I've seen a trickle of advertising thus far, but we're looking for a DELUGE! We're at Week 3 today, and the coming days should be when your marketing really picks up steam! HYPE!
Here's one method:
Share your signature images & links here!
Here's an easy way to make one right now!
If you post a small signature bar here (dimensions: 350px x 19px), I'll add it to my signature. The other staffers here are urged to do so, as well.
(Here's the code I use for my signature: You can copy it directly, if you want! -- I'll try to keep it updated as people add their userbars.)
Update your signature, right away!!: http://www.arpgmaker.com/ucp.php?i=profile&mode=signature
Other tips on adding to your marketing "appeal":
+ Beautify your game's thread.
Make it look visually appealing. Important screenshots shouldn't be spoilered. Your logo should be front-and-center. It should be REALLY EASY to instantly find a link to your game/demo, and the instructions on how to play (key bindings, etc.) should be just as obvious to the eye.
Sections, like "story", "characters", etc., should have headers, which are bold and large and easy to identify. Don't be afraid of BBCodes!
You can add a background to your thread's first page by using the code: [ bgall=#fff]http://url.com/image.png[/bgall]
Don't forget! SPELL + GRAMMAR CHECK!!
+ Beautify your game's HTML page!
When you export your game, it's contained within an HTML page. Did you know that you can modify that?
It's true! You can add a pretty wrapper to it, or images, or anything else you can add in any other HTML page.
A game with a modified HTML page (so long as it doesn't really negatively affect load time or obscure the game itself) will look much more impressive than a game that's just on the basic, pre-exported page, with the black background and lack of info.
You don't have to go overboard -- but remember that this can be a method of reminding players of control schemes, update information, or other useful stuff!
+ Make a YouTube demo and post it in your thread.
CamStudio is free -- Use it to capture a video of your game. Add it to your thread using [ youtube ] tags (do not include anything after "&" in the URL).
+ Start a link share.
Offer to advertise other peoples' entries' links in your signature, if they return the favor!
+ Post!
If you have an advertisement in your signature, and you post around the forum, people will notice! The judges in particular are trying to be aware of and notice peoples' ad links. We'll notice it that much more if you post!
+ View counts matter (a little)!
Have you been waiting on posting a thread? Don't! "View Count" of your thread will minorly factor into how we assess your marketing success.
(Post count will not matter, so don't spam, and don't waste your time with trying to falsely inflate your view count -- it will be a very minor factor).
+ Social Networking!
Our facebook page is here: http://www.facebook.com/HBGames -- Post a link to your game on our wall!
You can also make your own facebook page only for your game: Post a link to it in your thread, or in your signature, so people can 'like' it!
You can also make a Twitter feed for your game and link to it, or link to another Twitter feed that you use to post about updates you make!
There are lots of other social networking options, too. If you have a social networking page anywhere on the net, don't be afraid to whore it up.
+ Gimmicks -- Be Creative!
Does your game use points, or have a leaderboard?
Post a challenge in your thread to see if people can best each others' scores.
You can make challenges to find Easter Eggs and have people post screenshots of their finding it.
You can make forum-only events that involve people naming your heroes or making captions for screenshots or defacing your mascots.
It doesn't matter. Marketing is shameless!
Need help?
If you're not sure if your game is being marketed well enough, ask here. We can give pointers on how your thread's appeal can be improved.
Get hyping!
Here's one method:
Share your signature images & links here!
Here's an easy way to make one right now!
If you post a small signature bar here (dimensions: 350px x 19px), I'll add it to my signature. The other staffers here are urged to do so, as well.
(Here's the code I use for my signature: You can copy it directly, if you want! -- I'll try to keep it updated as people add their userbars.)
Code:
[center][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76238][img][url=http://elluster]http://elluster[/url].com/HBGames/C2Contest/HBG-C2-Contest-Sig-350x19.png[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76293][img][url=http://bb]http://bb[/url].ohsk.net/uploads/ProjectGRID%20UB.png[/img][/url][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76288][img][url=http://img201]http://img201[/url].imageshack.us/img201/2443/ubda6352n.gif[/img][/url][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76265][img][url=http://valkyriegames]http://valkyriegames[/url].net/musicfighter/graphics/tiny_banner.png[/img][/url][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76327][img][url=http://www]http://www[/url].beatthelist.com/REDBar.png[/img][/url][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76297][img][url=http://i43]http://i43[/url].tinypic.com/2i9s1ae.jpg[/img][/url][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76283][img][url=http://dl]http://dl[/url].dropbox.com/u/2306601/igor/banner.png[/img][/url][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76323][img][url=http://home]http://home[/url].comcast.net/~5550/PindroidMiniBanner.jpg[/img][/url][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76295][img][url=http://dl]http://dl[/url].dropbox.com/u/48963688/IMG/userbar.png[/img][/url][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76312][img][url=http://img406]http://img406[/url].imageshack.us/img406/7246/covhbuserbar.png[/img][/url][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76308][img][url=http://www]http://www[/url].userbars.com/145942/695920/337-7736-ubd1242.png[/img][/url][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76351][img][url=http://www]http://www[/url].userbars.com/145295/696018/207-7103-ubd9407.png[/img][/url][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76358][img][url=http://www]http://www[/url].ugotsta.com/labs/files/2012/03/nibble-userbar.png[/img][/url][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76349][img][url=http://thulfram]http://thulfram[/url].coffeecup.com/HBGames/Random/Tilt-A-Twirl%20Logo.png[/img][/url][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76344][img][url=http://hapshack]http://hapshack[/url].com/images/8lwGN.png[/img][/url][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76374][img][url=http://www]http://www[/url].userbars.com/147322/696289/4-9704-ubd1539.png[/img][/url][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76250&start=0][img][url=http://img836]http://img836[/url].imageshack.us/img836/4360/ninjacj.png[/img][/url][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76380][img][url=http://holybox]http://holybox[/url].com.br/game/teste_sky001/minibar.jpg[/img][/url][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76279][img][url=http://dl]http://dl[/url].dropbox.com/u/3285817/drunken_wizard_ub01.gif[/img][/url][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76382][img][url=http://i]http://i[/url].imgur.com/WTviq.png[/img][/url][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76330][img][url=http://i1163]http://i1163[/url].photobucket.com/albums/q546/farsmile90/s.jpg[/img][/url][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?f=293&t=76317][img][url=http://stuff]http://stuff[/url].zappable.com/images/banner.png[/img][/url][url=http://www.arpgmaker.com/viewtopic.php?t=76278][img][url=http://files]http://files[/url].blueshack.net/powershift/powershift19.png[/img][/url][/center]Other tips on adding to your marketing "appeal":
+ Beautify your game's thread.
Make it look visually appealing. Important screenshots shouldn't be spoilered. Your logo should be front-and-center. It should be REALLY EASY to instantly find a link to your game/demo, and the instructions on how to play (key bindings, etc.) should be just as obvious to the eye.
Sections, like "story", "characters", etc., should have headers, which are bold and large and easy to identify. Don't be afraid of BBCodes!
You can add a background to your thread's first page by using the code: [ bgall=#fff]http://url.com/image.png[/bgall]
Don't forget! SPELL + GRAMMAR CHECK!!
+ Beautify your game's HTML page!
When you export your game, it's contained within an HTML page. Did you know that you can modify that?
It's true! You can add a pretty wrapper to it, or images, or anything else you can add in any other HTML page.
A game with a modified HTML page (so long as it doesn't really negatively affect load time or obscure the game itself) will look much more impressive than a game that's just on the basic, pre-exported page, with the black background and lack of info.
You don't have to go overboard -- but remember that this can be a method of reminding players of control schemes, update information, or other useful stuff!
+ Make a YouTube demo and post it in your thread.
CamStudio is free -- Use it to capture a video of your game. Add it to your thread using [ youtube ] tags (do not include anything after "&" in the URL).
+ Start a link share.
Offer to advertise other peoples' entries' links in your signature, if they return the favor!
+ Post!
If you have an advertisement in your signature, and you post around the forum, people will notice! The judges in particular are trying to be aware of and notice peoples' ad links. We'll notice it that much more if you post!
+ View counts matter (a little)!
Have you been waiting on posting a thread? Don't! "View Count" of your thread will minorly factor into how we assess your marketing success.
(Post count will not matter, so don't spam, and don't waste your time with trying to falsely inflate your view count -- it will be a very minor factor).
+ Social Networking!
Our facebook page is here: http://www.facebook.com/HBGames -- Post a link to your game on our wall!
You can also make your own facebook page only for your game: Post a link to it in your thread, or in your signature, so people can 'like' it!
You can also make a Twitter feed for your game and link to it, or link to another Twitter feed that you use to post about updates you make!
There are lots of other social networking options, too. If you have a social networking page anywhere on the net, don't be afraid to whore it up.
+ Gimmicks -- Be Creative!
Does your game use points, or have a leaderboard?
Post a challenge in your thread to see if people can best each others' scores.
You can make challenges to find Easter Eggs and have people post screenshots of their finding it.
You can make forum-only events that involve people naming your heroes or making captions for screenshots or defacing your mascots.
It doesn't matter. Marketing is shameless!
Need help?
If you're not sure if your game is being marketed well enough, ask here. We can give pointers on how your thread's appeal can be improved.
Get hyping!
It will help near the end as well.
