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To get a three-viewer average on Twitch, we first need to understand how it’s calculated. It’s an average, so it’s calculated like any other average. For example, if you stream for one hour and three people watch for the entire hour, you’ll get a three-viewer average. However, if people don’t watch your full stream, you’ll need more viewers to achieve that average. Let’s say you stream for one hour, and people only watch for 10 minutes each. The number of people you would need to achieve a three-viewer average would be six times three, which is 18 viewers. You can imagine that if you stream for 24 hours and people only watch for 10 minutes, you’re going to need a lot more people to maintain that three-viewer average.

Most people do not watch your entire stream. Even your most dedicated viewers might not join right at the start or stay until the end. Additionally, some viewers may only drop in for 10 minutes. All these factors mean you’ll need more than just three people to sustain that three-viewer average. Achieving a three-viewer average might sound easy, but it’s often more challenging than it seems.

Now that we know that streaming longer requires more viewers to maintain a three-viewer average, what’s the recommended stream duration? I would say a three-hour stream is a great amount of time to start with. It’s long enough to build an audience but not so long that viewers start dropping off. You want to stop streaming at your peak, when you have the most viewers, rather than continuing until your viewership starts to decline.

The key is to avoid spreading your viewers over too many hours. By streaming for just three hours instead of six, you concentrate your viewership within those three hours, resulting in a higher average.

How many days should you stream? If you’re aiming for Twitch Affiliate status, I do not recommend streaming every day. Streaming daily is very demanding and leaves little time for anything else. Just as with streaming long hours, streaming every day can dilute your average viewers. Instead, stream fewer days, such as three times a week. This way, you consolidate your audience on those specific days, making it more likely to increase your average viewership.

If you want to grow, you can stream more than three days a week, but for Twitch Affiliate, it’s better to take it easy and stick to three days. If you have the time and want to focus on growing your stream, you can also engage in networking. I have a video on networking that I highly recommend checking out. Networking on Twitch and other platforms is incredibly beneficial for your stream. It’s not just about gaining new followers but also about learning from other streamers and improving your content.

In addition to networking, you can create clips from your streams and share them on social media. You can also make YouTube videos related to the games you play on stream. For instance, if you stream Dead by Daylight, you could make a video on the best perks for each killer. If you play Stardew Valley, you could create a video on how to complete the Community Center in year one. The key is to provide valuable content that people are searching for. YouTube, the second-largest search engine after Google, offers you a chance to be discovered by a new audience.

Next, let’s talk about getting rid of the dreaded zero-viewer mark on your Twitch stream. How do you do that? Start by being your own first viewer. It’s like liking your own tweets—if you don’t like your own content, why should anyone else? Open your stream in another tab, and now you only need two more viewers instead of three. You can also ask people you know to tune in, like friends, family, or even your grandparents. Help them set up a Twitch account and bookmark your stream so they can easily support you.

If you don’t have any IRL friends who are interested in gaming, don’t worry. I was in a similar situation. My parents and my boyfriend’s friends were my first viewers. To make it easier for people to tune in, have a consistent streaming schedule. People may not remember the exact time you go live, but they’ll remember that you usually stream at a time that fits into their daily routine.

I’ve been reading a book called Hooked, which is all about building habits. It emphasizes the importance of creating habits around your product—in this case, your stream. If people get into the habit of watching your stream at a certain time, it becomes a regular part of their routine.

Now, I want to briefly address "follow for follow." It might seem like a quick way to reach 50 followers, but it’s not a good strategy. These followers are unlikely to engage with your stream, and they won’t help you reach your viewer average goal. Instead, focus on growing your audience organically.

It’s also crucial to pick the right games to stream. You want to choose games that aren’t too saturated, so your stream has a better chance of being discovered. For example, streaming a game like Fortnite might make it difficult to stand out, whereas a less popular game could increase your visibility.

To find the best games for your stream, check out Twitch’s category suggestions. It’ll show you which games are less saturated and where you’re likely to rank higher. You can also filter by genres or look at games recommended for your specific channel.

Stream titles are another essential aspect of getting viewers to click on your stream. A good stream title can make your stream stand out and attract viewers. Be clear about what makes your stream unique or use clickbait (in moderation) to entice viewers.

For your next stream, I want you to think of a game you want to play and come up with 10 title ideas. This exercise will help you get into the habit of creating compelling titles that attract viewers.

We’ve talked a lot about getting viewers into your stream, but what if you’re streaming and no one is there yet? How do you talk to yourself when nobody is watching? We’ll answer that question in the next blog. This is a series on how to become a successful streamer, and I hope to see you in the next blog: How to Talk to Yourself When Nobody is Watching.

(Affiliate link included)