How To Start Off as A Streamer?

How To Start Off as A Streamer?

If you're reading this, you've probably toyed with the idea of starting to stream at some point. Maybe you've even started one and ran into some roadblocks and want to give up. Don't worry! Streaming is still worth the effort.

According to research, the Twitch platform had about 2.84 million concurrent viewers and approximately 100,000 streamers, live at any point in time. Additionally, according to Statista, the YouTube Gaming platform has approximately 1.13 billion hours watched globally. Such statistics go to show just how lucrative the live-streaming business can be if correctly done.

In the beginning, new streamers must remain patient and focused on basic activities to improve their visibility. Once they have made progress on this through sharing high-quality content, for instance, they will get a bigger audience to work with. They will then have put themselves in a potential situation to make a lot of money via their live stream sessions.

In this guide, we'll walk through each step required to start streaming step by step. Ready? Let's get started!

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What is a Streamer?

A streamer refers to a person who broadcasts themselves on platforms like Twitch, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Streamers broadcast video games, fitness sessions, singing, dancing, and many other activities to their live audiences. These audiences can be on live streaming platforms such as Facebook Live, Instagram Live, Twitch, and YouTube Live. Today, many people have taken up being professional streamers and consider it a full-time job.

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Trends of The Streaming Industry

1. Live streaming industry will be heavily used at the workplace, digital fitness space, real estate industry, etc.

The increase in the use of live video streams is set to continue in 2022. For example, a hybrid setting such as a Virtual Reality (VR) fitness booth offered in your local gym may be one of the practices that will be heavily practiced in 2022. The real estate industry is also set to integrate a lot of live video streaming into its daily operations. For example, realtors may increasingly find it more engaging to use Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies when displaying properties to their potential clients.

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2. The use of live streaming by global brands in sporting events will increase even further

If you have ever attended an NFL game, you might have seen promotions of sports betting brands. These sports betting brands identified an opportunity of using live video streaming to promote their products and put them in front of potential customers. The sidelines are always adorned with banners that relay live video streams that promote products such as those of the companies that sponsor the teams. With the evolution in technology and new trends emerging, the sporting arena is one of the areas where live video streaming will remain dominant in 2022.

Another good illustration is that the sports media industry is set to grow massively and benefit from the growth of the live video streaming industry. Estimates by Verified Market Research show that the business of live streaming live sports will grow from the $22 billion generated back in 2021 to more than $87 billion by the year 2028!

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3. The global streaming market will be worth upwards of $180 billion by 2027

A market research report by Grand View Research estimated that the global streaming market was worth approximately $42.6 billion back in 2019. It also estimates the global streaming market will grow more than 20 percent per year and eventually reach a total of about $184.3 billion by the year 2027. Some of the projected estimates of the growth of the global streaming market in the United States and the United Kingdom are as shown below.

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Projected US Video Streaming App Revenue

Year US Video Streaming Projected Revenue

2020 $24 billion

2021 $27 billion

2022 $30 billion

2023 $34 billion

2024 $38 billion

2025 $42 billion

In the absence of another catastrophic pandemic or economic disaster, the US video streaming revenue is expected to grow steadily, as illustrated by the data above. Part of the steady growth will be attributed to more spending by Netflix and Amazon, for instance.

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How Do You Become A Streamer? - Step By Step Guide

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Streaming has grown into a lucrative business in recent times. Different people such as celebrities, brand influencers, gamers, and vloggers have been at the forefront of the boom of the live-streaming industry. Those wishing to be just as successful and renowned streamers should know that a lot of work and effort has to be invested into this. The steps we shall share below will help every beginner morph into a seasoned live streamer over time!

‍1. Get the Right Equipment

Growing into a well-drilled live streamer without the right tools will be impossible. Additionally, if you plan to sell your products through your live stream, it will just be a fantasy. There is no way you will achieve your goals if you do not have the required tools necessary to create interactive live video streaming sessions. Some of the essential must-haves include:

• A laptop, PC, or Mac

• A Camera

You can use a simple laptop/ computer webcam if you have a small budget. However, if you have a bigger budget to work with, you can go for a camera that records video and audio, offers 160-degree recording coverage, and has 4K quality.

• A microphone

A microphone will help beginner streamers to record basic audio.

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2. Choose Your Niche

Make sure that you know the niche you wish to specialize in. Some examples of niches your can start live streaming are art, music, gaming, or other fields. Additionally, your decision may be guided by factors such as the interests of your target audience and evergreen content or personal passions.

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3. Choose Your Preferred Live Streaming Platform

There are many live stream platforms you can choose from as a beginner streamer. YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitch are some of the best platforms to consider and select. Also, find out the incomes that live streamers earn every month from each live streaming platform. This can also help make a decision on the platform to use.

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4. Create a Schedule and Follow it

Being a successful live streamer will require a lot of commitment and consistency. As a beginner streamer, you will need to create a plan that acts as a roadmap for your live-streaming activities. For example, set up a specific time when you go live and share your content with your viewers. If you have decided that your live streaming sessions will always start at 7 pm, always strive to adhere to this.

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5. Start Streaming and Broadcasting

Once you have everything in place, go straight ahead and display your talents to your viewers. Your live-streaming sessions should be engaging and incorporate personalization. Also, using entertainment in your live-streaming sessions is recommended. Always remember that quality beats length! There is no point in having long live-streaming sessions whose quality is wanting!

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Best Places To Start Streaming For Beginners In 2022

1. YouTube Live

YouTube is one of the best live-streaming platforms. One of the reasons for this is that it comes with approximately two billion users each month. It is a universal platform that has people of different ages. YouTube Live also gives you powerful analytical and monetization tools. One of the perks of using YouTube Live is it can save your live streams enabling your viewers to replay and watch them later. There is also a native chat feature that allows you and your viewers to communicate during the live stream. 

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2. Facebook Live

Facebook Live With more than 2.7 billion users on the platform, Facebook presents you with another good live-streaming platform a beginner can use to engage with your audience. It also has a universal appeal and can easily reach different groups of viewers of different ages, locations, and more. Facebook Live comes with great monetization options and good analytical tools. The platform allows streamers to broadcast live via both mobile and desktop, schedule their streams, and edit recorded versions of live videos.

3. Twitter Live

Twitter has 200 million daily active users. All beginner streamers should also consider Twitter Live when selecting their preferred live-streaming platform. Twitter Live allows you to include a link directly to the live stream, making it easy for your audience to access it easily. The live chat feature allows streamers to consistently keep in touch with their viewers. Twitter live also allows you to monetize your live videos to earn an income.

4. Twitch

Twitch is also a great platform for beginner streamers. It allows streamers to upload live videos and save previous video broadcasts to watch them later. Twitch boasts one of the best chat features. Here, streamers can interact with their viewers through chatbots. Monetization is a breeze when you use Twitch! You can earn income through subscriptions (subs), badges, emotes, and ads. In addition, Twitch is also great for gamers, art lovers, and music lovers.

‍5. TikTok Live

TikTok Live is popular for short video clips posted by users. However, live video streamers can also use it to interact with viewers. Many streamers have live stream sessions on the platform because they know that the TikTok Live platform can help them stand out more. Just 30 minutes of an interactive live session can do a beginner streamer a world of good! Unlike other platforms, live videos are not recorded, making them appear more exclusive. A good example of a successful streamer is Charli.

‍6. Instagram Live

Today, Instagram is no longer solely used for sharing photos with your loved ones or of yourself making merry. Many brands and influencers use Instagram to share live videos with their viewers. Live streamers can choose to use Instagram stories, IGTV, and live videos to interact with their followers. IGTV allows streamers to save their live streams and watch them later. Another great feature of Instagram Live is its live chat function that lets streamers maintain consistent engagement with their followers during the Live stream session. Last but not least, Instagram Live offers you monetization options such as in-stream ads and donation badges.

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Why Become a Streamer?

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1. It Provides People with a Chance to Engage In Activities They Are Passionate About.

Some live streamers may go for gaming, while others may opt for art or music. Live streaming sessions will allow every streamer to display their expertise in their area of interest.

‍2. It Can Help You Earn an Income.

Streamers have a variety of ways to monetize their live-streaming sessions. Streamers can get money from sponsors if they have a decent following and are considered popular. Here, a company or brand can sponsor their live streams in exchange for the streamers promoting their products in their live streaming sessions. In addition, streamers can also get donations and tips from viewers when they consider the streamer's content valuable.

‍3. No Special Skills Are Required.

As a beginner streamer, all you need is to settle on your preferred niches, such as music or cooking. Then get to know your audience well and create live-streaming sessions relevant to the audience's needs and wants.

4. You Get to Create Valuable Networks.

With time you will have built a considerable level of popularity. This will enable you to rub shoulders with different people, including other influencers and corporate brands. These valuable contacts come in handy in the future, such as when you wish to start selling your own products.

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Final Take Away

Choosing the most suitable live-streaming platform to "launch" your live-streaming career is no easy task. There are many factors to consider. In addition, all the existing live-streaming platforms come with different features, and varying technical aspects, and cater to different audiences. From picking the right equipment to creating content that people will want to watch, be consistent, and you too will be successful as a streamer. Good luck!

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