The Complete Guide to Twitch Streaming

Learn how to set up an account on Twitch. Includes step by step instructions on account setup and helpful hints on the best way to choose your username on Twitch.

In order to go live on Twitch, you’ll need streaming software. In this lecture we’ll give you a brief overview of each of the most popular streaming software options. You’ll learn the pros and cons of each so you can choose the best option for your needs.

A step by step guide on how to set up OBS from install to your first “Start Streaming” button press!

A step by step guide on how to set up XSplit from install to your first “Start Streaming” button press!

Stream alerts can be a great way for your audience to interact with you. You’ll learn how to set up an account with StreamLabs and how to set up your alerts to match your streaming setup.

A good camera setup is essential for sharing your reactions with your community. In this lecture, you’ll learn how to find the best camera to suit your needs and how to get it set up properly for any situation.

What good is streaming if you can’t communicate with your chat? In this lecture, you’ll learn about different types of microphones available so you can make the best choice for your stream setup.

A good PC is essential to your streaming setup. You’ll learn what to look for in a good PC as well as what to avoid based on what you want to stream. AAA games will have different requirements than Indie titles or creative streaming. It can be overwhelming. We’ll show you how to get the right setup together throughout this section.

It's a question as old as time. Should I buy a pre-built machine or should I build it myself? You’ll learn the pros and cons of both and be able to make your own determination on what setup is right for your stream dreams going forward.

Sometimes the hardest part of building your own PC is knowing how much to spend. In this activity, you’ll budget out your own build before we get into talking about each component of a PC you’ll need.

Power supplies, graphics cards, and RAM, OH MY! Does this all sound foreign to you? Not to worry! You’ll learn about each component of a PC before you dive into ordering and building your own!

In this lecture, you’ll learn all about the different types and brands of processor that can go into your PC, allowing you to budget and choose the right one for your streaming needs.

One of the most important parts of any PC build is the graphics card. You’ll learn how to navigate the rocky seas of graphics card purchasing and come out with a card that will set your stream to Ultra settings.

Motherboards are the heart and soul of your PC. RAM makes your applications snappy, and hard drives allow you to store everything you need. You’ll learn about the different types of each and you’ll be able to choose your own by the end of this lecture.

A great computer is for nothing if you don’t have great peripherals attached to it. You’ll learn about some great options for keyboards, mice, and more in this lecture.

It seems like everyone and their mother are selling computer parts these days. Where do we shop for our parts? You’ll learn where to find the best parts at the best prices and how to shop around to get the deals you want on what you need.

This activity is all about designing the rig that will power your stream! You’ll put together the perfect rig that will match your budget and desired performance levels.

An overlay can add your own personal touch to your stream and make you stand out. You’ll learn what an overlay is and how to craft your own in this lecture.

Now that you’ve got some shiny new graphics for your stream, in this lecture you’ll learn how to add them to OBS and set up what your stream will look like.

Its now time to dig into some more advanced things that OBS can do. You’ll learn how to set up a green screen that will help take your stream to the next level.

Adding panels graphics to your Twitch stream page is a great way to get some basic information across. In this lecture, you’ll learn how to create your own additional graphics and incorporate them into your stream aesthetic.

In this activity, you’ll take the lessons you’ve learned about creating your own stream overlays and put them to work in making your own stream graphics. Once that's done, upload them to OBS and play around with them until you’re happy with how it looks.

Twitch bots are a useful tool to help you manage your stream and share other information. In this section, you’ll learn about the different types of Twitch Bots that are available so you can choose the best one for your setup.

MooBot is a popular option for Twitch streamers. In this lecture, you’ll learn how to set up MooBot and get it running in your stream with different commands.

Another popular option is NightBot. You’ll learn how to setup NightBot and integrate it and some commands into your Twitch stream.

A newer entry into the Twitch Bot Space, StreamLabs Bot is another great option to help manage your stream. You’ll learn how to set it up and utilize its capabilities to elevate your streams.

Twitch extensions are a great way to jazz up your stream and the possibilities are almost endless. You’ll be given a brief overview of what these extensions are before we dive into some of the most popular ones more exclusively.

A great way to show off your streaming rig and peripherals! You’ll learn how to set up the extension to show off your setup and how to place it into a panel on your stream.

A schedule is the most important thing you can possibly have. This extension will allow you to manage your schedules so your community knows when to expect you to go live.

One of the most popular ‘over video’ style extensions out there. This allows for some great extra interactivity and viewer engagement. We’ll show you how to get it set up and running like a dream.

Some games on Twitch have extensions available just for them.  You’ll learn which games have extensions, what they do, and how they can help enhance your stream engagement for your viewers.

Now that we’ve shown you how to set up some different bots and extensions, it's time for you to choose your own and get them set up correctly within your stream.

The only way to go from here, is up. You’ll learn how to get started with streaming and how to grow your community organically from the ground up in this lecture.

This isn’t easy. It can get discouraging. In this lecture, you’ll learn how to turn your social media platforms into ways to pull viewers into your streams while managing the expectations of being a new streamer on the platform.

A schedule is the most important thing you can do for yourself when starting out on the platform. You’ll learn why it's so important and how to create a schedule that works for you and the community you want to build.

Now that you’ve got some streams under your belt, and you have a schedule up, you need to stick to that schedule as best you can. In this lecture, you’ll learn why that's vital to your success.

In this activity, you’re going to write out your schedule, find the best ways for you to promote your stream to potential viewers, and attempt to find your unique edge in the streaming world. What will you bring to the table that's new, refreshing, exciting?

No matter how fast or slow it happens, growth is a wonderful thing. In this lecture, you’ll learn not only how to start growing your channel, but how to handle growth as it happens.

Gimmicks can make or break your streaming career early on. Are they really worth it? In this lecture, you’ll learn how to use gimmicks appropriately to get your desired results.

This entire industry is all about networking, from social media networking to conventions and events. In this lecture, you’ll learn how to start networking properly.

Its now time to network for yourself! Put yourself out there! You’ll be given some positive movements to put forth on your social media to get people talking. Engage with your friends and your community! Make it yours!

Twitter is a mainstay for fast, fluid communication between you and your community. In this lecture, you’ll learn how to utilize Twitter properly to engage with your community and the Twitch community at large.

Facebook is a great tool for promoting your content. With billions of people, you can introduce people to your content that have never even heard of Twitch before. In this lecture, you’ll learn how to best utilize Facebook for your streaming needs.

Youtube is a great tool for promoting your stream. While it might seem counter-productive to post video content from Twitch on Youtube, in this lecture you’ll learn how to use YouTube properly to promote your stream.

Instagram is another great tool to promote not only your stream, but engage with your community about the goings-on in your life. In this lecture, you’ll learn how to use Instagram to best promote your content.

Now that you’ve learned about the different types of social media you can use to promote your stream, managing them all can seem like a daunting task. You’ll learn how to manage each platform effectively in this lecture.

Once you’ve got the social media management down, it's time to start leveraging it to your advantage. You’ll learn how to do just that in this lecture.

In this activity, you’ll get signed up for social media platforms you want to use for your Twitch community.

The culture around Twitch can be a bit of a minefield to navigate through at times. In this section you’ll learn how to best navigate the minefield while still making  yourself feel at home.

Twitch Terms of Service can be confusing. In this activity, we’ll break down the big TOS things you need to know for being on Twitch and ask you some questions to ensure you understand how to keep within the law.

Memes and inside jokes are huge on Twitch and it can be a confusing time for those new to the platform. You’ll learn how to navigate the sea of memes on Twitch from emotes to inside jokes and you’ll be slinging memes with the best of them in no time.

Stream teams can be a huge boost to your networking, but they can also be one of the worst elements of Twitch. In this lecture, you’ll learn how to navigate through the stream teams to find one that fits your needs.

IRL, Creative, Cooking, Music. There are entire sections of Twitch that don’t involve gaming. In this lecture, you’ll learn about some of them and how to best discover them. Perhaps one of them might end up being your key to success.

Does luck really play a huge role in your success on Twitch? You’ll learn the answer to that question and more in this lecture which will explain the common questions around the element of luck when it comes to live streaming.

Sponsorships are a great way to get some extra income rolling in. You’ll learn how to approach companies for sponsorships or what to do if someone approaches you. We’ll also touch on how to choose the right sponsorships for your streaming needs.

The big one. Monetizing your stream can be a bit tricky. Don’t worry, though! We’ve got your back! You’ll learn how to monetize your stream effectively and easily without sounding like a beggar on the streets.

Building your community is probably the most important part of your Twitch experience. You’ll learn how to build up that solid community through your streams and social media in this section using various techniques.

Discord is probably the best overall way to interact with your community and the Twitch community at large. You’ll learn how to navigate Discord effectively and learn how to manage your server effectively once you create your own.

Mods are the backbone of your community. They are the first line of defense in your chat and discord community. You’ll learn how to choose the right mods for your channel and discord in this lecture.

In this lecture, you’ll learn how to tie everything together. You’ve spent the entire course learning various different things from stream alerts and graphics to chat interaction and community building. Now it's time to tie it all together in a way that best fits your community.

Your community should have a set of rules to abide by. They vary from channel to channel and should be unique to your needs. You’ll learn how to write and regulate rules for your channel and community in this lecture so you can have an upstanding community from the get-go.

In this activity, you’ll be tasked with writing out your set of rules for your channel and your community.

Interacting with chat can make or break your stream. Watching someone sit there and play a game with no interaction is not appealing. In this lecture, you’ll learn how to engage with your chat and make newcomers feel welcome in your stream.

Trolling is everywhere on the internet. There seems to be no avoiding trolls no matter what you do. You’ll learn the best methods for dealing with trolls in your chat and community during this lecture.

Congratulations! You’ve made it through the course! We’ll give you some next steps and tips for succeeding beyond these 10 sections! We hope you’ve enjoyed your time here! We’ll catch you on Twitch!