Custom thumbnail for video highlights

How to Upload a Custom Thumbnail for Your Twitch VODs and Highlights

Twitch has come a long way since the early days of auto-generated previews, and one of the smartest moves you can make as a streamer is uploading a custom thumbnail for your past broadcasts, highlights, and VODs. A well-designed thumbnail can stop the scroll, spark curiosity, and pull in way more viewers than the default snapshot ever could. It’s simple, it’s free, and it instantly makes your channel look more professional.

Why Custom Thumbnails Matter More Than Ever

Twitch’s algorithm loves content that gets clicks, and a custom thumbnail is one of the quickest wins for boosting visibility. Whether you’re archiving an epic stream or creating a highlight reel, a standout image tells your audience exactly what they’re about to watch. It builds brand recognition, improves click-through rates, and helps your videos stand out in recommendations and category pages. The best part? Once you learn the process, it only takes a minute.

Quick Start: How to Upload a Custom Thumbnail in 2026

• Log into Twitch and click your profile picture in the top right corner.
• Select Creator Dashboard from the menu.
• Hover over Content in the left sidebar and click Video Producer. This is your central hub for all past broadcasts, highlights, and VODs.
• Find the video you want to update and click the three dots (…) on the right side of its row.
• Choose Edit.
• In the editing screen, scroll to the thumbnail section. You’ll see automatically generated options from your stream, plus the ability to upload your own.
• Click Upload custom thumbnail (or the equivalent “Choose File” button).
• Select your prepared image from your computer.
• Click Upload and save your changes.

Thumbnail Specs and Best Practices

Twitch recommends a 16:9 aspect ratio with a minimum size of 1280 x 720 pixels. Keeping your file under 5 MB ensures a smooth upload every time. Use JPG or PNG formats for the best results.

Here’s how to make thumbnails that actually convert:

• Keep it bold and simple – Bright colors, big text, and your face (or your game’s key moment) work wonders.
• Tell a story in one glance – Include the game title, your reaction, or a teaser like “INSANE CLUTCH” so viewers know exactly what they’re getting.
• Stay on-brand – Use consistent colors, fonts, and logos so your entire video library looks cohesive.
• Test readability – Remember that thumbnails appear small on mobile and in recommendations.

Important Notes and Rules to Follow

You must own the rights to any image you upload. Custom thumbnails are still subject to Twitch’s Terms of Service, Community Guidelines, and DMCA rules. If you’re using artwork, screenshots, or photos, make sure everything is cleared to avoid any issues. Newer VODs may take a short time to become fully editable, but in most cases the option appears right away.

Pro Tips to Level Up Your VOD Game

Once your thumbnail is live, double-check how it looks on your channel page and in search results. Many streamers pair custom thumbnails with updated titles and descriptions for even better discoverability. If you create highlights often, treat them the same way – a polished thumbnail turns a simple clip into must-watch content.

Bottom line: spending two minutes on a custom thumbnail can pay off for months as your VODs continue to attract new viewers. Give it a try on your latest stream and watch the difference it makes.

What to do when falsely accused of viewbotting?

What should you do if other streamers accuse you of viewbotting?

I recently had a extreme case of another streamer accusing me of viewbotting during a stream session for "World of Warships".

Here is the chat log from the accuser, click on image to bring up full size.

As you can see this broadcaster went on a pretty long rant. I didn't ban this fellow right off the bat because I wanted to see how far he would go in his tirade. If you don't have thick skin just ban people right off the bat. But if these things don't bother you, do not ban them and let them carry on with their tirade. Make sure to screenshot the chat log and hold it in your records in case they go overboard with non stop harassment. In the case of harassment you can use these screenshots as evidence.

Some metrics people use to falsely assume a channel is being viewbotted include the following:

• Chat to View number ratio, if your channel is embedded like mine is across many webpages this chat to viewer ratio will be extreme. Another thing that it doesn't account for is viewers from /host. And do remember most established "TV Channels" do not have a chat room, many people watch Twitch streams without ever logging in.
• User names that all have similar creation dates, funny characters and other anomalies. This one is pretty simple, Twitch has tons of spam, spam bots and other crap that float around all channels. No channel owner can remove users from chat list, they can ban from talking only. Over the course of setting up filters to block spam, some of these bots just sit idle in the chat list. The more popular your channel, the more of these spam bots will accumulate. Some people have taking this to be a sign of viewbotting.

My word of advise for new streamers on Twitch.tv, it does absolutely nothing to go to others people's channels and do this sort of a thing. The only people who know for sure if a channel has been viewbotted is Twitch.tv staff. Focus on your channel, your content and do not waste time dwelling other streamers numbers.

Banned Words & Domains list for Twitch.tv by DaOpa

DaOpa's Banned Words & Domain list for twitch.tv channels

Here is the currently banned words list I use for my twitch.tv channel!

Fallout 4 streaming fiasco on Twitch.tv

Fallout 4 streaming fiasco on twitch.tv leads to dmca takedowns and other problems.

A ongoing issue on Twitch when it comes to AAA title pre launches are becoming a plague. Many gaming companies give special permission to certain broadcasters to stream the game one day early.  Yet alot of other casters jump on the bandwagon and stream it anyways not caring about the set rules.

At some point the list of broadcasters gets massive enough that DMCA takedown requests become a huge hassle and the agent will just quit sending out notices. Not exactly sure if this happened but if you see the current list of people streaming Fallout 4 on twitch.tv right now, surely not all of these people have expressed permission to stream it. This is a screenshot of the directory list for fallout 4 on Nov 9 at around 10 AM EST.

Possible solution to keep this from reoccurring is for twitch to implement a filter. Only authorized streamers with permission from Bethesda will be approved to show up on the game directory for 'Fallout 4' and everyone else will be hidden. Then when the game officially launches the filter is removed and all channels will be listed.

3rd party aggregators for Twitch.tv!

List of 3rd party aggregator sites utilizing twitch.tv's api for showcasing streams, stats and other tidbits.

Lets start out with some of the aggregators that include stats and other information. Note in all the various section with BOLD, you can swap out my channel and insert any twitch channel.

• https://socialblade.com/twitch/user/daopa - shows follower, use to show views
  
• https://sullygnome.com/channel/daopa - this site shows a variety of stats for twitch channels
• https://twitchstats.net/streamer/daopa - this site shows a bunch of different stats for twitch channels
  

Best & Worse months for streaming

Best and Worst Months for Streaming on Twitch: Your 2026 Guide to Timing Ad Revenue Like a Pro

Ever wondered why your Twitch ad payouts feel like they triple in some months while barely moving in others? You are not imagining it. Advertising dollars flow into the platform on a very predictable schedule as brands chase the moments when viewers are most likely to open their wallets. For affiliates earning a cut of that revenue, knowing these seasonal swings can help you schedule smarter, stream harder when it counts, and build your channel during the quieter times.

The chart above breaks it down at a glance. Red months are your revenue rockets — crank up the streams, run those ad triggers, and watch the earnings climb. Yellow months are perfect for stepping back from marathon sessions and focusing on content that lives beyond Twitch. Here is the full updated list based on the latest ad spend patterns, viewer trends, and platform data through early 2026.

Months with the Highest Ad Spending (Red Zone — Stream Heavy)

• December
• November
• October
• June

Months with Average Ad Spending (Steady but Not Peak)

• March
• May
• August
• September

Months with the Lowest Ad Spending (Yellow Zone — Build and Promote)

• January
• February
• April
• July

Why does this pattern repeat every year? Advertisers time their biggest pushes around when people actually shop. The holiday season is obvious — gift buying, Black Friday leftovers, and year-end budgets get spent fast. October kicks off the rush with Halloween campaigns and early holiday teasing. November and December are pure gold as brands compete for attention during the busiest shopping window. June gets a boost from summer vacation vibes, back-to-school prep starting early, and big gaming events that pull in viewers and sponsors alike.

In the gaming world this lines up perfectly with new releases. Major titles still cluster in the fall and holiday window because that is when families and gift-givers are hunting for the next big thing. Summer also sees a wave of announcements and launches that keep June lively. Knowing your favorite games release schedule lets you plan ahead instead of scrambling last minute.

Recent platform numbers back this up. Watch time and concurrent viewers stay relatively stable year-round, but ad rates climb noticeably in the fourth quarter. Streamers who track their own analytics often see CPMs double or more during November and December compared to the post-holiday slump in January and February. July can feel quiet too as people head outdoors, which is why it lands in the lower tier alongside April.

How to Use This Calendar to Grow Your Channel and Earnings

Treat the red months as your money months. Stream your regular schedule plus extra sessions if you can. Enable ad breaks consistently and focus on games or categories that are trending. The extra impressions add up fast when brands are spending.

Yellow months are your secret weapon for long-term growth. Step away from pure live hours and pour energy into YouTube clips, TikTok highlights, Instagram Reels, and Discord community building. Cross-promote like crazy so your audience is bigger and more loyal when the high-spend months roll around again. Many successful streamers say the off-season content they create in January or July becomes the fuel that carries them through December.

Here are a few practical tips that actually work:

• Mark your calendar with major game launch dates right now. Sites like IGN or Steam keep updated lists — plan your biggest streams around those drops.
• Watch for events like TwitchCon (usually fall) or big esports tournaments that spike interest in specific categories.
• Track your own revenue dashboard each month. Patterns become obvious after just one full year.
• Keep a consistent core schedule year-round. Viewers stick with creators who show up reliably, even when ad money is tight.
• Diversify. While ads are great in peak months, build subs, bits, and sponsorships so low months do not sting as much.

Bottom line? Twitch rewards the streamers who play the long game and understand the business side. Bookmark this guide, sync it with your content calendar, and you will stop wondering why some months feel easier. You will already know — and you will be ready to make the most of every single one.

Join Team Static, a open team community on twitch.tv!

Looking to join a team page on twitch.tv?

Join team static, this is a open team available for all streamers who broadcast on twitch.tv.  How to join is very simple, just send a message to twitch user "DaOpa" with the subject invite to team.  After I review the message I will check out your channel page and most likely send a invitation afterwords.

Please make sure to have a profile image and a info section filled out about your stream.  Also will help to have past broadcasts and highlights for reviewing.

Also note you are not limited to joining just one team on twitch, you can join many as long as they invite you into the group.

Resolutions, Bitrate and settings for twitch.tv

Choosing the right resolution and bit-rate settings for twitch.tv broadcasting!

Going to keep this as short as possible and leave out alot of the technical related info since it will not really matter due to all the non standard streaming setups currently used for broadcasting.

I have created a chart with recommended resolutions and bitrate (kbps requirement) settings with color codes.  The color codes legend are listed here:

High motion / FPS / First person games

Medium motion / RTS Games, usually has scrolling

Low motion / static action, turn based games

How to create a team on twitch.tv!

Creating a team page on twitch.tv is very easy and here is how to get it started!

Step 1.  Email twitch partner support with the following information:

• Team Name:
• Team Abbreviation:
• Twitch account to edit the team page:
• Page URL* (i.e., www.twitch.tv/team/<teamname>):
• *This cannot be changed once set

Note: Team page creation is only currently available for partner accounts.

Blocking domain & urls for spam prevention

How to block urls, domains and other words on your channel at twitch.tv!

Step 1.  Login to your twitch account and head to settings, then tab listed "Channel & Videos" - direct url would be http://www.twitch.tv/settings/channel

Step 2.  Scroll down to the section heading "Chat Options".  Several different options to check out in order to prevent words, urls from showing in your twitch.tv channel's chat-room.

• Block all urls except for the ones posted by you, moderators and admins.
• Ban Words, you can block URLs and Domains here by using wildcards ( DaOpa's Ban Words / Domain list)
• Opt out of globally banned words filter, good for keeping the usual bad words from showing up in your chatroom.
• Require a verified email to speak, a extra verification step to prevent some automated bots from showing up in your chat. 

Twitchcon video must see

Legal viewpoints from multiple lawyers in regards to live streaming video game content on Twitch.tv!

If there is one video clip from Twitchcon that all broadcasters on twitch.tv should take the time and watch, it would be the segment on the legality of streams. This covers copyright laws, dmca, copyright myths and other suggestions on how to create trans-formative content for fair use purposes.

Full video clip which is around one hour length can be viewed here:

****Update this video was removed on Twitch, Sadly
The video towards the end has question and answer segment from various attendees.

VOD Playlist with 24/7 channels coming to Twitch.tv

Replay VOD Playlist and 24/7 Channels in beta.

Twitch.tv has announced on there blog a new feature coming soon that will enable broadcasters the option of setting up playlists of videos which will be running during the casters offline time.
Sounds like a great idea but there is a very big exploit which I will be betting on that many broadcasters will be engaged in which revolves around loyalty systems.

The luck factor, right game, right time

How the luck factor builds a viewerbase for broadcasters on twitch.tv!

Factors / Situations revolving getting lucky on twitch.tv.

• Game Launch Days - whenever a new AAA game title launches, usually the stream in the top spot gets big viewership boosts from curious gamers who haven't purchased the game.  This use to be a great method for building a viewerbase, but unfortunate this is extremely hard for a new streamer to break into due to all the variety streamers who jump from game to game.
• Friends with Benefits - having a established streamer friend who can give you a shoutout or host your stream constantly is a great way to noticed and build a viewer base.
• Exploiting / Rule Breaking -  sadly this is something I will include in the luck factor, being able to exploit and break twitch rules with no consequence can build a viewer base depending on how viral it reaches out.
• Exploiting a multiplayer game - this is against Twitch's TOS / Rules but is very rarely acted on. 
• Viewbotting - alot of the top streamers have used this to there advantage due to Twitch's stance in not knowing if its a broadcaster doing it or if its a viewer attempting to get broadcaster TOS'ed.  Never the less thru out the many years you hear alot of storys of people abusing this and building a viewerbase then being able to discontinue the fake boosting.
• Giveaways / Loyalty systems - hardly any broadcaster on Twitch.tv is running legal giveaways.  You need to have certain information and disclaimers for every giveaway you do yet hardly anyone does it.  Same with loyalty systems tied in with giveaways, this is one of the biggest unethical business practice exploit on twitch.
• Copyright Music - many broadcasters use music which is not suppose to be rebroadcasted with out a license or with out written permission to use. This is exploited daily on many channels thru out twitch with no signs of any DMCA takedowns.
• Fake PR Stunts - being able to successfuly create a fake pr stunt and getting lucky it goes viral can build a crazy amount of traffic to your channel. If it's too good to be true it probably is applies to twitch.tv.
• Fake Donations - you know how someone received a 50g donation from someone random, then there friend got 20k, and another friend 15k and another friend 10k all from the same guy.  Well guess what this is probably one of the biggest fake pr stunts that worked wonders for these broadcasters.
• Fake Swatting - sadly this has happened.
• Fake Crying - there is a growing amount of fake criers on twitch as of late.  
• SEO / Google - One of the biggest broadcasters on twitch had huge traffic boosts from google due to savvy seo and links pointing to their .tv website.  As more people heard about twitch.tv they went to google and search for "twitch.tv" (keywords), and this casters website was on the first page results / second page results for a very long time.  The keyword twitch.tv is searched for over 700k times a month if not more by now. If you see the growth of twitch and compare it to the growth of this casters channel its has a very similar trajectory. 
• Not sure how to explain it but there is some sort of loyalty usually happens during first discovery of a channel & twitch.tv.  If the caster is remotely interesting, and it is the first time a viewer has gone to twitch, this viewer will most likely keep returning to this caster then others.

This is all that I was able to think of off the bat, I will add more down the line.


*Update on 10/6/2015 - Just saw something that appears to have happen for the Star Wars: Battlefront Beta.  Battlefront is posted to be in open beta on Oct 8, yet alot of established streamers on twitch all seem to have received code invites to start streaming earlier on 10/6.  As noted above being first or part of the group that gets to stream new AAA titles on twitch is a big viewership boost during the entry periods.  This is not new for game companies to hand pick youtubers & media early entry, what seems new is game companies are now providing a batch of codes directly to Twitch and Twitch staff hands them off to selected casters. This is good for the established channels and bad for any new commoner or others who get left out.

chat bots, loyalty bots

Listed here are most of the popular chat room bots, loyalty point systems for twitch.tv!

Ankhbot - features commands, timers, quote system, desktop dashboard, giveaway system, sfx system, currency system, betting system, poll system, Heist Minigame, song request system, (link, caps and symbol protection)

Moobot - features web based dashboard, customization, spam filters, commands, polls, giveaways, song requests, notifications

Nightbot - features dashboard, spam protection, custom commands, nightbot commands, timers, (regulars / subscriber features), song requests, giveaways

Deepbot - features desktop dashboard, user database / viewer log, raffles, commands, music, polls, mini games, betting, notification 

LoyaltyBot - javascript / node based loyalty bot.

SpottyBot -  is a bot for windows / mac which plays music from your desktop spotify application

WinterBot - open source bot

GeoBot - features commands

Xanbot - features commands

ModBot - is a desktop loyalty bot.

Basic information for building viewership

Why Some Twitch Streams Explode While Others Stay Empty (And How to Make Yours the Next Success Story)

Picture this: you hit the “Go Live” button, the chat lights up with familiar names, and before you know it, you’re hitting that sweet viewer milestone you’ve been chasing for months. It doesn’t happen by accident. The streamers who build real audiences treat their channel like a business that happens to be a ton of fun. They follow proven habits that still work in 2026, even as the platform evolves. The good news? You can steal every one of them and put them to work right away.

Stick to a Rock-Solid Streaming Schedule

Viewers are creatures of habit. If they know exactly when you go live, they’re far more likely to show up. Pick three to five consistent days and times that fit your life, then treat them like doctor’s appointments you’d never miss. Post the schedule on your Twitch panels, Discord, and every social profile. Tools inside Twitch make this dead simple, and your returning viewers will thank you for the predictability.

Stream the Games and Content You Actually Love

Chasing whatever game is trending this week is a trap. The hype dies fast, and the massive variety streamers always scoop up most of that traffic anyway. Instead, play what lights you up. Your genuine excitement is contagious. Whether it’s a cozy indie title, retro games, or the ever-popular “Just Chatting” category, passion shows through the screen and keeps people coming back for you, not just the game.

Build a Brand That People Remember

Your channel name, logo, colors, and vibe should feel like you. A clean, professional brand makes you instantly recognizable across platforms. Spend time creating a simple logo and banner that match your personality. Use that same look on social media, merch ideas down the road, and even your Discord server. Consistency turns casual drop-ins into loyal fans who feel like they know you.

Get Your Video and Audio Quality Sharp

Nobody sticks around for a blurry, choppy stream. In 2026 Twitch still caps most non-Partner streams at 6,000 kbps. The sweet spot for most creators is 4,500–6,000 kbps. Many growing streamers swear by 720p at 60 fps or 1080p at 30 fps for the best balance of quality and stability. Test your settings, watch your own VODs, and make sure the audio is crisp. A good mic and stable internet make a bigger difference than fancy resolutions.

Design a Clean, Professional Stream Layout

Your overlays, alerts, and panels should look polished without cluttering the gameplay. Simple, modern overlays let viewers focus on you and the action. Tools like Streamlabs or OBS make it easy to create something that feels custom. Keep text readable, colors cohesive with your brand, and leave breathing room on the screen. A professional presentation tells new viewers you take this seriously.

Show Your Face with a Webcam (and Maybe a Green Screen)

People connect with faces. A clear webcam feed helps viewers remember you and builds that personal bond. A basic green screen can instantly make your setup look more professional by removing distractions. Position the camera at eye level, add decent lighting, and you’ll stand out from the sea of voice-only streamers.

Keep the Conversation Flowing – No Dead Air

Silence feels awkward on stream. Talk through what you’re doing, share quick thoughts on the game, or pivot to fun topics like recent shows, funny stories, or viewer questions. The goal isn’t constant chatter; it’s natural energy that makes people feel like they’re hanging out with a friend. Practice filling gaps smoothly and your retention will climb.

Choose Music the Right Way

Background music adds atmosphere, but copyright strikes can kill your channel. Stick to royalty-free libraries that are cleared for Twitch. StreamBeats and services like Epidemic Sound remain favorites among streamers because they’re safe for both live streams and VODs. Test the tracks at different volumes so they support the stream without drowning out your voice.

Turn Your Best Moments into Highlights and Clips

Never let a great moment disappear after the stream ends. Create clips of funny fails, epic wins, or heartfelt chats. Add detailed titles and descriptions so they show up in searches. These short clips become your best marketing tool. Export the strongest ones to YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels. In 2026, this short-form pipeline is one of the fastest ways new viewers discover and join your live streams.

Leverage Social Media and Build a Community Off Twitch

Twitter (now X), Instagram, TikTok, and especially Discord are where your growth really happens. Post regularly using your brand name. Share stream highlights, behind-the-scenes clips, and polls that get people talking. Follow and genuinely interact with other streamers in your niche. Build a Discord server where your community can chat between streams. The friendships you form here often lead to raids, collabs, and long-term viewers.

Network Like Your Growth Depends on It (Because It Does)

Stop seeing other streamers as competition. They’re potential friends, collaborators, and raid partners. Join Discord communities, hop into other streams to chat, and offer value wherever you can. Friendly networking opens doors you can’t force open alone. The streamer community is still one of the most supportive groups online when you show up with good energy.

These strategies aren’t flashy secrets. They’re the same fundamentals that have worked for years, updated with the tools and habits that matter most in 2026. Pick one or two areas to improve this week, stay consistent, and watch what happens. Your audience is out there waiting for someone exactly like you. Now it’s time to give them a reason to stay.

Getting more viewers via embedding!

How to get more viewers on your twitch.tv channel?

I've seen this question asked over and over on twitch's subreddit with generic responses.  Here is my view on how to get more viewers watching your stream using embedding.

Basically it involves syndication with embedding your stream on gaming related blogs that you own and operate, also other 3rd parties. Don't have a blog or website? Why not? Get one started on blogger, wordpress or many other places. Its very easy to get something started. This blog is a recent creation and as you can see sidebar there is a embed player advertising my channel. I have embedded my stream so whenever I am live it will show up.

How do you find your embed code on twitch.tv?

Step 1: Go to your stream url, then click on the share button



and it will show a section called, "Share via"

Then you want to click on the purple button listed as embed.

Step 2: A pop up window will display with 2 various ways to embed the video player to 3rd party websites or blogs.

Here is a screenshot of what that looks like on my screen.

Using Javascript method is what I post on my websites and blogs.

Here is my exact javascript code:

<script src="https://player.twitch.tv/js/embed/v1.js"></script>
<div id="daopastream"></div>
<script>
var options = {
width: 400,
height: 300,
channel: "daopa",
muted:true,
parent: ["twitch-tv-tips.blogspot.com"]
//video: "{v130023526}"
};
var player = new Twitch.Player("daopastream", options);
player.setQuality("360p");
player.addEventListener("play", function(){
console.log("Twitch tv player is ready");
player.setMuted(true);
player.setVolume(0.00);
});
</script>

If your going to use the above code, you have to make sure to change the channel to your channel's name and also the parent parameter to your websites URL.

Using the iframe method is also available, here is the code snippet.

<iframe src="https://player.twitch.tv/?channel=daopa&parent=twitch-tv-tips.blogspot.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" scrolling="no" height="378" width="620"></iframe>

As with the other code, change the channel and the parent name to you own stuff.

Step 3: Take the embed code and post it to your website or blog.

Some additional guides on how to embed to various content management systems.

• Wordpress - guide on how to put your stream on a wordpress website.
• Blogger - tutorial on how to embed your stream on blogger / blogspot.
• Advanced Embed Code options - lists more parameters and settings for embedding.

Other 3rd party sites that you can get your stream embedded on include but not limited to the following.
Anook.com (example), create a account and then link your twitch to your profile, it will show up on your user page and on the frontpage if you have high viewer count.

Raptr.com (example), similar to anook, link your twitch account and it will populate your stream data to your wall.

Goodgame.ru (example), I managed to get help with a viewer who speaks/reads russian in order to get posted here, but again another place to embed your stream even thou its a foreign language it doesn't matter.

Facebook / Twitter,  Twitch use to be embeddable on both of these social media sites, but something changed and it doesn't work as it use to but never-less its still a good idea to post your stream on your twitter and facebook social media pages. It will create a link back to your stream and hopefully in the future the embed stream feature will come back again so people can view the stream directly from inside facebook or twitter.

Update 2/3/2018 - You can embed your stream on Twitter now, follow the link for the guide writeup.

Update 5/7/2018 - Selective Gamepedia wiki's automatically embed the top stream on the bottom of their content pages.

There is no way to embed a live stream on Facebook, the only way to get a stream embed on facebook is using their streaming service.

There is also other sites that automatically pull information from Twitch's API for channels.
Just being in a certain game directory for a while will get you listed on these types of sites.  Here is a example, this website (site removed no longer active* updated 3/18) pulls streams that have streamed minecraft. As you can see it still has my stream embedded even thou I do not currently stream minecraft. This is one of many aggregators that do exactly this sort of a thing but for other games and niche's. Being listed on these types of sites helps out also even if its a viewer here and there.

See more: 3rd party aggregators list - recently updated on 1/12/2023

Other things to consider are viral bombs, a term I made up recently. 

A viral bomb is when you are doing something very unique that gets the attention of many 3rd parties which then others pick up with and syndicate out. Example of a recent viral bomb that happen to my streaming channel was during a eve online streaming session covering a large player created battle involving thousands of players from all over the globe. Polygon picked up on the battle and created this article which before the update included a embed of the stream. Polygon is syndicated on many other sites, so my stream was then also embedded on many other websites. Other sites that ran the story & embed: PCGamer, MMORPG, PCGamesn, Yahoo Games + many others. What did this do for the channel? Hit record number of viewers for that day and continued higher viewer counts for the rest of the week. Even thou this event happened in april, the embeds are still there and this still is providing viewers.

Downside of having a strong embedding strategy.

One downside of having a massive amount of embed viewership is being accused of viewbotting. Many people will mistakenly assume you are viewer botting because of the imbalanced of the chat to view number ratio. Lucky for you these type of people are very simple to ignore. 

See more: How legal viewbots thrive is a false narrative

(Update 2/3/2018 - If you want to take a peak at what type of hate may occur if you have a strong embedding strategy - check the following blog posts: With success comes hate,  2 curious partners, Berry Nice)

And do not worry if these random people are going to report your channel, embed viewership is tracked and logged. Both Twitch and broadcasters can view embed stats in the dashboard. Just in case you have no idea how to find that sort of information here is how to see that sort of intel.

Go to your dashboard, click on stats then switch the group to URL check "Views from Outside Twitch (Top 10)", this will then show you the root domains of all the sites that have your channel's embed on.

Thanks for reading, fill free to post comments and questions here or find me at my twitch.tv channel.