BearsongBearsong

Loading Bearsong...

Bearsong blog

Practical guides for Twitch and Discord streamers: setting up, running a stream, moderating chat, growing a community and earning from it.

Getting Started

  • How to plan your first live stream

    A practical plan for your first live stream covering format, length, run of show, technical checks, and how to finish with momentum.

  • How to start streaming on Twitch

    A practical guide to your first Twitch stream covering the smallest setup that works, the account settings worth doing, and OBS basics.

  • OBS for beginners

    What OBS Studio actually does, the four panels you use, building one scene, the audio and bitrate settings that matter, and what to skip in your first month.

  • Twitch vs YouTube streaming for beginners

    Twitch rewards live chat and consistent schedules; YouTube rewards content that lives after the broadcast. A comparison for beginners choosing where to start.

  • What do you need to start streaming?

    What you actually need to start streaming: computer, microphone, software, internet, optional camera and lighting, and the gear that can wait.

Stream Production

  • Best OBS settings for streaming

    The right OBS settings depend on your upload, encoder, and platform. A walkthrough of resolution, bitrate, encoder choice, and the audio that matters.

  • How to add chat to OBS

    How to add chat to OBS for viewers or just for yourself, plus layout choices, moderation choices, and common setup issues.

  • How to add overlays to OBS

    How to add overlays to OBS using image, media, and browser sources, plus where to find overlays, how to layer them, and the performance settings that matter.

  • How to set up stream alerts

    How to set up Twitch stream alerts: picking a service, adding the browser source to OBS, designing alerts that work, and handling the things that break.

  • How to use browser sources in OBS

    How to use browser sources in OBS for alerts, chat, goals, and overlays without creating layout issues or unnecessary performance drag.

  • Stream scenes explained

    A plain English guide to stream scenes in OBS, what they do, which ones to start with, and how to keep the scene list manageable.

Chat & Moderation

  • Best Twitch chat commands

    A practical list of Twitch chat commands worth keeping, how to write replies that stay readable, and which commands to drop.

  • How to moderate Twitch chat

    Twitch chat moderation in three layers: AutoMod, live commands, and a small mod team, plus a clear response when spam or harassment hits.

  • Twitch chat commands for beginners

    A practical guide to Twitch chat commands for beginners covering what they do, which ones to set up first, and how to keep them useful.

  • Twitch chat rules examples

    Three example Twitch chat rule sets for small, gaming, and community channels, plus the principles that make rules work in practice and where to put them.

  • Twitch timers and commands

    How Twitch timers differ from commands, when each one helps, and the setup choices that stop chat from feeling automated.

  • What does a Twitch chatbot do?

    A clear look at what Twitch chatbots actually handle, from commands and timers to spam filtering and moderation support.

Discord Communities

  • Discord server roles explained

    How Discord roles work, what permissions matter, a clean starting set of roles for a new server, and the mistakes that turn a tidy role list into a mess.

  • Discord server rules examples

    Example Discord server rules for creator, gaming, and hobby communities, plus how to write rules moderators can enforce cleanly.

  • How to grow a Discord server

    How Discord servers grow past the first hundred members, what actually drives retention, and which growth tactics waste time.

  • How to moderate a Discord server

    A practical guide to Discord moderation covering guardrails, mod standards, logging, raids, and how to keep decisions consistent.

  • How to set up a Discord server

    How to set up a Discord server cleanly: starter channels, working rules, permissions, a small list of bots, and what to check before sharing the invite.

Video, Editing & Posting

  • How to make Twitch clips

    How to create Twitch clips while watching live, from a VOD, or as the streamer, plus the formatting choices that make clips work on socials.

  • How to turn streams into Shorts

    How to turn stream moments into Shorts with better clip selection, tighter openings, vertical crops, and cleaner endings.

  • Livestream highlight editing tips

    Livestream highlight editing tips for cutting dead air, shaping sequences, cleaning audio, and ending the edit before energy drops.

  • What to post after a live stream

    What to post after a live stream, from recap clips to future hooks, without filling feeds with empty gratitude updates.

  • YouTube Shorts length and format

    Current YouTube Shorts classification, square and vertical formats, music limits and practical editing choices for stream clips.

Growing Your Audience

  • How to get more viewers on Twitch

    How to get more Twitch viewers by improving discovery, retention, return visits, and the small habits that make people come back.

  • How to make your stream more interactive

    Practical ways to make a Twitch stream more interactive, from reading chat out loud to polls, predictions, channel point rewards, and community nights.

  • How to promote your Twitch stream

    Where new Twitch viewers come from: vertical clips, social bios, Discord, going live notices, collabs, and what does not work.

  • Twitch community night ideas

    Twitch community night ideas that actually work, plus how to choose formats, manage queues, and keep the event fair and lively.

  • Twitch panels examples

    What to put in Twitch panels: example sets for small, gaming, and creator channels, plus design principles, order, and the one panel that matters most.

Workflow & Planning

  • Content calendar for streamers

    How to run a working content calendar for a streaming channel: what to include, why four weeks ahead is enough, the weekly review, and the tools that fit best.

  • How to manage a creator community

    How to manage a creator community with clearer expectations, repeatable routines, stronger onboarding, and lighter admin.

  • How to organise stream assets

    How to organise stream assets with cleaner folders, better naming, separate source files, and less update chaos.

  • How to plan stream content

    How to plan stream content with clearer goals, better pacing, backup ideas, and more room for chat to shape the session.

  • Pre-stream checklist

    A simple stream checklist with a 10 minute version before you go live, plus weekly and night before checks that catch avoidable problems.

  • Streamer workflow tools

    Streamer workflow tools that genuinely save time, from notes and calendars to clip capture systems and asset storage.

Monetisation & Business

  • Creator media kit for streamers

    A creator media kit is a single page sales doc for sponsorship enquiries. What to include, what to leave out, and how to send it.

  • Do UK streamers pay tax?

    A plain English guide to UK streaming tax: the £1,000 trading allowance, when Self Assessment kicks in, and what counts as taxable income.

  • How to price sponsored streams

    How to price sponsored streams using flat fees, CPM, scope, usage rights, and the hidden work around the live segment.

  • How to run a charity stream

    How to run a charity stream with a clear donation flow, realistic goals, trusted fundraising tools, and a smoother viewer experience.

  • Twitch Affiliate requirements

    Current Twitch Affiliate thresholds, how to read your progress and why monetisation access is different from cash payout eligibility.