Facebook Advertising.....Is it worth it?

BluemoonstudiosBluemoonstudios Member Posts: 156
in Business and Marketing Theory
Hey guys, I have just submitted an update to apple recently for my game Ultimate Tap Challenge. In the update I have added in app purchases. Since it's first release I have only had around 250 downloads. I have never advertised my app anywhere except for YouTube and a few tweets on twitter. My Question is, has anybody used Facebook to advertise their app? Has it had any impact on your downloads? And if you had downloads, did it increase sales from in app purchases? I was thinking about spending around $50 on advertising with Facebook. Do you think im wasting my money, and is there a better way to spend that $50 on a different way of advertising? I know $50 isn't much when it comes to advertising, but unfortunately I can't afford much more than that. Your help and knowledge will be greatly appreciated.

John
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Comments

  • VoltzStudiosVoltzStudios Member Posts: 38
    I am no marketing expert, nor have I made an app, nor have I tried any techniques.

    However, I am working on an app and have already looked into ways to boost my downloads. From what I've found, advertising with pay-per-install (User downloads app, you pay for it) is a nice way to go, rather than paying per view. This form is usually around $0.25 per download, which is a bit more expensive but it also guarantees the download.. However, from what I've found, some app companies will pay over $1 for that same user to download their app, so make sure you find the right place to list your app.

    Do some research with the pay-per-install. I can not guarantee results with this technique, but it's probably the path I personally would take.

    Also wait for some more people to comment on their successes.
  • mounted88mounted88 Member Posts: 1,113
    I've tired facebook advertising before in 2011 didn't like it at all. But now they have a feature where you can promote a status and it will show at the top of all your friends pages and so on. I'm not sure how that works exactly but I think it was a lot cheaper. Might e something to look into.
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  • WbokoWboko Tennessee, USAMember, PRO Posts: 621
    My thought is any advertising is good, but that not so fun part of building games...

    I set up a cam pain with Facebook for "Wboko Balls" and I didn't think it was working till I looked at my Google Analytic. After I cancelled it my traffic dropped a lot.

    Good Luck!!!
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  • MSEagle2MSEagle2 Member, PRO Posts: 98
    I had gotten a $50 Facebook ad credit from my sites host a few months back. Burned through that quick and saw no uptick in sales
  • BluemoonstudiosBluemoonstudios Member Posts: 156
    Thanks guys, but I still don't know what to do :) Ive got a bit of time so I will keep researching
  • The_Gamesalad_GuruThe_Gamesalad_Guru Member Posts: 9,922
    Here one idea I'm doing I play battlefield 3 there you rent servers for 20 a month when people enter the game there is banner you can put you own image and text so Lost Oasis is going to rent a server and post and ad in our banner. This shows every time a new map loads between games. That means my ad will be seen by people into games.

    Guru Video Channel   | Lost Oasis Games | FRYING BACON STUDIOS  

  • WingmanappsWingmanapps Member Posts: 458
    edited May 2013
    if you do "direct install mobile ads" you will see a huge effect.
    The problem consist in the price ranging from 0,20c to 2.5$ pr click depending on your campaign budget. Apps like "Candy Crush" have a monthly budget of 300.000$ but rake in 750.000$ due to high in app conversion.

    You need to download facebook SDK to implement it.
    here's a tutorial on how to make it happen

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151574598089838&campaign_id=282184128580929&placement=tutorial_video
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  • BluemoonstudiosBluemoonstudios Member Posts: 156
    Thanks wingman I'll look into that. Wouldn't it be nice to have $300k to blow on advertising :)
  • jamie_cjamie_c ImagineLabs.rocks Member, PRO Posts: 5,772
    If you're going to do paid advertising for you game you really need to have a 'real' budget, to expect any results from a $50 or even $500 budget is pretty unrealistic.

    http://jamie-cross.net/posts/   ✮   Udemy: Introduction to Mobile Games Development   ✮   Learn Mobile Game Development in One Day Using Gamesalad   ✮   My Patreon Page

  • TomCoffeeTomCoffee Member, PRO Posts: 175
    edited May 2013
    I've tried Facebook advertising (and Google Adwords) for several different online projects, blogs and apps.... The problem I encounter is when I'm selling an app for .99 cents or promoting a free blog it's difficult to end up paying $1.50 or more for a click or so many thousands of impressions.

    I've tossed a couple hundred bucks at various campaigns over the year with negligible results. I get better results with posts on blogs and boards that hit my niche audiences...
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  • WbokoWboko Tennessee, USAMember, PRO Posts: 621
    I've tried Facebook advertising (and Google Adwords) for several different online projects, blogs and apps.... The problem I encounter is when I'm selling an app for .99 cents or promoting a free blog it's difficult to end up paying $1.50 or more for a click or so many thousands of impressions.

    I've tossed a couple hundred bucks at various campaigns over the year with negligible results. I get better results with posts on blogs and boards that hit my niche audiences...
    True that @TomCoffee, It is best to try and stay as active as you can!!!
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  • LeonardDeveloperLeonardDeveloper Member Posts: 4,630
    IMHO
    It all depends on who you SPECIFICALLY SELECT to advertise your app/game to, If you select the right group of people that will be interested in it - yes

    Any corporate/enterprise app I've done in Corona, I have used FB ads for & They work VERY WELL, But only when used properly
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  • digibdigib Member Posts: 15
    I have just completed two campaing tests just like what you are talking about.
    first was a 10$ a day for four days (40$ overall) on facebook ads.
    I chose mobile ad which shows up only on ios devices with a direct install link.

    and an ad mob campaign for 5 days at 10$ a day. Again 50$ a day.

    i screen captured the results so you can do the math for yourself
    http://postimg.org/gallery/ahgjlti2/

    But whatever click numbers you see there,
    I had no more that 10 downloads for the duration of the campaign.

    these campaigns are for two different games.
    Ad mob had a little advantage on the numbers but both are not really effective.
    It could be more effective on large scale campaigns. maybe.

    And one more thing to consider, both facebook and ad mob too a while to review ad.
    Facebook has been pending for review for nearly a week and ad mob for 10 days

    Hope this gives a little idea

    Good luck on your marketing

  • PBEmpirePBEmpire Member Posts: 676
    @digib 0 downloads??!!
  • digibdigib Member Posts: 15
    i dont think it can really tell real downloads when it comes to app store and not implementing their SDK in the app.
    But if i am wrong - yeah.0 downloads.
  • PBEmpirePBEmpire Member Posts: 676
    To be honest, i think paid reviews or a press release will be money better spent than facebook ads, which is a hit or a miss
  • digibdigib Member Posts: 15
    They are money better spent. I agree
  • BluemoonstudiosBluemoonstudios Member Posts: 156
    Hey guys thanks for your replies. I'm trying something different as far as advertising goes with Instagram. I'll let you know if it's any good, and if it works I will explain what I did. My update got approved today, but Im not releasing it a few more days, so post here in about a week or so. Cheers
  • iamcarteziamcartez Houston, TexasMember Posts: 648
    Honestly I think you guys should work with Twitter for apps rather than Facebook and their randomness. My app came out a week ago and I have about 500+ downloads and thats just from tweeting about every 3 hours.

    I was lucky to get a few people with 100,000+ followers to retweet my iTunes link this weekend.

    www.appdore.com || appdore twitter || appdore facebook

  • Vivian520Vivian520 Member Posts: 1
    Hey, you can try appflood as you can benefit from :
    • Full campaign control including daily budgets and max bidding price per install.
    • you can chose one or more apps where you wish to place your ads.
    • we are cheaper than other mobile ad networks, the adbids for CPI could be as low as $0.2.
    • you can set different bids to buy installs in different countries.
    • Define single or multiple campaigns using whatever ad formats you like. Appflood has multiple flexible ad formats to guarantee the best ad campaign effect. There are banner, icon, applist, appwall, push ad, customized ad.
    • You can pay for ads via paypal or direct bank transfer.
    • Super lite SDK takes just a couple of hours to install.
    • Total transparency - see which apps displaying your ads perform best then optimize campaigns.
    • Appflood provide a totally free user exchange platform without any commission fee, where app developers work together to boost installs without needing to spend anything on user acquisition. When two developers share users 1-for-1, both get a new user for free. Everyone’s a winner.
    • Target campaigns by country, language, OS version, device type, and category (business apps, casual games, etc.).
    • App Match™ technology optimizes your ad placements for max conversion rates.
  • DestinyXDestinyX Member Posts: 12
    I suggest you just start advertising from sites like youtube, facebook, twitter, blogs ect. They are free so you are not risking any loss of money.
  • ChakkuChakku Member Posts: 1,513
    edited May 2013

    • Appflood provide a totally free user exchange platform without any commission fee, where app developers work together to boost installs without needing to spend anything on user acquisition. When two developers share users 1-for-1, both get a new user for free. Everyone’s a winner.
    No, it's not free, because you JUST said we could pay "via paypal or direct bank transfer. Oh, and work on your grammar please...
    Hey, you can try appflood as you can benefit from :
    • Full campaign control including daily budgets and max bidding price per install.
    • you can chose one or more apps where you wish to place your ads.
    • we are cheaper than other mobile ad networks, the adbids for CPI could be as low as $0.2.
    • you can set different bids to buy installs in different countries.
    • Define single or multiple campaigns using whatever ad formats you like. Appflood has multiple flexible ad formats to guarantee the best ad campaign effect. There are banner, icon, applist, appwall, push ad, customized ad.
    • You can pay for ads via paypal or direct bank transfer.
    • Super lite SDK takes just a couple of hours to install. [GS does not support other SDKs]
    • Total transparency - see which apps displaying your ads perform best then optimize campaigns.
    • Appflood provide a totally free user exchange platform without any commission fee, where app developers work together to boost installs without needing to spend anything on user acquisition. When two developers share users 1-for-1, both get a new user for free. Everyone’s a winner.
    • Target campaigns by country, language, OS version, device type, and category (business apps, casual games, etc.).
    • App Match™ technology optimizes your ad placements for max conversion rates.
    GS does not support push notifications, nor does it support custom SDKs... and nor does it tolerate blatant fishy advertising on its forums. Yes it's blatant advertising, because you referred to it as 'we' are cheaper than other mobile ad networks...

    Oh, and this is your only post, and you haven't been active since posting it...

    Smells like spam :)
    Chakku
  • ADSentertainmentADSentertainment Member Posts: 397
    If you're talking about facebook advertisements like on the side. I wouldn't, I personally hate those ads and I never click them as most of them are scams and/or complete bullcrap. HOWEVER, it's not a bad idea to make a facebook page for your game on it. and then post stuff about it, you could then tell your facebook friends to like it, and then they'll tell their friends, and then you'll get some likes on your and some more downloads

    Having trouble with your game? Sounds like a personal problem.

  • tenrdrmertenrdrmer Member, Sous Chef, Senior Sous-Chef Posts: 9,934
    Its my personal opinion paid advertising of any kind for a mobile game is a waste of money. you have got to make a good press release and the game has to look good enough for the review sites to take notice. nobody buys a game they have never heard of from an ad on the side of a webpage. They buy the games TouchArcade, 148apps, and others like them, tell them are good games and worth their money. And any reputable Game Review site will not charge you to get a review. if your game is good enough the will gladly do the review.

    hope that helps
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  • BluemoonstudiosBluemoonstudios Member Posts: 156
    edited May 2013
    lol @chakku you hit the nail on the head. Its as if she just made an account here so she could advertise the company she works for. I have tried twitter, and youtube, and I have sent so many emails to review sites like you mentioned @tenrdrmer, but my app is no where near good enough to be reviewed by these guys. I gues ill just have to be happy I am getting 3 - 6 downloads a day. Better than nothing I guess. :((
  • dwibredwibre Member Posts: 192
    @Bluemoonstudios Both TouchArcade and 148apps have forums. Make sure you post you game to them. TA & 148 reviewers don’t by apps but the users of the forums do. If you don’t get picked up by the reviewers bypass them and go straight to the consumers!!
  • dwibredwibre Member Posts: 192
    Also I see you have 2 other apps on the app store are you cross promoting between these apps? Cross promo has proven to be the best form of advertising.
  • ADSentertainmentADSentertainment Member Posts: 397
    Its my personal opinion paid advertising of any kind for a mobile game is a waste of money. you have got to make a good press release and the game has to look good enough for the review sites to take notice. nobody buys a game they have never heard of from an ad on the side of a webpage. They buy the games TouchArcade, 148apps, and others like them, tell them are good games and worth their money. And any reputable Game Review site will not charge you to get a review. if your game is good enough the will gladly do the review.

    hope that helps
    Exactly

    Having trouble with your game? Sounds like a personal problem.

  • WbokoWboko Tennessee, USAMember, PRO Posts: 621
    Honestly I think you guys should work with Twitter for apps rather than Facebook and their randomness. My app came out a week ago and I have about 500+ downloads and thats just from tweeting about every 3 hours.

    I was lucky to get a few people with 100,000+ followers to retweet my iTunes link this weekend.
    That is because it is so addictive @iamcartez!!!!

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  • ChakkuChakku Member Posts: 1,513
    @MobileReviews
    I get that you have a service, but please don't spam the forums with the exact same post while resurrecting every marketing thread. Beyond that, advertising is not allowed on the Forums. Ask @SaladStraightShooter to get your service added to the list.

    Cheers
    Chakku
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