Did you know that the gaming market is expected to reach $435 billion in value by the year 2028? And this isn’t limited to console gaming, either. The widespread availability of smartphones means that mobile gaming is the market segment that’s expected to grow the most. If you’ve ever played mobile games, you know that they’re fertile ground for advertisements.
But, is mobile game business advertising right for you? If you want to learn the answer to this question, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll be going over everything you need to know about mobile game advertising, from the pros and cons to the ideal uses.
That way, you can get a better idea of whether or not it fits your advertising needs. Let’s dive in!
What is mobile game advertising?
Mobile game advertising refers to a revenue strategy used by mobile game developers. Typically, these mobile games are free-to-play. However, they still make money either through in-game purchases or by selling ad space in their games.
Mobile game advertisements come in many different forms, which we will cover in the next section. However, they all operate under the similar goal of grabbing the attention span of the player without interrupting the game experience too much.
How does mobile game advertising work?
To understand how mobile game advertising works, you first need to learn about the different types of ads. You can break down mobile gaming advertisements into two categories: static and dynamic ads.
Static in-game ads refer to ads that are built into the game at a development stage. You can think of these games as product placement since they never really go away. The permanent nature of static ads hasn’t made them as popular as dynamic ads. However, there is still a time and place for them.
Dynamic ads are another type of in-game option that is updated and changed in real time. This makes them a lot more popular with advertisers because there’s a greater degree of flexibility. There’s also a better selection for businesses. Here are some of the common dynamic ads you can encounter:
- Interstitial ads – interactive ads that cover the whole screen
- Native banners – web banners found in the background of the game
- Reward video ads – a format that rewards viewers after watching a certain amount of ads
- Playable ads – interactive ad videos that give viewers a short preview of the product or service
- Advergaming – a built-in game that highlights a company or brand
An important note is that dynamic ads require an internet connection so they can be properly updated. Static games don’t require this since they’re hardwired into the game. Most of the time an SDK (software development kit) will be used as an intermediary between the advertisers and the game developers for dynamic ads.
Benefits of mobile game advertising
Mobile game advertising offers a lot of benefits for everyone involved. Obviously, for developers, they’re a lucrative form of revenue. But what’s in it for the advertiser?
First, a huge audience base. Remember that 85% of people in the United States now have a smartphone. That’s a huge segment of the population that your brand can reach.
Next, it’s easy to find a game that caters to your target audience. For example, if your target audience is young women ages eighteen to twenty-eight, then a makeover game can be an extremely effective way of reaching them. The same goes for niche audiences like sports lovers, music fans, and puzzle nuts.
Mobile games also make it easy to track things like engagement, click-through rates, and overall reach. That way, you know what ads are working and which ones could use some work with your ad campaigns.
Next, mobile games offer a much higher level of interactivity than other forms of advertising. This can help keep potential customers engaged in ways that other mediums cannot.
Drawbacks of mobile game advertising
Like any ad medium, mobile gaming does have its flaws. For starters, some gamers might not be thrilled to have their experience interrupted by an ad. This can turn them off to your brand. Also, the more interactive and complex your game ad is, the more testing and development it will require.
Lastly, space constraints are often a factor with mobile ads. So, unless you have a great mobile ad agency on your side, it can be hard to fit your message in.
Ideal uses for mobile game advertising
If you’re not sure whether or not mobile game ads are for you, then consider some of their ideal uses. First, there are some perfect scenarios where the product or service you’re offering aligns with a mobile game. For example, if you sell sporting goods, you can advertise in a football game.
Second, mobile game ads are great when you want to target a specific location. Many mobile games will allow you to geo-target audiences if you have a local business you want to promote. Some mobile game ads are also good for promoting long-form advertisements. For example, let’s say you have a video ad that’s three minutes long. Getting people to watch on their own might be pretty hard. But, with reward video ads, you can ensure that your viewer is paying attention.
Ready for the mobile game ads your business deserves?
If you’ve decided that this form of mobile advertising is the right call for you, the next step is to find a qualified media group to help you.
Here at Bloom Ads, we don’t just help you create mobile ads. Instead, we conduct a close examination of your marketing and business goals. Once we find your target audience, we help you create ads that are geared specifically toward this market.
So, whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, make sure to contact us today to find out how we can help you achieve your marketing goals.