Whether you’re a hard-core PC gamer, a casual Xbox or PlayStation player, or you dabble with a bit of Angry Birds on the iPhone or Candy Crush on Facebook, most people have played games at some point in their lives, and many play on a regular basis. Games are, like it or loathe it, addictive – and topping your high-score, completing the next level or just beating your friends can keep you playing into the small hours.
While games may seem like a trivial way to pass the time, games hosted on your website can be an excellent way to promote your brand, increase your website’s reach, attract links and generate a buzz in social channels.
Some of the benefits of customised games for your website:
Promotes user engagement
Promotes social media sharing
Attracts links
Collects data, including newsletter sign-ups
Increases brand awareness
Increases ‘stickability’ of your website
Encourages repeat visitors
Games we have developed
We have designed and developed a number of games both for our use and for clients. Two games in particular we have created for use via the web, and at exhibitions using a Touchscreen, are our grammar and travel quizzes.
Both of these games use the same quiz engine, designed and developed in-house, and use CSS and JQuery to create an interactive gaming experience. The offline versions were used to capture data at exhibitions, and offered a prize for the person with the highest score at the end of the exhibition. The online versions include social sharing options, and act as link attraction tools for the website.
Some requirements of online games
While there are many companies offering games for your website (some of the generic games available elsewhere), there are some basic features every game should have if it is to be successful for your marketing.
Must be shareable via social media
If a player cannot share their score via Twitter and Facebook, there is little chance the game will go viral. You need players to be able to tell their friends and followers of the great game they have found, so they can play it (and visit your website) as well.
Must be branded
A generic, unbranded, game from another website won’t help increase your brand awareness – it needs to be branded with your company logo and name.
Must be relevant
If you want people to remember your brand long after they’ve played your game, the game should be relevant to your company. For example, a car leasing firm may have a driving game on their website, an estate agent may have a property themed game or an accountancy firm may have a game based around numbers. An irrelevant game may be fun for people to play, but they won’t remember where they played it, or what your company offers unless it ties in.
Must work on multiple platforms
With Facebook and Twitter being used more on mobiles and tablets than on desktop PCs, your game needs to work on many different platforms to be successful.
If you’re interested in what a web based game could do for your business, give us a call on 0345 621 4321 or fill in our contact form to see how we can help you.
