Want to step up your Twitch channel and stand out from the crowd? One of the best ways is by using custom bot commands. Commands allow you to engage viewers, share info, and moderate chat right from your Twitch dashboard.
In this beginner‘s guide, I‘ll walk you through how to expertly add amazing custom commands in just 6 easy steps. Soon you‘ll be commanding your channel like a pro!
Why Commands are Key for Twitch Streaming
Before we dive in, let me explain why taking the time to create custom Twitch commands is so worthwhile:
- Engagement – Commands give viewers fun ways to interact and feel part of the community. Studies show channels with commands have 57% higher viewer retention.
- Moderation – Commands help keep your chat organized and positive. Moderators can timeout or ban with a simple command.
- Discovery – Commands spread awareness of your social profiles and other channels.
- Branding – Craft commands that reinforce your channel‘s unique personality and niche.
- Automation – Commands respond automatically 24/7 and save you time.
With the right mix of commands, you can boost engagement, moderate more effectively, and strengthen your channel branding.
Types of Twitch Commands
There are two main types of commands available on Twitch:
Built-in Commands
These are default commands activated directly through Twitch‘s chat. Examples include:
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| /color | Change your username color |
| /me | Send an action message |
| /w | Whisper another user |
Limitations: Only moderators can toggle them on/off. Streamers can‘t customize or create new built-in commands.
Custom Commands
These are commands uniquely created for your channel through bots like Nightbot, StreamElements, and Moobot. For example:
| Command | Response |
|---|---|
| !discord | Join our Discord: [invite link] |
| !schedule | I stream every Mon & Fri at 7pm PST! |
Benefits: Unlimited custom commands. Customize names, responses, restrictions.
For full creative freedom, we‘ll focus on setting up custom commands.
Understanding Twitch User Roles
Twitch features different user levels with varying command abilities:
- Streamers – Can enable built-in & create unlimited custom commands.
- Moderators – Can only enable/disable built-in commands.
- VIPs – Can use commands but not create new ones.
- Viewers – Can only trigger commands by typing them.
So you‘ll need to be logged into your streamer account to add new custom commands. Let‘s go over how to do that next!
Step 1: Connect a Bot to Twitch
To add commands, you‘ll first need to install a bot app on Twitch. The top bot options are:
- Nightbot – Free with access to built-in and 20 custom commands. Easy to use.
- Moobot – Free 25 custom commands and built-ins. More advanced options.
- StreamElements – Unlimited commands but more complex setup.
For beginners, I recommend Nightbot as the simplest free option to start with.
To add Nightbot:
- Visit the Nightbot website and click "Log in with Twitch"
- Sign in by authorizing the Nightbot app access
- Click "Join Channel" to connect Nightbot to your Twitch channel
It takes just a minute to link Nightbot with your Twitch account. Now let‘s move on to setting up commands!
Step 2: Activate Built-in Commands
Nightbot provides a number of built-in commands to control chat out-of-the-box:
/timeout [user] [time] - Temporarily ban a user
/ban [user] - Permanently ban a user
/followers - See the latest followers
/commercial - Run an ad breakTo enable the built-in commands you want:
- Click on "Commands" in the Nightbot dashboard
- Toggle the switch next to a command to activate it
This allows your mods to immediately use essential mod commands like banning or timing out troublemakers.
Now let‘s move on to creating your very own custom commands!
Step 3: Create a Custom Command
Adding a custom command on Nightbot is super easy:
- Click "Custom Commands" and then "Add Command"
- Give it a name like !discord
- Add the response, like "Join our Discord channel using this link: [your discord link]"
- Click "Save Changes"
And you‘re done! Repeat to add as many custom commands as you want.
Some creative command ideas include:
- !schedule – I stream every Mon & Weds at 7pm PST!
- !hype – Let‘s get ready to rumbleeeee!
- !lurk – Thanks for lurking, enjoy the stream!
Get inspired by thinking about key info you want to share, ways to hype up the audience, and ways to convert viewers.
Step 4: Use Commands in Your Stream
Now it‘s time to show off your amazing new commands during your next stream:
- Built-in commands – Mods can timeout users by typing /timeout @badviewer 60 in chat
- Custom commands – Type your command name like !discord to trigger the response
Sit back and watch as Nightbot automatically detects and responds to your custom commands. Engaging and moderating your streaming community has never been easier!
Pro Command Tips
Here are some pro tips for taking your commands to the next level:
- Add sound effects – Play noises on command like airhorns to hype up viewers
- Set cooldowns – Limit command spam by adding delays between uses
- Restrict usage – Only allow mods or VIPs to use sensitive commands
- Create variables – Personalize responses using $(user) variables
- Monitor usage – See which commands are most popular in your dashboard stats
With the right mix of commands, you‘ll have a fun, safe, and engaging channel in no time.
Troubleshooting Commands
If your commands aren‘t working, here are some quick troubleshooting tips:
- Make sure Nightbot is joined to your channel and actively connected
- Double check the command name is typed correctly
- Toggle the command on/off to reset it if needed
- Ensure you don‘t exceed the 20 custom command limit
- Try disabling/re-enabling the app‘s Twitch authorization
This usually resolves any issues activating commands. Reach out to Nightbot support if your commands still aren‘t working.
Wrap Up
And that‘s it – you‘re now a pro at adding custom Twitch commands! Here‘s a quick recap:
- Commands boost engagement, share channel info, and help moderate
- Connect Nightbot to enable built-in and custom commands
- Activate built-in moderation commands first
- Create custom commands easily with name and response
- Add command tips and troubleshoot any issues
So go forth and start commanding your Twitch channel like a pro! Let me know if you have any other questions. Happy streaming!