-modified.png)
Marketing your indie game is a long process that starts way before your game’s launch date and continues even after your game has been shared with the public – all to make sure that your launch is successful. But, this raises an important question: what does a successful indie game marketing campaign look like? Let’s find out!
Good marketing campaigns start with a plan
Whether your indie game marketing campaign lasts a month or ten, never go into it without a plan. Why? Because, without a strategy, you won’t know who to target or how to build a personal brand. This means you end up not raising awareness about your game at all, largely reducing your chances of success.
But, with a data-driven marketing plan? You’ll likely end up meeting your wishlist numbers and sales goals even on a shoestring budget!
Create different marketing “pushes”
While marketing is a continuous process, creating the occasional marketing “push” when you have something noteworthy to share will boost your visibility. For an added buzz around your game, base each one around a Steam event.
The best times for a marketing push are whenever you reach a major game development milestone. For instance: launching your trailer, publishing the demo version, collaborating with influencers, etc. Your marketing push can be in the form of anything – running paid ads, releasing press releases, or even hosting a giveaway.
Make use of your demo launch
If you’re wondering whether you even need to release a demo, the answer is yes! You need to give potential players a taste of your game to convert them into customers. And Steam understands this, which is why it recently released a Steam Demo Update.
Now, all game demos can have a separate store page and will perform better in the Steam library, making it a great marketing tool for you. What’s more, all your wishlisters will receive an email when you upload a demo. You can even get reviews on your demos, which means you’ll be able to leverage these testimonials to attract even more players.
Participate in the Steam Next Fest
Because it’s your biggest opportunity to advertise your indie game! Getting your demo played by hundreds of players while you get to connect with them via livestreams? Sign yourself up! It’s a great way to get people interested in your game and bulk up your wishlist numbers.
Pro tip: For best results, join the Steam Next Fest that’s happening closest to your launch date. This way, your game will remain fresh in the minds of those who participated, leading to more sales.
Make sure to include a discount when you launch
Once your game is done and you have at least 10,000 wishlists, it’s time to set a launch date! Include a small discount – either for the launch date or the first few days – to attract more sales. You can even turn it into an exclusive thing where only those who have signed up to your newsletter or added your game to their wishlist receive a discount.