How To Run Ads On Twitch?

If you are into video games, chances are you have grown to love Twitch. Whether cheering at a League of Legends tournament or watching celebrities play Between Us, Twitch users have plenty of viewing options 24/7.

Twitch is a video streaming platform that offers a fun and social way to watch people play games. From the Twitch app, gamers who broadcast their matches (known as streamers) play their favourite titles while providing commentary on the action. Twitch was launched in 2011 and has become the largest live-stream platform. Of its kind. Millions of people log in daily to watch their favourite players battle aliens, score goals and achieve a royal victory.

Anyone can stream, but seasoned players with larger-than-life personalities attract the biggest audiences. Some streamers have achieved bona fide celebrity status. Twitch viewers can write messages in the chat window and comment on the video stream – posting anything from “Great jump dude!” to funny animated pictures. These messages are visible to the streamer and other viewers.

In the app’s settings menu, you can prevent people from sending you unsolicited private messages, known as Whispers in Twitch parlance. The Twitch app is free, and the streams are also free to watch. Some streamers offer monthly subscriptions with unique benefits, such as channel-specific emotes and progress badges. Twitch users can also purchase an in-app currency called Bits, which allows them to send greetings to the streamer to show support. Twitch is overflowing with gaming-related content, including charity fundraising streams, massive esports tournaments, and lavish gaming awards.

However, some channels don’t feature games at all. There are Twitch streamers who play music, teach art, or just go about their daily lives with a camera pointed at them.

Can you run ads on Twitch?

The cost of running ads on Twitch varies depending on several factors, such as the number of concurrent viewers, seasonality, age, gender of viewers, type of content, and location of the viewer. Twitch also allows for unconventional marketing strategies, such as partnering with Twitch influencers. Because of the variables, it’s hard to determine precisely how much Twitch ads will set you back, but Investopedia estimates they put the cost between $2-$10 per view. Brands have a lot of options when it comes to advertising on Twitch. In addition to partnering with influencers and streamers on the platform, Twitch offers a wealth of traditional advertising options. None of the desktop video ads may include third-party targeting or allows third-party redirects or fourth-party branding. That said, let’s take a closer look at the types of Twitch ads available.

Put Ads on Twitch

Twitch Ad types:

1. Desktop video ads are integrated directly into a live stream that can be accessed via a desktop computer. They can either be before the video or played during commercial breaks. Similar to cross-screen video ads, a desktop video can be either 30 seconds (non-skippable) or 60 seconds (mid-video only).
2. Homepage carousel ads allow advertisers to promote a live stream directly on Twitch’s homepage in one of the carousel’s rotating slots. Thumbnails should be 280 x 156 pixels in JPG format with a maximum file size of 10 KB.
3. Twitch mobile video ads will only play on streams broadcast on the Twitch mobile app. Like other video ads, these ads can be 30 seconds (unskippable) or 60 seconds (in the video only).

How to integrate Twitch ads into your stream?

Everyone wants to get the most out of their Twitch ads. Fortunately, there are several ways brands can advertise on Twitch, and streamers can integrate these ads into their broadcasts. Here are some best practices for Twitch ads to help you get off to the best possible start on the platform.

1. Before you start creating ads, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with these details so you can choose the best ad type to meet your goals.
2. Once you’ve chosen your ad type, it’s time to create a stunning design that will engage your audience. Your ad should match your brand. You want to arouse interest and curiosity, not overwhelm.  Make sure your fonts and graphics are easy to read and visually appealing. Before you publish your ads to Twitch, you’ll want to preview them on multiple devices to make sure they look how you want them to. At a minimum, you should include a headline, brand name, offer information, and a call to action.
3. Consider how often you’ll run ads during your Twitch broadcast. It is recommended to start with just one minute of ads per hour of streaming. Over time, as your viewers get used to seeing ads in your live streams, you can increase the ad breaks to 1-3 minutes with at least 15 minutes between ad breaks.
4. When you’re broadcasting live, it can be hard to think about manually triggering ads at regular intervals as well. Fortunately, you can delegate ads to your moderators or automate your ads using Twitch ad automation tools like Moobot, Nightbot, or StreamElements.
5. When creating Twitch ads, it’s essential to keep your target audience in mind. Who are they? What do they want? One of the best ways to ensure Twitch viewers don’t mind your ads is to make them entertaining. Funny enough, they just don’t skip it (if they can) or ignore it completely.