With the Twitch Affiliate program, you can monetize your creative content and broadcast it to a growing audience. You can also stream on YouTube and other platforms with this account!
As a video game lover, I can’t help but be fascinated by how gamers have become the most popular content creators in the world. Twitch Affiliates are one of many ways that gamers can earn money from their online broadcasts.
With this, I was compelled to do a bunch of research on how Twitch Affiliates work and how one could go about becoming an affiliate. (Someday, I hope to be one myself!)
If you’re interested in joining one of the fastest-growing media networks online, read on for more information about becoming a Twitch Affiliate.
What is Twitch?
Twitch is an online community where you can watch live broadcasts of video games, connect with friends and other members to discuss your favorite titles or learn new strategies, and even earn money from your broadcasts. In short, Twitch lets gamers build their own digital television networks focused on gaming content.
With the rapid population of millennials who consider themselves gamers, it’s no wonder Twitch has become so popular. The company was founded in 2011 and purchased by Amazon for $970 million in 2014.
Many streamers flock to this platform because of how easy it is to start broadcasting.
What is Twitch Affiliate Program?
The Twitch Affiliate program is a way for content creators to make money from their broadcasts. When you become an affiliate, you can start earning money from your first stream. You also receive a unique affiliate tag that you can include in all of your Twitch broadcasts, allowing viewers to subscribe to your channel.
Twitch Affiliate is sometimes confused with Twitch Partner. Both programs allow streamers to monetize their channels, but Twitch Partners have a higher status and are only available to the top streamers with large audiences.
Twitch Affiliate is best for those who are just starting out on Twitch but aspire to become a Partner. Think of it as a stepping stone between regular viewers and Partners.
Twitch Affiliate allows streamers to earn money during their broadcasts from the following:
- Bits: these are animated emoticons that viewers can purchase to support their favorite broadcasters. Cheering with Bits is how viewers can show their love for streamers by purchasing animated emoticons to use during live broadcasts
- Subscriptions: where viewers can pay a monthly fee to support their favorite broadcasters
- Game sales: where viewers can buy games directly from the broadcaster’s channel page
- Ads: which are displayed on the streamer’s channel page, allowing streamers to generate revenue from ads that appear during their broadcasts
- Channel affiliate sales: where broadcasters can generate a commission on sales generated through their affiliate link
What are Twitch Affiliate Program Requirements
As with internet programs, there are certain eligibility requirements that you must meet in order to apply for the Twitch Affiliate program.
Becoming an affiliate isn’t too difficult. You can apply here, but you must meet the following Twitch affiliate program requirements to even be considered:
- Have at least 50 followers
- Stream at least three times a week
- Have an average of 500 minutes watched per month
- 7 unique broadcast days
- Have 3 or more simultaneous viewers
If you’re not quite there yet, don’t fret! You can still become a Twitch Affiliate by building your fanbase. Make sure to stream often, interact with your viewers and talk about how you plan to grow your Twitch community. Plus, try to use social media such as YouTube to help promote your channel. But be careful about how you use your social media accounts, because getting reported or banned from them may affect how Twitch views your channel (more on that later).
To track your progress on becoming a Twitch affiliate, check your “Path to Affiliate Achievement” on your dashboard. This will show you how close you are to meeting the requirements and how much progress you’ve made. To make it even better, you’ll see a small checkmark, once you’ve completed it.
It gives you a sense of pride and accomplishment.
Once you have met all requirements, then all that’s left is to apply.
How to Apply for Twitch Affiliate Program
Now that you’ve met the requirements, it’s time to apply for the Twitch Affiliate program. The process starts with one email from Twitch.
Look out for an email invitation from Twitch within 30 days of meeting the affiliate program requirements.
Before you get started, make sure that your channel is in compliance with Twitch’s Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. This is how you can maintain your channel’s status as an affiliate.
Once you receive the email or dashboard notification, you can then fill out a form in the settings tab. You have to provide Twitch with your:
- Personal information
- Tax information: As a Twitch affiliate, you’re viewed as a self-employed individual or freelancer. You will have to pay taxes on all of the money you make from revenue, so Twitch needs your tax information.
- Payment information: Twitch Affiliate program payout options include direct deposit, check, PayPal, checking account, delayed deposit, and wire transfer
- Sign the Twitter Affiliate Program Agreement
After it’s approved, you’re now a Twitch Affiliate! Congratulations!
What are the Benefits of Twitch Affiliate?
Since you’re an aspiring (or experienced) internet hustler (entrepreneur), then you need to know all the benefits of being a Twitch Affiliate. You have to make sure that the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.
The benefits of Twitch Affiliate include:
- You receive a custom affiliate badge to show your status
- You can monetize your channel
- Access to subscriber emotes
- Monthly subscriber payout
- Game sales
- Participation in the Twitch Partner Program, which gives you a share of game sales made on your channel.
You’ll love this: 8 Benefits of Passive Income (And Why It’s Important)
How to Check Affiliate Status on Twitch
Regardless of how you check your affiliate status on Twitch, it’s important that you do so. You can’t go live until everything is approved and set up.
There are three different ways to check on your Twitch Affiliate status:
The first way is through the email you received from Twitch when you were approved. The email will have a direct link to your status page.
The second way is through the Twitch dashboard. On the right-hand side of the dashboard, you will see a “Path to Affiliate” banner. Once you meet all requirements and apply, the banner will turn green and you will be able to see how far you are in the process.
The third way is through Twitch’s website. Under “Tools” on the Twitch website, there is a “Check your affiliate status” link.
Once you’ve checked your affiliate status, it’s time to start streaming!
The final step in the affiliate application process is for you to check your approval status. You should receive an email from Twitch when you’re accepted, but if not, check the dashboard or website as described above. As long as everything is in order, start streaming! You have to remember that if you want affiliate status, then it’s going to take a significant amount of time. You have to be dedicated and work hard to see the results.
What Happens When You Get Affiliate On Twitch?
Now that you know how to get an affiliate on Twitch, it’s important to understand what happens when you become an affiliate.
First of all, you have to remember that Twitch Affiliate is how new streamers on the platform begin making money. To be an affiliate means that your account is growing and you’re starting to get noticed by the community.
As an affiliate, there are some things that will change for you on Twitch:
- Your affiliate badge will appear on your stream and in chat
- You can now use Twitch emoticons and subscriber badges during live-broadcasts
- Your profile page will highlight your goals and how you plan to grow your Twitch community
- You can create custom chat emoticons for use in Twitch chat
- You can sell games on your channel page and receive a five percent share of the purchase price
- Subscribers who pay a monthly fee to support you will get your affiliate badge, emoticons, and chat badges
- You will receive 50% of the revenue generated from Bits that you receive during your broadcasts
- You will have access to a special Twitch Affiliate merch store
- You can apply for a vanity URL
- You will be able to communicate with other Twitch Affiliates and learn how they’re growing their community
How Much Does Twitch Affiliate Make?
Now that you know all about the benefits of being a Twitch Affiliate, it’s time to ask the question: how much much does Twitch affiliates make?
As a Twitch Affiliate, you get paid every month once you’ve reached the $100 minimum. Depending on what monetization method, you can receive affiliate sub payouts differently.
For instance, for subscriptions, you earn 50% off each subscription option: $4.99, $9.99, $24.99. For game sales, you receive a 5% revenue share and so on!
You will notice that the payout changes depending on how many subscribers you have. The more subscribers you have, the more money you make!
Being a Twitch Affiliate is definitely a step in the right direction when it comes to live-streaming. You get access to new features and tools, and you’re able to start making money right away.
You’ll love this: What Is Passive Income (And Can It Make You Rich)?
Can Twitch Affiliate Stream on Youtube & Facebook?
Now that you’re a Twitch Affiliate, there’s one more question on your mind: can I stream on YouTube and Facebook?
The answer is yes! You are able to stream on YouTube and Facebook.
There are a few things that you should keep in mind, however. First of all, your Affiliate badge will not appear on other platforms. Additionally, you will not be able to use Twitch emotes or subscriber badges while streaming on other platforms.
Plus, when it comes to Twitch Affiliates streaming on other platforms, this is only allowed 24 hours after your stream. This is due to Twitch’s exclusivity deal where Affiliate streamers can only show their affiliate status for 24 hours on other platforms.
And if you choose to go against this rule, your Affiliate status could be revoked.
Overall, streaming on other platforms is a great way to reach new viewers and grow your channel. Just make sure you abide by Twitch rules.
Can You Lose Affiliate on Twitch?
You might be wondering if Affiliate status can ever be revoked or if you can lose Affiliate status on Twitch.
The short answer: Affiliate status can be revoked (as I stated earlier). The most common reason for this is if you do not stream at least once every 12 months. Also, if you fail to earn at least $100 over this one-year period, Affiliate status can be revoked.
Top 10 Tips To Become a Twitch Affiliate
Now that you know all about the Twitch Affiliate program, it’s time to put these tips into action and start growing your channel!
- Carry out research
- Choose a niche
- Create a strategy
- Create a schedule
- Be Consistent
- Cross-promote on social media
- Create a discord server
- Connect and engage with your audience
- Measure and optimize
- Be Patient!
Carry Out Research
Discover what niches are doing well on the Twitch platform. What are other popular Twitch streamers doing on their channel? What resonates well with viewers? This is the best way to get an idea of what you should do on your channel to achieve similar success.
Choose a Niche
Once you know what content you want to create on your channel, you can choose a niche. This will set the stage for how you’ll build and grow your community! The best way to do this is to choose a niche that is not only popular but also you love. You don’t only have to play games, you can also live-stream your artwork or even create tutorials.
The sky is the limit with Twitch Affiliate so don’t be afraid to go outside of the box!
Check this out: How To Find Your Blog Niche in 2021 (+25 Blog Niches To Make Money)
Create a Strategy
Just because you’re an Affiliate doesn’t mean the work is done. In fact, now is when the real work begins! You need to create a plan to achieve affiliate status. And when you have you have to create a strategy to maintain and grow your channel.
What is your streaming schedule? What games will you play? How often do you plan on streaming per week/month? How will you grow your community?
These are all important questions that you need to answer in order to create a successful Twitch streaming strategy.
Check this out: 6 Steps to Create a Successful Blogging Strategy and Schedule for 2021
Create a Schedule
One way to ensure that you’re always putting your best foot forward is to create a streaming schedule. This will help keep you organized and also help your viewers know when to expect new content. You also should include how you can incorporate certain big events such as game releases into your schedule.
Be Consistent
In order to grow your channel, you need to be consistent with your content. This means that viewers know what to expect when they tune into your channel. They also will be more likely to subscribe or follow you if they know that you’re always streaming on a regular basis.
Cross-promote on Social Media
In order to get the most out of your affiliate status, you should cross-promote your Twitch channel on your other social media platforms. This will help you reach new viewers that might not have known about Twitch before! However, please remember Twitch’s 24-hour exclusivity rule.
Create a Discord Server
Discord is a great way to connect with your viewers and build a community around your channel. You can use Discord to give away freebies, host giveaways, and more!
Connect and Engage with your Audience
Make sure you’re always connecting with your viewers. This means responding to chat, sharing your content, and even hosting giveaways. These are all good ways to grow a sense of community around your channel.
Measure & Optimize
When you first become a Twitch affiliate, your channel may have a small audience. That’s okay! This is the perfect time to start tracking your progress and making optimizations.
What games are your viewers most interested in? What content are they watching the most? How can you improve your production quality? These are all important questions that you need to answer in order to grow your channel.
Be Patient!
The affiliate program is a great way to start growing your Twitch channel, but it doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time and effort to grow a successful channel! So be patient, stay consistent with your content, and keep working hard.
Is Twitch Affiliate Program for You?
Twitch affiliate is a great way to start growing your Twitch channel, but it doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time and effort to grow a successful channel! So (as I said earlier) be patient, stay consistent with your content, and keep working hard.
What are some ways that you’ve seen other streamers use the affiliate program? Let me know by leaving a comment below-I read them all :)
