You’ve probably wondered how people who sit in front of their screens and let strangers into their lives all day make their money. If you have, then come closer.
Streamers are content creators who broadcast themselves live over the internet, often playing video games, chatting with viewers, or sharing “In Real Life” experiences. 
Many people question how streamers like Kai Cenat, iShowSpeed, Carter Efe, Michael Sylas, and Richard Blevins are able to afford the lifestyle they live by simply going live, and for that reason, we are breaking down exactly how streamers earn their income.
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First off, in order to monetise any account on social media, you must meet certain requirements set by the app owners. Either a number of followers or a number of monthly views, and the same applies to Twitch.
As a creator on Twitch, there are two different levels available that help in the process of monetisation. There are the Twitch Affiliates and Twitch Partners.
The Twitch Affiliate is the lower level, which requires a certain amount of at least 50 followers, an average of 3 viewers per stream, and having streamed for at least eight hours in a month and streamed on at least 7 days in a month. To become a Partner, you must stream 25 hours across 12 unique streams with an average of 75 viewers.
It is necessary to note reaching the requirements doesn’t guarantee monetisation status for the partner status, as you have to be invited to become one.
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How To Make Money As a Streamer
1. Subscriptions
Viewers pay a small amount every month to support their favourite streamer. In return, they get special emojis, badges, or access to a private chat. The platform then shares this money with the streamer.
The more supporters a streamer has, the more they earn.
2. Donations and Tips
During a live stream, viewers can give money directly to the streamer. Most times it’s a way of showing gratitude to the streamer for making time for them. Some of the donations come with messages that show on the screen, and this money goes straight to the streamer.
3. Advertisements
Ads play before or during a live stream. When people watch these ads, the streamer earns money. More viewers mean more ads watched. And big streamers usually earn more from ads than small ones.
4. Brand Sponsorships
For this to work, companies pay streamers to talk about or use their products. The streamer shows the product during the live stream, and this helps the brand reach many people at once. It is considered one of the biggest ways to make money as a streamer.
5. Selling Merchandise
Some streamers sell items like shirts, caps, or customised pants. Fans in turn buy these items to support their favourite streamer, and the streamer makes a profit from each item sold. It also helps fans feel part of the community. The higher your number of followers, the more merchandise you get to sell.
In the end, streaming is less about “just going live” and more about building a community people genuinely want to support.
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