gamers. With millions of users and billions of minutes watched each month, Twitch is the go-to destination for gaming content. If you want to get in on the action too and make some cash on the side in the process, learning how to become a Twitch affiliate is a must.
Luckily, we have a guide just for that. It doesn’t matter whether you want to get into live streaming or are looking to take your existing channel to the next level — we have all the answers.
Why Become a Twitch Affiliate
Many aspiring content creators dream of making a living doing what they love the most — playing video games. And for some lucky few, that dream becomes a reality through platforms like Twitch.
The Twitch affiliate program allows content creators to earn revenue from subscriptions, ads, and donations. This boost to their income can be essential for their streaming career and enable them to pursue their passion full-time.
But, like any other goal, becoming an affiliate on Twitch doesn’t happen overnight, and it requires some effort.
Twitch Affiliate Requirements
To become eligible for joining the affiliate program on Twitch, streamers must:
- Have streamed for a minimum of 500 minutes in the last 30 days.
- Have streamed on at least seven different days in the previous 30.
- Have an average of three viewers or higher over the last 30 days.
- Have 50 or more followers.
- Be at least 13 years old and have the approval of a parent or a guardian if they are a minor.
Streamers can track their Twitch affiliate progress at all times by checking The Path to Affiliate achievement on their dashboard.
Once the streamer meets these requirements, they will receive an official email invitation from Twitch and get started with the program.
Becoming Affiliate on Twitch — Tips and Tricks
If you want to reach the affiliate status on Twitch as quickly as possible, you are going to need a strategy. We are not talking about doing sketchy stuff that might break the Twitch affiliate rules, but rather, thinking a few steps ahead and making the right moves.
In addition to helping you meet the requirements to become a Twitch affiliate, a well-laid plan can enable you to grow your channel and set you on the right path to becoming the next streaming superstar.
Create Your Brand
Successful streamers are much more than people playing games at home. They are personalities. In order to meet the Twitch affiliate program requirements and appeal to a larger audience, you are going to need a public identity, and it starts with your channel’s name.
Your brand has to have a unique and catchy name that will help you stand out from the crowd. Next, your channel needs attractive visuals and graphics to grab the attention of viewers, so consider investing in designs for a logo, banners, panels, and overlays.
A lot of the work invested into becoming an affiliate on Twitch will keep paying off when you get monetized and start looking for ways to expand. If you are ready, you can consider investing in better streaming equipment right away or leave it for the next chapter of your Twitch affiliate journey.
Create a Detailed Schedule
If you want to become an affiliate on Twitch within a few weeks, you must leave nothing to chance. You need to keep a tight schedule with information like what games you will be playing, when you will stream, and for how long.
Even though filling out your profile is not one of the Twitch affiliate requirements, providing this information to your viewers will be appreciated.
Once you have everything mapped out, you can go ahead and announce your Twitch debut on social media. Remember, you only need an average of three viewers to get the Twitch affiliate status. You don’t want to be one of those streamers that spam their links and annoy people with overpromotion.
Respond to Feedback
Being a great player is half of what it takes to be a streaming superstar. You are on Twitch because of the viewers, so you have to entertain them. Listening to their feedback will be invaluable for your Twitch affiliate progress and also help you create a fan base.
Try to get them to interact with you and choose what game you should play next, what character or weapon you should try out, etc. You won’t be able to find this in the Twitch affiliate rules but staying positive and enthusiastic is the main unwritten rule of streaming.
Don’t forget to thank your viewers for participating in your streams and subtly remind them to follow your channel. To satisfy the Twitch affiliate program requirements, you are only going to need 50 followers, though it wouldn’t hurt to get more.
Bonus Tips
Rely on friends and family
Averaging three viewers is arguably the hardest of all the requirements to become a Twitch affiliate. If you are like most other streamers and struggle with it, don’t be shy to ask your friends and family members to watch you play and help you improve your numbers.
Rely on statistics and data analysis
Plenty of useful websites can provide you with factual data and Twitch statistics on what is being streamed and watched the most. Using this insight can accelerate the process of becoming an affiliate on Twitch and allow you to reach a new audience.
Don’t count on “follow-for-follow”
It may be hard for you to resist using the “follow-for-follow” method and get a few inorganic subscribers but try your best to avoid it. While it is not against the Twitch affiliate rules and won’t get you to lose your affiliate status on Twitch, it can warp your numbers and do you more harm than good.
The Bottom Line
Twitch is one of the most popular social media platforms for gamers. Becoming a Twitch affiliate is an ambition for many, though it’s not that easy. However, with hard work and a smart strategy, becoming an affiliate on Twitch is definitely achievable.
Once you become an affiliate, remember to listen to your viewers and take their feedback seriously. In the end, they’re the ones who will help you grow your channel and build your brand.
FAQ on How to Become a Twitch Affiliate
How long does it take to become a Twitch affiliate?
There is no preset timeline to becoming a Twitch affiliate, and it all depends on the success of the streamer and the amount of effort they put in. There have been cases where streamers were able to get the affiliate status within seven days of creating their account. This is one of the major differences between a Twitch affiliate and partner status, with the latter being a lengthier process.
How hard is it to become a Twitch affiliate?
While anyone can create a Twitch account and start streaming, it takes a bit more effort to become an affiliate. To get this status, streamers must meet a few requirements. If they put in the work and take streaming seriously, they can earn a share of the revenue from their streams and even consider other forms of profitable affiliate marketing.
How old do you have to be to be a Twitch affiliate?
The minimum age is 13 years old. The process for streamers over 18 is quite straightforward; however, if you’re wondering how to become a Twitch affiliate if you are under 18, the streaming platform requires the approval of a parent or a guardian who needs to agree to the affiliate program’s terms and conditions and supervise the minor streamer.
