Twitch or YouTube? Both!

YouTube and Twitch have both become staples for online streaming and entertainment. YouTube had an early lead, but Twitch has quickly caught up, becoming one of the platform's top competitors. While there is often an overlap in creators between the two platforms, there remains an outdated view that each platform's content creation process remains separate. With the rise in viewership for both platforms, articles online frame the platform competition as a rivalry and encourage new creators to pick one platform based on audience interest and content preference. This mindset can be detrimental for content creators who are looking to create a strong audience following. 

Taking advantage of both platforms' opportunities can create a more engaging viewing experience. Twitch offers a space to create a personal relationship with an audience and help form a community through shared experiences. YouTube offers better viewer interaction when a creator's offline and has a more optimized search algorithm for content created. Using these platforms together can better audience reach and build a more fulfilling relationship with viewers.  

Below are a few recommendations for how creators can use each platform to work together for a more efficient creation process. 

1. Take advantage of Vods & Clips. 

Vods are Twitch’s archived streams. It's an easy way to gain ample content for YouTube edits. Twitch allows streamers and viewers to create clips that are short segments of moments during a stream. Taking advantage of these tools can help a creator focus on which parts of a stream have a lasting impression on an audience and prevent creators from sifting through hours of content. Incorporating vods will show YouTube viewers what a stream is like at its best and encourage viewership during offline hours.

2. Structure Your Streams for YouTube.

There’s a formula that has been created that can be seen in the top creator’s content. This pattern helps streamers optimize time on Twitch to help make several YouTube videos out of one stream. The pattern consists of an activity introduction, content, and end reveal or conclusion followed by an interlude to engage with chat. The interlude acts as a buffer for chat to regroup and interact with the streamer. This pattern helps streamers create variety within one stream and have more organized stream content to cut down for YouTube

3. Make Stream Themes that Have Stakes

Especially on YouTube, titles make or break a chance for viewer interest. Making content on Twitch that gives into the click-bait title trend on YouTube can help make content more transferable between platforms. Many of these titles are based on the idea of stakes or having skin in the game. A viewer needs to know that something is on the line during a stream or video. Titles like “Friends playing Minecraft” will not reach as much engagement as “Minecraft, but 100 players are haunting me”. Themes like the one mentioned help encourage Twitch viewers to participate in an activity that is easily translated to YouTube, making a more collaborative creative process for both platforms.