Following the initial lockdown of spring 2020, everyone and their grandmas, but especially Gen-Z and youth, picked up the habit of playing a game or two to pass the time. According to Statista, that wasn’t just a passing fad, as global gaming spending on in-game items and paid downloads has grown by 12 % and 21 %, respectively, since 2020.
It’s clear that the gaming industry has continued to remain a popular marketing topic. In fact, this market is predicted to expand even more in 2023, especially after last year's marketing spend in the video games industry amounted to $5.8 billion US dollars.
Are you a game developer looking to get your game out there and attract more players?
Like any other commodity, gaming applications are considered wasteful until they are recognized by the people for whom they have been developed and for whom money has been invested. And if you’ve been keeping up with the market, then you definitely know that the gaming industry has become incredibly lucrative during the past few years.
Nowadays, there are a lot of platforms where you can market your game. All you need is a good marketing strategy and patience because success doesn’t come overnight! In this article, we'll explore some of the most effective ways to advertise your game and introduce a select few channels to promote your game.
Getting your game out there is crucial to its success, and there are many ways to do that, including:
But, like most things, the most popular methods of game advertisement change with time. So it’s wise to update your knowledge of different types of game advertising before allocating your budget accordingly.
In-game advertising is when you place a banner or logo in your game that links to an external website. Online advertising is similar, but instead of being placed within the game, it appears on websites like Google AdWords or Facebook Ads.
These ads are mainly designed to be unobtrusive and not interfere with the player's experience of the game, but they can still be effective at introducing players to other games or products.
In-game ads have become increasingly popular in recent years, as more and more people are playing games on mobile platforms and other devices. They can be an excellent tool for advertisers to reach a group of consumers that is already engaged with a particular game or genre, and they can raise brand awareness and promote related sales.
Mobile apps have their own unique form of advertising called mobile app install ads which allow users to download apps directly from their phone's browser. These ads typically appear in other mobile apps or on websites whose visitors may be interested in the app being advertised.
Mobile app install ads can take many different forms, from simple text ads to more complex video ads that showcase the functionality a particular app offers. They can be targeted to specific audiences based on factors like age, gender, location, and interests, and are a great way to increase downloads and app installations.
If you're looking to promote your mobile app, mobile app install ads can be an excellent way to get your message in front of the people who need to see it. By targeting your ads to specific audiences and using compelling ad copy and visuals, you can encourage more people to download and install your app, increasing revenue and growth.
Social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook can also be used for promoting games through sponsored posts or ads that appear at the top of feeds when certain keywords are searched for (e.g., "PlayStation").
Keyword-based game ad channels are a great way to target your ads to people who are already interested in games and related topics. You can read more about the best channels to advertise your game below in this very edit.
With so many games on the market, it can be challenging to differentiate yourself and get noticed by potential players. Luckily, there are plenty of creative and effective ways to advertise your game and reach your target audience. In this section, we'll explore some of the best ideas to advertise your game and encourage players to join and become fans.
Whether you're an indie developer or a large game studio, these advertising ideas are sure to help you get your game noticed.
One of the most impactful ways to advertise your game is to partner with influencers in the gaming industry. Influencers have large followings on social media and YouTube, and their endorsement of your game can go a long way in attracting new players.
To find influencers in your niche, use social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram to search for hashtags related to your game. When used correctly, influencer marketing can be an excellent way to market your game through word-of-mouth advertising. Moreover, there are plenty of channels available today where developers can find influencers who might be interested in working with them - like Grin.
Video advertising is a promising strategy to reach your target audience and spark their interest in your game. It's also one of the most powerful forms of marketing because you can target people who are already interested in what you have to offer.
Video ads are usually short and sweet--they don't have time for a lot of exposition and explanation, so they need to grab people right away with their hook (something that grabs people's attention and makes them want to watch more) or premise. You'll want to think about how this will work before you start creating content: if there's any part of your video that doesn't immediately grab viewers' attention, then they're likely going to click away before they even get through all five seconds!
In fact, many factors go into managing video channels like YouTube, since the more people engage with your content the more valuable it becomes. But don’t worry, our YouTube Channel Management professionals at Driver Studios will help you develop and refine your video strategy to increase followers engagement.
One of the most effective video ad strategies for gaming products is:
A trailer is a wonderful way to promote your game and build hype around its release on YouTube and other platforms. Make sure your trailer is well-crafted and attention-grabbing. It should give players a clear picture of what your game is about and what they can expect from it.
Once your trailer is complete, share it on social media and video-sharing platforms like TikTok and Vimeo. You also have the option of embedding your trailer onto your website and blog.
Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter offer highly targeted advertising options that allow you to connect with your intended audience. You can create ads for your game and target them at people who are passionate about gaming or who have played games like yours in the past.
Make sure your ad is visually appealing and includes a clear call-to-action that encourages people to try your game. Examples include:
Gaming conventions are an ideal venue for exhibiting your game in front of a large audience of gamers. Attend conventions like E3 and PAX and set up a booth where people can play your game and get to know it better.
Make sure your booth is well-designed in order to attract attention and include promotional materials like flyers and business cards. You can also offer special discounts or incentives to people who play your game at the convention.
A press kit is a collection of materials that journalists and bloggers can use to write about your game. Your press kit should include screenshots, videos, and other promotional materials that emphasize the key points of your game.
Make sure your press kit is easy to access on your website and includes clear contact information for journalists and bloggers who may want to ask additional questions about game aspects.
Making your game available to the public (or a select group of fans) early is a great way to build buzz and get people talking about it. You can also offer early access to your game to people who pre-order it or who sign up for your mailing list.
Make sure your early access program is well-promoted on your website and social media channels. It may also be a good idea to offer exclusive content or other perks to people who participate in your demo program.
Organizing a tournament is an excellent way to generate interest and bring in new players. You can host a tournament online or in-person and offer prize money or other goodies to the winners.
Make sure your tournament is well-publicized on your website and social media channels. In addition, it is possible to team up with other gaming companies or influencers to advertise your tournament.
Selecting the right advertising channels is essential when trying to publicize your game.
As a first step, you need to think about your budget and the type of game you're making. If you have a small budget, it might be better to focus on one platform rather than spreading your marketing efforts across several platforms. You also need to think about who your target audience is.
Ask yourself questions like: Do they spend time on Facebook? Are they more active on Twitter? Or maybe Instagram stories are their thing?
If you're developing a mobile game, then it makes sense to advertise on mobile devices because that's where players are spending their time anyway. If it's an online multiplayer PC game or console titles like Overwatch or Call Of Duty: Black Ops 4, then perhaps there are other avenues beyond social media where people who play those games congregate online such as Reddit or Twitch streams where fans can interact directly with developers through chat channels while watching gameplay videos together in real-time!
Here are some of the best channels to consider.
Google Ads is a powerful advertising platform that lets you build targeted ads and track their performance. With Google Ads, you can target specific keywords and demographics to confirm that your ads are reaching your intended audience.
If you're not sure what kind of terms people might use in their search queries, try using Google's Keyword Planner tool (or other similar tools) to find out which words they use most often. Then create an ad campaign based on those keywords. This will help make sure that only people who are interested in playing games like yours see the ad!
Display advertising is a great way to promote your game. You can use banner ads, interstitials, and video ads to get the word out about your product.
The benefits of display advertising are:
Facebook Ads is another popular advertising platform that allows you to create targeted ads based on age, gender, inclinations, and actions. Do not forget that, with over 2 billion active users, Facebook is a great place to reach a large audience.
Another one of the best things about Facebook ads is that you can easily track your results and adjust your ads based on their performance. You can see how many people clicked on your ads, how many people installed your game, and how much you spent on your ads, allowing you to fine-tune your advertising strategy over time.
YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world, making it a great place to promote your game. With YouTube Ads, you can create video ads that play before or during other videos, or as display ads on the side of the screen.
Partnering with influencers is a highly effective way to promote your game. By working with influencers who have a large following in the gaming community, you can reach a highly engaged audience and build buzz around your game.
Reddit is a popular social media platform that is divided into thousands of subreddits, each focused on a specific topic. By advertising on relevant subreddits, you can reach a highly targeted audience of gamers who are interested in your game's genre or theme.
Twitch is a live-streaming platform that is highly popular among gamers. By advertising on Twitch, you can reach a highly engaged audience of gamers who are actively watching and interacting with content related to your game.
Consider using these channels to promote your game and reach a wider audience. However, keep in mind that each channel has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, so it's important to choose channels that best align with your game's target audience and marketing goals.
When you're creating ads for your game, it's important to think about how you want the viewer to feel. You can use storytelling and visuals to create an emotional connection with your audience. Humor is another great way to draw people in, but don't forget that it's not all about making them laugh--humor can be used to engage players and make them feel like they belong in the world of your game.
Driver Studios can help create engaging game advertisement copy based on your exact campaign details and audience group. Through our COPPA-compliant advertising, YouTube channel management, commercials, and kids' content creation services, we’ll develop and implement a winning strategy to advertise your game.
Contact us and we’ll drive your business forward starting today!
Advertising your game is essential to its success. By using these ideas and staying creative, you can effectively promote your game and attract a large following of players.
The best game advertisement channels are those that you can experiment with and measure the effectiveness of your ads. If a channel doesn't work well for your game, don't be afraid to try another one! You should also consider using different channels to reach different audiences.
Remember, advertising your game is an ongoing process, so be sure to track your results and adjust your strategy over time to maximize its effectiveness. With the right advertising strategy, you can take your game to the next level and achieve the success you deserve.
At Driver Studios, we have a team of experts who can create compelling videos and engaging kids' content to drive a brand forward and reach younger audiences across a COPPA-compliant network. We can create captivating content and commercials that can help promote games and engage audiences too. Get started.
