Streaming on Twitch sounds like the dream job, especially if you are a gamer. You play games, do what you love, and get paid for it. But can someone make a living out of streaming on Twitch? There are rumors and comments, but getting the answer to such questions from an industry expert is the most accurate way if someone is on the verge of a decision. Thankfully, Regina Tsvyrova, Chief Operating Officer at HypeFactory, answers such questions in detail. Since HypeFactory is a prominent influencer marketing agency combining creativity with AI and measurable data, Regina’s insights become even more significant.
The top streamers on Twitch monetize their channels using a mix of Bits, paid subscriptions, donations, and influencer marketing. Almost every popular streamer on Twitch makes money through advertising, affiliate marketing, and paid sponsorships. Many even include advertisements similar to those seen on YouTube clips. You should recognize yourself as the top influencer on Twitch if you want to take advantage of influencer marketing there. Twitch’s popularity has risen dramatically in recent years, and the platform now boasts millions of users worldwide.
Twitch streamers: What are they?
A Twitch influencer is a user who regularly broadcasts their content to a large and engaged audience. By doing things like playing video games, presenting chat shows, demonstrating their skills, and offering appropriate range, these influencers can entertain and engage their audiences. Famous figures might influence the beliefs and actions of their followers.
Popularity and trends in the world of Twitch
Regarding the hours spent watching live videos, YouTube Live dominates the entertainment categories, while Twitch dominates the gaming category. This site has grown tremendously in popularity over the past several years, making it an opportunity for brands and influencers worldwide. Influencers can reach a big Twitch audience, with over 31 million daily active users.
Also, Twitch no longer focuses just on video games. These days, there are influencers for just about anything you can think of: music, cooking, art, fitness, and more. This expansion of programming has made Twitch more appealing to businesses outside of the game industry and garnered a larger audience.
Monetization strategies for thriving Twitch streamers
Making money from your Twitch channel is essential to make a living as an online personality on the platform. While there are many ways to make money on Twitch, it is necessary to diversify your income to get the most out of it. Successful Twitch influencers can implement the following methods to monetize their channels:
Merchandise Sales
Once you’ve built up a dedicated Twitch following, consider opening a web store to offer one-of-a-kind merchandise. Hats, tees, hoodies, sweatpants, socks, totes, backpacks, mugs, and stickers are some of the most sought-after items.
Sponsorships and Brand Deals
If you have a sizable following, businesses may be willing to pay you for the opportunity to promote their goods to your audience. Computer, controller, hardware, software, gaming chair, and energy drink manufacturers offer some of the best affiliate marketing and sponsorship possibilities.
Donations
Before becoming an official Twitch affiliate or partner, accepting donations can be a lucrative source of income. You can set up a virtual tip jar by adding a PayPal payment button to your channel description or using a third-party program like Streamlabs.
Ad Revenue
Although each Twitch stream will have advertisements, only affiliates and partners can earn money, commercials can range in length from 30 seconds to three minutes, with higher payouts for longer spots and greater exposure.
Twitch Bits
Partners and affiliates can profit from Twitch bits, the virtual money used to show support for streamers. To financially support their favorite broadcasters, viewers can purchase “bits” and send them to them.
Twitch Subscriptions
Subscribers are a way to thank your loyal audience for their ongoing financial support by giving them special access to your content without ads or other distractions. Most streamers keep $15 to $25 per month from subscribers.
List of top Twitch streamers and their income
Twitch is one of the most popular video-streaming websites, with over 31 million users daily. However, the top earners on Twitch know that standing out from the crowd is essential to their financial success. Presenting the foremost Twitch influencers and their income estimates as assessed by the HypeFactory team:
@Ninja – 8.5 Million Followers, earning around $500,000 per year
Richard Tyler Blevins, better known by his gaming name Ninja, is a professional United States gamer with a massive online following. Blevins gained over 3 million subscribers in March 2018, making him the first streamer to do it on Twitch. In September 2018, he became the first professional esports player to be featured on the cover of ESPN The Magazine, further establishing his position as a pioneer in the field. His American audience makes up more than half of his total. Notably, his Twitch streams routinely draw in live audiences of over 240K.
@auronplay – 15.1 Million Followers, earning around $840,000 per year
Forbes Spain included him in their renowned list of the top 100 influencers in Spain for the year in October 2020, demonstrating Forbes Spain’s recognition of his impact. This further established Alvarez as a significant player in influencer marketing. Auron’s work has a sizable audience in Spain, Argentina, and Mexico. There has been much buzz around Auron’s recent streams, with some getting over 1.5 million live views. These staggering numbers attest to his ever-growing fame.
@rubius – 14 Million Followers, earning around $2,196,000 per year
Influencer Rubén Doblas Gundersen, born in Norway but raised in Spain, is known as “Rubius.” The 2016 publication of Time magazine featured Rubius as one of the “next generation leaders” and called him an “online conqueror.” El Rubius’ fantastic success and viral influence can be attributed, in large part, to his charisma, naturalness, and simplicity. He has a unique talent for making an emotional connection with his audience on a deep and meaningful level. His straightforward language and communication style stems from his ability to connect with others and develop a strong sense of community.
@ibai – 13 Million Followers, earning around $3,120,000 per year
Ibai Llanos Garatea, better known by his mononym “Ibai,” is a famous Spanish online personality, streamer, and esports commentator born on March 26, 1995. His charisma and popularity have catapulted him to the forefront of the Internet’s entertainment industry. In 2021, Ibai received the highest honor bestowed by Forbes Spain when he was named the country’s most prominent social media influencer. Ibai’s work is aimed primarily toward a Spanish-speaking audience, and most of his followers live in Spain. His programming is viral and well-received, as his streams have lately reached peak live views of over 1 million.
@xQc – 11.8 Million Followers, earning around $3,600,000 per year
Canadian streamer and former professional Overwatch player Félix Lengyel goes by the name xQc (or xQcOW). Lengyel first gained notoriety as an experienced player in the competitive scene of Overwatch, but he is now better known for his successful streaming career. xQc has amassed a devoted following, most located in North America. More than two million peak live viewers have recently tuned in to his streams. The fact that women make up over 30% of his audience indicates his broad reach and acceptance of his work.
@TheGrefg – 11.3 Million Followers, earning around $1,000,000 per year
TheGrefg, or David Cánovas Martnez, is a well-known Spanish content developer. He’s become famous as a YouTuber and Twitch streamer thanks to the quality of his entertaining videos and streams. TheGrefg used to have the record for the most watchers on Twitch simultaneously.
On January 11, 2021, during a live presentation of his unique Fortnite outfit, he attracted a peak concurrent audience of 2,468,666 people. This historic event demonstrated TheGrefg’s outsized impact on online streaming. He uses Spanish almost exclusively, and viewers of his channel can expect to see much content related to Mexico and Spain.
@JuanSGuarnizo – 10.8 Million Followers, earning around $600,000 per year
In 2016, Juan Sebastián Guarnizo Algarra, best known by his online name JuanSGuarnizo, began his streaming career. Juan Sugarnizo is a Colombian content creator known for his graphic design abilities, YouTube channel, and active social media presence. During his broadcasts and videos, he only speaks Spanish. He broadcasts various exciting video games, including Marvel’s Spiderman, Grand Theft Auto (GTA), Rust, Pummel Party, Warzone, Chess, and Call of Duty, giving his viewers a thrilling and immersive experience.
@Shroud – 10.6 Million Followers, earning around $480,000 per year
As of April 2022, Shroud’s Twitch channel has over 10 million committed subscribers because of his incredible achievements. His phenomenal accomplishments in content production have established him as a leader in the online streaming industry. Geographically speaking, the majority of Shroud’s subscribers come from the United States and Sweden. Recently, he devoted his streams exclusively to Diablo IV, giving viewers a 70-hour-long, in-depth look at the game.
@pokimane – 9.3 Million Followers, earning around $3,000,000 per year
Imane Anys, better known as Pokimane, entered the world on May 14, 1996. She is well-known on Twitch and YouTube and has a large following in her native Morocco. Pokimane is an incredibly successful Twitch streamer that focuses on sharing video game footage, notably from League of Legends and Fortnite. Pokimane’s charismatic appearance has made her an icon in the streaming world.
@sodapoppin – 8.8 Million Followers, earning around $1,000,000 per year
American Twitch streamer and YouTuber Thomas Chance Morris, widely known as Sodapoppin, started his live-streaming career in 2012 and is considered an early industry trailblazer. He co-owns NRG Esports and holds the title “World of Warcraft Legends.” During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he played a crucial role in reviving the game Among Us.
Regina Tsvyrova
Chief Operating Officer at HypeFactory
As the COO, Regina leads a team responsible for launching all of marketing campaigns for clients. She has been at the forefront of the influencer marketing industry and was among the pioneers in engaging with influencers to achieve performance marketing goals. In her role as COO, Regina strengthens HypeFactory’s business, and contributes to the increased success of campaigns.
NEXT: Gaming influencers aren’t worried about the impact of AI
