In recent years, the game app industry has seen rapid growth, with no signs of slowing down. In fact, according to market research firm NewZoo, global revenues for the gaming industry are expected to reach $159.3 billion by 2020. This boom is mainly due to the increasing popularity of mobile gaming, with gamers spending an average of 2 hours and 23 minutes per day playing games on their smartphones.
So if you’re thinking of developing a game app for the smartphone, now is the time to do it. The market is overgrowing, but there’s also a lot of competition – so you’ll need to make your app stand out from the crowd. Here are a few tips for doing just that.
Prioritize Visual Appeal
When it comes to gaming apps, visuals are key. People want to be engaged and entertained, and a game that looks good is more likely to achieve that than one that doesn’t. So make sure you spend time on the graphics and animations in your app – they should be eye-catching and fun.
In addition, you should also think about the overall look and feel of your app. Keep the color scheme consistent, use attractive fonts, and create an appealing interface. It will help to make a positive first impression on potential players.
Of course, the visual elements will depend on your game’s theme and branding. For example, creating a dark and serious game, you won’t want to use bright colors and cartoony graphics. But generally, it’s essential to make sure your app looks good.
Think About App Store Optimization
App store optimization (ASO) optimizes your app to rank higher in app store search results. This is important because it can help you get more visibility for your app, which can lead to more downloads.
Several factors go into ASO, but keywords are among the most important. You’ll need to do some research to determine which keywords are most relevant to your app, and then use those keywords throughout your app’s title, description, and even in the app’s keywords field.
ASO is a complex topic, but taking the time to optimize your app can be well worth it. It’s one of the best ways to get more people to discover and download your app.
Your app’s description is another crucial factor in ASO – and it’s also one of the first things people will see when they come across your app. So it’s essential to ensure your description is clear, concise, and compelling.
Start by briefly explaining what your app does and what makes it unique. Then, highlight some of the key features and benefits. Finally, finish with a call-to-action that encourages people to download your app.
In-Game Rewards
One way to encourage people to download your game is by offering in-game rewards. It could be an extra life, bonus points, or a power-up.
In-game rewards are a great way to incentivize people to try out your app and can also help create a sense of urgency. If people know they’ll only get the reward if they act quickly, they’re more likely to take the plunge and download your app.
You can also release a few in-game rewards when players dedicate themselves to playing for a long time. It can help keep people engaged with your app and prevent them from becoming bored or frustrated.
Create Online Presence
It’s important to make noise on social media and search engines for your game app to let people know about it. This strategy includes sharing screenshots, videos, and other content about your game on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. You can also post about your game on forums and gaming websites.
You can also use keyword-optimized titles and descriptions for your app on App Store and Google Play. It will help your app rank higher in search results, leading to more downloads.
It’s also essential to keep your online presence up to date. This step means regularly sharing new content, updates, and announcements about your game. It helps keep people interested in your app and encourages them to download it.
However, you might not have the skills and expertise to make noise about your game online. Fortunately, you can hire SEO marketing services to help you with this task. There will be plenty of competition in the app stores, so putting your best foot forward and marketing your game effectively is essential.
Hire a Few Influencers
Social media influencers can help you reach a larger audience and promote your game. When choosing an influencer, ensure they have a large following relevant to your target market.
Choosing someone likely to be interested in your game is also essential. For example, if you’re promoting a puzzle game, look for an influencer who often posts about puzzle games or other brain-teasers.
Finally, make sure you negotiate the terms of the agreement upfront. This step specifies how many posts the influencer will make, what type of content they’ll share, and when they’ll share it.
Final Thoughts
Developing a new game app is exciting, but it’s only the first step. Once you’ve created your app, you need people to download it! There are many ways to promote your app and encourage downloads. Some of the most effective include ASO, in-game rewards, creating an online presence, and hiring social media influencers.
These strategies can help you reach a larger audience and get more people to download your game. But it’s important to remember that you must continuously market your app to keep people interested and engaged.
