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Marketing a mobile game in 2023 can present a unique set of challenges. To popularize your app and successfully keep reaching new players, you’ll need to embrace innovative strategies, some of which go beyond the traditional attempts at marketing.
Here are five creative growth hacks built on savvy digital practices that can make all the difference for your app’s success in this digital age.
1. Leverage TikTok and Other Social Sites to Reach More Gamers
Social media is one of the best avenues for marketing a brand, product, or literally anything (genuine and moral), and mobile games aren’t an exception. Platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok can be powerful tools to help your mobile game reach more gaming audiences. You can promote your game on these sites through leaderboard-generated content or natively created ads that are user-generated and authentic.
Also, it pays to keep up with the latest trends so people connect to your game more quickly. Creating customized hashtags and in-app challenges can further engage new players and serve to spread your game virally.
2. Encourage User Sharing and Referrals
User referral programs are an easy, cost-effective way to market a mobile game. It’s simple: give users a bonus or reward for referring the game to their friends or family members. You can incentivize them through gaming bonuses, discounted in-app products, or exclusive access to new game levels.
You could also amplify your message by using social networks such as Facebook Groups where you can directly connect with gaming communities interested in a particular type or genre of games. Using contest platforms such as Gleam to create a referral program or competition around your game can help to exponentially grow your organic reach online as well.
3. Increase Visibility on Search with App Store Optimization (ASO)
Another way to grow your mobile game is to make sure it’s easily discoverable by those searching for a new game experience. App store optimization utilizes keywords, descriptions, and screenshots to help ensure your app reaches the right users in their searches across mobile app stores.
By strategically updating content within your app’s listing, you can leverage ASO to help increase visibility and rank higher in search results, which allows for better discoverability and growth opportunities.
4. Leverage Influencer Marketing
An influencer’s audience isn’t just regular followers, it’s made up of genuine die-hard fans who appreciate what they create and share. Alongside ASO and ad campaigns, influencers can come in handy as far as gaining new users through marketing (user acquisition) is concerned.
Influencer marketing is an effective way to quickly reach a wide group of users and increase awareness about your game, as these people usually have a huge following.
5. Promote Your App on Related Gaming Apps
Beyond traditional social media sites and advertising tactics, you can get a leg up by promoting your mobile game through related gaming apps. Enlisting partnerships with other successful games or developers can allow access to their vast user base and provide the perfect platform for the cross-promotion of content.
For example, feature placement in another app might be an affiliate deal where both parties receive gain from any downloads resulting from that feature slot. You can also use in-app events or notifications to draw attention to the game, thus cross-pollinating its success.
To conclude, the digital space is getting more and more competitive, and this includes the world of mobile gaming. Luckily, gamers are always looking for different, unique gaming experiences, but you have to ensure they can easily find and use your mobile app.
Hopefully, the above creative and innovative growth hacks will help maximize your mobile game’s potential in 2023.