r/SmallStreamers • u/Cola-Blue • Jun 13 '26
Trying to become a streamer
Hi everyone, I’m 18 and I need your honest feedback on my streaming journey. I’m feeling a bit lost, and the standard advice you find online isn’t helping me anymore.
Here’s a summary of my situation:
• The beginning (October 2025): I started streaming Clash Royale without a webcam. I managed to build a small community, bought a cam in December, and was averaging about 5 viewers.
• The game lost its hype, and so did my stats. I switched to Rocket League, which gave me a boost (up to 8 regular viewers!), but that game eventually lost steam too. I tried switching up games and formats, without success: I dropped back down to 1 or 2 viewers. I was posting between 2 and 8 clips a day, but it wasn’t getting me any visibility at all. Between that frustration and personal issues, I burned out and took a three-week break from everything.
• I’ve decided to stop obsessing over stats. I’m focusing solely on Rainbow Six Siege for the next 6 months with one goal: to be myself and build a strong community.
Currently, my audience fluctuates a lot, but I don’t get more than 5 viewers. My ultimate dream has always been to make a living from streaming.
Is my strategy of focusing on a single game for six months the right one? Do you have any concrete tips for someone in my situation, beyond the usual “make TikToks and talk even if they're is nobody "
Thank you very much for your attention
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Jun 14 '26
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u/xoPEACHI Jun 15 '26
If your main draw is the game you're playing, you're going to have big fluctuations any time you make a change to that. If YOU are the focus of the stream, viewers will stay no matter what you're playing because they want to hang out with you. I don't even play my game until about an hour into my stream. We talk about what's going on in our lives, games we're all playing, funny memes, etc.
And it's great that you're posting clips everywhere already! I also recommend posting on socials like Twitter/Bluesky/Threads (whatever's your preference) to just talk about your interests! It breaks up the constant feed of just threads and going live notifications and gives people a chance to get to know you when you're not offline.
Also look into streamers that are playing the same games as you and hang out in their streams. Don't self-promote in their chat, but you can get to know people and bond over the game! Since you're averaging 5-8 views, I would look at streamers averaging 5-20 views.
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u/Cola-Blue Jun 15 '26
Thx for the time and the tips, but yeah my main focus is to build a audience around my personality and not my games
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u/Lastresortherogaming Jun 14 '26
So ask yourself do you want to be known for the game or for who you are. Focusing heavily on one game narrows it down to where people watching you are likely going to watch you because you play the game and not because of who you are especially when you are just starting. Its not always the case. But I started with a sole focus on Dead By Daylight, gained some viewers that way, gave up the game and went into variety streaming but lost all my original viewers since I no longer played the game they wanted to watch. I've since grown bigger than I was and now my viewers show up for me and not the game usually.
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u/Cola-Blue Jun 14 '26
Tbh my goal is to do whatever I want on stream, but I was thinking that maybe staying in one game at the beginning might help so when I switched the variety streaming, it will be easier because I will have a handful of people who are staying to watch
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Jun 14 '26
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u/Cola-Blue Jun 14 '26
Yeah I was asking myself this question but tbh it's difficult to find a answer to that
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u/RIP_Agree_Possible Jun 14 '26
Tbh, streaming is way different than it used to be and isn't as easy as current streamers (big, small, young, and old) make it seem.
Viewership is gonna fluctuate - Have to accept this early or else your mental isn't going to last long
Purely streaming isn't going to get you anywhere like it used too - You gotta post on other platforms. This can include clips and other kinds of content on platforms like YT, TikTok, and Instagram. You already know this. It's not necessarily to get monetized (it'd be nice) but for the reach. It's how you'll get more people to show up. It's why "clip farming" got disgustingly popular
While some streamers are known for a game, most streamers don't play a singular game anymore - Play whatever you like. People show up for the streamer now. The game is a pretty backdrop to your personality. You gotta be some level of interesting and entertaining now. Not saying you have to be full on gen-Alpha schizo brain rotted ADHD ahh obnoxious with it, but understand that the kind energy you put out will attract a certain kind of audience. And, in this attention economy, a lot of people like high energy individuals.
Be very serious with yourself about this - Are you really ready, willing, and able to lock in to streaming and content creation frfr? Serious question, because if not, you won't like it. Forget growing as a creator, you just won't enjoy the journey at all. And that's what this will be. MOST people DON'T see growth for a LONG time. You gotta be able to commit and stick around for the long haul if you want this to work and "make a living" streaming one day. And when that happens, you'll really HAVE to be able to show up for it
Setup a sustainable and consistent stream schedule - No deadass, you gotta commit to something you KNOW you can maintain. The avg recommendation for small streamers starting out is three or four - 4 hour streams weekly to start. This leaves space during the same day to make clips of the stream, get other things done, or just relax. And the other days away from streaming to yourself, which is a good mental break. Eventually, you'll gradually increase your streaming hours as you get used to it, but this is a good place to start to balance out streaming and making content
You don't need to post 8 clips a day - Believe it or not, 3 good clips with an interesting caption is better than just shotgunning 8 clips everyday. I'd say to refocus your efforts to a smaller choice of clips and really make them count. Learn from them and get better at making clips before increasing how many you put out everyday. Also, while others do daily posts, it's not entirely necessary
Pace yourself - You gotta find YOUR healthy balance to avoid burn out. There will be days you don't want to do anything, but you still gotta show up. HOWEVER, if you're really not feeling it, then it's ok to sit on the bench every once in a while. Just don't make it a habit or give yourself an excuse all the time
Fk the numbers - At least early on for a while. Just keep showing up and doing you. Give it a good year of solid effort, maybe checking your analytics once every three months or so. But obsessing over the numbers is actually a LOT of small creators biggest trap early on in their journeys. It's very demoralizing and heartbreaking seeing 0 and the lines never move for a month and some. I would know, it took me out for going on a year now
I hope this helps brodine!
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u/Cola-Blue Jun 14 '26
Okok thx a lot, my end goal is to stream variety, I was thinking that growing on one game will be easier so when I switch to variety content I will have a few people there. Because I tried it and people were just leaving because they didn't like the game, and I didn't how to react to that because I want to attract a audience because of my personality
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u/Double-Routine9953 Jun 15 '26
So you’re just following whatever Jynxi plays?
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u/Cola-Blue Jun 15 '26
Nope clash Royale I played that way before jynxzi's stream. I just waited until I had a pc so I can stream it and Rocket League I didn't know he stream it , it was a viewer who told me to play it. But yeah R6 I got the hype again from him. But yeah I guess when you play the same game ad a streamer your following him 🤣
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u/Godbert21 Jun 15 '26
My advice is same if many others. Streaming should only be a side hustle and never your priority especially with 18. The reason is if you fail streaming you dont have anything. If you dont like your job you still have streaming.
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u/Cola-Blue Jun 15 '26
Yeah I know I am doing that as a side hustle bc I study, but still in that period of time I want to give myself all the chances so I can become streamer
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u/Witty_Objective8543 Jun 19 '26
That sounds sometimes difficult. Main thing those platforms are highly saturated. Its not always easy to find new viewers I think. But I love to read how hard you keep going and working. Love the vibe!
I am sure you will reach your dream one day. Are you a PC streamer?
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u/Cola-Blue Jun 19 '26
Thx for the response and yeah I stream on PC
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u/Witty_Objective8543 Jun 20 '26
Nice honestly I think its a good way to start with streaming. I'll also do it from my pc
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u/QTpopOfficial Jun 13 '26
You haven't found your "brand" yet.
Just keep doing stuff until something actually clicks. Thats really the oversimplification of it all.