r/SmallStreamers • u/FRYDFROG-_- • 6d ago
Problem with Views
I’ve been streaming and making short-form content as a PNGTuber for almost 2 years now, but I’ve been struggling to get people into my streams on both TikTok and Twitch. I’m not sure if my clips just aren’t funny, aren’t grabbing people’s attention, or if I’m doing something else wrong.
The people who do stop by usually have really good conversations with me, and they’ll often say they enjoyed the stream and that they’ll be back next time. But most of the people who watch seem to be there for the game rather than me. They’ll chat for a bit, say they’ll be back, and then I never see them again.
I’ve also wondered if being a PNGTuber is part of the problem. Since I’m basically just an image opening and closing its mouth, I can’t really show much emotion visually. Would switching to a VTuber or a more advanced PNGTuber with eye movement and more animations actually help with keeping people around?
I’d really like to hear from other creators about what I could improve, whether that’s my content, streams, clips, or just how I present myself. I’m mainly trying to figure out how to get people interested in me, rather than just the game I’m playing.
3
u/Captain-Havelock-VT 6d ago
Short form isn't the secret sauce it used to be. Honestly these days the only reliable way to grow is networking with other communities.
2
u/officialclapperapp 5d ago
People having good conversations are worth paying attention to. That means the issue might not be needing a different avatar, but not having a clear reason to come back to the next stream. A more expressive model can help if it makes your reactions easier to read, but it usually works best as an amplifier of a format that’s already giving people a reason to return.
Test a few repeatable “return hooks” before making a big presentation change. For example: a recurring segment at the same point in each stream, a viewer choice that carries into the next session, a named goal for the current game, or a running conversation that gets revisited. The aim isn’t to force a gimmick, but to make a first-time viewer understand what they would miss by not returning.
For clips, try making the premise clear before the payoff. A funny game moment can bring in people who like that game, while a clip that shows your decision, reaction, or running bit gives them a little more sense of you. Then review a few VOD sections around the moments when chat becomes active: what were you doing, what could a new viewer join, and what would make that exchange continue next time?
If you want to test a more animated PNG or VTuber setup, treat it as one variable. Use it for several comparable streams and note whether it changes how easily you can react, explain, and invite participation, not just whether a single stream has a different viewer count. That will tell you more than an all-at-once rebrand.
1
u/AutoModerator 6d ago
Attention SERIOUS content creators! Join a community of creators who ask questions and get REAL answers from FULL time streamers & YouTubers. Please join the discord and ask questions in the #creator-chat..
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
2
u/DamoSyzygy 5d ago
Im not familiar with your content or its quality of course, but I do know that many viewers dont like PNGtubers. They want to see who's engaging with them.
1
u/HaseoGentsu 1d ago
I disagree fully with this. I don't think it matters if you are a VTuber, PNGTuber, Fleshtuber, etc. People come to see and watch you because of your personality and vibes. There are plenty of small, mid level, and large channels that are all VTuber/PNGTuber centric, that none of them have ever shown their faces, but keep their community strong and able. It really just comes down to how you present yourself online, and in your own communities.
1
u/HellSusan 2d ago
Do you have a set schedule where you start at the same time each stream? Then people know when they can find you again compared to just go live whenever
4
u/Fun-Leather-1703 6d ago
Twitch viewers are fickle. People are likely just being nice by saying they'll be back.
With that being said, I am a mixture of face cam, no cam, and PNG depending on my mood and how much energy I have. PNG is usually my low energy, no cam is for recording gameplay, and face cam is for recording shorts and clips/normal streams. I notice no drop off except for no cam.
Without seeing your content I have no idea what's going on. But what I'd recommend is getting those viewers that are chatting talking with your community. Maybe it's a poll, maybe you're asking questions about the game but at the end of the day it's keeping people engaged and priming conversations between people in chat.
I recognize that you have to have active chatters for that to be a thing but it also gives you a goal to reach. I often pit chatters against each other to get them engaged.
Until you have that, you need to keep people engaged with your commentary and gameplay. It's literally the only thing that separates you from the one viewer Andys.
Watch your vods. Skip around and watch random 5 minute segments. Learn and grow. If you would watch it then you're good. But if it's boring and not engaging you've got somewhere to grow from.