Over the past 12-18 months, many gaming advertisers have found Facebook to be their #1 source of traffic for new user acquisition. This makes sense on a number of different levels.
First, as noted in Skai’s most recent infographic, the average age for game players is 30 years old, with majority falling over 36 years old. Similarly, the demographics of Facebook users are starting to shift a bit older — the 35+ age segment has seen the most growth in recent years.
Secondarily, social gaming is growing stronger, and by 2018, it’s expected that 53% of social network users will be active social gamers. This massive audience pool, coupled with Facebook’s vast targeting options, have enabled advertisers to identify audiences based on high Lifetime Value (LTV) and acquire them at competitive costs.
Skai is seeing trends in the global gaming market with User Acquisition teams bringing their efforts in house and running their paid social user acquisition program to hit strict cost per install (CPI) and cost per acquisition (CPA) targets. Several factors are contributing to this trend:
- Facebook’s mobile and app ad install units have seen proven success
- Automated workflow and optimization tools provide gaming marketers an easy and cost effective way to run programs in house
- Outsourcing User Acquisition programs hinder gaming marketers from fully leveraging their own data to most effectively acquire and re-engage users
Gaming advertisers should be thinking of optimizing towards high LTV customers even as they launch their paid search and social programs. In order to reach these desirable and relevant customers, marketers should focus less on targeting keywords or likes/interests and instead shift thinking toward targeting high-value individuals as they move across channels and devices and demonstrate intent.
Many marketers in the gaming space have initial goals of reaching new audiences and lowering acquisition costs, both of which the Skai platform is designed to support. As we collaborate with marketers on best practices and innovative targeting and creative strategies, we can provide a better understanding of the value that certain cohorts of users bring, allowing for a clearer view of LTV and better tools for optimization.
To discover more stats and insights on the gaming industry, download Skai’s latest infographic.
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