Nowadays, who doesn’t love online gaming? Back in the early 2000s, there was EverQuest. WoW is still alive and seems to be bigger than ever before. Plus, there are so many apps where you can play with others – how amazing is that? It’s truly incredible how vast online gaming has become, so it really isn’t a surprise that more people – well, more companies – want to jump in on the action.
People love video games, being online, and interacting with others online (when it’s not toxic, of course). But yes, while there are always opportunities because of the vast number of platforms out there, it technically means greater competition, too.
So, if you’re an online gaming company (be it casinos, MMOs, mobile apps, etc.), how can you get more customers? Actually, where do you even start to get customers in the first place? Well, here’s what you need to know!
You Need to Offer a Variety of Payment Systems
One of the quickest ways to lose potential customers is by limiting their payment options. Yes, you read that right. Many of these companies only offer credit cards, but not everyone feels comfortable having one. Plus, in some countries, a credit card isn’t even the norm (like the Netherlands).
Plus, not all debit cards (like those in the US) have the same functionality as credit cards do. It sounds odd, but generally speaking, you can’t have just one payment system. A lot of gaming companies tend to only allow for credit cards, and it’s actually a bad move.
So, it depends on your gaming company, but you don’t need to feel limited, for example, Humboldt’s merchant accounts for online casinos can be an option to explore (as casinos tend to struggle with merchant accounts). So, with that said, offering a variety of payment systems such as e-wallets like PayPal or Skrill, cryptocurrencies, and even regional payment methods – can significantly increase your appeal. Overall, people need flexibility and you’re hurting your business by now having that.
There Needs to be a Community
The “secret sauce” if you will, to having any game, especially an online game survive is right down to the community itself. Genshin Impact might be a great example of this, same for WoW, or even Final Fantasy 14, technically, the same can be said for online casinos. It’s the community that keeps all of these alive, not you, but them.
Just think of it this way: building a strong community around your game can turn casual players into loyal fans. So, it’s ideal to look into implementing features such as in-game chat, forums, and social media integration that can facilitate interaction among players. Actually, Subreddits would be perfect too, maybe even the best option, because it doesn’t even need to be specifically a game, but even just a whole website or company.
Don’t Forget to Navigate Regulations and Focus on Local Markets
So, here’s the tough part; online gaming companies need to navigate a complex web of regulations, which can vary significantly from one country to another. Some might be easier than others, but some might feel next to impossible, as in too many hurdles, such as online casinos or gambling in general. So, these are things that you just really need to think about.