Any useful information on to how and where to spend a $5K advertising budget?

Tiny_IdeasTiny_Ideas Member Posts: 326

Hi

In a couple week's time my first game will be released. To me this is a very exciting time. For the last couple of days I have spent non stop looking at tons of blogs and forums about advertising, Facebook ads, iAds etc.

I don't have a large budget so not expecting much with $5k but if anyone has any ideas or areas I should be looking into that they would be kind enough to share, that would be great. Any form of promotion.

Currently:

Highly considering iAds-
Highly NOT considering Facebook Ads-
Considering review sites ads-
highly considering CPI-

Regards,

Comments

  • mathusalemrexmathusalemrex Member, PRO Posts: 116

    5k could get you a tv campaign, think about website takeovers also, buysellads.com is a good place to go...

  • Tiny_IdeasTiny_Ideas Member Posts: 326

    @mathusalemrex in all honest I don't think that would be enough, the only ads I see on tv (Australia) is Supercell's Clash of clans and heyday and King's Candy Crush, farm saga etc.

    I am also looking cinema advertising, looking at some costly work here, buying time slot, making a quality video. But it is something I would look into to see if any results show.

    Checking out Buysellads.com now- its very hard to see if results are high with this sort of promoting.

  • LumpAppsLumpApps Member Posts: 2,881

    I don't have any tips for you but am very interested in what you choose and what the outcome will be. I think a lot here will and I would like to ask you to be so kind to post your results. I have been looking around for options too with a budget of a couple of $100s but bailed out in the end because I couldn't find any good info on where to spend it.
    Thanks in advance!

  • Tiny_IdeasTiny_Ideas Member Posts: 326

    @LumpApps said:
    I don't have any tips for you but am very interested in what you choose and what the outcome will be. I think a lot here will and I would like to ask you to be so kind to post your results. I have been looking around for options too with a budget of a couple of $100s but bailed out in the end because I couldn't find any good info on where to spend it.
    Thanks in advance!

    Its quite a challenge no doubt, and whether or not the full amount is spent depends on several outcomes. My biggest issue lately is the lack of information as to where I can spend my money. It seems I am better off spending on company's promotional packages.

    My upcoming game is free, hence my only goal is to gain a larger amount of users or downloads on the first week to help get the word of mouth going which hopefully cause some ripple effects. As I am under going Marketing and Advertising course at university what better way to get some experience. My methods may not be tradition as I am also out to experiment what can be done and if it works.

    Thanks of the interest, the result will be interesting no doubt. Any ideas or experiences feel free to share, would be great :)

    Regards,

  • tenrdrmertenrdrmer Member, Sous Chef, Senior Sous-Chef Posts: 9,934

    Just send me them money. I'll advertise for you using my top secret marketing strategies. They are so secret I can't even reveal the games I have sent to the too charts with this strategy.

    :D :p :D :p

  • Tiny_IdeasTiny_Ideas Member Posts: 326

    @tenrdrmer said:
    Just send me them money. I'll advertise for you using my top secret marketing strategies. They are so secret I can't even reveal the games I have sent to the too charts with this strategy.

    :D :p :D :p

    If your the "one" who made Flappy Birds, Hungry Cats, ball and spikes, Piano Tiles to the top spot - my money is coming your way :P :D

  • BazookaTimeBazookaTime Member Posts: 1,274

    First off, congrats on your upcoming game. Secondly keep your 5K and run! I would love to know what you end up doing, I am thinking your game is either going to make it or not, I am not sure the 5K is going to have a lot to do with it.

  • Tiny_IdeasTiny_Ideas Member Posts: 326

    @BazookaTime‌

    To be honest - this is more of an experiment than anything else. Its a nice looking game with addictive gameplay but has a unique yet easy gameplay etc. It is still something that i am proud of and will put my name too. I took a break on some major projects after a few years of development - when GS is a bit more stable I will resume them.

    This is to see what it takes to get an app notice - and a lot of people are sitting behind their computer or phone going this guy is an idiot... well you may be right.

    For me, it's about finding new ways to go above what everyone normally does. You can only learn from failure. But this isn't some quick scheme in hopes that the game will hit the charts and become a millionaire. If that was the goal than yes I would be 100% idiot.

    Its about using resources in a different and cost effective way to see results - does banner ads pay off, how am i going to maintain a steady increase of downloads - should it be used for a big launch or over time? - Do I simple pay everyone I know and met 50 cents to download the game - do I use a promotional package?

    Its simple questions like these that have always made me wonder. Most people, including myself have just stuck to 0-$200 advertising budget, and boy do I try to get as much bang for my buck. So if I was to up the scale, how I be reaching more users by treating it like I have 10 or sets of $100 budgets?

    At the end of the day, there is going to be some return of a few dollars, a lot of knowledge gained and ton of new contacts for future projects.

    I am not trying to make the game go big, I am trying to find a lowest most effective way to reach a successful grow of people who will download the game - and study how that spreads the word or translate into something new.

  • You can hire a Marketing Specialist with your budget. The person in charge will make sure to bring traffic on your game including social networking, social bookmarking, press release, directory submission and branding of your game.

    You can also pay for lead generation. Meaning every time a quantity of traffic or download made, there is a fix amount you need to pay depending on your deal.

  • LovejoyLovejoy Member Posts: 2,078

    Spend that money on making a website, some good SEO ( maybe a little grey/black hat seo wouldn't hurt), buy an iPhone 6 and make a giveaway( conditions to enter: must leave a review and rate app). Just spitting out some ideas.. :#

    Fortuna Infortuna Forti Una

  • gyroscopegyroscope I am here.Member, Sous Chef, PRO Posts: 6,598

    @Jeromy Congrats on your first game release coming up. I'd be interested in seeing some screenshots of gameplay - it might help me and others to suggest relevant targets...

    btw, i don't know why you think $5K isn't a large budget, especially considering this will be your first release... even a subsequent release, believe me, that's a large advertising budget from a single developer...

    ""You are in a maze of twisty passages, all alike." - Zork        temp domain http://spidergriffin.wix.com/alphaghostapps

  • Tiny_IdeasTiny_Ideas Member Posts: 326

    Hi everyone,

    Thanks again for your interest - this has been put on hold until I can resize the images for the new iPhone 6/plus. While doing this I have also started tweaking a few things which has caused a longer delay. I have also reduced down to a one-man show, after some disputes we agreed to part ways, hence a new name, icon and no longer under the same account etc.

    • Loving the buy an iPhone 6 give way Idea - If I can ever get one,

    • I have looked into a lot of ways, its quite exciting to see whats available

    • @gyroscope At a later date when I feel I can share some footage that would be great.

    • The game is currently designed to be 100% free, no ads, no in app purchases. This is the first game and I feel it should be about the user experience and building up a user base.

    • I have also been contacted by many people who would love to spend my money - but can't prove that they have done there marketing method before or that it is effective.

    In the meantime, I am just adding some more professional touches to it. I think in next couple of days/weeks I will look back into this and start a campaign for the launch.

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