I did a 31 day stream marathon to see if I could captivate an audience, but also to see if streaming was something that I would want to pursue. I never devoted any serious time to streaming, so I never had an audience. Hell, I never had double digit numbers while streaming. So, if you are a newer/future streamer possibly take this endeavor a bit more seriously, I hope you continue to read.

[u]I know that all these ideas are subjective, but I feel like it is worth sharing.[/u]

[b]Building an Audience[/b]
Since you are not known at all in the streaming world, you probably have to devote more time than other streamers that have an audience. This is usually the biggest deterrent when you are starting out. Streaming for hours on end with little to no chat interaction can burden your view of continuing to stream.

For example: If you stream your scrims or matches of TF2, think about how many potential stream viewers are scrimmaging or watching a more established stream at the same exact time. Instead of just streaming your scrims, try branching out and stream not only during North American times, but also at European times as well. Variety helps, even if it isn't all competitive.

[b]Chat Interaction[/b]
Most important way to gain traction. Responding to "hello" and "cya" makes the vibe between you and the viewer more friendly and personal for both parties. The viewer is now engaged and might inquire about who you are and what you stream. Likewise, if you show interest in your chat, quieter viewers might reach out to keep the conversation going. Try not to chastise people in your chat who want OP/Admin or prod with bothersome questions. The best way to diffuse a hostile situation is to politely ignore or counter with a new topic.

[b]Be Yourself[/b]
Viewers are looking for a streamer with aptitude, not attitude. You don't need a webcam, microphone, or giveaways to be called a popular streamer. Just by your persistence, you can find an audience that will appreciate your content.
Think about this: Would you rather have people watching your stream for the one game you play or for your individuality playing a plethora of games?


I also wanted to share my analytical information across the 31 days:

Video Plays/Channel Views - 25680
Average Max Viewers - 52.8
Unique Visitors - 8560
Chat Activity/Messages - 19840

Time Broadcasted - 225 hours
Time Watched - 4966 hours (207 Days)
Follows - 366
Unfollows - 63

In summary, if you can brave the storm of not receiving feedback from your streams for a little while, you can find as much enjoyment in streaming for 5 viewers as you would for ten times that amount.