Maximizing success through positive streaming

 Maximizing success through positive streaming

We can watch all kinds of streams, all with their unique identity, but there is always a top-level trait that stands out over everything, regardless of the channel's brand: how the streamer treats others. As streamers, cultivating an atmosphere of positivity is extremely important. No matter what is happening in the game or in chat, we need to make sure viewers know that your stream is a safe and welcoming place. This makes your regular audience feel more at home and newcomers are often struck by this and are more likely to follow. Every channel benefits from a layer of positivity draped overhead, as it promotes creativity, communication, and goodwill among its viewers. 

Making a positive First Impression

Creating a positive atmosphere from the moment someone joins the stream is important. There are many ways to accomplish this, it can be as simple as welcoming someone to the stream and talking with them, all the way to implementing on-stream actions that allow the entire community to participate. You can establish commands for various greetings, responses, and gameplay reactions that viewers can use to make newcomers feel welcome. You don’t simply have to limit interactions to welcoming messages, there is a multitude of different commands you can incorporate, such as commands to express emotions during gameplay and chat. Viewers can also virtually high-five each other for their achievements or offer virtual hugs for greetings or support. The possibilities are endless and are only bound to your imagination. 

Implementing these actions not only promotes a sense of unity among followers but also adds to the channel’s unique personality. It creates a recurring theme for returning viewers, as they know to anticipate these moments of interaction and can look forward to them. Your channel will develop its own style of language, and viewers often enjoy participating in activities that come with it. As people enjoy receiving the messages and sending them, it creates positive momentum for future interactions. 

You are live, be polite

We have all observed streamers becoming enraged and yelling at teammates or viewers in chat. When you are playing a game, it is easy to get caught up in the action. Keep your emotions in check regardless of the circumstances, whether you lose a battle royale game or a boss encounter for the tenth time in a row. It can be challenging to remain composed when everything seems to be going wrong, it is a common human reaction, but while it may be acceptable and even entertaining to express frustration towards the game, it is never acceptable to take out your anger on other people. 

Displaying negativity during a live stream can lead to viewers losing interest and even unfollowing/unsubscribing from the channel. In many instances, you may not even be aware of this as the viewers may not announce it, they will simply stop watching. Being unkind to others, even in a moment of anger, reveals the streamer’s true character, and viewers won’t easily forget it. It simply isn’t an enjoyable experience. 

In order to be successful streamers, we need to understand our priorities. It is natural to become frustrated with our gameplay, but it certainly should not be the main concern.  Inexperienced streamers may worry their viewers will tune out if they don't perform well in a game, but this is a shortsighted view. Viewers who genuinely enjoy the stream will not leave just because you are losing.  You should strive to keep a level head and remember that, whether you are winning or losing, viewers are watching to see you and not the game. They will be entertained regardless of the outcome, so enjoy yourself no matter what happens. 

Prioritize Professionalism

Your opinion on a subject should not be made in a confrontational and dismissive manner, as it can lead to devaluing, belittling, or discouraging other points of view. People will stop watching if it is obvious that you will spend the next few minutes criticizing something they enjoy. This does not mean that you should keep your true thoughts to yourself out of fear of disagreements; rather it means that you should be aware of how your thoughts are being expressed.  Let’s say the new Call of Duty Warzone update just came out and someone asks you whether you have played it, and you answer like this.  “I hated the new Warzone update, it is terrible and completely ruined the game. I can’t believe anyone with an IQ higher than one of a child actually enjoys it.” This is an honest answer and some people may appreciate it, however, there is a better way to answer this question that won’t alienate people. Try this instead. “I did play the new Warzone update and it wasn’t my favorite. I’m interested to see where they take it from here. Did you get a chance to check it out yet? What did you think? This second response still demonstrates that I disliked the update but in a much more professional way. It takes into account the fact that the person asking has likely played the update and therefore there is a 50% chance they enjoyed it.  You are not attacking the thing they want to discuss, but instead, you are establishing your perspective while inviting actual discussion.  Do your best to keep things in perspective and professional. 

Final thoughts

Any community is better with a healthy dose of positivity. Viewers are real people, and you need to treat them as such. We as streamers need to conduct ourselves as we would in public, by being respectful and not making viewers feel unwelcome. Your actions are the main contributor to the overall atmosphere of your channel and being negative will only attract negative people and drive away positive ones.  Positive attitudes, on the other hand, will deter trolls and other negative behavior, making your channel a more pleasant environment.  Remember to always consider the well-being of others during your stream, and you will understand the power of positivity.