Want to make money on Twitch? Being a gamer can be a low-stress job by itself, but did you know some gamers make millions from streaming games online?
Twitch is the world’s leading social video platform and community for gamers to broadcast their gameplay and interact with viewers.
Twitch has more than 2.5 million people watching streams and 30 million daily active users, increasing your odds to make money from your live streaming.
Check out how streamers can earn money playing video games on Twitch and some tips for starting your own business with a Twitch channel.
8 Ways To Make Money On Twitch This Year
Did you know people make a living from playing games online? In fact, online entertainment jobs are recession-proof and proven money-makers!
Making money on Twitch can be challenging for those new to streaming, but with the right knowledge and effort, it’s not as impossible as you might think.
There are a few ways to popular Twitch streamers make money, such as subscriptions, Twitch Bits, game sales affiliates, ads, and more.
Twitch Subscriptions
One way that streamers earn money is Twitch subscriptions. Many viewers are ready to pay a monthly fee to support their favorite content creators, which can be an excellent way for streamers to earn money.
Twitch streamers make 50% of the subscription fees, and Twitch earns the other half. But streamers need to be a Twitch Affiliate or Twitch Partner to earn money with Twitch subscriptions to their channel.
Twitch subscribers can pay $4.99, $9.99, $24.99, and Prime free subscription (Amazon) to follow their favorite streamers, with a portion of the money going straight to the gamers. Subscribers are given access to special chat options and emote that they can use in any channel on Twitch where broadcasting is available, and they can also watch ad-free.
Affiliate Marketing
Streamers can make money on Twitch without being an Affiliate or Partner with Twitch through Affiliate Marketing. We’re not talking about the Twitch Affiliate Program but the affiliate programs of other products and services.
The most popular way streamers earn money through affiliate marketing is with Amazon Associates. Amazon Associates allows you to showcase items on Amazon and get a commission on any purchases your viewers make.
If you want affiliate links for other brands, thousands of companies out there offer affiliate programs. You can research online by checking what others are earning through their affiliate programs or simply searching Google for “affiliate programs” or “affiliate marketing.”
Ad Revenue
Ad revenue is another common way for streamers to make passive income on Twitch. To make money with revenue ads, you must be a Twitch Partner.
The amount of Twitch ad revenue generated depends on how many viewers your channel has and the CPM (Cost Per Impression) model – the more views, the more potential for cash.
Twitch pays anywhere from $0.0002 – $0.01 per view of an ad, depending on a couple of factors, which is why ads aren’t the big money makers for Twitch Partners. Many streamers turn to ad-free viewing since it isn’t worth much, and ads deter people.
Plus, since people are using ad blockers more, it is harder for streamers to make money from ads. Twitch creators can now display ads called Stream Display Ads (SDAs). SDAs roll and display ads for 10 seconds, but viewers can watch and hear creators while these advertisements are visible compared to other video ads.
Donations- Patreon
You can also make money from your Twitch audience with donations, almost like earning tips for a job well done. You can use Twitch’s built-in donation system known as Twitch Bits as An Affiliate of Partner or through a third-party app like Patreon.
Donations work best for popular streamers who have already established a solid viewership and fan base of Twitch users. You can offer exclusive video content or live streams, share top video game tips and tricks, or any other type of reward.
Plus, it’s a great way to show your appreciation to your regular viewers and draw in new followers to your stream! Many people are happy donating money to their favorite streamers because it means keeping you in business and keeping themselves entertained!
Sponsors/Brand Partnerships
Making money with brand sponsorships is an excellent way for avid gamers to earn revenue from their videos. It’s almost like a mini-ad in your video that you talk about rather than running ads.
If you have a large, engaged audience, brands will reach out to you for sponsorship deals, but if you’re small, you’ll want to be proactive about finding sponsorships.
To be paid for brand sponsorships on Twitch, you don’t need to be an Affiliate or a Partner; it’s only about the size of your following. The bigger your following, the bigger sponsorship deals you get!
You may market a vast selection of brands and items to your Twitch followers, and sponsorship agreements between businesses and streamers will tell you all you need to do and say for the video.
So if you’re looking to make an extra thousand dollars a month, brand sponsorships could be an excellent option for you.
Check out our full course Sponsorship Secrets to learn our step-by-step process in landing $1,000 to $10,000 sponsorships.
Tournaments/Competitions
Many Twitch streamers participate in tournaments to make more money that’s not strictly just the streaming platform. It’s an excellent way to show off their skills and get paid simultaneously, plus get involved in the gamer community.
You can enter many different types of competitions, but cash-prize tournaments are the most popular. These usually run through third-party websites or are hosted by streamers themselves!
No matter what game you’re playing, there’s sure to be a tournament out there for you to make money playing video games. Start entering these contests! You never know- you may walk away with the prize pool.
eSport Team
If you’re an experienced gamer and want to take your Twitch streaming career to the next level, joining an eSports team could be the right move for you. An eSports team can provide a streamer with salary, bonuses, and other benefits.
This is another way of learning money that isn’t just on Twitch but can help grow your twitch following. Many teams are looking for talented players to play games, so do some research and see which one is the best fit for you!
eSports is growing rapidly in popularity and has become an enormous source of income for Twitch gamers that want to play competitively at the highest level.
Your Own Merchandise!
Selling your own merchandise is another good way for Twitch streamers to generate revenue on Twitch. You can open your online shop on your own BlueHost website or start a Shopify store.
You just need to include a link to your shop in your Twitch profile and video descriptions, plus mention your merch to your audience- and show it off in your video too!
There are many different types of merchandise you can sell in your Twitch store, but the most popular items are T-shirts, hats, and hoodies. Just develop your own look and style, and get advertising!
Twitch Affiliates
If you want to make money on Twitch, you need to grow your following and become an Affiliate.
The Twitch Affiliate Program is for streamers with a steady viewership, before becoming Partners. Twitch Affiliates get several benefits, including access to Bits, subscription buttons, and emotes, which all help you earn money from your stream and connect to your viewers.
All you need to become a Twitch Affiliate is a channel with:
- 50 followers
- 500 minutes of streaming
- 7 different days of streaming in a month
- An average of 3 viewers (concurrent viewers including hosts and raids)
Twitch Bits
Bits are a Twitch virtual currency that Twitch viewers can use to show their appreciation for your stream and essentially tip you to show they enjoyed your content.
Twitch users can earn and buy Bits in various ways, and they can use them to tip you- a Bit is worth about $0.01, so being given 100 Bits is $1 in revenue for a streamer.
Subscriptions
Subscriptions are an essential source of advertising revenue where most streamers make their money- Twitch offers streamers 50% of the subscription fees they receive, which can be pretty lucrative if you have enough subscribers!
If you want to collect subscriptions, give your viewers some incentive! Offer them exclusive content, early access to your videos, or a chance to win prizes. Whatever you do, make sure it’s worth the viewers’ money!
Game Sales
Selling in-game items is a fantastic method to generate money on Twitch if you’re a high-profile streamer. You’re essentially a game sales affiliate- you play a game available in the Twitch store, and when viewers use your link to buy it from Twitch, you get 5% of game sales.
Twitch Partner Program
Being a Twitch Partner is a big goal for many streamers, as this little club is seen as the cream of the crop of big streamers.
To join the Twitch Partner Program you first have to be a Twitch Affiliate and apply to the program after you meet some requirements:
Over 30 days you must:
- Stream for 25 hours over the month
- Stream on 12 different days (meaning a single 25-hour stream marathon doesn’t count)
- Obtain an average of 75 viewers (concurrent viewers excluding hosts, raids, and embeds)
If you don’t get in right away, you can keep applying as long as you continue to meet the requirements.
The advantages of being in the Twitch Partner Program are identical to those of an Affiliate, with one exception-Partners get a cut of the ad money that their stream generates.
Tips For Streaming
Now that you know how avid gamers make money on Twitch, here are a few tips to help you get started:
Standing Out & Finding Your Niche
If you want people to discover your Twitch channel, you must stand out!
Find a different approach that sets you apart from the rest of Twitch and concentrate on it. Make sure you’re doing something unique whether it’s in terms of your gameplay style, the games you play, or how you interact with your viewers.
Promote Your Content
You can’t monetize something if no one’s watching- so be sure to reach out and build relationships with other streamers in your niche. Make sure you’re promoting your channel on all of your social media platforms such as Facebook, Reddit, and Twitter, and don’t be afraid to ask for help from your viewers. Word-of-mouth is still one of the best ways to attract new viewers!
Keep Consistent
Consistency is vital for success- you can’t just go live once a week and expect anyone to show up. Stream as often as possible, even if it means going back over old content or streaming at odd hours of the day.
If you want to make money streaming, remember that consistency is vital. Be sure to be consistent in promoting your channel across all of your social media platforms.
Always be on the lookout for new ways to engage with your viewers on all your social media platforms.
Publish Videos On Multiple Platforms
Don’t just post your content on Twitch! You can also upload YouTube videos and to your social media accounts like Facebook or publish clips of your stream directly onto Twitter.
When you’re done streaming for the day, save some highlights and post them on all of these platforms- not only will this boost awareness about your channel, but it’ll help you get more views on your videos.
Plus, you could also make some money streaming videos on your YouTube channel, people have made millions on YouTube videos!
Not sure how to make engaging content on YouTube? Check out this Mastering YouTube course and learn how to make thousands on your YouTube videos!
Network With Other Twitch Streamers
It’s important to remember that you’re not in this alone- there are thousands of other streamers out there, many of whom are looking for tips on how to make money on Twitch just like you.
Reach out and connect with them! Offer your advice or assistance if they need it, and many will do the same for you.
Not only is networking with other streamers a great way to learn new tips and tricks, but it’s also a great way to expand your audience. When viewers see that you’re actively involved in the Twitch community, they’ll be more likely to check out your channel.
It’s also not a bad idea to get some collaborations- playing games against another streamer could double your audience, plus add more content for your viewers who want to see you beat someone else and not just a game!
Final Thoughts
Focus on creating quality content, engaging with your viewers, and networking with other streamers, and you’ll be on your way to making money on Twitch in no time! With a bit of effort, you can turn streaming into a lucrative side hustle!
Remember that what works and makes money for one Twitch streamer may not work for another. Always experiment and try new things to see what works best for you!
