What Can You Learn from the Gaming Industry about Marketing?

One of the best ways to succeed in life is to learn from those who’ve already done what you’re planning to do. In this case, you want to improve your marketing prowess. 

You can learn about marketing from all sorts of brands. But in this article, we’ll help improve your marketing skills by benchmarking the online gaming industry. 

The sector has been around for decades. And it has thrived despite all the challenges it has faced over the years. Stick around to learn the marketing techniques that have kept iGaming on an upward trend since the 1990s.

 Invest in a Functional Website

In the world of online businesses, a functional website needs to be at the top of your priority list. Forget about your product for a moment and focus on creating a neat, user-friendly website.

Your website is like your store. It needs to be attractive by design. It should have your brand’s logo and colors. More importantly, it should be well organized. The explanation is simple: 94% of your potential customers will judge your business based on your website’s design.

Let’s assume it lacks an SSL certificate. To most people, this is a sign that your site is unsafe. If it’s slow, 55% of people will hit the exit button within three seconds. 

Luckily, creating a functional website is inexpensive. You don’t even need to hire a programmer in this age of no-code website-making tools. You can set up a fully—fledged site within a couple of hours.

Freebies Work

Should you give your customers free stuff? Some say you should. Some say it’s a bad idea. The iGaming sector has been giving out bonuses to new and loyal customers since its inception. So far, the business model has been a success.

The best online casinos blackjack sites give out a series of bonuses. There’s a reward for first-time customers. Then there are more bonuses for loyal players: cashback deals, reload promotions, and VIP points.

Why are casinos so generous with bonuses? The short answer is that everyone likes free stuff. It could be a free coffee at Starbucks. Or, it could be a buy-one-get-one shopping deal on Amazon. If it involves receiving something without paying, people will show interest.

Now, you need a robust marketing strategy if you’re to avoid losses when giving out free stuff. Give out freebies on special occasions. Then raise your prices to improve your profits.

Create an Affiliate Program

Nearly all gaming businesses have an affiliate program. Truth be told, they create these programs due to strict advertising rules. Casinos can’t advertise on TV in most countries. They also can’t run paid ads on Google and social media.

Yet, have to make profits. And to do this, they need marketing. Affiliate marketing is usually the gaming industry’s marketing technique of choice. Here’s why. It helps casinos acquire new customers. Yet, gambling operators don’t need to do the hard work involved in marketing.

For the uninitiated, affiliate marketing is a commission-based promotional technique. A website owner can offer to market a casino in exchange for $50 every time they refer a new customer.

It’s a profitable moneymaking venture for marketers. And it’s an effective marketing technique for gaming businesses. This is why all the major brands have affiliate programs, from Amazon to Rakuten. 

Start a Blog

More and more gaming sites are creating blogs. It can’t be a coincidence, right? You’re correct. Online casinos have realized blogs provide tremendous marketing opportunities. And blogs cost much less than paid ads.

A blog provides a platform to show your audience what you offer. You can publish articles reviewing your products. You could also explain how to use these products or provide a comparison guide for different items.

Blogging is a skill that could elevate your online business to new heights. But you shouldn’t try to do it alone without learning how it works. Publishing new content won’t automatically bring customers to your website.

You need to publish content people want to read. This involves conducting keyword research. Also, create high-quality content. Then market it through blog outreach or social media.

Create an Email Newsletter

If you want to have a successful online business in 2023, create an email newsletter. Email marketing is one of the most popular digital marketing tools. And iGaming businesses know this.

A newsletter helps you build an audience of people who know and love your business. Marketing to people who like your business is easier than trying to acquire new customers. 

That said, people aren’t always willing to sign up for email newsletters. You need to give them something valuable first. Gambling businesses usually give out bonuses in exchange for a subscription.

You can give out shopping discounts, kickbacks, or e-Books. It all depends on what you sell. Also, ensure you deliver quality content when doing email marketing. Most people aren’t afraid of unsubscribing from newsletters that don’t provide value.

Start a Loyalty Program

When you think about it, nearly all great online businesses have loyalty programs. Shopping sites give you cashback deals every time you buy something. Casinos award you points you can later redeem to receive free games. 

Loyalty programs work for the same reasons freebies do. You’re giving people things they like. Let’s say you print on-demand T-shirts online. You can create a cashback-based program to reward regular customers.

People will come back to your shop because they will get a better deal for being loyal customers. To spice up things, give out a series of rewards. Create a cashback program. Provide monthly discounts and time-sensitive promotions.

Provide Quality Products

Many people can tolerate poor customer service. They can show loyalty to a brand that don’t give out promotions. But they won’t tolerate substandard products. 

This is why gaming businesses are constantly providing quality products. The standard online casino has more than 300 diverse games. They provide games from the best developers in the industry.

The lesson here is that you need to provide high-quality products and services. Your prices might be slightly higher compared to your competitors. If what you sell provides value to your customers, they will gladly pay for it.