Should Twitch Streamers Consider Moving to YouTube? Indie VTuber IVAI Gives Her Opinion
Following recent controversies on Twitch, some streamers are considering a move to YouTube. However, indie VTuber IVAI advises against making a hasty decision.
About three months ago, IVAI switched to YouTube and gained over 12,000 subscribers, compared to less than 1,000 followers on Twitch. Despite popular streamers leaving the platform and an unpopular revenue split update, IVAI believes smaller streamers should stay on Twitch. In a Twitter video, she raises three important questions for small streamers to consider before switching platforms:
Questions to Ask Before Making the Switch
- Are you ready to grow independently without the support of other streamers?
- Can you create content that appeals to people who don’t know you?
- Will you be able to sustain yourself without gift subs?
The first question highlights the networking opportunities and potential growth that come with being raided by established streamers on Twitch. Unfortunately, YouTube doesn’t offer this feature. Without collaborations, streamers on YouTube will have to grow their audience independently.
The second question addresses YouTube’s lack of discoverability. Unless you have already established a presence, it can be challenging to get noticed on YouTube.
The final question focuses on YouTube’s absence of gift subs, emphasizing that small streamers may lose a significant source of support.
IVAI further emphasizes that Twitch has successfully gamified their platform, making it easier for viewers to gift subs compared to YouTube’s complicated process.
Of course, it’s important to note that IVAI’s opinion should not be taken as gospel. Unlike Twitch partners and affiliates, small streamers have the flexibility to stream on multiple platforms. Therefore, before making any major decisions, it’s advisable to test both Twitch and YouTube to determine which one suits you best.