to turn it into anything more than curiosity.
So now you know how to reach Twitch affiliate. Here’s How To Become A Twitch Partner: Tips And Challenges