Do you want your Twitch streams to get more views? So does everyone else. It's not easy. Without views and subscribers, your channel is going to fall flat.

How do you get more viewers on Twitch? You need to find a way to stand out. These tips will help you stream games just like the pros. They were chosen to help you build the foundation of your channel; you don't have to tackle them all at once.

In this article, we're going to show you how to attract viewers on Twitch the old-fashioned way. If you start improving your streaming today, you'll have a high-quality channel and a solid following in no time.

1. How to Get More Twitch Viewers by Promoting Your Stream

There's a chance that people will stumble across your stream while they're browsing Twitch live streams, but you'll have better luck by promoting your stream elsewhere. Streamers often post links on their Twitter feeds.

You can also promote them elsewhere, like in relevant Facebook groups, your own Facebook feed, Instagram, game forums, and dedicated gaming and streaming subreddits (when doing so is allowed, of course.)

Anywhere you interact with people that might be interested in your stream is a good place to promote your feed. Just make sure that the platform you choose doesn't have restrictions on self-promotion.

2. How to Get Twitch Viewers by Asking People to Host Your Content

Hosting on Twitch involves showing somebody else's content on your own stream. If a streamer with more followers hosts your content, you'll get in front of a lot more people. If your stream is good, this will encourage more followers and subscribers to tune in.

How do you get people to host your content? Your friends might do it for you on a whim, so let them know that you'd love to get hosted. Hosting other people's content on your own channel is another method. When someone sees that you're a big fan, they may be more inclined to share your stream.

Keep in mind that the biggest streamers aren't likely to host your content; you may want to aim lower, reaching out to those who might be more on your level. Streamers that have only slightly more viewers than you are a good place to start. Remember, too, that you have to offer some value. Make the hosting an exchange or a game. Give them a reason to join in.

3. How to Gain Viewers on Twitch by Getting Involved With Other Streamers

You'll find more success on Twitch if you know the right people.

Networking on Twitch is a bit like networking on social media. You'll have to post great stuff, but you'll also have to seek out great content that you can comment on and generate discussions about.

Get involved in other streamers' chats and share their posts on social media. Engage them in conversation. Discuss your plays. Give them shout-outs on the air. Comment on their posts. Just remember that you need to offer value on top of all of this. If you're not providing something useful or entertaining, you're just going to come across as a spammer, which is definitely not how to get viewers on Twitch if you're trying to build an audience that actually likes you.

4. How to Get Followers on Twitch by Choosing the Right Games

Fortnite, League of Legends, Hearthstone, PUBG, Dota 2, and Heroes of the Storm are some of the most popular games on Twitch. If you stream those games, you're going to be facing a lot of competition, which means that they may not be the best games to stream.

If you choose a less popular game with a strong following (think H1Z1 or Magic: The Gathering) you can carve a niche for yourself. You'll be more likely to attract dedicated fans that love the games that you play if they can't find many other streaming options.

twitch categories and games

Of course, if you're really good at a popular game or you think you have something new to offer, stream one of the bigger titles. You can also theme your channel; always streaming PS2 games, games about animals, or puzzle games will attract a specific type of viewer that will engage with your content. If your theme is interesting enough, you'll gain plenty of fans.

5. How to Get More Views on Twitch by Streaming on a Regular Schedule

Streaming at different times on different days makes it difficult to gain regular viewers. Sticking with planned streaming hours gives your channel some sense of predictability and lets you get in touch with the same audience again and again. You can always add spots or skip out on streaming for a few days, but if you're still building your following up from zero, you'll want to be consistent.

When you're first getting started, stream a lot. It's the best way to get people in the habit of watching your channel (set up automatic hosting, too, so that when you're not streaming, something is still playing on your feed).

You can also time your streams to coincide with common viewing times. Use a tool like TwitchStrike to see when people are watching the games you're interested in. Here are TwitchStrike's heat maps for Hearthstone, for example:

twitchstrike stats

6. How to Grow on Twitch by Engaging With Your Viewers

Twitch's chat window isn't just there for viewers to communicate with each other. It's also there for you to communicate with them.

When you can, check in on the chat and see what's going on. Answer people's questions, comment on what they're saying, and interact with them in any other way that you can. It makes people feel valued and like they're part of the stream.

Not every game makes it easy to check in on the chat, but when you have a spare moment, it's always fun to read through the last few messages. You don't need to start a full-blown conversation with your viewers. But make sure to acknowledge that they're there and part of your stream. Even a little bit goes a long way.

Related: How to Block and Unblock Someone on Twitch

7. How to Get Noticed on Twitch by Teaming Up With Other Streamers

Beyond hosting, you can team up with other streamers in other ways. Some Hearthstone streamers work together to draft and play; below, you can see three different people all working on the same deck.

heartstone squad stream

You could do this with just about any game (though it's probably easiest with slower-paced strategy games and the like.) You could stream a local multiplayer game that you play against a friend or two. The banter between two entertaining streamers is extremely valuable to a bored audience.

Related: The Complete Guide to Twitch Subscriptions

8. How to Gain Followers on Twitch by Investing in Good Equipment

Having the right equipment for streaming makes more of a difference than you might think. If you've ever watched a stream where the sound was bad, the video was grainy, or things were out of sync, you already know how annoying watching something low-quality can be.

These kinds of things can turn people off from your channel right away. A decent microphone and camera might set you back a few hundred dollars, but if you're serious about streaming and you want to improve your channel, it's worth doing. You should also use some decent streaming software if you can afford it.

9. The Best Way to Get Viewers on Twitch: Have Fun and Be Yourself

People watch Twitch streams for good gameplay, but they also just like to be entertained. When you're having a good time, they'll be having a good time, too. That's the key to getting more people to watch.

Crack jokes, be yourself, and don't try to over-analyze things and make yourself out to be an expert if you're not. Keep it simple and light-hearted. It's just like making a new friend, only many times over.

Keep Calm and Carry On Streaming

Streaming on Twitch, like anything else, is a skill that requires practice. You'll need to reflect on your performance, plan to get better, and stick to it. Watch professional streamers and see what they do differently from you.

At the same time, develop your own style. You don't want your channel to feel like a less popular carbon copy of a famous one. Establish yourself as someone who does their own thing, and people will watch.