As a newer streamer, the thought of networking and establishing yourself may be a bit daunting. After a while on Twitch, it can even start feeling like there may be no hope for growing your channel.
If you’ve ever had the fleeting (or not so fleeting) thought that you’d be stuck with a single-digit viewer count forever, you are not alone. The fact is, there are many people just like you who feel the exact same way.
And this is exactly why Twitch communities exist—to help new or smaller streamers like you to begin establishing a network so you can grow.
Communities No Longer Exist on Twitch
Back in September of 2018, Twitch decided to get rid of their Communities feature. They replaced it with tags, which are labels that you can put on your stream to “categorize” it, so to speak. It’s truly unfortunate that Twitch decided to make communities obsolete as they were a great way for smaller streamers to find each other and network.
These days, you can still make use of Twitch tags for networking. You can do this by searching for specific terms that you think relate to you, and then making an effort to visit live channels and talk in streamer chats. It’s not an easy way to do it, that’s for sure. Add to that the fact that not all streams will be properly tagged and you’ll find yourself possibly struggling to find like-minded streamers you can relate with. Plus, there are a limited number of tags. So even if you wanted to label your stream something, if the label doesn’t exist, you’re just out of luck.
So Where Can You Find People?
Networking on Twitch is already a difficult task on its own. With Twitch removing the Communities feature, it’s gotten even more difficult. The workaround? Join some of the best Twitch communities for new streamers—off Twitch.
You can find communities in places like Facebook, Discord, Reddit, and even YouTube (although this is more of a resource than anything). Let’s talk about some of the best ones you can join.
Discord Communities for a New Streamer
By now you’re probably already in several Discord servers. You might even already have one of your own set up for your stream. It’s true, Discord is indispensable for gamers and streamers alike. Many streamers use their servers for keeping in touch with their community, for making announcements, and more.
There are also some really good Discord servers for you to join if you’re a newer streamer. Take a look at a couple of them.
Small Streamer Community
https://discordapp.com/invite/SSC
If you’re looking for a place where you can promote yourself and get connected to others who are in the same boat as you, join the Small Streamer Community Discord server. The admins do a pretty good job of keeping this server organized. It’s pretty much organized via follower count and member level, making it easier to find people whose streams are the same size as yours. In this community, you can also begin to earn enough EXP so that you can promote yourself in their #live channel.
OneBigTV
https://discordapp.com/invite/JyHyPZw
This is a great Discord server to look into if you want to network, network, network. OneBigTV was created with the purpose of bringing together streamers who want to grow their Twitch channels successfully. Members of the community feel as though they are part of a huge family—except for streamers. Here, you can meet others, collaborate, and discuss any topics regarding streaming. If you’ve got a question, you may just find the answer here.
Subreddits for Streaming Communities
Reddit isn’t just a place for sharing memes. It’s also a fantastic resource for many things, including streaming. There are some subreddits you can join where you can learn more about gaming, streaming, and even Twitch itself. Check out some of the most popular here.
r/SmallStreamers
https://www.reddit.com/r/SmallStreamers/
This subreddit is pretty small, with a member count numbering only at around 3,000. But, it still remains moderately active. In this community, many promote and share their streams, ask any questions relevant to streaming and Twitch, and network.
r/StreamWatchParty
https://www.reddit.com/r/StreamWatchParty
Like what its name might suggest, this community is a great place for you to get more viewers if you’ve been falling under the radar. In this subreddit, you can promote yourself, enjoy Stream Raids every week, and even see recommendations for other channels. You can recommend channels yourself if you wish. Again, this subreddit is also on the smaller side, but it’s not a bad place to get started.
r/Twitch
https://www.reddit.com/r/Twitch/
It’s pretty hard to make a list of communities for new streamers without also mentioning the Twitch subreddit. Here you’ll find one of the best resources for newer streamers and discovering new Twitch streaming tips. Many questions have been asked and answered, and all of the information is right at your fingertips. Whether you need some technical help to get your stream going or if you want input and feedback on your stream, you can find it here. However, this is not the place for self-promotion.
Streamer Facebook Groups
Of course, where else can you find more small streamer communities than on Facebook? This social media behemoth has launched its own gaming and streaming platform, but there are still a lot of Twitch-related groups around for you to join. Take a look at some of them.
Twitch Streamers and Networking or TSAN
https://www.facebook.com/groups/StreamersAndNetworking
The name of this group already says it all—here, you can network your way to channel growth. This group was created for the purpose of bringing together streamers who belong in similar Twitch categories all around the globe. It started as a casual group and soon grew into an organization that is dedicated to helping both small and big streams alike.
Streaming World F4F (Follow 4 Follow)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/623699027978710/
Follow for follow is not an ideal way for growing your stream. Hollow follows mean nothing, but if you need to get a number of followers (for example to reach affiliate), this is a good place to start.
TSHEO (Twitch Streamers Helping Each Other)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/216794108880092/
This community is pretty big, with members well into the tens of thousands. It’s a great place to interact with other streamers and look for like-minded people. Many of the posts here are F4F as well if this is what you are looking for. However, there is also a lot of other activity here, so you might just be able to connect with other people with the same goals as you.
Find Your Tribe
Truly, there are many different ways in which you can grow your stream and network. Things such as hosting and raiding others, hanging out in other peoples’ channels, and posting your Twitch link in-game are just some of the things you can do to get more people visiting.
However, if you really want to grow, you will have to put the time in. Find your tribe and make meaningful connections—before you know it, you’ll have a small community of your own.
Had a positive experience with other Twitch communities not listed here?
List them out in the comments below and we’ll add them to our list if they truly are worth mentioning 🙂
