[FAQ]

Hi all,

I’ve been streaming for about six months and have built a small, lovely community, but I feel like my growth has really hit a wall. I see other streamers collaborating, hosting each other, and joining in on big raids, and it seems to make a real difference.

My problem is, I don’t know how to initiate that. I’m a bit shy about just dropping into someone’s stream and trying to get noticed, as I don’t want to seem pushy or like I’m just there to leech viewers. How do you find other streamers to connect with in a genuine way? Are there specific places to look, like Discord communities or forums, and what’s the proper etiquette for reaching out to someone about a potential collaboration? I’d really appreciate any advice on how to build real connections without being awkward about it.

[Jeff Bullas]

This is a pivotal question for any streamer looking for real growth.

Quick Answer: Effective networking centres on adding genuine value to other communities first, then leveraging that established trust to create collaborative content that benefits both of your audiences.

Let’s examine the types of content-driven interactions that build these valuable connections.

The entire process should be viewed in two stages. The first stage is non-collaborative and is foundational; you must become a recognisable, positive member of another streamer’s community. This means contributing to their text-based content by participating constructively in their Twitch chat and, more importantly, their Discord server. The goal here is not to mention your stream, but to build genuine rapport so your name is associated with value. The second stage is creating shared content, which can only happen after that rapport is built. This can take several forms: first, you can engage in a straightforward co-stream playing a multiplayer game, creating a shared video experience for both communities. Second, you could organise a more specialised event, like appearing as a guest on their stream for a specific discussion, which combines both audio and video formats. Finally, a powerful method is to create content outside of Twitch, such as a joint YouTube video, which serves to cross-pollinate your audiences on a different platform.

Cheers,

Jeff

[Author]

Posts