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Buying a list of android users email, then mail them about an app?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by MD_Reptile, May 27, 2016.

  1. MD_Reptile

    MD_Reptile

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    I've noticed these services online which claim to provide you a long list of mostly active android (or ios, or whatever) email addresses. I'm wondering if anyone has ever tried these services for marketing purposes, and went ahead and sent out massive email blasts to whoever you target, and what was the outcome? Did it just get mostly ignored? Did you notice an increase in downloads/revenue? Did it piss everybody off and end up with a wall of angry responses?

    I was considering it, but it occurred to me that is a little spammy, and might not be received to well, and perhaps not really all that effective in converting new users... most downloads my apps get are organic play store search result kinda deals, but I thought it might boost the non organic kind of conversions (like any other type of advertising would) and in turn make more money if it is successful.

    Thoughts? Experiences trying this? Anybody? Should I just not spam a marketing email to potential users about an app at all, as to prevent sort of making it seem invasive and whatnot? Has this ever actually worked (or something similar) with anybody here?

    Thanks!
     
  2. KnightsHouseGames

    KnightsHouseGames

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    Sounds like you are just paying some scumbags to send a bunch of emails to a bunch of people's spam folders where they'll never see it.

    Maybe instead of wasting that money on that, you use that money for something more useful, and advertise in a way that isn't annoying.
     
    Ryiah, frosted and Socrates like this.
  3. Rombie

    Rombie

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    Have you ever got one of these emails?

    Like most people; they will delete them before even reading/opening it.

    I would advise a better approach to reaching out to new crowds. This way just seems like wasted energy.
     
    Ryiah and Socrates like this.
  4. Kiwasi

    Kiwasi

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    This is spamming of the most evil sort. It might net you a few sales. But its a pretty low strategy.

    It is likely to net you less savvy users without a spam filter. These users may be more likely to spend money they don't have on IAP. But again, we are talking a pretty scum bag strategy.
     
  5. theANMATOR2b

    theANMATOR2b

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    I agree with all the above statements, but I was expecting to read about some alternative suggestions.
    Whatdup guys? o_O

    Three I can think of on the spot - coming from an introverted artist dude with ZERO marketing experience.
    - Look around for a rabid nostalgic asteroid community to infiltrate and advertise in.
    - Hit up some small time youtubers - ones with 500 or less subs. They would probably be happy to step out from the shadows of the top tubers for a couple days, stop parroting what all the top tubers are talking about and review a game others are not reviewing.
    - Write a postmortem on design decisions, why you choose the genre/game you choose to create, some detail on development, time spent, difficulties overcome, and successes, choices on publishing and maybe stats on downloads and reactions from customers. What went right/wrong and why.
    Look around for several places to publish - maybe outside the common gaming communities/sites, but related to productivity, or mobile, or creativity, or things loosely related to our world.
    I recently read a postmortem on a site called medium.
    https://medium.com/@escooler/making...mation-to-game-design-61f6e855930b#.5wdw52e1x
    The site is kinda 'different' from the normal stuff I frequent, but I found some quality, interesting articles on production and other creative related topics.
     
  6. MD_Reptile

    MD_Reptile

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    Maybe there's a better way you guys could suggest for doing mobile app advertising? Obviously I mean outside normal advertising methods like using admob banners or website banners...
     
  7. KnightsHouseGames

    KnightsHouseGames

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    Well, you could make some video ads for it on Youtube. You could also just post about it in places where people post about their games like the WIP forum on this forum, or other forums and reddit and such.

    You could also just do it the old fashioned way and tell your friends and family about it.

    This is the part of the process that I will admit is my weak point. All I know is, the idea of buying peoples emails is scummy right on the face of it, and sounds EXTREMELY ineffective in a post spam filter world.
     
    theANMATOR2b likes this.
  8. MD_Reptile

    MD_Reptile

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    Your right, it does seem a bit shady and that's exactly why I seek the unity communities collective knowledge, because I thought that was a bit off.

    If anybody has any more suggestions for unorthodox advertising that's effective I'd love to hear it!
     
  9. landon912

    landon912

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    This is good advice for many reasons.

    Smaller Youtubers often have niche communities behind them. Find those that related to your game. Once a hand full of Youtubers have posted videos, you'll find other small Youtubers begin to mimic them.

    Have guidelines- anyone who gets free review keys must link to XXXXX, and mention that it's XXXX, etc. Don't go overboard, but make sure that Youtuber's production to pointing people back towards something of yours. Don't give out keys without them giving proof of a real channel(with more than 50 subs, etc)
     
    theANMATOR2b likes this.
  10. Kiwasi

    Kiwasi

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    How about trying the traditional method? Make a great game. Take it to conventions to catch the eye of a publisher. Build a press kit and approach the various game press about it. Take it to YouTubers who are likely to enjoy your game.
     
    theANMATOR2b and MD_Reptile like this.
  11. KnightsHouseGames

    KnightsHouseGames

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    You could use the money you were gonna use the buy those emails to see if you can get a billboard or hire someone with one of those skywriter planes....

    Again, I'm terrible at advertising ideas...

    Seriously though, Youtube is awesome for this stuff, most of the games I know about these days I learned about from either word of mouth from other people, or Youtube. And I'm betting the people I heard about the game from probably themselves saw it on Youtube or Twitch.
     
    theANMATOR2b and MD_Reptile like this.
  12. MD_Reptile

    MD_Reptile

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    That's actually a funny idea, the plane with a banner :p

    I suppose for the time being I'll stick with traditional stuff and ponder some more novel methods that don't make potential users upset haha
     
  13. KnightsHouseGames

    KnightsHouseGames

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    Heh, just put a big ass QR code on a banner plane, that would be an interesting advertising strategy.

    I wonder if anyone has ever tried that before...
     
    Rombie likes this.
  14. theANMATOR2b

    theANMATOR2b

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    Knights mentioned twitch which I have little experience with, though Ive heard mention several times recently - its a good place to gain traction with communities who enjoy watching game play throughs and live development sessions.
     
  15. Meltdown

    Meltdown

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    You're better off spending your money hiring a YouTuber that has a fanbase that is interested in your game's genre, and getting them to do a video.

    That is a much more efficient way of spending user acquisition money than going for an email crap shoot.
     
    Whippets, MD_Reptile and Ryiah like this.
  16. MD_Reptile

    MD_Reptile

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    Your totally right, that is a good suggestion.