Lo-Cost Marketing Tips Wanted.

I wonder if anybody would be so kind as to provide tips and advice on how to market an online game? The game in question recently celebrated it's 8th year, yet after a little research, I've discovered that it is severely lacking in any sort of real promotional and SEO work.

I have begun galvanising those players that are there into working together to build backlinks with suitable anchor text, etc. But what I want to know is;

How would you promote it? Bear in mind that this is a WiP, i.e there are still changes being made on a regular basis, I know the frontpage sucks, etc. I'm trying to get changes made but as the main programmer is currently completing his masters degree there is a small delay. That doesn't mean that other work can be done re: promotion and SEO, etc.

The description I have written for directories and such like is this:

The url is www.jottonia.no Thanks in advance

Laz

 

You can stumble/digg/social bookmark your site..This will bring more traffic

 

already in the pipeline, I'm kind of waiting for the new GUI/Frontpage to be introduced before I start with social bookmarking. I fear that, as it stands, much of the traffic would be wasted.

 

Youtube videos with actual in game footage along with the website name in the opening and closing credits.

As an example, some videos of TF2, portal and counter strike source are getting hundreds of thousands of views.

 

I'd considered a YT video aswell. The thing is its browser based, I dont think that a series of screenshots is likely to get hundreds of thousands of views. I'm actually wondering if I could get the current players to create a video, maybe a 'my life in Jottonia' video diary type thing?

Thanks for the idea though

 

Look into a program called fraps. It can record actual footage from certain games.

Then there are the programs that can record movies from your desktop. Have you ever wondered how people make instruction videos of the doing stuff on the computer? Same thing for your game.

Surely there are ways to record in game footage.

 

good point. you mean record myself playing the game? i can do that, i guess?

n1 thanks

 

Macromedia had developed a program, i forget what it was called. But it recorded EXCELLENT videos, I think it was called robo something? You'd have to look it up, since macromedia is no more adobe made have ended development on it but im sure you can probably find it on torrent sites.

 

The concept is quite impressive, I actually registered an account, but the interface looks very aged and is a total turn off.

 

There is a new GUI in the making, still a few months off because of the aforementioned masters degree, but it's coming.

We recently saw a whole bunch of upgrades that have made the game easier for new players.

What nick did you register with, PM me if you wish (on DP or Jottonia).

@dchelix. I have some software that records my display, I can record it then convert it. (only, the software isnt installed and I've forgotten its name, i have it on a disc somewhere..)

 

Probably the social network maybe an area worth investigating

 

There is a facebook group, and an application in the works. There's also a myspace, but I've yet to discover who actually owns that, it doesn't look like it's been touched since it was registered.

Thanks for your input, it's helpful to know that what I'm suggesting are the same things that you guys would do

Now, if only I could convince the players... hehe

 

Youtube is huge, I can drive 10,000 visitors to my site with one video review of a cell phone, I also like social bookmarking, I haven't done it on my new site yet, but I know its great for generating unique visitors to the site, most won't stick but if you post to them enough you can build a following.

Also, if you don't already have a blog get one, Permalinks and other trackback links can really boost your visibility, not to mention all the incoming links to your site will help with SERP.

Ezines are great if you have a market that would be engaged enough to read them, or if you have a nofollow ezine then you are good to go with incoming links.

I would also suggest getting your signature in as many forums as possible, that's always a big help.

Stay away from FFA link farms, and don't pay for links. The best advertising you can have is great content my newest site cellubration.com has almost no advertising yet, I like to wait 12 months to really hit the advertising trail, that way I build up a good 1500 posts and have the ability to really draw in traffic to my most popular sections, a well thought out site will attract more users if its in a good state, while a messy site needing constant updates can turn off many visitors leading you will varying inconsistent traffic.