Howdy!
I was planning on waiting for my first shmup press release to post here
Oh well.
First, to cover Indiepath and my typo-ography... One of the ways I keep the costs low on my service is to have the releases proofed by the sender. In Indiepath's case, which we are definately not going to get into, there was a major hiccup in this process. Long story short, as with ANY unsatisfied client I returned the money. I can't go back and undo press releases, but I did send out a correction as well as a refund. I take great care to avoid disatisfaction. I believe there have been a total of two refunds in the last three years, regretfully Indiepath was on that short list.
As far as the original post: "Does anyone here use Marketing services to help market their games?"
I see a lot of discussion here about press releases. This is exactly the stigma that irks me. A press release service isn't a marketing service. It is a cog in a much larger system of wheels.
I can't answer the question (If anyone HERE uses a marketing service). I can say that using a marketing service will vastly depend on your type of game. Lucky us, this is a SHMUP site so they are all SHMUPs. Then the question comes down to originality and quality.
It may be simply this: Most SHMUPs are NOT as marketable as other types of games. A press release is an ok way to measure initial interest, but it certainly isn't the final step (its a lot closer to the first step, actually).
I've said it before a hundred times: Marketing isn't hard. It is merely time consuming. There is almost nothing I do that a developer can not do themselves. The only difference is, because I do it every day, I can do many things faster.
You could spend time collecting e-mail addresses and make your own press release list... or you could hire someone. You could spend time calling all of the major publications, or you could hire someone. You could spend time creating a sell sheet, or you could hire someone. Nothing about any of those activities is difficult.
So, what are the pros and cons:
The pro is: You save time.
The con is: It costs you money.
A SIDE EFFECT, which can be either pro or con: You are then tied to that person's reputation in the industry. If they have no reputation or a bad reputation it is a con. If they have an overall good reputation your product will be seen in a better light. When you hire a marketing representitive they become your company's face to the media.
So, what VGSmart brings to the table isn't just a press release list and a lot of e-mails, phone calls, and various marketing doodles; it is also our reputation amongst the media.
Who do we represent?
We represent Tri Synergy (Retail Publisher and potentialy soon to be publishing independent products as well...)
We represent Matrix Games (Retail and Digital strategy game publisher)
We represent Wahoo Studios, AKA: Ninjabee (Outpost Kaloki X for the Xbox 360 Live Arcade)
Those are the only people, at this time, we are representing. In the past we have represented Sillysoft, Apezone, and Rampant Games
If you are hiring a marketing company for BEHIND the scenes work it isn't so important what their reputation is amongst the media. It is important that they have the skills you need and are within your budget and timeline.
VGSmart does behind the scenes work with MANY companies: Here are some noteables;
ArcadeTown (Major online portal)
Caravel Games (DROD)
Ogre Force (Just signed them this morning)
Kellogg Creek (Famous company that battled Hasbro in court)
Lamp Lighter Studio (AAA art studio for games and entertainment)
Behind the scenes stuff includes writing formal marketing proposals (sans any of my "infamous" typos), doing search engine optomization, doing sales marketing (to non press members), increasing web exposure, content marketing, or consulting... or really anything else where the marketing agent doesn't start with the line "Hi my name is X and I am calling on behalf of Y."
So these are some of the items that marketing agents do and how they are different. I use VGSmart stuff because I can use it as a solid example... and it makes me groan at the quantity of work I am doing.
The reality is, if you look at those titles, how many of you guys have so much going on that you are in their same position of not having the TIME to do it yourself. The answer is going to be VERY few of you... and if you take the time to e-mail me and talk with me about your project, the odds are I will reccomend you do a press release and then take over yourself from there. How many marketing companies do YOU know who would turn down work because it was in the client's best interest? How many refund money if you aren't 100% satisified? How many give advice for free across a variety of forums as WELL as if you picked up the phone and gave them a call? VGSmart is the only one that offers that kind of price and quality level, that is why we are popular and successful.
If SoftPressReleases does a better job at press releases for SHMUPS, so be it! You should try out Soft Press Releases for sure. Compare the two offerings, run the test a few times, and make an informed decision... but know that I consider the press release service only a single step in a great stairway to success. I say to Nexic- GOOD! Use the service that will get you the most coverage. If your next press release through SPR results in less than you anticipate, I would hope you'd come back to VGSmart for a second try
Ok... im done
I doubt that even scratched the surface of your questions, but NOW is the time to pick through this and come up with some more specific questions for me or any of the other marketing gurus out here. I will answer completely honestly, even if it means less business for me. (Trust me, I have no shortage of business!)
Best of luck with the SHMUP developing forum and all your projects,
Joe Lieberman
The VGSmartinator
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The best Marketing Services?
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