Linky · NL
How to do a giveaway on Twitch and YouTube: steps, rules, tips
A good giveaway on Twitch or YouTube has clear rules in advance, free entry through chat, a fair draw and a safe way to deliver the prize. With Linky in DonoLink you run entries and the draw in your own chat, on both platforms at once.
Find Linky under Plugins in your dashboard. If it is not available for your account yet, contact DonoLink before switching tools. A connected channel also needs an active bot connection before commands can respond.
Step 1: set the prize and the rules
Before your stream, write down what you are giving away, who can enter (minimum age, countries you can ship to), how long entries are open, how you announce the winner and how quickly the winner must reply. Put these rules in your panel or description. Entry must be free: never require a donation, subscription or purchase, because a draw with paid entry falls under gambling law in many countries. If a sponsor provides the prize, mention the sponsor.
Step 2: choose the giveaway type
A keyword (for example !win) is clear for new viewers and works well in busy chats. Active chatters rewards viewers who already take part, without anyone typing anything. Guess the number is a game with tension: whoever guesses the secret number first wins instantly. In Linky you also choose which roles can enter and whether subscribers or regulars get better odds. Keep extra odds modest so every viewer has a real chance.
Step 3: announce it and open entries
Start the giveaway in your dashboard under Plugins, Linky, Giveaways. Explain in one sentence how viewers enter and repeat it a few times, for example with your own command such as !giveaway that lists the rules. A timer can send a reminder, but use a relaxed interval so the chat does not flood. If you stream on Twitch and YouTube at once, one giveaway runs on both channels and every participant counts in one draw.
Step 4: close entries and draw the winner
Announce when entries close, close them and review the participant list. Exclude accounts that may not take part, such as moderators, your own second account or someone who already won. Click Draw winner: Linky picks on the server with cryptographically secure randomness. For one hour your dashboard shows what the winner writes in chat. If the winner does not reply within the time in your rules, draw another winner.
Step 5: deliver the prize safely
Never ask for an address, phone number or email in public chat. Agree on a private channel, for example Discord or email, and name it in your rules beforehand. Warn your community that you never ask for passwords, payment details or shipping fees: scammers often pose as the streamer after giveaways. Do not keep the winner’s details longer than needed. Thank the winner on stream afterwards so viewers see the prize really arrives.
One dashboard, three different jobs
DonoLink combines a donation page, OBS overlays and a chatbot. Your donation link is for viewers who want to support you financially. A bot command answers a chat message, for example with that public link. An overlay displays an alert in your broadcast. You configure these parts separately but manage them from the same account. A working chat command therefore does not establish that payments or OBS audio are already working.
Start with a small setup
Begin with a donation command, one information command and one timer. Choose who can use each command and set a cooldown to limit repetition. Have timers share useful information such as your schedule or donation link; avoid several messages appearing together. Music requests need their own player and settings. Add them after testing the basics, and use music for which you have the necessary rights.
What to check before each livestream
Test with a real chat message in the connected channel. Check the reply, link and repeated use. Separately make a short OBS recording with a test alert and listen to its audio. To verify the full payment journey, a completed donation must appear in both the dashboard and overlay. If something fails, check the channel connection, bot status and permissions first. Change one setting at a time so you can identify which step fixes the issue.
Donations in your country
For the Netherlands, use donolink.nl. You can offer iDEAL when it is available for your creator account. The standard DonoLink fee is 3.5% per donation; Stripe separately charges €0.29 for iDEAL. Share your own public link and check active payment methods in the dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
Are giveaways allowed on Twitch?
Yes, streamers run giveaways regularly. You are responsible for the rules, the prize and the laws in your country. Keep entry free and follow the platform’s rules.
What is the easiest giveaway for a small stream?
Active chatters: everyone who said something in the last few minutes is entered automatically. Or use the built in !winner command, which picks a random viewer active in the last ten minutes without any setup.
How do I prevent fake winners and scams?
Only announce the winner on your own stream, agree on a private channel beforehand and never ask for payment details or shipping fees. Warn viewers that messages from other accounts claiming they won are fake.
Who is Linky?
Linky is DonoLink’s chatbot; it used to be called DonoLink Bot. Linky answers commands, posts timers, moderates your chat, thanks donors in chat and helps with song requests, giveaways and polls on Twitch and YouTube. You manage it under Plugins in your DonoLink dashboard. In chat, it posts through DonoLink’s bot account.
Is a chatbot the same as a donation platform?
No. A chatbot handles chat commands and automated messages. DonoLink adds a public donation page and OBS alerts. Stripe handles payments; the bot itself does not process card details.
Do viewers need a DonoLink account?
Viewers do not need a DonoLink account to donate. Share the public donation link from your dashboard. Do not share overlay URLs, secret keys or account access in chat.
Do all commands work identically on Twitch and YouTube?
Commands and timers use the same bot settings, but permissions, chat connections and platform actions differ. Test each channel separately. A successful Twitch test does not establish that a YouTube livestream works.