Hello,

After spending months learning how to program, I released my first game. Fantastic right? What I didn't anticipate was how difficult it is to get my game noticed in an ultra competitive marketplace. I really should've thought this through better - it's been almost 48 hours since release, and I have about... 30~40 downloads total, most, if not all, of them being my friends.

So, I started emailing review sites to review my game, telling my friends to share my fb post about the game, and posting my game on game forums like (if you don't mind the shameless advertisement...) this one: http://www.gamedev.net/topic/662411-iosandroid-poppin-teddy-free/

This was when I received an email from GreatApps.com about marketing services they offer. I started searching for app marketing services on google, and there sure were a lot of them. The problem is, the ones that look very professional seem a bit out of my price range, and the ones that seem affordable appear a bit... shady, and I can't really determine which sites/companies are legit and effective and which ones are not.

I am not rich or anything, but I can afford and willing to spend about 200~300 bucks if that means that my game will get some real players that aren't my friends. Can I get some suggestions from experienced mobile game developers on how to spend this in the most effective way possible?

Thank you!

You're already going about it the right way with your friends and social networking. It's about as much as you can do.

This is a pretty simple game, though; there are so many of them out there, all doing the same thing, there just aren't enough people playing new games to go around.

I should stay away from those marketing services; you're right to be skeptical.

But why did you make the game?

If it's to show your ability, and have a great portfolio piece, you've done that. Congrats! Getting more players won't change that one way or the other; that's just luck.

If it's to make money, spending more on advertising isn't a realistic prospect for this kind of game (it's not really marketable or monetizable, I'm sorry to say). Simple mobile games are a bit like playing the lottery.

It's really just time to start making more games. :)

Eventually one will catch on more (and then those players will check out your other games too).

If it's to make money, spending more on advertising isn't a realistic prospect for this kind of game (it's not really marketable or monetizable, I'm sorry to say). Simple mobile games are a bit like playing the lottery.

Thank you for your honest opinion. My attitude with my game is that, if it does make some money, that's great, and if not, I will put it on my resume. With that said, I do want people I don't know to download it, but there is NO WAY for people to discover my app, unless they type "Poppin' Teddy" on App Store/Google Play. It's not even on the new releases list. My guess is that this is because I don't have many downloads, and at the time of writing this, I have bit over 100 downloads (iOS/Android combined), and that's pretty all the friends I have... lol.

Given that I am willing to spend some money on getting the word out and having people give it a try, there must be something I can do?

Do you have a web site ?

If so, you can have a relatively cheap marketing campaign with Google .

I suggest Apployer and Giftiz for android games.

The first with 20$ can provide about 500 downloads. The second one can provide thousand of downloads in only a week but it's more expensive, about 0.70$ per download.

I've tried Giftiz for free as an offer to change the ad network and in only a week I gained about 3500 downloads. After having tried both I prefer Giftiz but Apployer it's cheaper and you don't have to implement any sdk. Its only risk is that people download your game and instantly delete it, situation that with giftiz does't occur because you have to reach some goals to receive a compensation.

I started Apployer last night, and result has been pretty decent. While only like 10 of downloaders actually tried the game, I guess you really can't beat the price. It does seem like they lack user-base though - downloads drastically slowed down after 150-ish download. As for Gifitz, CPI of $0.70 seems a bit steep...

With that said, if anyone else knows any affordable marketing strategy, especially affordable CPI burst to just put my game on this *&$&^#AHHHHHHH(*&#(*@&$#$^$& list for even for just a day or two, I am still open to any suggestion TT__TT

I've always wondered about advertising mobile apps. The only ads I ever see for them is on other apps or some crappy site pop-ups. Maybe on FB as well, but I've never had a Facebook account, so I have no idea. I mean, you can't expect many downloads if you just put it on the app store and leave it be.

Are there companies that specialize in this kind of promotion?

You could also try some of the tips from "The Marketing Guide for Game Developers". :)