Social Gaming: Marketable and Fun!

Since 2011, the social gaming industry has risen in revenue by more than $1 billion. And just last year, the market hit $5 billion and is expected to exceed $2 billion by the end of 2016. So, who is playing? Over 155 million Americans play video games on a regular basis (3 or more hours a week). The split amongst men (52%) and women (48%) is almost equal, both averaging 13 years as a gamer. Although the average age of a gamer is 39, the industry spans across a wide-range of ages of demographics. With those odds, you’re probably a gamer yourself.

For that reason, social gaming is a serious resource for advertisers and marketers. So, how can your business capitalize on such a rapidly growing industry?

There are several ways to make money with social network gaming. One model is to offer two levels of the game, one as a paid premium version and the other a free, stripped down one. You can also charge items in the “free” game, such as tools or weapons. In Facebook (which boasts a steady 250 million daily user count), players can use PayPal or FB credits—making purchases entirely seamless. In Gamesmart, the new state-of-the-art gaming portal, users exchange SmartCoins: an open source P2P (Peer to Peer) cryptocurrency that operates with no central authority or banks. Payments can be sent instantly to anyone, anywhere in the world. SmartCoins will continue to evolve for the ever changing needs of a smarter world. Here are a few reasons why SmartCoins are the future of social gaming:

Fast Transactions:
Even faster than Bitcoin, SmartCoin’s blazing speed 30 second confirmations will get your payments sent or received anywhere in the world without waiting around. SmartCoin works globally and constantly, which means coins can be sent from everywhere to everywhere at any point in time.

Security:
With built-in SHA-256 wallet encryption, you can safely store your SmartCoins on your hardware, or even print out your own paper wallet. Transactions can be viewed in a public database, so there is no uncertainty about the status of payment transfers, and this database exists on all clients that use the software.

Growing Community:
SmartCoin has a growing and friendly community in which everyone can participate and contribute to improve and distribute SmartCoin.

Another way is to display advertisements intermittently during a game. This is what marketers call, “gamification.” It doesn’t charge the player at all, and if designed right, the ads can be both unobtrusive and profitable. It’s best to tie in services and products that relate to the game somehow. For example, a fitness brand can use the game to promote healthy recipes or protein shakes that the player could find useful.

Another way is to develop your very own successful gaming portal, such as Gamesmart.  Gamesmart offers ready-to-play games in an variety of different languages, such as Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Russian, Korean, Japanese, and English and genres, such as Action, Family, Kids, Match, Puzzle, Shooter, and Sports. Fans of popular mobile and web-based games like Candy Crush and Clash of Clans will love Gamesmart’s improved games titled Yum Yum Jelly Smash, Subway Clash 3D, Berry Blast, Froggy, and Deadshot Dynamite.

At Gamesmart, users enter a world for the creative, the strategic, and the bold. Unlike other gaming platforms, when users play Gamesmart, they can earn iRewards, which are redeemable for Amazon, gift cards. Gaming has never been more rewarding! Gamesmart, it’s a game changer.

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How to Build a Story on Instagram

If you’re not an avid SnapChat user, you might be wondering: what are Stories? Basically, they’re groups of video clips and photos sewn together in a narrative slideshow. After 24 hours, they disappear. This aspect not only generates ephemeral, up-to-the-minute content, it also helps cut down on server space. It’s a great way for people and businesses alike to showcase who they are and what they are doing in a very personalized way. It also offers an unpolished, present look into your brand, a rising importance in today’s consumers. On Tuesday, Instagram announced their very own Stories feature—essentially a carbon copy of SnapChat.

Perhaps you’re outraged by Instagram’s impenitent practices, but in the famous words of Pablo Picasso, “Good artists copy; great artists steal.”

So, if you’re over Instagram blatantly copying SnapChat, than let’s get started on how to build your first Instagram Story, shall we?:

First off, tap the plus sign in the upper left corner of your screen to get started.

Then take a photo by tapping the round button, or press it down for up to ten seconds to take a video.

Swipe down to choose a photo or video from your camera’s library.

Now, select one of the three pen type options to doodle, add an emoji, or select a color filter on your photo. For more color options, press and hold on the color to pull up an array of color options.

When you’re done personalizing your capture, tap the checkmark icon to share. Your story will then appear at the top of your followers’ feeds. It’ll also be visible on your profile page.

Check out who has seen your Story by swiping up when viewing the photo or video. You can also privatize your Stories in the “Settings” icon.

So, why should you jump on Instagram’s Stories feature? For one, you now have the opportunity to create ephemeral, creative content without launching a new channel. Unlike SnapChat, Instagram’s Stories allows you to continue to promote using hashtags, geotags, and the “Discover” section increases your visibility. The feature also runs on views rather than likes, so you don’t have to take yourself too seriously.

In conclusion, have fun, experiment and see if you can successfully overlap various demographics.


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How to Build a Story on Instagram

If you’re not an avid SnapChat user, you might be wondering: what are Stories? Basically, they’re groups of video clips and photos sewn together in a narrative slideshow. After 24 hours, they disappear. This aspect not only generates ephemeral, up-to-the-minute content, it also helps cut down on server space. It’s a great way for people and businesses alike to showcase who they are and what they are doing in a very personalized way. It also offers an unpolished, present look into your brand, a rising importance in today’s consumers. On Tuesday, Instagram announced their very own Stories feature—essentially a carbon copy of SnapChat.

Perhaps you’re outraged by Instagram’s impenitent practices, but in the famous words of Pablo Picasso, “Good artists copy; great artists steal.”

So, if you’re over Instagram blatantly copying SnapChat, than let’s get started on how to build your first Instagram Story, shall we?:

First off, tap the plus sign in the upper left corner of your screen to get started.

Then take a photo by tapping the round button, or press it down for up to ten seconds to take a video.

Swipe down to choose a photo or video from your camera’s library.

Now, select one of the three pen type options to doodle, add an emoji, or select a color filter on your photo. For more color options, press and hold on the color to pull up an array of color options.

When you’re done personalizing your capture, tap the checkmark icon to share. Your story will then appear at the top of your followers’ feeds. It’ll also be visible on your profile page.

Check out who has seen your Story by swiping up when viewing the photo or video. You can also privatize your Stories in the “Settings” icon.

So, why should you jump on Instagram’s Stories feature? For one, you now have the opportunity to create ephemeral, creative content without launching a new channel. Unlike SnapChat, Instagram’s Stories allows you to continue to promote using hashtags, geotags, and the “Discover” section increases your visibility. The feature also runs on views rather than likes, so you don’t have to take yourself too seriously.

In conclusion, have fun, experiment and see if you can successfully overlap various demographics.


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A Cost-Effective Guide on How to Rank in Google Apps

So, you developed an app. Consequently, you’ll want it to rank well with Google. You may be thinking it’ll cost you an arm and a leg, not to mention thousands of dollars. Fortunately, it is possible to rank well without going broke. Here’s how:

For starters, keep your eye on the prize. It’s important to understand the value of being ranked in the top 10. It’s estimated that in order to do so, your app must be downloaded at least 15,000 times and installed up to 25,000 times a day to make it even close to the top. Seems daunting? Luckily, with the use of social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, marketing your app is much easier. Try exposing your app via social media outlets (paying smaller amounts for ad space) and watch you app gain traffic over time.

Respect the launch window. New apps tend to rank easier because users are always searching to try new things. This gives you a window to capture their attention. Try allowing users to test a demo of your app during this time.

Keep a close watch on user reviews. Although user reviews do not affect the backend of the ranking system, they do figure into whether or not new users will want to download your app. Make an effort to speak with your audience, answer their questions, and inform them on any changes. If the review is negative, be sure to address the issue in a respectful, attentive manner. The worst mistake you can make is ignoring a bad review. Do your best to resolve the matter, and show new and existing users that you are there to help them.

Make it freemium. People can use the app for free, but switch over to a premium option for even more features and items. Don’t make the mistake of putting a price on your app too early. Users tend not to invest in something they know nothing about.

Be mobile ready. Make certain your app is compatible with a variety of devices, such as an iPad, tablet, iPhone, Android, desktop, and laptop. By allowing users to access your app on multiple devices, you will increase your app’s install percentage.

Enhance your visibility by implementing effective search engine optimization techniques. Practice proper SEO techniques by using keywords and phrases that uniquely represent your app. When done correctly, people who search for those keywords can effectively appear in the top search results. SEO is an important department all on its own and can take some time and energy. Therefore tools such as Google Keyword Planner are a great help in choosing appropriate keywords.

In conclusion, reaching the top ranks in Google Apps takes a lot of time, energy, and some money, but the rewards are high if you keep at it. Finding a proper marketing solution is your first step. Create a product that speaks to an audience and use the guide provided!

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Pokémon Go Etiquette: The Dos and Donts

The sudden phenomenon that is Pokémon Go has already been noted as the most successful mobile game ever to hit the U.S. Since its debut on July 6th, the game boasts 21 million daily active users and has topped over 15 million downloads. According to IOS usage data, users are spending 33% more time on PG than Facebook and 46% more than Snapchat.

The app, for the uninitiated, is a virtual scavenger hunt, allowing users to hunt and capture over 151 different characters (Pokémon) on their phone using augmented reality. In other words, players are able to explore the real world with their smart phones using GPS signal. For millennials and new generations alike, the game is a fun, interactive activity to the beloved 90s franchise. A chance to “be the best like no one ever was.”

Like its predecessors (Candy Crush, Game of War, Draw Something), Pokémon Go is highly addicting. Users are actually required to leave the comfort of their couches and venture out into the “unknown” that is their neighborhood in order to catch Pokémon. Players also have the ability to “battle” strangers in Pokégyms, collect prizes at various designated Poké stops (namely landmarks), and join together in teams. Mind blown? If you haven’t downloaded the app by now you probably will by the end of this post.

But however addicting the game can be, it’s important we remember our good manners and moral aptitude. For that reason, here is a list of Dos and Donts when playing Pokémon Go:

Do be a good sport. If you lose a battle, shake hands, not fists.

Do buy goods from businesses that are also Pokéstops or house wild Pokémon.

Don’t be intrusive with others. No one deserves bloodshed over a Pikachu.

Don’t play Pokémon Go in cemeteries, hospitals, memorials, synagogues, or churches, unless the Pokémon is extremely rare. Do be very quiet and respectable about it!

Do read the information provided at a Poké stop. You will learn new things about your surroundings.

Don’t run into the street and cause a traffic jam (or, worse, an accident).

Do only play Pokémon Go on your break at work. If you don’t have a job, how will you pay for all the data you’re using playing the game?

Don’t trespass!

Do explore your city. See where the game takes you and maybe even meet a few new friends.

Have you passed? Great! Now go out and catch ’em all!

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