File: Building great Twitch panels
Pulling in new audiences on Twitch is an uphill climb to start with. However, keeping them interested and retaining them (i.e. turning them into followers and subscribers) is a different ball game entirely, it’s all on you. Your Twitch landing page is important because it tells visitors who you are and what they can expect from your stream. Here are some tips for structuring your Twitch panels to improve user engagement and retention.
Table of Contents
What are Twitch panels?
Twitch panels are tools that allow streamers to customize the About section of the Twitch channel page. Twitch panels can be used to provide information about you, what your channel is all about, how fans can connect with you via social, and even promote sponsorships and merchandise. Twitch panels can also improve the accessibility of your stream.
Several Twitch panels are already available, such as Fortnite Trackers and closed captioning objects. However, streamers can also create their panels using images and other interactive content.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Panels should be high-quality and visually appealing
If you want to run a professional Twitch channel, your Twitch panels should speak to your dedication and professionalism.
For example, which of these two About pages screams “This is a serious and professional streaming channel?” Don’t laugh.
Notice the difference?
Believe it or not, your About page is a very important part of your customer retention strategy; so making it visually appealing plays a big role in the success of your channel.
Keep in mind that your panel should also be easy to read and contain content that is relevant to your channel’s content. For example, is your favorite sports team logo necessary if all you do is stream COD? Sure, personal details add value for your fans, but they shouldn’t take up your best real estate. New visitors won’t connect to it because that’s not why they’re visiting your page in the first place. Save the tactical details for your heart-to-hearts with fans on the stream.
Twitch panel sections
Choosing your panels also requires a little finesse, if we’re being completely honest. However, there are a few core pieces that should be part of every streamer’s About page strategy.
- About me: Add an About Me panel to introduce yourself to new visitors and talk about yourself and your channel. Keep it simple, but don’t be afraid to put bold claims front and center: “OG Fortnite Victim – watch me get killed 1,000 times in February!”
- Schedule: Giving visitors an idea about when they can expect to see you again is a great way to build momentum, especially if they enjoy what you bring to the game as a streamer. Post your schedule and stick to it.
- Social media: On average, StreamingThisWeekend sees 10 times the number of impressions and views on social vs. our physical site. Today, AI is pushing this traffic even further away from traditional websites, but social still lives in silos. Getting viewers connected to you on social keeps them engaged while you’re offline by giving them easy access to you using apps they already use. Converting to social is crucial for long-lasting success on Twitch.
- Merchandise and Sponsorships: If you’ve got merch, it definitely deserves space on your front page. Viewers who enjoy what you do may surprise you if you’ve got the right gear. This is also the space you want to explain what your subscription offers, what subscribers can expect, and all the perks that come with leveling up their relationship with you.
Final words
Careful consideration should be given to your About page and panels. Not only is this the space where you make your first impression, but it’s also your first opportunity to convert visitors into customers and subscribers. Be mindful of what you throw up and take time to ensure you are communicating a professional and consistent look to improve the chances new viewers find their way back to you.
Happy streaming!