This article is not intended to answer "how do I start PR" or "How to make sure my game exposure". I don't know the answer to these questions, it's your game, you should know more about yourself than I do. This article is also not a comprehensive guide to independent marketing. However, no matter how you perform on the RP, you should be able to get some inspiration from this proposal.
Therefore, you can immediately take the five measures listed in this article to improve your independent game market.
Public-relations-word (from matthewgain.com)
1. Using the Promoter tool
Promoter can help you track all the relevant media information. Wait, what? You don't have any access? Well, promoter also has a handy website and a Twitter material database. It also allows you to easily edit your newsletter reference page, which is very practical.
You can't send a bunch of spam messages to your list or Twitter users to play with your game. If you think this is a good plan, you might as well not have a plan.
When I mailed ads for recent DRM trailers and early publicity, I mailed only three websites. I just want to get in touch with these websites that can get some weird videos, and by the way, they are also the websites I like to visit on weekdays. In the next few weeks, I will mail more ads, I believe there will be more media release my game news, but still remember, send the message to be targeted-do not cast a net, hope that someone will advertise for you.
The following are the recommendations of Anthony Carboni at this point:
"If you hire PR, you have to know who they're promoting your game to." If you post information through the wrong channels, your game may never be noticed. ”
"Too many developers focus only on the PR company's name, but don't pay attention to the reliability or relevance of their customer relationships." Anyone can post spam blogs. ”
A recent indie game PR expert started sending me spam, and for those things, I even needed 30 seconds to open my subscription site, or glance at my Twitter news, and know it wasn't sent to me. Now I've just put it in the Recycle Bin. Apparently, he was simply sending a message through his contact list.
If you hire people who also use this approach, their PR means are no better than yours. You're just paying someone to send your bulletin to the Recycle Bin. They are also the kind of rockpapershotgun who send press releases to a blog that is only for PC games.
You can actually save the money and let promoter help you with these things.
2. Establishment of a database
Presskit () is another simple and practical tool. It is a one-stop service Web site for other related content, including video, screenshots, company history, contact information, and more.
You just have to make one night to do this thing. It can also be combined with the Promoter service perfectly.
With this tool you can quickly gather and organize all the information so that you don't get bored with the repetitive trivia. This will not only save you time, but also save your contact time.
3. Multi-Reading materials
There are too many suggestions on the internet, some of which are not very good suggestions. You'll find a lot of useless advice, but sometimes you can find something nice.
I tried to sum up the general recommendations.
A common reason for most marketing advice is to tell a story and provide some practical content that people need.
Any assertion that game marketing has a clear principle is wrong because each game is different. Each journalist's preferences vary, and the PR content they advocate is different, but there are some common principles you need to know. You can take the time to read some relevant articles on the Internet.
4. Screenshot
On Twitter in Saturday, you can put some pictures on screenshot Saturday.
Screenshot Saturday primarily serves the communication between developers and developers, but is not limited to this.
Capturing the best picture is also a skill worth mastering. I often put 10 or 100 pictures in my folder that I can intercept at any time. Then I'll sift through the best 2-3 screenshots. This PR screenshot has been used by me for many years.
It's not as difficult as intercepting or stitching a video.
Note: No one cares about the menu screen of the game. So do not intercept similar images, of course, can not put them in the "official" PR screenshot material.
5. Do not rely too much on the network
You should get out of the online world and find some exposure opportunities for the game in real life. Because some people may not have read your favorite game information blog, you can use this to attract their attention.
In PR promotion, do not only limited to the game media. Unless you want to sell games to these media.
If you want to make your game known to the public, show it to them.
In general, you can also learn how the public evaluates your game in this way. Watching other groups playing games is far more valuable than your own thousands of game tests.
Hopefully these tips will increase your courage and help you learn more about how to promote your game. Sometimes PR and marketing are like demons, sometimes they are like a mystery. But they are nothing. They just need you to spend more time understanding.