For VTubers who primarily engage in streaming and social media, it’s common to question whether a website is even necessary. However, having a central base to express your unique worldview and deliver information to fans and companies securely can be quite powerful.

By organizing profiles and activity achievements, along with the latest videos and links, it becomes easy to convey the overall picture of your activities to newcomers at a glance.

Moreover, a website can also serve as a contact point for inquiries from businesses, making it less likely to miss out on project opportunities.

This article will clearly explain the benefits of VTubers having a website and provide easy-to-follow methods for beginners.

Should VTubers create a website? Reasons and considerations for having one

Many might think that having social media and streaming platforms is sufficient.

Indeed, there are many VTubers who continue their activities solely on YouTube and X (formerly Twitter). However, there are unique roles that a website fulfills that those platforms cannot.

The key strength lies in the ability to organize and deliver information. By aggregating profiles, videos, schedules, achievements, and contact information, you can quickly provide newcomers with a comprehensive understanding of your presence.

Not only does this convenience benefit fans, but it also establishes a trustworthy point of contact for businesses. Especially if you have a contact form, detailed operator information, and a summary of achievements, it will be easier to receive inquiries for projects and collaborations.

On the other hand, there are some cautions to consider. If you leave your site unattended, it may create misunderstandings that you are “not active.”

At a minimum, it’s vital to update your schedule and latest videos about once a month. Doing so will ensure that your website continues to function as a supportive base for your activities for a long time.

Benefits of VTubers having a website

While the information you can share on social media and streaming platforms is limited, having a website broadens the scope of your activities and changes the dynamics of trust and connection with your fans. Here, we will introduce four major benefits.

Consolidate and share your activities and worldview in one place

With a website, there’s no need to search for profiles, videos, or streaming schedules separately; everything is presented clearly in one place. It’s a significant advantage for newcomers to quickly understand “what kind of VTuber you are.”

Keep information that tends to get lost in social media organized

Posts tend to vanish quickly on timelines and can be hard to find later. With a website, you can organize and store announcements and fan art within fixed pages or categories, ensuring they are easily accessible and well-presented.

Freely customize links and functions of your content

On a website, you can embed videos from YouTube or Twitch, add links to social media buttons or merchandise shops, and place them as needed. For example, for YouTube, you simply copy the embedding code obtained through the share option.

Twitch also provides an embedded player, allowing you to play your streams directly on the site when positioned at the recommended size (400×300 or larger). The ability to adapt the design to match your character’s personality is also appealing.

Increased trust as a contact point for business projects and collaborations

By preparing a contact form, operator information, and a list of achievements, you create a sense of security for those reaching out. This makes it easier to receive inquiries for projects and collaborations rather than relying solely on direct messages on social media.

Three ways for beginners to create a website as a VTuber

When it comes to website building, many might think, “It seems impossible without specialized knowledge,” but there are actually several beginner-friendly methods to start. Here are three representative approaches. Each has different costs and levels of freedom, so it’s key to choose a method that suits you.

Start for free or at a low cost (e.g., Jimdo, Wix)

The easiest way is to use a website creation service. Platforms like Jimdo and Wix allow you to access through a browser, select a template, and replace text and images to publish your site. The operation is intuitive, primarily relying on drag-and-drop functionality. Specialized knowledge is hardly necessary.

You can try it out sufficiently with a free plan, but there are limitations, like ads displaying or inability to use a custom domain. If you want to showcase your activities more seriously, it’s advisable to switch to a paid plan and set up a unique domain. Expect costs to be around a few hundred to a few thousand yen monthly, with discounts often available for annual payments.

Choose WordPress for greater flexibility

If you want more control over design and functionality, WordPress is recommended. While WordPress itself can be used for free, you’ll need to prepare a server and domain to use it. Generally, this involves signing up for a rental server, such as Lolipop or X Server, and obtaining a custom domain through services like MuuMuu Domain or Onamae.com.

Server costs range from about 250 to 1,100 yen per month, and domain acquisition can start from a few hundred yen, with renewal fees potentially reaching around 1,700 yen depending on the TLD. Many services allow you to install WordPress with one click from the server management dashboard, making it less challenging than before.

By adding a theme (template), you can create a well-formatted site from the start, and by adding plugins, you can freely expand features like contact forms and SEO measures. The high degree of freedom is appealing, making it easier to accommodate future renovations and feature additions.

For those with specific requirements, consider outsourcing or hiring a production company! Points to consider in that case

If you want to focus on design and include intricate features, hiring professionals is also an option. By entrusting experienced designers or production companies, you can bring your vision to life, leading to high-quality outcomes.

However, costs can range from 100,000 to 500,000 yen for smaller projects, and can exceed 1,000,000 yen as requirements increase. Before placing an order, always check conditions such as “how many revisions are allowed” and “can I update it myself after delivery?” Even though outsourcing can lead to high-quality results, additional fees may arise for each update, so it’s essential to align this with your budget and ease of operation.

Seven types of content you should have on your website

One of the biggest dilemmas when creating a website is “what should I include?” Here, we will introduce seven essential content types that should be included on a VTuber’s website. By having these elements, you can create a base that effectively communicates your message to both fans and businesses.

Profile and character introduction

The first thing many visitors check is your profile. Basic information such as your name and appearance, as well as a brief introduction of your activity genre and character backstory, can leave a lasting impression.

Including your brand colors and logo enhances the cohesive feel of your identity. Additionally, placing contact information and operational area on “About” or “Contact” pages can provide reassurance.

For more detailed guidance on writing profiles, check out this article.

How to write and create a VTuber profile? Tips and 12 essential items explained!

Video release and streaming schedule announcements

The next video release and streaming schedule are typically among the most sought-after information by fans. Organizing this in a calendar format or having a fixed article like “This Month’s Schedule” makes it convenient and easy to update. Information that might get buried on social media can be easily referenced on your site at any time.

Embedding the latest videos and streaming archives

By embedding YouTube or Twitch players, visitors can watch your content directly from your site. This serves as a pathway for newcomers to understand “the atmosphere of your streams” right away, making it effective for acquiring new fans. Creating a playlist or showcasing recommended videos can also encourage longer viewing times.

Activity achievements and collaboration examples (business-focused)

Summarizing past events you’ve participated in, collaborative projects, and co-streaming experiences can serve as a portfolio. Particularly when targeting business projects, an achievements page greatly enhances trustworthiness. Adding screenshots or logos of collaborating companies increases specificity and persuasiveness.

Introduction to illustrations, community works, and fan art submission rules

A page that showcases illustrations or secondary creations done by fans strengthens the sense of community. Additionally, specifying submission methods (hashtags or forms) and usage rules can encourage participation. New fans viewing the gallery may feel, “This VTuber is beloved.”

Contact form and contact details

Many businesses might feel uncertain about contacting you solely through DMs on social media. By providing a contact form or an email address, you can reassure them that they can reach out more comfortably.

Keep the input as simple as possible, limit required fields to a minimum, and clearly mark required fields to lower the barrier for inquiries.

Links to social media, YouTube, Twitch, etc.

To quickly direct those who visit your website and think, “I want to follow you more closely,” compile and place key links neatly. Positioning them in the header or footer, where they are always visible, is effective. Simply arranging icons can improve visibility.

Design and operational points to avoid failures

Simply creating a website is not the goal. If it ends up being perceived as “hard to navigate” or “not updated,” it can have the opposite effect. Here are key points VTubers should be aware of to maintain their website in the long term.

Set an update frequency to avoid leaving it unattended

No matter how stunning your website is, if it’s not updated for a long time, people will misinterpret it as “inactive.” Ideally, aim for updates once a week; if that’s too difficult, once a month is a good target.

At the very least, updating the latest videos and schedule to keep information fresh is important. If you establish a rhythm for updates, it will be easier to maintain without feeling burdened.

Design UI and color schemes that convey your character’s essence

Color schemes, fonts, and background atmospheres should align with your character’s world. For example, a bright color palette suits a cheerful character, while a calm presence might lead to a simple design that emphasizes whitespace.

Creating a cohesive identity by aligning with your logo and illustrations allows fans to sense “who you truly are” the moment they visit.

Ensure mobile compatibility for readability

Many fans access websites via smartphones. Make sure the text is readable on smaller screens and that buttons are easy to tap. Utilizing responsive design (suitable for both PC and mobile) is fundamental, and your embedded streams should adjust automatically to fit the width.

Design pathways to register and follow on social media/video platforms

By incorporating embedded YouTube videos or displaying timelines from X (formerly Twitter), visitors can easily check the latest information on your site. Adding “Subscribe” and “Follow” buttons encourages immediate action.

These can be easily implemented by obtaining codes from the official tools of YouTube or X and pasting them in. After installation, check to ensure they display correctly on mobile widths as well.

Conclusion

While it’s possible to operate solely through social media or streaming services, having a website makes it easier to convey your worldview and provides a reassuring space for fans and businesses. By organizing your profile, videos, and schedules, newcomers can quickly understand your activities, and placing a section for achievements and a contact form expands your opportunities for business projects.

Various options are available, from free services to WordPress and hiring production companies. Starting with an accessible method can lead to gradual expansion as your activities gain traction.

The key is to not consider it complete once created. Ensure the design matches your character, keep it mobile-friendly, and regularly update with the latest information. This way, your website will serve as a lasting foundation to support your activities. Begin small, and grow at your own pace.

Once you’ve conveyed the overall picture of your activities, what’s next?

Once you can clearly convey the overall picture of your activities, why not also focus on the presentation of your streaming screen?
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• Incorporates a topic roulette and counter function!

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If you want to make your streaming screen more unique or add more fun elements for your fans, be sure to try “Alive Studio“.

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