10 Marketing Tips for Gaming Websites

You will be feeling a well-earned sense of accomplishment after designing, developing, and finally launching your game, but your quest for game success is not over yet. In fact, it has hardly even begun. You may have developed the most engaging and captivating game ever to be created and you just know that once people start to play, they are going to love it. But first, you have to actually persuade people to download and play. Nowadays, there are thousands, if not millions, of games on the market. Players are literally spoilt for choice. With so much competition out there, you need to stand out from the rest of the crowd and use effective marketing strategies to make sure your game takes off just like you dreamed.

1. Optimisation

Chances are, you have a lot of direct competition within your gaming niche. When you do a quick google search of some keywords, there are other games that appear at the top of the search list. That’s where you want your game to be, right in the spotlight, most likely to be clicked. The trick to getting yourself up there is search engine optimization. Pick out some of the key phrases and words used by the websites of the games that pop up first in the search results and use these on your website too. This gives you a higher chance of being up near the top and your website being suggested to people that use these search terms. If your game has an app, this can also be done in in-app stores too.

2. Stunts and Promotions

Everyone loves a good bargain. People jump at the chance of getting a good deal for absolutely everything, and gaming is no different. Online casino games are famous for successfully enticing players in with huge deals and big bonuses like at spin palace that you just cannot miss out on. If you want to be even bigger and create a huge buzz of interest across the internet, get creative and come up with a marketing stunt that will really get people talking. Depending on budget, the sky is your limit, so get thinking and get excited.

3. Build an Online Presence

For gamers to know about you and find you, you have to be easy to access and have enough information available so that they want to play your game. Gamers are at home on the internet, so this is obviously going to be the most effective route to market your game. Your website needs to be professional, accessible, and interesting; this is where all your online traffic will eventually be driven to. An incredibly useful tool to create on your website is a blog. You can increase website visitors through SEO, post valuable information to bring in new gamers and use it to keep people up to date with any news. Blog content is shareable, meaning the potential for an increase in visibility is high.

4. Use Video Content

Gaming is all about the senses; how it looks, how it makes you feel, the sounds, the atmosphere. It is hard to portray the quality of your game without physically showing it, which is why posting video content is essential. It gives gamers an insight into the style and standard of gaming that they can expect when downloading your game. Tease gamers by revealing short snippets of some of the most thrilling parts of your game. The key to this is giving them enough, but not too much. If you show all the best parts in your marketing strategy, gamers will be left disappointed as they didn’t get anything new or unexpected, which could result in some average reviews. Tease them, but don’t reveal too much.

5. The Power of YouTube

YouTube is more than just a video platform; it’s a huge search engine in its own right. And the gaming community on YouTube is vast. Set up a YouTube channel for your game and make use of the marketing possibilities. Post those enticing videos of your top-notch graphics and add an exciting soundtrack to really appeal to gamers. You can link to your videos across all your online platforms, give hints, tips and tricks, and direct traffic to your website, but also communicate and promote directly through YouTube communities and comments.

6. Facebook and Instagram

Social media is probably the most powerful marketing strategy for just about anything. Almost the entire world uses social media for hours and hours every single day, so make sure you have both Facebook and Instagram accounts for your game. You can share your YouTube videos across your social media accounts, link to articles on your blog and promote any deals and stunts here too. One of the best elements of Facebook advertising is that ads can be targeted towards users with particular behaviours and interests, so your game will be pushed towards people that are most likely to play.

7. Get Influencers on Side

Influencers are sort of like modern-day celebrity endorsements. Getting your game promoted by the right person to the right audience can have such a massive effect on your success, and thousands (sometimes millions) of people can be exposed to your game using this strategy. There is no harm in reaching out to influencers within your niche to see what they would want in return. Maybe they just want your games and all their future updates for free, but they may also want some cash and the price is dependent on their following.

8. Forums, Fan Pages and Review Websites

As the internet is where gamers feel comfortable, safe, and connected, there is no wonder that they have infiltrated so many corners of the online world. Reddit forums are full of gamers, and a great place to promote your new game and get people talking about it. Use fan pages and communities of Facebook to market, and across all other platforms too. Another really effective way of getting your game noticed is by posting it on review websites. Make your pitch professional, include video and website links and all the relevant information, even throw in a promo code.

9. Make Appearances

The gaming community has everything: podcasts, online magazines, radio features, you name it. Making appearances across these platforms will extend your reach and increase exposure. If your game is fairly new, the chances of you being approached aren’t that high, but there is no harm in reaching out. Obviously, offer them the game in return and some cross-promotion, but get your game featured.

10. Consistent Branding

It is all well and good to use all the online and social media platforms to market your game, but in doing so you have to make sure your branding is consistent. You need to be recognizable. Use the same coloring, text, tone of speech, similar thumbnails. Your branding isn’t just about the name and cover of your game; it is about all the promotional imagery. Put your logo on everything you use within your marketing strategy and make sure people know you, your look, and your game. Effective marketing is arguably the most important element of game development. Without it, there is no way your game is going to rocket to popularity. But using these strategies and tips, you won’t have any problems.