I guess you’re another developer like me — a simple guy who loves to make games but is struggling to get results, in this article you will find some amazing tips to increase the downloads of your mobile game.
Well, after five years of game development and a lot of delusions, I learned that no matter what, your games have very little chances of succeeding; but even so, there are some common mistakes that you can and should avoid in order to increase the downloads of your mobile game.
Before we start, there is something you should consider: “Is your game enough?”
Yes, because I can help you get people to the store page of your game, but if your game is not good enough, then the chances of getting your game downloaded are still pretty low.
But let’s cut to the chase and see what we can do to increase the downloads of your mobile game.
Localizations: is your game localized?
Most of the developers believe that creating a game in English is enough, but that’s not true. In fact, having a game translated in as many languages as possible will give a big boost to your downloads. To translate your game, you can use different solutions:
Use google translate: the good thing about using google translate to translate your games is that it is free. And for indie developers, that is a big advantage. But google translate often gives weird results, so you should make sure the translations are reviewed by a native speaker.
Use friends: this is one of my preferred solutions because it is cheap and leads to good results. So, if you have some friends that speak other languages rather than English, ask them to translate your game.
Use specialized companies: there are some companies that offer translation services or you can use a website like Fiverr to hire a freelancer. Usually, the result is very good, but it’s not cheap.
If you are on a budget and don’t have much money to invest in translations, then try to at least translate your game in Spanish, Russian and Chinese. Just these 3 languages can help to increase the downloads of your game considerably.
And don’t forget to translate the description on the app/Android store also!
Make a video of your game!
I know that making a video of your mobile game might seem boring, but you have to do it.
Don’t even think of launching your mobile game without a video. In fact, most people watch the video of the game to decide if downloading the game is worth it. So, your video must be very good; and if it has dialogue in it, translate or add subtitles.
If you are an indie, there are some companies that will make the video for you. But if you’re an indie without money like we all are, then it is better to learn how to do it by yourself.
Market your game, and do it as soon as possible.
Market your game before it is launched and try to reach as many websites, blogs, or press as possible. If a game-specialized blog writes about your game, downloads will come like bees going wild over honey.
But remember that getting your game to grab the attention of the press is not an easy task, it requires a lot of time and effort.
The most important thing when you reach the press is a press release. If you want to know more, have a look at our marketing section.
Use the right keyword
When writing the description of your game on the App / Google play store, don’t forget to add the most relevant keywords to the game description. Those keywords should be the ones used by users to search for your game.
For example, if your game is called “crazy colors”, use the word “crazy” at least 5 or 6 times in the description and the word “colors” another 3 or 4 times.
The title of the game used in the stores is also very relevant, so make sure that it contains all the relevant keywords that the users may use in finding your game.
To find the right keywords, you can use google “keyword planner” or some other specifically designed tools to find App Store or Google play store keywords.
Track the user experience
Use some analytics tools to keep track of the usage of your game and increase the downloads of your mobile game.
Be sure to understand and pay attention the behavior of the users in your game in order to increase the quality of it, some data may indicate that some users play your game in a way that you didn’t expect, you should understand why and eventually fix the problem if necessary.
You can also do an A/B testing with the keyword used on the App/Google Store to find which ones attract the best results.
To track user behavior, you can use the Unity analytics tools if your game was made with Unity, or use some other third party libraries like the one offered by Google analytics.
Increase the downloads of your mobile game: Conclusion
With these simple tips, you should be able to increase the download of your game considerably; but still, if your game is not good enough, the only thing that you need is a miracle :). Other than that, try to adopt the suggestions above. If you’re lacking in marketing knowledge, have a look at our dedicated marketing section.
PS: One last thing, if this article was useful, please share it, it means a lot to me. Thanks!
