How To Market Play To Earn Crypto Games in 2023

Editor's note: This post was originally published on March 13, 2022 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensivenes.

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Play-to-earn crypto gaming has gained wide acceptance in the blockchain industry by incorporating new frameworks into games. Its outstanding finance and gaming model, also known as GameFi, is geared toward providing gamers with incentives in the form of NFTs or cryptocurrencies simply for playing games.

Traditionally, games were primarily played for fun, and in-game assets had no real-world value. Gamers would pay good money for a game's premium assets, such as weapons and skins, but they would only be able to use them in the game, with no ability to transfer or exchange them for other assets.

However, the addition of blockchain technology has given rise to NFTs and token-based economies, which have assisted game developers worldwide in providing value to their in-game assets so that players can earn money while playing their favourite games.

The growth of p2e crypto gaming space

In the year 2021, the terms "NFTs," "web 3," and "metaverse" were all the rage, but "play-to-earn" cryptogames were seen as an emerging market in the blockchain space. Several gaming tokens, including Sandbox (+15613.2 %), Axie Infinity (+16874.3%), and Mana (+4006.3%), saw significant increases in value in late 2021, and this trend is expected to continue in 2022.

Dive deeper and check out a previous article of ours on web 3.0 and digital marketing.

The crypto gaming ecosystem is seeing increased demand and interest from various sources. In the United States, a study of crypto-interested gamers in December 2021 found that 28% of gamers were highly interested in earning NFTs by playing video games. Major gaming studios like Ubisoft are integrating NFTs into their famous titles. Hundreds of other developers are also developing games with NFTs and token-based economies as part of their overall strategy.

With rising awareness and competition in the p2e crypto gaming space, you should start creating a community around your crypto game at an early stage. Because there are so many new games being developed and released in the beta phase, your target audience isn't going to jump on board simply because you say your game is worth playing. You'll have to put in some extra effort.

2020: DeFi summer

2021: NFT summer

2022: NFT x DEFI summer

meaning:👇

- GameFi,

- Play-to-earn guilds,

- Metaverse monetization,

- Gamification of DeFi apps,

- Gamified DAOs.

it’s all only beginning. 😎

— Kris Kay | 🍩 DeFi Donut (@thekriskay) January 31, 2022

This article will discuss some marketing strategies for your play-to-earn cryptocurrency game. However, visit our blog if you want to learn more about how to market your blockchain game to a broader audience.

The best blockchain gaming marketing strategies

1. Define a clear messaging for your game

At its core, marketing is all about sending the right message at the right time to your audience. As a result, it's critical that you define how you want to convey what your game is about in the clearest and most concise way possible.

Your messaging should be such that gamers who learn about your crypto game understand what it is and what they will gain by playing it. You should be able to define the value you provide and what makes your game unique in two sentences for your messaging.

2. Go all-in on streaming platforms with influencer marketing

Being a game developer, you should constantly seek opportunities to collaborate with gaming influencers and streamers because they can assist you in introducing your crypto game to a large audience and become an influential face for your game.

Influencer marketing is currently one of the best game marketing strategies for reaching your target users as it allows you to communicate with your audience through a trusted voice. Furthermore, streamers stick to playing games that they and their audience enjoy, so if a streamer is playing your game, it adds authenticity to your paid collaborations.

Twitch, Youtube, and Facebook Gaming are some of the platforms where you should advertise your game through live streams. Assess when your target audience is active on all these platforms to guarantee you reach a larger audience. To attract more viewers, share information about when a streamer goes live with your crypto game on your community boards and social media pages.

3. Host airdrop campaigns for your NFT game

Airdrops are a marketing strategy involving the free distribution of gaming NFTs and tokens to increase engagement and community growth. Airdrops are an essential element of the web3 ecosystem because they allow brands to provide added value and functionality to their holders. Hosting airdrop campaigns for play-to-earn crypto games is a tried-and-tested strategy for increasing awareness and community growth. You can learn how to host an airdrop campaign by reading our guide.

4. Build a community

If you've read our other blogs, you'll notice that we've emphasised a lot on the importance of community building. Long-term rewards come from cultivating a fandom for your game, so don't put off starting a community for your game for too long! Among other platforms for community building, Reddit and Discord stand out most among gamers.

These platforms can assist you in expanding your community. It could be a great way to get instant reviews on your game. It is ideal for motivating community members to participate in discussions about your project.

Keep an eye on the discussions to get insights about your audience and real-time feedback and opinions on your game. Keep in mind that a friendly community is one where everybody feels listened. Fans expect real-time acknowledgement; instant responses are preferable.

5. Promote user-generated content

User-generated content is more trustworthy than traditional advertising. UGC is more authentic than brand advertisements and will help you entice more players.

Encourage players to share pictures and videos of their progress and NFT assets they collect from your game. Sharing this content on your profile will help your crypto game marketing tremendously. Give players incentives such as being featured on your official social media profiles or branded merchandise to encourage them to share more user-generated content.

6. implement a referral marketing strategy inside your game

People value the opinions of their friends and family more than advertisements. You can leverage referral marketing to reach a larger audience. Referral marketing involves promoting your blockchain game through existing users.

Offer incentives for each successful invite to encourage more people to refer your game to folks in their networks. When they buy items from your store, you could give them in-game rewards or discounts. You can collaborate with influencers to appeal to as many people as possible. If your game is suggested by someone they know, such as a friend or family member, new players are more likely to try it.

What does the future hold for the play-to-earn crypto gaming industry?

Undoubtedly, 2020 was the year of DeFi, while 2021 proved to be a defining year for NFTs and Metaverse platforms. Few people predicted that these two technologies would become massively popular in a matter of years.

With the blockchain industry rapidly expanding, it's no surprise that many game developers are incorporating play-to-earn dynamics into their games. But what we've seen thus far pales in comparison to what's to come. There is a strong belief that play-to-earn will follow NFTs and Metaverse's footsteps and become a massive hit in 2022.

The metaverse is so diverse and full of marketing opportunities. It doesn't have to be difficult to market your play-to-earn cryptocurrency game! This guide will get you one step closer to getting your game the attention it deserves. However, get in touch if you want to talk about getting your crypto game to grow exponentially.