A raid is when a streamer ends their broadcast by sending their viewers to another streamer's channel. For the channel receiving it, it's a sudden wave of new people; for the one sending it, it's a way to support a fellow streamer and make connections.
Here's how to send a raid, how to welcome one so the new viewers stay and how raids help a small channel grow.
Below: how to send raids properly, how to welcome the people who arrive and why regular raids help you grow.
How a raid works
At the end of your stream you pick a channel that's live and start a raid, either with the button in your dashboard or by typing /raid and the streamer's name in chat. After a short countdown your viewers move to the other channel, and a raid notice appears in its chat.
You can cancel the raid before the countdown ends if you change your mind.
How to send a raid
At the end of your stream, click the raid button or type /raid and the channel name in chat. Viewers get a few seconds to join, then move to the other stream. Say beforehand who you're raiding and why, so people go with interest rather than inertia.
Raid live channels around your size: a small raid stands out on a small stream, and that streamer will give your viewers attention back.
Who to raid
Raids work best on channels your size with similar content. Your viewers will enjoy it, and the streamer will likely remember you and return the favor.
channels in the same game or category;
streamers you chat with or have done collabs with;
small channels, where a raid is a big deal;
don't raid someone at the end of their stream; pick people who just started or are mid-stream.
When to raid
Raid at the end of your stream into a channel that just started or is mid-stream. Raiding a stream that's about to end is pointless: your viewers land and immediately hit an offline page.
How to welcome a raid
The first minutes after a raid decide whether the new viewers stay. They don't know you or your channel, so give them a reason to stick around.
thank the raider out loud by name and say something about their channel;
briefly explain what's happening and what you do;
greet the new viewers and ask an easy question;
give them a way to join in right away, like chat TTS in character voices: newcomers type to hear themselves.
Welcoming a raid: a quick plan
Welcoming a raid well means giving new people a reason to stay after it ends.
thank the raider by name and say a few words about their channel;
greet the new viewers;
explain what's happening and how to join in;
invite them to type in chat to hear themselves in a character voice;
give the raider a shout-out.
Chat TTS and raids
A raid is when lots of new people hit your chat at once. If their messages play as Shrek, Kratos or GLaDOS, the welcome instantly becomes a show. In Chat2Speech you choose who's heard: for example everyone, or only VIPs and mods if the raid is huge.
Mods can skip a message or clear the queue with !tts skip and !tts clear if there's too much TTS.
How raids help you grow
Raids are one of the most direct ways to bring viewers to a small channel. Raiding others regularly builds connections with streamers in your niche, and some will raid you back. Viewers who arrive in a raid and stay often become regulars.
Growing your average viewers moves you toward Twitch Affiliate: 25 followers, 4 hours streamed on 4 different days and an average of at least 3 viewers over 30 days.
What not to do
Don't raid channels where your audience won't feel welcome, and don't use raids for spam. Streamers can limit who can raid them, and a bad raid ruins relationships faster than a good one builds them.
Questions
How do I raid on Twitch?
At the end of your stream, click the raid button in your dashboard or type /raid and the streamer's name in chat. After a short countdown your viewers move to their channel.
How do I keep viewers after a raid?
Thank the raider, briefly explain your stream, greet the newcomers and give them a reason to type, such as chat TTS.
Can I cancel a raid?
Yes, you can cancel it before the countdown ends.
How do I send a raid on Twitch?
Click the raid button at the end of your stream or type /raid channel_name. A few seconds later your viewers move to that channel.
How many viewers do I need to raid?
There's no minimum. Even a raid of two or three viewers stands out on a small channel and helps you make connections.