Strategy
7 Requirements To Become A Partner On Twitch
Twitch is an extremely popular platform that has allowed a plethora of users to make a substantial living from livestreaming their creative content. Research from 2021 shows that Twitch collects 9.6 million broadcasters per month and has 26.5 million daily viewers on average.
As this incredible platform continues to grow, more and more influencers are seeing Twitch as a more reliable and profitable source of income. The Twitch Partner Program allows streamers to monetize their content in a variety of different ways, helping them to boost their overall earnings across many social media platforms. Netinfluencer has everything you need to know on how to become a partner on Twitch.
What is Twitch?
Twitch was first founded back in 2011 by Emmett Shear and was designed to be an all-encompassing platform for gamers to livestream their favorite video game content. Since its launch, Twitch has grown from strength to strength, partnering with giants such as Blizzard Entertainment to create invigorating esports events.
This intuitive platform creates a split-screen, presenting the broadcaster and their screen. Therefore, this creates the sense that the viewer is playing the game alongside them. Twitch also uses a chat feature that allows the audience to ask questions and interact with other viewers in real-time.
Due to its immense popularity, Twitch had to diversify itself and attract all different kinds of livestream content. For example, the ‘Just Chatting’ category features a wide selection of influencers who are using Twitch to simply interact with their audiences on a more personal level.
What is the Twitch Partner Program?
In July 2011, Twitch launched its own Partner Program, giving select members access to monetization and a host of other benefits. This unique option provides a collection of nuanced features as well as access to specialist support from the Twitch team. These features include customized chat badges, a free lifetime channel subscription for your chatbot, a verified user badge, and more.
There are currently three main sources of monetization on Twitch. These will be described in detail below.
Channel Subscriptions
Unlike YouTube, viewers have to pay in order to subscribe to a Twitch channel. These subscriptions can vary amongst three tiers. Currently, these prices start at $4.99, then move up to $9.99, and the third tier costs $24.99. Subscribers can also adhere to certain bundles, meaning that they can sign up for 3-6 months at a time. As Twitch is associated with Amazon, Prime Gaming members receive a subscription every month, which can be used for any Twitch channel.
Bits
Bits are used as a way for viewers to praise the channel, almost like giving a tip. As part of the Twitch Partner Program, influencers will receive a dividend of the revenue Twitch receives from these Bits. On average, 1 Bit is the equivalent to $0.01, meaning that for 100 Bits a streamer will earn $1.00. The Twitch Partner Program also allows these influencers to create customized alerts and badges for these Bits.
Ads
Ads are a key element to Twitch’s revenue, with certain advertisements being played throughout an influencer’s stream. Those who are a part of the Partner Program will be allowed to place ads on their streams. Twitch’s ingenious platform allows creators to decide how many ads they would like on their streams. For example, 2 minutes of ads per hour can earn them up to $100 per month.
How to apply for the Twitch Partner Program
In order to access the Twitch Partner Program, you must first become a Twitch Affiliate. This process is simply known as The Path to Affiliate. In turn, this proves that you have enough engagement on your platform to warrant access to monetization and the other benefits given. Listed below are the eligibility criteria for The Path to Affiliate.
- Reach 50 followers
- Stream for 8 hours
- Stream on 7 different days
- Average of 3 viewers for your streams
After you have completed this process, it is time to move on to the Path to Partner. For this you must:
- Stream for 25 hours
- Stream on 12 different days
- Average of 75 viewers on your streams
Once you have achieved these criteria, you can fill out your application for the Twitch Partner Program. During this time, the Twitch team will examine the success of your content and judge whether you would be best suited for this opportunity.
Mostly, the team values consistency, especially in viewership. You will have a much higher chance of success if you can retain 70-80 viewers per stream, than if you experience highs and lows in your viewer count.
Additionally, Twitch looks for those who can stream frequently. They hope that their Twitch Partners can stream at least three days a week to help retain viewership and revenue across the month.
How much money can you earn on Twitch per month?
With so many sources on monetization on Twitch, it can be difficult to determine your monthly earnings. It is also important to note that a majority of Twitch streamers only receive 50% of their earnings, as Twitch takes the other half.
Data suggests that if an influencer streams for around 40 hours per week, they have the potential to earn at least $3000 per month. This number does not include revenue made by ads, which is expected to be around $250 per 100 subscribers.
Obviously, the amount of money made from the various subscription tiers depends on how many subscribers your channel has. Therefore, it is paramount that you build up a devoted community of viewers in order to increase your monthly earnings overall.
Streamers can only withdraw their money once they have reached a minimum of $100. Then, there is a 45-day waiting period at the end of every month, where the transaction must be approved.
What are the benefits of joining the Twitch Partner Program?
Twitch offers a wide selection of benefits for its partners, making it one of the most popular platforms in the industry. This wide range of benefits helps your channel to see exponential growth, something you may not be able to find on other social media platforms. Also, the Twitch Partner Program is very exclusive, making it a less competitive environment to operate in.
Due to its limited multi-streaming capabilities, Twitch is the perfect platform for influencers who are looking to stream in one location on a more casual basis. The guidelines state that users cannot ‘live stream content anywhere other than Twitch for 24 hours.’ Although this may not be suited to every influencer, it is perfect for those who want to create a variety of different content across a wealth of platforms.
The Twitch Partner Program also allows streamers to connect with viewers around the world, quickly helping them to build a stronger community. This can help to boost your engagement rates across other platforms. For example, if your viewers enjoy your long-form content, they may be more inclined to subscribe to your YouTube channel.
Twitch has continued to prove its worth within the social media industry, attracting users from far and wide. Its range of monetization options helps to create a healthy playing field for influencers and ensure that they are receiving a fair rate for their content when using their platform. To discover more about the power of Twitch, visit our website.
