A Guide to Launching Indie Games, Part One: Pre-Launch
The key to a successful launch strategy starts months before a game is even ready for release. One of the biggest marketing mistakes anyone can make is keeping quiet about what they’re working on.
Of course, you’ll want to spread the word about your testing through other means:
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Reddit: On /r/gamedev/ and subreddits related to the kind of game you’re making.
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Social Media: Folks who’ve followed you on Twitter, Facebook and other sites are highly likely to be interested in playtesting.
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Influencers: Send a note to folks who you respect that have large followings online. If you get them interested, you might win over a valuable ally/fan.
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Streamers and YouTubers: You don’t have to wait until your game is done to reach out to online video personalities. We’ve got a few tips on doing that here.
You should also reach out to people you respect who have large followings online; “influencers” in marketing speak.
Throughout the process you’ll learn what players love most about your game, which means you can refine your pitch for launch.
By keeping an online diary about what you’ve completed, what you’re working on, what your roadmap looks like and more, you’ll attract people who are interested in the game development process, whether they’re fellow devs or not.
While you’re giving folks an inside look at game development, you’re also helping them find your game in the wilderness that is the Internet. People will link to and share your content, all the while helping you create your brand — whether for yourself, your studio, or your game.