Gaming is a huge industry. A 2021 Market Watch article reported that video games are a bigger industry than movies and North American sports combined.
With the gaming industry being so popular, many developers are looking to get in on the ground floor. But it can be challenging to get your game to stand out from the crowd without the right game marketing strategy.
This article will discuss the importance of game promotion and touch on what a successful marketing campaign looks like.
Why is Game Promotion So Important?
It Helps You Stand Out: With so many people wanting to make it in the gaming industry, it’s essential to stand out from the crowd. The right marketing tactics will get your company and products the right kind of attention.
It Helps Build Your Brand: Gaming companies often launch campaigns to advertise their latest products. But they are not only advertising their products, they are also advertising their brands. If they launch a campaign for one game and it does well, it will improve their brand reputation. Consumers will be more likely to buy from them in the future.
It Helps Devs Understand Their Target Audience: Marketing campaigns give creators insight into what appeals to their target audience. This information helps them make more informed decisions about game design, marketing messages, pricing, and other factors.
What Does a Good Game Marketing Strategy Look Like?
There are several strategies gaming companies and designers will use to get their products out there. Here are some to consider.
Influencer Marketing: Influencer marketing involves partnering with popular gaming influencers to promote your game. The influencer will play the game on popular gaming channels or review it on their social media or blog. Their appearance will have a significant impact on the game’s audience and can help to attract new players.
Social Media: Social media is a powerful game marketing tool. Game developers use these platforms to build a community of their fans and engage with them. They share updates, respond to player feedback, and generate excitement about upcoming releases. Social media can also be used to run promotional contests and giveaways that build hype for new games.
Trailers: Trailers are common and effective game promotion tools. They showcase the game’s story, graphics, and gameplay features. They also reveal new features and release dates. They may be shown at conferences and gaming events or released on social media.
Conferences and Events: Game designers can promote their brand and products by attending conferences and events. They serve as opportunities for developers to advertise their games to large audiences and get people talking about the game to others. Devs can also use these events to network with others in the industry and build relationships with their fans.
Paid Advertising: Several forms of paid advertising work well for game developers. These include social media ads, billboards, TV commercials, PPC, and more. Paid advertising is an added expense, but it’s a powerful way to raise awareness for your brand and products.
What are the Signs that Your Game Promotion is Successful?
Several metrics will tell you if your marketing methods are successful. They include:
- Pre-Order Numbers: Games are often available for pre-order. If pre-order numbers are high, you have done a good job of generating buzz around your game.
- Day One Sales: Your day one sales are a strong indicator of your PR campaign’s success.
- Player Engagement: These metrics tell you how much time players are spending playing the game and how often they are playing.
- User Reviews: A strong PR campaign will get your product lots of reviews. However, no one can guarantee that the reviews will be good. A strong campaign paired with a quality product is a formula for success.
- Social Media Engagement: If your product creates a buzz, people will be talking about it on social media.
The gaming industry is very lucrative, but it can be hard for developers to stand out from the crowd. A strong marketing campaign will increase your chances of success.
