In Need of Help Making iOS/Android Game Go Viral (Downloads, Marketing, etc)

Hey everyone. I know there are a lot of ios/android developers/reskinners and a lot of people who can provide download/review services on this forum. It's no secret that this is a huge market, and we all want a piece. I have released 5 different games to date across both platforms and even 2 of them on the Amazon App Store. My last game I actually didn't develop. I bought a source code like many of you are familiar with. I spent some money on Facebook ads and received decent results, but none of my games have taken off.

My newest game is an arcade game. It's addicting, repetitive, it's a fresh concept built from the ground up, and It has the potential to be competitive among young people. Middle and High Schoolers fueled the fire for games like Flappy Bird. Young people are the people playing these games (I'm in college). The social media viral effect is what made the game take off.

Basically what I'm saying is, I know that paying for Facebook ads, admob, etc. is a great way to advertise for developers that have a big budget. Clash of Clans can afford to spend 100's of thousands of dollars each to day to advertise, simply because they're bringing in like a million a day. People like us CAN'T. I can't lol.

I come to you, BHW. The heroes of IM. What would be the best way to make the game go viral? I know the first week is a big week (my app is not released yet, I am holding out until I completely understand what I am doing marketing wise before releasing this one). If I could get a lot of downloads in the first few days, it could go up on the charts. Who out here could help? I've checked different marketplace threads but I am just searching for all my options. If you provide downloads, ASO, or simply ways to get the word about, e.g. tweet it out, promote it etc, please contact me here or on Skype. Thanks for the reads.

In my opinion the best way to make something go viral is really in-app changes.

As for my games i always place Google Leader boards and make sure there is a Facebook share button.

Is it a game where you can be stuck because you don't know a answer (for example a quiz ), WHAM! Facebook button to "request help".

Can you earn coins / gold in game? WHAM! Facebook button to earn extra coins for sharing.

If your game is fun enough and really catchy it eventually should take off.

This is just 1 in 100 ways to get some download or being able to get a viral effect. At the other end i hope there are more guys here that can give you better info !

Just saying.. Once had a game "Punch the potato". You completed it by.. well.. tapping the potato.
The game was useless. I knew this on forehand because i wanted to check how far i could go with a useless app.
Result? 2K downloads in a few days...

Hi ,

I can help you with this.
I have have a approved marketplace thread here :
http://www.blackhatworld.com/blackh...d-promotion-aso-installs-reviews-testing.html

Let me know if you have any questions.

Cheers

ObjectiveC it depends what you looking for, do you think go to black hat meyhods or only white hat ?

ObjectiveC said:

Hmm I was thinking of adding a situation where when the game ends, you can pay a gem or token to continue. Sort of like temple run did. A coin system where you can buy more gems with coins, but buy coins with money or sharing.
I can't believe you got 2,000 downloads with a potato click game haha was this on android? My android apps have never had success. iOS ones some have had over 1,000 but not many. I might go back to the drawing board on the rewarded in app sharing.

Click to expand...

Thats actually a great idea if you ask me, as long as it isn't to much paying to continue. People can wait for a few hours like games that uses "energy" but don't let them wait for a day or force them to pay otherwise it will fail.

And yep.. Still the weirdest app ever..



Btw here some results from free apps.

<< Click

This really was all kind of stuff mostly bad test stuff ( just to get to know my game making stuff ).

Some banned etc.

Never used any kind of promotion:

I'm in the same position as you. I spent the last 8 months developing my game and can't get any installs.

Pwnageboy said:

Thats actually a great idea if you ask me, as long as it isn't to much paying to continue. People can wait for a few hours like games that uses "energy" but don't let them wait for a day or force them to pay otherwise it will fail.

And yep.. Still the weirdest app ever..

View attachment 61510

Btw here some results from free apps.

View attachment 61511 << Click

This really was all kind of stuff mostly bad test stuff ( just to get to know my game making stuff ).

Some banned etc.

Never used any kind of promotion:

Click to expand...

I've taken most of my apps off the app store simply because they got <1000 installs and they might misrepresent what I am trying to portray as my brand. Quality games, graphics etc. I will have to let you know what kind of promotion I do with my next one and how it fares.

2Strikes said:

I'm in the same position as you. I spent the last 8 months developing my game and can't get any installs.

Click to expand...

Are they reskins or did you build from the ground up? It's much more disheartening when we create our own product, own concept, graphics etc. and then it fails. Reskins, I can see where it's easy to not get downloads, seeing as the idea has already been done before.