Is it worth trying to be a streamer?

Hey there! Live streaming video game content online has become incredibly popular lately. As someone who loves gaming and entertaining people, you might be wondering if you should give streaming a try. In this post, I‘ll give you an in-depth look at the reality of making it as a streamer. I‘ll analyze if pursuing streaming is actually worth your time and effort based on factors like income potential, workload, and odds of success. Let‘s dive in!

How big is streaming these days?

First, let‘s look at some numbers to understand the massive scale of the current streaming landscape.

• Over 9.7 million people stream on Twitch every single month
• Twitch sees over 30 million visitors coming to view streams every day
• The top streamer, Ninja, has amassed an astonishing 18.5 million followers on Twitch

These figures show that streaming gaming content has truly entered the mainstream. It‘s bigger than ever thanks to surging interest in esports, the popularity of battle royale games like Fortnite, and tech that makes high-quality streaming accessible.

While the idea of playing video games for an adoring live audience seems amazing, becoming a popular streamer requires far more effort than simply booting up OBS and picking up a controller.

Just how much are top streamers earning?

For those lucky few who manage to build a sizable streaming audience, the financial rewards can be massive. Let‘s break down the revenue sources for big-time streamers and their earning potential:

Subscriptions

Fans can subscribe to their favorite streamers for a monthly fee, usually $4.99 – $24.99. In return they get perks like exclusive emoji and discord access. The streamer gets a cut.

|Twitch Sub Revenue of Top 10 Streamers 2019| |:-:| |:-:| |Ninja| $10M| |Shroud| $6.9M| |Summit1G|$5.1M| |TimTheTatman| $4.2M| |Tfue| $3.3M| |Nickmercs| $3M| |DrLupo| $2.9M| |Lirik| $2.8M| |xQcOW| $2.7M| |Pokimane| $2.5M|

Donations

Viewers can donate money directly through platforms like PayPal or by using Super Chat on YouTube. No limits on donation amounts.

Sponsorships

Major brands will pay big bucks to sponsor popular streamers. Ninja has been sponsored by the likes of Uber Eats, Samsung, and Adidas.

Merchandise

Many streamers make additional income selling branded apparel and accessories. Some also earn commissions promoting gaming equipment.

Based on these earning sources, it‘s estimated that the very top Twitch streamers are making $20 million+ per year. Now that‘s a pretty enticing potential payoff! But before you go telling your boss to take this job and shove it, let‘s look at realistic odds…

What does it actually take to make streaming a career?

To earn significant, consistent income from streaming, you need to approach it as a full time job and career – not a casual hobby.

Becoming a successful full-time streamer requires:

• Streaming consistently at least 5 days per week
• Streaming very long hours – 8+ hours per stream
• Constantly engaging with and growing your audience
• Tirelessly promoting yourself and networking
• Producing new, creative content daily

The reality is less than 1% of streamers will ever reach "Partner" status with platforms like Twitch. This means having a large and consistent enough viewership to unlock higher earning potential and exclusive perks.

In other words, the odds are stacked against you. Making it big in streaming requires major persistence through months or even years of grinding without much payoff. You have to be strategic, work incredibly hard, and catch some lucky breaks to build an audience.

And even for successful streamers, it takes serious effort to sustain growth and avoid burnout over time. But while becoming a huge streaming star is very difficult, there are still ways to find fulfillment and even some income through streaming without going "all-in".

Finding streaming success as a hobby

Contrary to what some may think, you don‘t need millions of followers to get value from streaming. Even broadcasting to a handful of consistent viewers can be rewarding.

For most new streamers, it‘s smart to approach streaming as a fun hobby with potential side income rather than a get-rich-quick scheme.

Here are some realistic initial goals to aim for:

• Stream a few times per week for an hour or two
• Slowly build up a community of regular viewers
• Focus on interacting with your audience
• Leverage your stream to grow your brand on other platforms
• Collaborate with other small streamers in your niche
• Upgrade your stream‘s production quality over time

While blowing up with viral growth overnight is exceedingly rare, you can realistically build a small but engaged audience of 50-500 fans streaming part time. And having a consistent viewership – no matter the size – provides great motivation to keep streaming.

Over time, this audience and streaming experience could lead to sponsorships, merchandise sales, affiliate income, or other monetization down the road. But for now, focus on the fun and community above all else!

Tips for getting started with streaming

If you want to dip your toe in the streaming waters, here are a few pointers to help you get going:

Pick one main game or genre

Rather than bouncing around games randomly, become known for specializing in a certain title or genre. This helps build a consistent viewership.

Study your competition

Take time to research other streamers playing whatever game(s) you plan to focus on. Determine ways you can differentiate yourself and provide unique value.

Invest in decent equipment

You don‘t need fancy gear starting out, but a decent mic, cam, and lighting go a long way. Production quality matters.

Commentate consistently

Talk about what you‘re doing in the game at all times. Be engaging even when gameplay audio is silent. React to chat comments.

Set a stream schedule

Let fans know specific times they can tune in to catch you live. Stick to the schedule as much as possible.

Network and collaborate

Team up with other small streamers in your niche to cross-promote each others‘ channels to new audiences.

Track your analytics

Use tools like Streamlabs OBS or TwitchTracker to study traffic sources, viewership stats, and stream growth over time.

Have fun!

This one is obvious but super important. The most engaging streams stem from genuine enjoyment. Stay positive and don‘t worry about the numbers early on.

Okay, let‘s bring this all together…

Should YOU become a streamer?

Deciding if you should try streaming comes down to honestly analyzing both your goals and your willingness to put in the grind:

If your primary objective is to make big money from streaming, understand the path is extremely competitive with no guarantees. You need unrelenting persistence and a bit of luck.

However, if you want a fun hobby that lets you engage with an audience and gaming community, then streaming is absolutely worth a shot!

Start by streaming a few times a week for fun. See if you enjoy the process of putting yourself out there. Slowly work on production quality and engaging your viewers.

While blowing up overnight is rare without going viral, you can realistically build a small but dedicated community over time by staying consistent. And having just a few regulars makes streaming incredibly rewarding.

Down the road, consider reinvesting revenue into better gear and increased streaming time. But for now, focus on enjoyment and quality over quantity. You might be surprised how quickly streaming becomes the highlight of your day!

I hope this gives you an honest look at the reality of making it as a streamer. Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions! Now go start that stream.