Once you become a Twitch Affiliate you'll find you're now able to create a Twitch Trailer, and now you're probably asking yourself what's the best way to go about this and what needs to be included. I watched several YouTube videos on other Twitch trailers, and the videos I was seeing weren't completely what I was thinking of doing for a trailer and this is coming from someone who used to work in the visual communication field (I'm not claiming to be the master when it comes to this stuff but I think my opinion will add some value here or at least give you some helpful insight).
Twitch Trailer Requirements
Twitch gives you up to a minute-long video and you have to be cautious of any copyrights be it music, art, etc. With that said, I don't think it has a limit for file size or anything like that, and this is a file you'll upload where your other stream videos are located on Twitch (I downloaded my trailer as an MP4 file).
Twitch Trailer Design Tips
It doesn't appear these trailers play on a loop so if you're trying to make a video based around that factor so that it streams seamlessly, there's no need because it's just a one-and-done thing that people will have to hit replay on to watch it again.
Now, what I feel like I'm seeing a lot of for these trailers on YouTube is a lot of various cut scenes crammed into a minute-long video. Personally, I find this very overwhelming and hard to absorb everything being shown especially if I don't know anything about the game/s they're playing during these trailers. So, what they may find humourous about their gameplay, I'm just trying to figure out what they're finding funny half of the time because I don't play a lot of these other games they're showing clips of. Also, the trailers that I can only assume are showing off gameplay skills, I feel like it can come off a bit arrogant, and again if I don't know that specific game then I have no idea that you even have great skills. Overall, I would rather see your personality shining rather than a game that everyone is playing because that's what really makes your stream unique, is you!
So if you're asking yourself, then what should be in my trailer? I got you! I think it's perfectly fine to show up to 3 clips of your gameplay if you're using up your full minute to make your trailer (less clips if it's shorter). Now if you stream a bunch of various games, I would suggest maybe just choosing the most popular game/s of the bunch because I feel like you'll relate to more gamers on Twitch (especially if they're multiplayer games).
I also noticed others mentioning to include your stream schedule (if you have one of course) then that's probably a good thing to tell people (it's like knowing when a movie is coming out or when your fave TV show will be on).
You'll also want to represent who you are in your video and I really don't think you need to do this in the most basic way of just having you talk to your viewers or insert clips of you during your games, I do feel this can also be done if you have created a type of branding scheme for yourself (as I've done because thus far I'm not someone who shows myself on camera during my streams). I'm also not sure you really even need to show your gameplay at all (I do think it's still great if that's what you choose to do), but you can definitely leave people wondering what your streams will be like if they come (as with mine, I left a bit of mystery but I do have on the screen what game I play and I do feel my overall scheme suggests what type of game that is if you're not familiar with it). Since I am branding myself here, I also included a logo design along with showing what social apps I'm also on in the bottom left corner. Of course, I wanted to have my stream name on there because again, it's just branding and if I use this trailer outside of Twitch people will still be able to find my account and they also know who I am along with seeing a picture of what I look like which makes it more personal as an end result.
Making a FREE Twitch Trailer
Using Canva I was able to create my very own Twitch trailer for free, keep in mind you can also get their pro version for free for 30 days as well (which is what I opted to do here in the end but I was also able to make a non-pro free one that was just as good really so, you do have that option). If you don't use the pro version you may end up having to find any music or sounds and make your own video edits to an extent. This site also lets you upload any images, videos, etc you may have along with any free design items they offer you. With the non-pro version, any transparent background images you may need you'll have to do elsewhere and Lunapic is a free option for that although it's not the greatest but it might get the job done, otherwise, you'll need the Canva Pro version to create those invisible backgrounds on images, etc. Also, I'm not making a full tutorial here on how I made my trailer but you can probably find some helpful tutorials on YouTube that can help get you started if you aren't too savvy on these types of programs.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my tips and advice on creating a trailer and also on thinking a bit outside the norm of what Twitch Trailers "should" be like per others online (have a trailer meet your needs and not just your viewers). I like to be a bit different as an artist and always think outside the box rather than do exactly what everyone else is doing. I'm curious what the future holds in terms of these trailer designs down the road and maybe we will start seeing more Twitch Trailers like my own in years to come.