How to market a Software Game?

Subject: How to market a Software Game? Author: veerla

Hi,
I developed a software application which plays some game with the users. The game could be more interesting for students as it deals with words in Dictionary.
I want to launch this product into the market.
I would like to know how to select the Market Segment and how to advertise my product.
Could anyone please help me?

Thanks,
Veerla.


Subject: Re: How to market a Software Game? Author: Dennis S. Vogel

Hi:

I don't know which grade level(s) your product is for. If what I wrote below doesn't apply to your situation, please give me more details so I'll have a better chance of helping you.

Let's try this for starters -
The public school my daughter is in has "Book Fairs" to raise money for the school. (This is necessary because of budget cuts.) But they sell candy, software and other things too.

If you have connections (or want to establish some) in a school or school system that sells things like this, you may be able to find out if one or more teachers will endorse the game.

Some teachers here are active in fund-raising. If that's the case where you live, they may be eager to try your game if you tell them you want it used as a fund-raiser. But their endorsement(s), if any, should be impartial.

You'd end up letting them try out a copy possibly with students. Consider a cost of operations donation.

There's a possible snag here. Does your software run on PCs or Macs?

The classrooms, where my daughter goes to school, are equipped with Macs.

If one or more teachers will endorse your game, you can ask the principal or school administrator about them selling copies of your game to raise money. S/he may refer you to the leader of the PTO (Parent-Teacher-Organization).

In addition to PTOs, boy scouts, girl scouts, The Big Brothers/Big Sisters organizations may be interested in helping you sell your game also if you'll donate some of your profits to them.

You should be willing to do this because they'll get you sales you may not get any other way. Whether or not donations like this would be tax-deductible is something you ask an accountant or the IRS.

If the game does well in fund raisers, then you'd have a target market. If you can get testimonials from teachers and those in the PTO (or other grooups) about it's effectiveness and the level of sales, you may be able to get store owners to stock it.

Store owners don't want to fill shelves with products that people won't buy. If you show that your game is popular they won't be so shy about stocking it. If they don't want to buy it wholesale, offer them a consignment arrangement.

The basic way this would work is -
You leave (let's say) 10 copies with them. Then you'd go back in a week or a month to check how many they have left. They'd pay you for any copies they don't have left unless some were returned as defective or damaged.

They may only stock your game if you advertise it. (Too often if a product isn't advertised people won't know it exists, so they won't buy it.)

If that's the case, let me know and I'll suggest a few low cost ways of doing it. I may be able to help you with some compelling sales copy also.

Now if you've read some of my other posts, you know how I feel about Wal-Mart. However, if you're able to 1) show buyers of big stores how well your game has sold in small stores and 2) produce thousands of units, you may be able to get it sold on a national basis.

If you're just starting in your business, you should start out by testing your product in small risk situations.

Thanks for the question.

Thank you for using my blog. Please let me know if I should clarify anything.

Copyright 2016 Dennis S. Vogel All rights reserved.
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