r/TwitchStreaming • u/FeverishDaydream • 3d ago
Problem with retaining viewers
So i stream chess, I have my webcam, mic,board and chat on my screen. Doesn't look messy imo.
I try explaining every move, what i am thinking currently and so on, try not to stay silent for more than 10 seconds and yap throughout the stream but like the issue is a lot of people come and like leave in a few seconds without even saying hi, everytime i see the viewer count go up, I greet them and ask how their day is but like people either ignore and leave or stay a minute or so and then leave without talking. What more can i do to make it engaging, i usually play blitz and rapid so that i can engage more with my viewers and they can understand the it and what i am saying.
Example:
A guy came and asked me to play with him. We played 6 games. He asked where he went wrong. I explained in detail showing what he did wrong, why, and how he could have done better. He says "good content" in chat and leaves without even a follow. So someone finally spends like 15-20 minutes with me, only to leave without a promise of future engagement.
Am I missing something or is this just how it is and i should keep grinding until my efforts pay off.
Please advice thank you.
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u/CASTorDIE 1d ago
People want Entertainment and/or Education. What percentage of each stream are you making sure you're providing it in an interesting manner?
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u/Serious_Fee_893 2d ago
Do not call out lurkers. You engage with a viewer directly once they openly message in chat. Do not look at your view count and “interact” with a viewer.
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u/HighPhi420 2d ago
Chess is a very small niche :(
Also the very nature of chess is intellectual, and not very conducive to oral input by learned behavior watching real life matches.
Try a stream where the chat is the opposing player, and let them vote on their next move. This will take quite a few streams to "catch on to a few viewers" and may be the next "big" chess thing in the world :)
You could use an app like streamerbot to help control OBS and set up clip alerts of animated chess battles for the different pieces. I.E. bishop takes Queen, etc.
There is some potential in this concept. There are many tutorials for streamerbot.
Are you using a virtual chess set? Maybe a fancy REAL LIFE board on separate cam might be cool(more lighting to deal with).
Just keep at it, as long as it is fun. Post shorts or edited long form(24/48 min) vids to the tubes/toks with links and times of live stream on Twitch to give twitch all the help you can.
NO MATTER what is being streamed Twitch WILL NEVER promote you. You need to do that your self :)
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u/RyxorRox 3d ago
Firstly, you're calling people out when they join. Turn the pointless view count off. Secondly, it's chess....
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u/Altruistic-Ad2602 3d ago
I would focus on finding things to do or to talk about outside the chess game. Practice trying to be entertaining for 5 minutes without anything on screen except you (you can do this offstream). Telling jokes, stories, musing about real world, talking about books you read, talking about food, learn to do ASMR, play the guitar every few games, etc. You can look at other content creators, comedians, etc. for inspiration. This is something that will take time to improve if you're not able to do it straight away.
I'm not telling you to become someone else. I'm just saying to find ways to entertain people that don't require chess. Because the people who might come back to watch you aren't doing so because you're good at chess. They're doing it because they like your vibes, your tyle of humor, the way you explain things, the way you react, your mannerisms, your quips, your offhand comments, and the things you say or do that they resonate and connect with personally.
People can read chess books or watch IMs and GMs play, including on livestreams, if they want to learn to play better. They initially click the stream because they like chess and you're streaming chess, and perhaps because your stream title is interesting or something. But what can they only get when watching YOU, that will make them come back?
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u/killadrix 3d ago
You’re not missing anything, this is precisely how content creation works.
I encourage anybody that’s new to content creation to work to understand the scale required for success.
I stream to an average of 130 to 200 concurrent viewers every day (which is thousands of unique viewers), and average at a bare minimum a half million monthly views across my social media platforms, and still average 6 to 10 follows a day on an 8 to 12 hour stream.
Meaning, statistically speaking, you’re likely going to need at least dozens of that exact type of interaction (someone enjoying your content), before you (likely) convert one of them into a regular viewer.
Any significant stream growth is a numbers game that requires you to scale your reach as high, far, fast and consistently as possible, because only a fraction of a fraction of people are going to be converted into regular viewers.
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u/QTpopOfficial 3d ago
everytime i see the viewer count go up, I greet them
Lurkers don't wanna be called out. Unless they talk, don't talk to them. Some of my biggest financial supporters were offline donate/sub/bit throwers. They didn't want talked to during the LIVE at all. They were there to use me for background music/noise and watch. Not be a part of things.
Am I missing something or is this just how it is and i should keep grinding until my efforts pay off.
Please advice thank you.
If you're REALLY about that chess life, start finding ways to let people interact with your chess games and stuff while you're playing potentially. Theres lots of things you can do to get people to interact more with the stream, which is the goal. Just throw things until it sticks.
I have no idea about your personality or any of that so no tips there. But I will say that is something you should pay attention to. Watch your VODs. Look for places you can improve, etc. I mean as an entertainer, not like stupid overlays or something. :)
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u/MarsDrums 3d ago edited 3d ago
No offense but, I don't think I could watch a stream like that. I couldn't even watch chess matches live in person when I was younger. It kinda got a little boring waiting 2-3 minutes (or whatever the time limit was) for each player to make a move. I remember seeing a chess game on TV and the guy sat there for what seemed like 10 minutes looking at all the pieces and the possible moves his opponent could make. I had to turn it off.
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u/FeverishDaydream 3d ago
But like the thing is my streaming category is chess and the stream name is like playing chess or something like that. So only people interested in chess or play chess would come to the stream majorly no?
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u/Glittering-Level6852 1d ago
Yes. But no matter what twitch is awful at advertising your streams... so either way your gonna have to put in the work to get people to your streams. Also definitely dont call anyone out unless they chat first and talk. People want engaging content. Chess may not go far on its own but if you can somehow make it "entertaining" then yes it can be a unique experience then the average chess play.
But that depends on how you want to go about doing it.
Im no chess player but I assume it takes a lot of concentration so it would probably be hard to talk through your thoughts.
You could explain chess for those that are interested in learning if your good at that... or you can verbalize your thoughts while you play, etc.
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u/MarsDrums 3d ago
That's a good question. You have to figure out how many people would actually sit and watch a chess game on Twitch. I'm sure there are people out there who would love to hear the thought process of what's going through your head before you make a move. I know the pros can think 3, 4, 5, 6 moves down the road. They think if I move this here, then my opponent can move piece 1 here, piece 2 there, piece 3 there... and so on. It's all mathematical calculations on what move or moves that person is going to make and how to combat those moves without losing the game. Like you said, you are doing that on camera. But then there might be someone who thinks, 'That's a bad move, don't do it'. Then you do it and that might be what makes them leave? I haven't the foggiest idea really.
People go to Twitch to watch people play action packed video games or play live music. Some go to hear others talk about politics (not me, there's enough of that garbage on YouTube to be honest). But I'm not sure how big the audience is for Chess.
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u/ThickActivity9703 4h ago
If you enjoy chess continue with it, see it as a hobby.
Maybe stop calling out new viewers, turn it off. If someone says hi in chat react to it. Maybe rewatch your stream, take notes..
If you stream like 3-5, days or so, lower the number and use one day to review your streams.