The #1 Mistake New Streamers Make (And How to Fix It FAST)

If your stream feels dead and you're sitting there wondering why no one is chatting or sticking around, this article is for you. We'll go over the biggest mistake that new streamers make and how to fix it. 

If you're new here, be sure to check out The Streamer Academy where I help you start, build, and succeed as a streamer. There are tons of free resources available for you to utilize that will help grow your stream.

The Number One Mistake

The number one mistake I see new streamers make kills their stream before they even get started. I make this mistake too. You have everything set up to go live, but once you hit 'Start Streaming', nothing happens. There's no viewers, no engagement, and no growth. The problem isn't your content, setup, or gameplay.

The biggest mistake that new streamers make is focusing too much on streaming rather than discoverability. 

Here's the truth: streaming alone won't grow your audience. 

Think about it, how do new people actually find your stream? They don't. No matter what platform you're using, as a new streamer, they're not going to be pushing your content to new viewers. There's no built-in discoverability so you're basically streaming into a void unless people you already know are watching. 

This is why so many streamers get stuck with only 0-3 viewers, grinding for months with no growth. They're treating streaming as a growth strategy when it's really just a way to engage your audience. 

How You Can Fix This

How do you actually fix this and get people to find your stream, stick around, and engage with the content? It's simple. You need a content strategy that brings people to you. 

Here are three steps you can follow to achieve this. 

Step One

Step one is to create clips and shorts. Every single time you stream, you're sitting on a gold mine of content. If you have a funny moment, a clutch play, or a reaction, people will watch this on TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels. When they see you there, they'll come check out your livestream.

Step Two

Step two is to plan your streams with a hook. Don't just go live and play a game; give people a reason to click on your stream. Instead of having a title like "Casual War Zone Stream", say "Can I Win Using Only a Pistol?" This is the kind of title that gets people interested before they've even clicked on your stream. 

Step Three

Step three is to talk to every viewer like they matter. If someone new joins and says hey in the chat and you ignore them, then they're going to stop watching. With every new name that pops up, you need to quickly acknowledge them. make every viewer feel like they're a part of something. 

If you do these three things, create content outside of your stream, plan your stream with a hook, and engage with your viewers, every time you stream you'll begin to see growth. 

Streaming is just one part of the puzzle, but you have to bring people in first. 

Now that you know how to bring people into your stream, the next step is knowing exactly what to do when you start from zero. This video here will show you everything I would do if I had to start streaming from scratch on Twitch today. It will show you exactly how to start a stream from zero.