From Streaming to Earning: Proven Ways to Earn Money on Twitch

Twitch is a big deal for social gaming, where top gamers entertain fans with live commentary and fun content. Surprisingly, many Gen Z viewers enjoy watching others play more than playing themselves. Twitch now has over 7.6 million broadcasters every month and around 1.1 million viewers at any given time, with peaks reaching nearly 4 million.

This article will explore different ways streamers can earn money on Twitch.

What is Twitch?

Twitch started as a gaming livestreaming platform but now has a variety of content, including music, cooking, sports, and chatting.

It lets users stream their activities, interact with viewers in real-time, and build a following.

Gaming is still the most popular category, with thousands of games being streamed at once.

On Twitch, viewers can:

Explore Live Channels: See what’s currently live.

Browse Categories: Find streams by topics like games, music, or cooking.

Search for Specific Content: Look up specific games or streamers.

Subscribe to Streamers: Pay a monthly fee to support streamers and get perks.

Many streams focus on chatting and engaging with the community. To attract and keep an audience, it’s important to find a popular niche that people enjoy.

How Much Can You Earn on Twitch?

According to StreamYard, this is how much Twitch streamers can earn.

Small Streamers: Typically earn between $50 and $1,500 per month. Earnings are based on average viewership, with those having 5-10 viewers making $50-$200, and those with 100 viewers earning $1,000-$1,500.

Mid-Tier Streamers: These streamers can make $5,000 to $30,000 monthly, with earnings increasing with viewership. For example, 1,000 viewers earn about $5,000, while 10,000 viewers can earn up to $30,000.

Top-Tier Streamers: High-profile streamers earn between $100,000 and $200,000 per month.

Some of the top earning Twitch streamers of 2023 are:

9 Best Ways to Earn Money on Twitch

1. Affiliate Marketing

Many Twitch streamers make money through affiliate marketing by promoting products like headsets, cameras, or gaming chairs during their streams. You don’t need to be a Twitch partner or affiliate to do this. Below is an example.

Here’s how you can do it:

• Affiliate Links: Share affiliate links for products in your Twitch profile or chat. When viewers buy something through these links, you earn a commission.
• Brand Partnerships: Partner with brands through affiliate networks like EarnKaro or impact.com to access and promote their products.
• Organic Promotion: Naturally include product reviews and promotions in your stream. Ask for feedback from your viewers to make it more interactive and engaging.

2. Sponsorships

Twitch streamers can also make money through brand sponsorships, which can be a one-time fee or a share of sales. To get sponsorships, focus on growing your audience and networking in the industry.

Popular streamers might get noticed by brands, but reaching out yourself can also help. Always disclose paid promotions and mention that Twitch doesn’t endorse the content.

Here’s how sponsorships work:

• Product Mentions: Talk about the brand’s products during your stream.
• Brand Logos: Display the brand’s logo on your stream.
• Sponsored Streams: Host entire streams sponsored by a brand.

Combining sponsorships with affiliate marketing can increase your earnings. You don’t need millions of followers; having an engaged audience and aligning your content with the brand is what really matters.

3. Donations

To collect donations on Twitch, you can use third-party tools. Adding a PayPal donation button is a common choice, but remember that PayPal charges a fee of 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction.

Another option is to accept cryptocurrency donations like Bitcoin, Dogecoin, or Ethereum directly through a digital wallet, which avoids third-party fees.

Even if you’re just starting out, you can set up donation buttons using services like PayPal or Streamlabs. This way, you can receive tips and support from your viewers easily.

4. Merchandise Sales

Selling merchandise is a great way to make money and build your brand on Twitch. You can sell items like t-shirts, hoodies, and hats with your logo or designs. For example, famous Twitch streamer, Shroud, has his own merch collection.

Use platforms like Shopify, TeePublic, or Spreadshop to set up your online store. Make sure your products are high-quality and match your brand so your supporters won’t be disappointed.

Creating unique designs or using inside jokes from your community can make your merch even more appealing.

5. Twitch Affiliate Program

To become a Twitch Affiliate, you need to

• Reach 50 followers
• Stream for 8 hours
• Stream on 7 different days
• Have an average of 3 viewers per stream

Once you meet these goals, you’ll get an invitation to join the program, which adds ways to make money on your channel.

As a Twitch Affiliate, you can earn money through:

Subscriptions: Offer three subscription tiers ($5.99, $9.99, and $24.99 per month). Subscribers get perks like custom emotes and exclusive chat rooms. You earn 50% of the subscription fee.

Twitch Bits: Viewers can cheer with Bits, which are like micro-donations. You earn $0.01 per Bit and can create custom Cheermotes to make it more fun.

Ads: Run ads during your streams to earn revenue. The amount you earn depends on your viewership. Running at least 3 minutes of ads per hour can get you a 55% share of the ad revenue.

6. Twitch Partner Program

To become a Twitch Partner, you need to

• Stream for 25 hours
• Stream on 12 different days
• Have an average of 75 viewers at the same time over 30 days

Partner status is by invitation only and shows that you have a big, engaged audience.

Twitch Partners get these benefits:

Higher Revenue: Partners can keep up to 70% of subscription revenue and earn more from ads because they have more viewers.

Exclusive Tools: Access features like subscriber-only streams, custom Cheermotes, and stream delays.

Partner-Only Opportunities: Participate in special events like Partner Spotlights, Meet & Greets, and get exclusive branding opportunities.

7. Crowdfunding

Starting a Patreon page is a great way for Twitch streamers to earn money through monthly subscriptions and offer exclusive content.

With Patreon, you can set up different subscription levels that offer perks like personalized shout-outs or special content just for your supporters. This is especially helpful for new streamers who can’t yet create Twitch subscriptions, as it avoids the high fees Twitch takes from subscription revenue.

Patreon also helps you grow a paying subscriber base and diversify your income, even if you’re not part of Twitch’s Affiliate or Partner programs yet.

It’s a fantastic way to connect with your audience and get their support.

8. Creating and Selling Content

Use your Twitch experience to help new streamers by offering services like coaching, profile customization, and graphic design for panels and banners.

You can also help with merch design and branding advice. Share your knowledge to help new streamers grow their audience and avoid common mistakes.

Focus on areas like setting up their channel, finding their niche, engaging with viewers, and expanding to other social media platforms. Your experience can be very valuable to those just starting out.

9. Create a YouTube Channel

Many Twitch streamers use multistreaming to broadcast on multiple platforms, like Twitch and YouTube, to reach more people and increase their earnings. Streaming live on both platforms or sharing highlights and clips on YouTube can boost your visibility and income. For example, Lirik is a Twitch streamer who also posts his videos on YouTube.

Here are some benefits of using YouTube alongside Twitch:

Better Revenue Split: YouTube offers a 70/30 ad revenue split in favor of creators, compared to Twitch’s starting 50/50 split, which only improves to 70/30 for top-tier streamers.

Extra Content: Creating and monetizing additional content like highlight compilations or game tutorials on YouTube can enhance your Twitch income and attract new viewers.

More Reach: Setting up a YouTube channel gives you another way to make money and reach a bigger audience.

Tips to Build an Audience on Twitch

To build an audience on Twitch, try these tips:

1. Create Interesting Content: Play popular games, be entertaining, and keep up with trends.

2. Engage with Your Audience: Interact with viewers, answer questions, and make them feel appreciated.

3. Promote on Social Media: Share your streams on YouTube, TikTok, Reddit, and Twitter.

4. Collaborate with Other Streamers: Team up with streamers who have similar audiences.

5. Set Goals: Aim to increase views, followers, or improve your content quality.

6. Invest in Quality Equipment: Use a good PC, a high-quality microphone, and a decent webcam.

Conclusion

Starting a Twitch channel can be a great way to make money by streaming. While it won’t make you rich overnight, with time and effort, you can build a successful channel. Twitch isn’t just for gaming; you can stream cooking, arts, chatting, and more. By using the right strategies, you can turn your passion for streaming into a profitable venture.

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