Week 9

Content

  • Data Analytics

    We touched on this topic a bit in Week 7, but at this time we're going to get a little more specific into Data Analytics with stats that you can find through Twitch and explore how to use them to answer questions and inform your decisions. Live Views, New Followers, Average Unique Viewers, etc... How often are you breaking for ads? What percentage of your viewers engage in chat? Where are your viewers coming from? Your analytics won't just be limited to Twitch. How can you find useful data metrics through social media and other sources?

    This week you will...
    • Describe data analysis terminology and methods
    • Set performance goals for your stream
    • Identify indicators through which to measure your stream's performance
    • Analyze your stream through data analysis
    computer with analytics software on screen

  • Loot for your mind

    Hey! Listen!   navi fairy

    Please note that data analytics, performance metrics, and statistics are huge topics of discussion, and can be very complicated for newcomers. Don't get too bogged down in trying to work out the minute inner workings, here. We just want to get you started on some basics that you yourself can use!

    Weekly Materials

    One of the most important concepts in data analytics is the ability to accurately gauge your current level of performance. We can do this by identifying Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The KPIs important to you as a streamer will be different from those of, say, a bank. What information is important to YOU in helping you to measure your performance? 

    Let's figure out how to work our way up to a KPI.

    • First, what are your general goals? Achieve financial stability through streaming? Become a Twitch partner? Gain overall visibility by being a a highly viewed streamer in a specific topic?
    • Next, what are the critical success factors that must occur for you to meet your goal? For example, for a Twitch partnership, you need to have "an established and steadily growing audience and chat", a "regular broadcast schedule of at least 3 times a week", and "content that conforms to our Rules of Conduct [...]". You must be able to claim you meet these factors in order to be a Twitch Partner. Let's try and make that quantifiable.
    • Examples of KPIs based on what we just mentioned might be "Viewership" with a target of at least 1000. "New Viewer Acquisition" of at least 300 per month. Perhaps consider "Viewer Retention" or "Broadcast Schedule" as well. 

    Alright, so we have a few KPIs. These are key indicators of your performance. What do we do with them? Well, you collect data and compare it against your targets! Did you hit or miss your New Viewer Acquisition KPI? Are you actually succeeding over time?

    Twitch has a number of listed stats that you can use. Remember, KPIs must be integral to meeting a specific goal. Many of the stats Twitch lists might be KPIs for you, but unless you have a specific goal in mind, it is simply a statistic. Twitch poses a number of questions that can help guide you to create goals for your specific needs. Find out where your views are originating, and shift content to prioritize that audience. Or, figure out why a certain sector is under-performing. Find your top clips and streams to see "what worked" and what time it "worked". Can you compare this information to your viewer origination and find any trends?

  • Discussion

    Discussion Requirements

    In each week, you will have a Discussion assignment that will help to prepare you for that week's main assignment. You are required to:

    • make an initial post answering the questions provided, and
    • to respond to at least one peer.

    You won't be able to see any of your peer's posts until after you have posted. Your response should be go beyond a simple "good job" or other basic complement. While there isn't a hard requirement on the length of your response, 100 words would be a good starting place. 

    The reason we only require a single response is that we are encouraging you to engage your instructor and peers through Blackboard Collaborate and Discord in real-time discussion. The questions presented here are to help you to form ideas for your main assignment, as well as allow you to more deeply analyze what your peers are thinking about as they prepare for their assignments. Your peers may be in-class students, or they may be remote and in an entirely different time-zone. We want to ensure that you all have the same opportunities to collaborate and learn from each other. We want you to be fully prepared and confident going into your main assignments.

    Discord

    Discord chats are set up by week, and are supplemental to your actual assignments. Click the icon below to access the channel. Please participate in these chats! Discord is a very popular tool used by the streaming community, so if you're not familiar with it, this is your chance! Use the Discussion assignment to help organize your interactions. It's our hope that you find people through this class that you can collaborate with, game with, and stream with in your careers; you are welcome to invite your peers to other channels that you use!

    discord icon and link to channel


    Discussion

    10 Points

    Discuss important goals and Key Performance Indicators for a streamer, particularly in the formative stages of their careers. Be specific on the following points:

    • Why would an average of one hundred (100) viewers be a good starting goal for a new streamer? What is the advantage in gaining a (relatively small) number like this quickly?
    • What is the difference between KPIs and metrics?
    • Do performance indicators differ depending on the device used (PC, smartphone, console, etc...)?
    • What is the danger in incorrectly prioritizing a KPI that is not actually key to accomplishing your goal?
    Submission Instructions
    • Read the discussion rubric. You will be graded on this rubric!
    • Make an initial post based on the assignment prompt provided.
    • Reply to at least one peer with a substantial response.
    • Use Discord for further discussion.

  • Analyzing Data

    20 Points

    Compose your assignment as a 500 word essay. Your essay can include formatting such as lists if it assists in presenting your explanations.

    • What are the most important KPIs (these can be Twitch stats) for a streamer to take notice of so that they know what and when to stream?

    • Do these KPIs change in importance depending on what kind of content you stream?

    • Provide examples of stats on Twitch's Channel Analytics page and give specific examples of how these stats could be used to inform how, when, and what you stream.

    • How might data collected off of other streamers be used to change how, when, and what you stream?
      • Additionally, think "beyond the box" to include stats/KPIs that might be obtainable outside of Twitch and what they might suggest that you might do indirectly to support your stream (such as in the creation of marketing strategies).
    Submission Requirements

    For written assignments:

    • Assignment must be composed in a word processor (Word, OpenOffice, LibreOffice, Pages, Google Docs, etc...)
    • The file type must be supported by Microsoft Word, regardless of word processor used (.doc or .docx is preferred)
    • Accepted fonts include Arial, Calibri, Verdana, and Times New Roman with a font size of 12pt
    • Essays should be double-spaced on 8.5" x 11" paper size and 1" margins
    • You will attach your completed document in the assignment submission area (don't type the assignment out directly in Blackboard!)
    • Please use APA in-text citations and include a reference list for any sources cited outside of those included in the Supply Drop area.

    This assignment is due no later than 11:59 PM at the end of the seventh day of class.

    Start Assignment

    Assignment Rubric

    Before starting your Assignment, please review the Assignment rubric. You will be graded using this rubric.

    Click below to view the Assignment rubric.

    Click Here

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