When starting out streaming there are a lot of things that people do to try to get to Twitch affiliate. The requirements seem simple, and if the goal is just to "get affiliate" then you can do it quickly. The beginner trap is a combination of a few things that people do to help them get affiliate, but once there, they have unsuccessful streams afterwards. Learn the traps and use these tips below to not fall victim.
Follow For Follow
Getting your followers count up via the follow for follow method only helps boost your follower number. It really doesn't help you or your stream beyond that. As a successful streamer, you want to build up a following that wants to watch you and your content. When you do a follow for follow with another streamer, you both are trying to achieve the same goal of boosting your follow numbers. The question is, are you actually going to watch their streams? If you say yes, then great! You are a actually wanting to follow them. Although think about if you say no, then you are not really helping them and are just a number for their follows. You may even try to unfollow them in a week or so as you really dont care about their stream. All these thoughts are going on in the other streamers head as well.
Lurk for Lurk
This is the cousin of the follow for follow but instead is trying to play the viewer count. This is helpful in boosting your average viewers and getting higher in the list of a particular game you are playing that is sorted by viewer count (twitch has been changing how people find streamers, it isn't all based on view counts). Though this is more helpful than a simple follow, it still doesn't help you be successful in building up a viewer base that wants to watch your content. The other kicker is like the follow, you may not return the favor or watch beyond 5 mins. Doesn't truly help make them successful, as much as them doing the same for you.
Stating I am Building a Community
When starting out saying the words of "I am building a community" is like throwing a bucket of water into the ocean. You are not the only one who wants to build a community and you will find out shortly that everyone is trying to do the same. It is a great idea to build up a community with a common interests, and even more so if it is around your content. The trap is that words are cheap and you don't get a community for free. You can't say that you are building a community and expect people to join.
What should you do?
The point of this article is to give light of the most common things you see when you are starting out. The real truth is streaming is hard work to get noticed and gain a following. When you take shortcuts to get to affiliate you are really only hurting yourself. What you need to do is to think about what your goals are really and how you can achieve them. If it really is as simple as get affiliate, then great just ignore this article and get followers and lurks for cheap. If your goals are much larger like becoming a successful streamer or being the next Ninja, then realize that it is going to take time and hard work. You need to put in that time and effort to create your dream. You need to network with others to truly help them as well as yourself. You need to also figure out ways to stand out from others doing and saying the same thing. Always remember when things are tough, you need to push through and do the hard work which will make the reward at the end even better.
Comments