The CEO of Drope.me was a guest on The Indie Diarist podcast. They discussed how to promote games through influencers and creators, as well as the challenges independent developers face and ways to solve them. We have selected 10 key insights from their dialogue for you, but we also recommend you listen to the full version of the podcast HERE.
The role of influencers in indie game development
In our experience, budget constraints are a common challenge. Influencer marketing is a cost-effective tool that creates connections to amplify your game's reach.
Budget constraints in influencer marketing
We've delved into overcoming budget limitations in influencer marketing. Our journey showed us the incredible value of forming organic, unpaid collaborations. These partnerships are more authentic and often yield better results than paid promotions.
Building organic influencer relationships
A game is also relevant for the influencers. When building a game, think about the levers that will help influencers promote your game. You don't have to spend money, but you could get influencers organically because they like the game. This is a fun way to engage their community.
Innovative game design for influencer engagement
We emphasize incorporating interactive elements in our games that are particularly attractive to influencers and their followers. For example, you can send streamers some in-game items that cost nothing for the game developer but might be relevant for the streamer while engaging with the community. This strategy not only makes our games more engaging but also more shareable, increasing their appeal to both influencers and their communities.
Micro-influencers - a game changer for indie developers
In our exploration, micro-influencers emerged as a game-changing asset. Their highly engaged, niche communities offer targeted and impactful promotion opportunities, making them ideal partners for indie games like ours.
Effective Outreach to Influencers
On Drope.me, when reaching out to influencers, we craft personalized, creative messages that resonate with their specific content and audience. This tailored approach has significantly improved our engagement rates and built stronger, more meaningful connections with influencers.
Influencer marketing as part of a larger strategy
We've learned that integrating influencer marketing into a broader campaign is crucial. Aligning these efforts with our game’s overall promotional goals ensures a unified and effective marketing strategy.
The power of micro-influencers in community engagement
Our experience has shown that micro-influencers can generate high engagement and trust within their communities, leading to better conversion rates for our game promotions. Their ability to create close-knit community connections has been invaluable.
Unconventional tactics in influencer marketing
We've experimented with creative marketing tactics, such as hosting tournaments involving influencers and their communities. These initiatives boost engagement and create excitement and buzz around our games. You can do it with a small budget and smaller streamers.
Tools and resources for influencer marketing
Platforms like Drope.me and Twitch Tracker have been essential in influencer marketing. They’ve streamlined the process of identifying and connecting with influencers, saving time and enhancing marketing efforts.
To learn even more details and useful information, go and listen to the full version of the podcast. We also recommend that you check out these articles, which will be useful for game developers:
How to do research before starting game promotion
User funnel in video game promo
How to set up a campaign on Drope.me
