How to Keep Talking While Streaming

Don’t assume that potential viewers will reach out to you. It is your job to produce the content that will entice them to stay on your channel. With practice, you’ll be able to continually chat throughout your stream and get your chat to engage with you enough to build a community.

Things to Talk About on Stream

Here are a few topics you can talk about on your Twitch stream:

1. The Game You’re Playing

   It is a safe bet that your audience is interested in the game you are playing. Not only can you talk about what you are playing and your thought process behind it, but you can also learn information about how it was designed and developed to share with your viewers. Pass on any tips or techniques that you use to get better at the game or improve your own gaming experience.

   You can also cover updates, patches, new metas, and more about the game, even if they are upcoming. Spend time learning as much as you can about the game you play (especially if you only play one or two different titles on your stream) so that you have a knowledge base to draw from.

   If you are a variety streamer, talk about upcoming titles that you are excited to play and ask your viewers what they are excited to play. Keep the discussion going to create a sense of community.

2. Real-Life Stories

   Share stories about your real life. Mix together funny moments with difficult moments. Be authentic with your viewers. If you don’t really find your real-life interesting, do things outside of streaming that excites you. Not only will you be able to share these moments with your viewers, but you will often find inspiration for future streams.

3. Ask Your Audience What They Have Been Up To?

   Building a community within your stream is a good way to keep people returning day after day. Not only will they feel connected to you, but they will make friends with each other. They are also more likely to connect with new viewers, bringing more people into your channel.

   Asking your chat what they are up to will allow you to talk with them and react to their stories, taking a little bit of pressure off of your shoulders as far as new content creation goes.

4. Question of the Day

   Set up a “question of the day” command and change the question from stream to stream. These can be thought-provoking questions or simply “Coffee vs Tea?” Allow the chat to bicker amongst themselves (in a playful way) about why coffee is superior to tea (because it is).

5. Your Favorite Things or Hobbies

   If there is something outside of streaming that you really enjoy, talk about it occasionally on stream. Whether it is watching anime or woodworking in your garage, you will find that a few people will be interested in your hobbies. You may even inspire others to try out a new genre or hobby for themselves.

6. Current Events

   While you should be careful about talking about anything political or traumatic, talking about current world events (or upcoming holidays) can generate a lot of chat.

7. Your Pets

   People love pets. If you have pets, show pictures (or the pets themselves) on your stream. Create channel rewards that involve your pet in some way (such as giving them a treat), and make a pet channel in your Discord server.

8. Create a List

   As you go throughout each day, create a list of anything that pops into your head that you think your audience may enjoy hearing about or discussing. As you progress in your streaming career, this will become easier and you will learn what your community enjoys.

Keep Talking on Twitch Stream

1. 1. Chat With Friends on Discord While You Stream

   Ask a few of your trusted friends to spend time with you when you first start streaming. Even if they aren’t playing the same game as you, they can keep you chatting. Make sure that they understand that you are streaming so let them know what you can’t say on Twitch without getting banned.

   

   As you and your friends chat frequently, the conversation will be natural and easy-going. Pretty soon, you will “forget” that others may or may not be listening, and you will enjoy yourself. This is precisely what you want your viewers to notice when they click onto your channel. You can also create your own Discord server which can act as the future hub for your community.

2. 2. Invite People You Know to Your Twitch Chat

   Ask your friends and family to watch your stream as you begin. Ask them to hang out in your chat and talk to each other. Not only will this give you a viewer count, other users who join your stream will see an active chat. Your friends can help integrate the new, potential followers by engaging with them and answering questions. 

   Having them talk to you in chat will also train you to frequently check your chat and engage with your viewers. It keeps the conversation rolling and you can catch up with those who are important to you. 

   If you stream on Twitch, a side benefit of having your friends and family help you out is your concurrent viewer count. Even though only three are needed, this is often the hardest milestone for new streamers to achieve in order to reach Twitch Affiliate status.

3. 3. Network with Streamers Who Talk on Stream

   Especially if you’re streaming as an introvert, speaking to people you can’t see may seem daunting. If you encounter a streamer in your popularity range that seemingly drives the conversation forward easily, try to network with them. Even if you don’t collaborate together, ask them for their insight. They may be able to give you a few simple tips and tricks which have worked well for them. 

4. 4. Engage with Your Twitch Chat

   When a new user visits your channel and writes to you, try to reply to them as soon as you can. Many people will leave your stream if you ignore your chat. Most will understand if you are in the middle of something that takes up most of your conversation. If you are at a casual place in your stream or in between games, make sure that you reply to those who want to talk to you. 

   Make an effort to learn about those who frequent your stream and become regular viewers. Knowing a little about their lives will generate more conversations in the future. 

   That being said, don’t call out lurkers in your stream. While some people don’t mind this, others will feel uncomfortable. Many people want to watch broadcasts casually and not necessarily participate. Continue on as usual and let them begin to engage in their own time. 

5. 5. Narrate What You Are Doing on Stream

   If you have nobody to talk to, narrate what you are doing. Give play-by-plays of your actions, point out special tricks you are using, or laugh at something that happens unexpectedly. Don’t let yourself zone-out. Produce something that you would want to watch.

   

   Create specific challenges for yourself. Game with a handicap or do pushups if you lose. This will make things more interesting for you and your viewers. Speak out your thought process as you navigate the game and adjust to the challenge. Title your Twitch streams in a way that draws sparks curiosity in people browsing channels.  

6. 6. Talk About Your Day-to-Day Life

   Share real-life stories with your viewers. Make sure to change names and to avoid giving information that would let them track you down. Talk about your future plans and things that you hope to do. Share why you started gaming and streaming. 

   Get yourself hyped by talking about things that you love. What are your passions? Which hobbies are you interested in developing? Are there upcoming games that you are excited about playing? Where do you plan to visit the next time you travel? Make a list and use these things as filler for when your content has a lull. 

7. 7. Plan Your Content Ahead of Time

   Before each stream, write down several topics that want to discuss on stream. Setting up talking points ahead of time will remind you to keep chatting throughout your broadcast. 

   Think about what you plan to stream and find ways to make sections educational. Viewers love learning while being entertained. Even little tips throughout your stream can make a significant impact.

8. 8. Talk About Products that You Love

   While you don’t want to overdo it, if there is a product that you love that relates to your stream, mention it periodically. Casually mentioning products is an excellent practice for when you have sponsors in the future. You can even think ahead of your dream Twitch sponsors and start working toward targeting them in the future.

9. 9. Practice “Just Chatting”

   If you still feel uncomfortable talking on stream, switch your channel to the “Just Chatting” category (if you stream on Twitch) and turn off your game. Look at the camera and make a solid effort to continually chat for twenty minutes. Even if nobody is watching, this focused effort will make jabbering while your broadcast easier over time. 

How to Talk on Stream Without Chat Engagement

Streamers who want their channel to be successful often invite friends to talk with them during the stream either through Discord or the platform’s chat. They pre-plan talking points for their stream. These may include stories from their real-life or game walkthroughs with narration. Some may talk about their hobbies or an upcoming event that excites them. 

It can feel strange to talk to nobody in particular without a response. With practice and consistency, it will get easier. When your viewers start to pour in, the exercise will also help you naturally engage with them, making it easier for them to connect with you as a person. Here are a few ways to teach you how to talk on stream.