It is now a firm fact that mobile devices are indispensable parts of people’s lives: we use them at work, at home and on vacation, while shopping and traveling, for education and entertainment purposes. In particular, the latter, that is, the “Entertainment” niche happens to be one of the most demanded and popular ones on mobile worldwide. Much due to this, the world’s marketers are focusing on this market field and its sectors much more these days and tend to put maximum efforts into mobile gaming.
Undoubtedly, the reasons why mobile gaming can be profitable for marketers and advertisers are clear. To start with, the popularity of mobile games among customers with versatile interests and incomes is only growing with time, whereas the launch of newer smartphones and tablets fuels the industry even more. The further mobile device development gets, the more portable and innovative models with powerful technological features the customers usually receive.
In this respect, what has already turned into a new potentially profitable strategy for marketers is to integrate a mobile gaming segment (mobile web & apps) into complex branding strategies – e.g. via creating top-quality branded games. According to experts, these remain both a company’s useful marketing channel and an exceptional entertainment mode its customers.
The interactive, engaging, high-intensity mobile games, especially if available for desktop audience’s participation as well, enable the brands to reach their target audience, increase customer responsiveness, create and expand their loyal fan-communities.
Additionally, according to Mr. Ruin, CEO of Epom ad serving company, advertising within versatile mobile games is also a beneficial option to try out, as it enables companies to increase client engagement within developed unique entertainment techniques.
However, the analysts also claim most branded games, offered to companies’ clients, shouldn’t be overestimated in terms of their marketing advantages. That’s primarily so, because they generally allow the reach of only the most concentrated groups of brand advocates and enthusiasts, rather than build new bonds with clients. Obviously, the branded games fail to compete with common games in their plot, rules, and the level of a special “gaming thrill”, which is why they can only be a good way to entertain people, who are already familiar with the brand.
All things considered, most reputable experts recommend accepting mobile games only as an additional niche to explore in a company’s strategy. As for the branded gaming content, it should be highly shareable, especially via social media channels, where the audience is more responsive to something interactive and entertaining.