This is a more specific ver of a question I've asked before.
Hey, I’m a high school student who has just released his very first video game, Klaystar, on itch.io and is planning to release it on Steam in the coming week.
Do you guys have any advice for zero-budget marketing? i.e. any groups on any sites I could join/general advice on presenting my game.

  • Erich_L replied to this.

  • David You don’t seem to have to spend a whole lot of money to get around 300 views on the platform of your choice, but from what I have learned there’s no “static” way to market your game on a zero budget. This is because people hate being advertised to on most platforms and once they realize a certain kind of post is basically and ad- the method is garbage and gets either downvoted or ignored.

    So marketing comes down to creativity, how clever can your be to be sharing something interesting rather than pushing your own thing. There’s no one good way to do it, and things that worked a year ago might work a lot less now.

    Online people are a lot more forgiving of “slice of life” content and sharing big happy milestones. Sharing news of a new in-game feature, or even something you think is “content” might end up coming off as an ad- it’s not easy to navigate.

      David You don’t seem to have to spend a whole lot of money to get around 300 views on the platform of your choice, but from what I have learned there’s no “static” way to market your game on a zero budget. This is because people hate being advertised to on most platforms and once they realize a certain kind of post is basically and ad- the method is garbage and gets either downvoted or ignored.

      So marketing comes down to creativity, how clever can your be to be sharing something interesting rather than pushing your own thing. There’s no one good way to do it, and things that worked a year ago might work a lot less now.

      Online people are a lot more forgiving of “slice of life” content and sharing big happy milestones. Sharing news of a new in-game feature, or even something you think is “content” might end up coming off as an ad- it’s not easy to navigate.

        I might have answered in a more general sense before. But if you want my quick take. You have to make a good 5 second looping gif of a really funny part of the game. Like the player trying to do something and blowing themself up my mistake. Quick funny gifs, especially with the physics engine, do well on social media. Probably Twitter is your best bet, other platforms only work if you have a following. On Twitter it is easier for an unknown person to go viral on their first tweet. However, it has to be a good gif. Spend time and record a lot of video until you get the funniest 5 seconds. Then create a tweet like "I'm a high school student and this is the first game I've ever made. What do you think?" with the gif attached below. Obviously don't post that word for word, but something like that. I mean, you could just post that if you want, but making is personal is better. You can add hashtags like "indiegame" "indiedev" "gamedev", etc. do some research on Twitter to see what tags are doing well with people with similar games.

          I still haven't published my first game yet (a mobile game in the working). But I once found an interesting answer on Quora from someone experienced in mobile games. You could apply some of his techniques to your pc game. Here's the link: https://www.quora.com/How-should-an-indie-developer-market-his-mobile-app-games/answer/K%C3%A1roly-Moln%C3%A1r-2?ch=15&oid=29783549&share=7240030f&srid=udSpN4&target_type=answer
          The answer is quite long, but I think it's worth it.

          Again though, I absolutely have no experience in marketing video games, so I cannot guarantee the credibility of the link I have given. However, his answer does seem realistic.

            cybereality
            I don't use social media a lot so this might be a little difficult. But I'll definitely try it.

                David I don't use social media a lot so this might be a little difficult. But I'll definitely try it.

                Well if you want to do marketing and you don't have money, you don't have a choice.

                  10 months later

                  Hi. 2 cents to update this thread. If you're looking for ways to promote it on a zero budget, social media is a great option. You can create accounts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to share your game and connect with potential players. Plus, joining groups on sites like Reddit and Discord can help get the word out to people who might be interested. Another option you might want to check out is using an SMM service like clientverge.com. They offer affordable social media marketing services that could help boost your game's visibility. Anyway, just my thoughts.

                  Gonna follow this thread because I'll be in the same position someday

                  However, I think trailers are the way to go, and post them where allowed.

                  I know a guy who does video editting and I could hook you up with him if you're interested.

                  11 days later
                  3 months later
                  4 months later

                  Marketing on a zero budget can be challenging, but it's definitely doable. One strategy to consider is community building. Building strong community around your game can help spread the word organically. I found this article on Heyday's blog very helpful: https://www.heyday.net/blog/5-community-building-strategies-for-your-success-heyday-tips . It talks about different community building strategies that could work well for you!

                  9 months later

                  Hey, congrats on releasing your first game - that's a huge milestone! For zero-budget marketing, here are some things that might help:

                  • Social Media: Post about your game on Twitter (now X), Instagram, and TikTok. Use relevant hashtags like #IndieGame, #IndieDev, and #ItchIO to reach the right audience. TikTok, in particular, is great for showcasing gameplay clips.
                  • Reddit: Join subreddits like r/IndieDev, r/GameDev, or r/Itchio and share your game. Be mindful of their rules about self-promotion; many subreddits allow you to share your work in specific threads.
                  • Indie Game Communities: Platforms like TIGSource or IndieDB are great for showcasing your game and getting feedback from other developers and players.
                  • Devlogs: If you haven’t already, consider creating a devlog on sites like itch.io, YouTube, or even on forums. Players love seeing the journey of a game’s development—it builds a connection.
                  • Gameplay GIFs: Make some eye-catching GIFs of your gameplay and share them on platforms like Twitter, Imgur, or Discord. Eye candy goes a long way in grabbing attention.
                  • Discord Servers: Join game development or indie game Discord communities. Many have channels specifically for showcasing projects.

                  More ideas here: https://writtent.com/blog/30-low-cost-ideas-for-content-marketing-on-a-shoestring-budget/

                  Best of luck with Klaystar - hope it gets the recognition it deserves!