Video ads in mobile games are on the rise
Video advertising in mobile games has been growing more prominent in recent years. Last year marked a major increase in the use of video ads in mobile games, according to AdColony, a leading video advertisement firm. The firm suggests that those playing mobile games watched more than 1 billion video through its platform since 2011. Video ads may be becoming an ideal way to engage consumers in mobile games, presenting a new dynamic to marketing to these consumers.
Video ads prove successful in 2012
Due to the interest consumers appear to have in video ads in their mobile games, AdColony reported a 565% increase in its revenues in 2012. Advertisers have been encouraged by the engagement they have seen through video ads in mobile games as well. AdColony claims that spending on video ads grew by 122% from 2011 to 2012. The company expects to continue seeing promising growth into the first quarter of 2013.
Videos tailored to consumer interests are most successful
AdColony notes that one of the reasons video ads have become so successful is because its platform delivers videos that consumers actually want to see. Much of the marketing that can be found in mobile games is relatively random. The AdColony platform provides consumers with advertisements that they are likely to find interesting, based on the mobile games that they play. Advertisements that align with a consumer’s interest are more likely to be successful, especially when it comes to the gaming community, which is either staunchly opposed to in-game advertisements or very supportive of these advertisements.
Mobile games becoming a powerful marketing tool
Marketers are beginning to move away from traditional forms of advertising, focusing more on the mobile space and putting more emphasis on interactivity. Consumers are responding well to interactive marketing because it is something new. Video advertisements, in particular, have been receiving a great deal of support from consumers who are showing that they are willing to participate in these advertisements more so than in traditional marketing campaigns.
Report highlights the marketing potential of mobile games
Mobile games are beloved by many due to the entertainment they can provide. They may have largely untapped marketing potential, however, according to a new report from ForeSights, a leading market research firm. The report highlights mobile games as marketing tools, suggesting that they can be used to promote products and services to a wide range of consumers. Consumers have shown that they are willing to participate in marketing that they find in mobile games, which has turned many of these games into effective marketing tools for those that know how to appeal to gamers.
Report identifies trends in mobile gaming
The report from ForeSights touches upon new opportunities emerging in mobile marketing, focusing on trends that are bringing marketing more in line with mobile gaming. These trends include willingness among consumers in engaging mobile advertisements that offer an interactive experience, rather than just directing them to a product website. Gamification of mobile advertisements has proven popular among consumers, especially those that have a strong love for mobile games.
Challenges exist that could make marketing difficult
There are some challenges in using mobile games as a marketing tool. A large portion of mobile gamers are young, between the ages of 12 and 17. Many of these people make use of their parent’s mobile devices in order to play mobile games. In recent years, collecting data from these consumers have become very controversial and it is becoming more common for young consumers to “mis-click” advertisements, constituting their unwilling participating in a marketing campaign. This can be particularly problematic if advertisements link directly to an e-commerce site, where it is easy to purchase products without actually intending to do so.
Developers show willingness to cater to advertisers
In-game advertisements are the primary way for developers of mobile games to generate revenue. Many developers design their games specifically with the concept of advertising in mind, but many of these games see little interest from advertisers that could see major benefits from engaging gamers. Mobile games have the ability to capture the attention of consumers and keep them focused on participating in gaming elements, if advertisers can find a way to do the same, mobile games may become the next major marketing tool.
