As a streamer starting out on Twitch, how often should you stream to gain more viewers and ultimately grow your channel? In this article, we will tell you all there is to know about streaming schedules.
Stream on a Regular Basis
Typical streamers should start by going live 3-5 days per week for an average of 3-4 hours per session. Schedules will vary depending on daily activity and the content of the stream. It is important to allocate time between shows for channel growth, content creation, networking, and promotion.
Fun Fact
In a survey of nearly 3700 streamers interested in professionally growing their channels, StreamScheme found that only 28% of people streamed between 4+ days per week.
StreamScheme
There are several factors that will help you work out how much you should stream. It is always better to start off slow and increase your workload as you understand the process more.
If your primary focus is to get followers and subs it is important to pay close attention to the analytics of your stream.
Find out which games and what time of day brings in the most views and use this information to your advantage when building your schedule.
How Long Can You Stream on Twitch?
In 2020, the maximum duration of a Twitch Stream was capped at 48 hours. A VOD was automatically ended if over 48 hours and it required you to restart streaming in order for the stream to continue. While you could immediately restart your stream it would still be considered a new session.
That said, the restrictions have since been lifted. In fact, the longest-running Twitch stream on record is currently 31 days and is held by Ludwig.
How to Plan Your Weekly Schedule
With all these variables in mind, read through the following options with your content in mind. While you may adjust things over time, having a good plan in place will help you build consistency in your brand.
Here are a few strategies:
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Streaming Once or Twice Per Week
Broadcasting once or twice per week will typically mean less organic growth through your streaming platform. This means you will need to grow your channel through social media or other avenues. It also means that your streams need to be very entertaining and have a high production value.
Here are some tips to maximize the time you do have:
- Build hype throughout the week by sharing relevant information about your upcoming stream on social media.
- Share memes or helpful tips and tricks to build value for your brand.
- Keep in touch with your followers and interact with them on your breaks. This will motivate them to show up when you go live.
If you stream less because your content takes a lot of preparation, look for other ways to share with your community.
Educational videos do very well on YouTube. Use them to build brand value, earn passive income, and funnel people into your stream.
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Streaming Three to Five Times Per Week
In our opinion, live-streaming 3-5 times per week is the best option for most streamers. It allows you to continually build momentum with your followers while reducing your chance of burnout. Streaming less frequently also gives you the chance to live a balanced life.
If you want to work on your off days, find other ways to build your brand. Create videos for YouTube, focus specifically on networking, or research ways to make your streams better.
Taking time to build your following or add more tools to your skillset will keep your work interesting and rewarding over time.
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Streaming Six or Seven Times Per Week (Career Twitch Streamer)
When you first open your channel, you are hyped and think you will want to stream every day forever. We hate to break it to you, but you won’t.
Eventually, you will begin to burn out. While there may be weeks where you do stream every day, we recommend that your published schedule remains between 3-5 per week.
Another risk of streaming too frequently is becoming over-exposed. Your audience will get used to seeing you every day and some will lose their excitement about your show. To combat this, you must work harder to continually create value.
If you decide to broadcast daily, it will be more difficult to find the time to continually create new, innovative content. We recommend frequent collaborations or viewer interaction on screen. Having another person chatting with you will organically build value to your show. They may also give you ideas that you can incorporate in your following session.
Grow Your Stream through Social Media and Promotion
Unless you are merely streaming for fun, building a channel takes more than just streaming.
For growth, you need to interact with your followers on social media platforms, network with other streamers and potential sponsors and do many other activities. Unless you have someone to help, you are responsible for every aspect of your venture.
Work smaller tasks into your day-to-day streaming activities and set aside time each week to tackle bigger jobs. Fine-tune the process until it takes as little of your schedule as possible.
How Many Hours Should You Stream Per Day?
Again, this is dependent on the person and the situation. Apart from that, it will also depend on what you are streaming. Different games will require a different number of hours to play and stream.
We recommend streaming in shorter time lengths on your schedule and working out from there until you find what works best for you.
Balance Your Streaming with Your Life Plans
Other aspects of your life need to be considered when deciding how many times per week you should stream. These things include your school or workload, family time, personal health (physical and mental), and household responsibilities. How do you manage streaming while holding down a real-life job?
Take a look at your typical week and block out time for daily activities. Don’t forget to include social time with friends and other events. It’s important to consider your social life when scheduling your streams. Work your stream schedule into your free time and don’t forget to have fun throughout your streaming journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the Best Time to Stream On Twitch?
The best time to stream on Twitch will depend on different factors such as your availability, your viewers’ geographic location, and the type of content you are streaming. For a small streamer, it’s ideal to stream from 7 to 11 in the morning in your time zone. You can adjust this schedule as you analyze your viewership’s stats and as your channel grows.
Why Is It Important to Have a Good Stream Schedule?
Having a good stream schedule is important because it helps build consistency and reliability for your audience, increasing viewer engagement and loyalty. It also allows you to effectively plan and allocate time for other activities, ensuring a healthy work-life balance.
Conclusion
As an amateur streamer, you won’t have a lot of things figured out yet. But through time and experience, you’ll get the hang of things and you’ll eventually find the perfect streaming schedule for you.
Twitch streaming on a schedule can be tricky at first, but once you start streaming more regularly, you are likely to find more viewers popping into your channel.