We’re halfway through 2020, and the world has undergone a dramatic shift due to the impacts of COVID-19. As of early March, most schools were shut down, businesses implemented work-from-home policies, and many entertainment events were postponed or canceled.

With most of the world now living, working, socializing, and enjoying entertainment online, brands and businesses have had to adapt. For this reason, the live-streaming platform, Twitch, has become immensely popular over the last few months.

Although it was historically popular with the e-sports gaming community, the platform has now grown and attracted a wider audience. Making it a haven for influencers and content creators from different backgrounds, such as artists, musicians, bakers, and educators.

As a result, what once was a niche platform is now an open battleground for brands looking to connect with their customers.

How has Twitch increased its popularity?

With 15 million daily users Twitch is undoubtedly a major social media platform. And ever since the lockdown was implemented in March, the numbers have only gone up. In the last three months, average viewership has gone up a staggering 55.9% (851,180 new viewers), according to SullyGnome, a Twitch statistics tracker.

During the same period, the average number of channels has gone up as well, averaging around 36,000 new channels. Not only are more people viewing content on Twitch, but more content creators are streaming too.

This brings us to the question: How can companies utilize the power of Twitch while keeping in mind the broader ecosystem of the platform?

How Companies Utilize Twitch to Connect with Customers

There are many innovative ways to utilize Twitch and partner with influencers. Here are some of the most common techniques brands employ:

Supporting charities

Twitch’s monetization features have made it easy to carry out charity live streams in the past. Lately, there have been a number of charity campaigns for people affected by COVID-19. For example, Z Event’s streaming marathon earlier this year raised over $3.9M for Pasteur Institute in just three days.

Hosting live events

With most live events canceled or postponed this year, brands have started streaming their live events online for their audiences. Concerts and live performances have become a mainstay on the platform. Formula1 replaced their real-life races with the F1 Esports Virtual Grand Prix for their fans to enjoy online.

Providing education

As campuses close down, many students are turning to online resources, video conferences, and Twitch to keep the learning going. NYU professor, Robert Yang, has helped his students stay in touch through his classes on Twitch.

Fitness trainers, cooking connoisseurs, language experts, and many more specialists have joined Twitch to help build stronger communities and promote a healthy lifestyle.

Connect with Customers by Building a Strong Online Presence with Afluencer

Connect with your customers with the help of an influencer marketing platform. When you join Afluencer, we match you up with top social media influencers who know how to grow your Twitch audience. As a leading social media influencer platform, our team of social media experts and marketing gurus can help take your brand to the next level.

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