Posted October 19, 2017 by SPNKr
To describe the modern indie scene as “crowded” is a major understatement. Reports come out on a seemingly weekly basis that there are more games launching than ever before. Every storefront is busier than ever and if we’re being honest -- we’re no exception. At itch.io we’re acutely aware of the issues facing modern indie developers and while we’re trying our hardest to make the best possible storefront we know that there are still some processes that might be obscure to many developers. Here are our tips for maximizing your itch.io launch.
Customize your page
We’ve got a massively customizable toolset available for you to make your game’s page as unique as the game itself. You can do something thematic like the fading images of Cityglitch or go minimalist like Indigo Child. You have so many options available that leaving the page black-on-white doesn’t make any sense. Not to me at least. If you need inspiration, itch.io’s founder Leaf has a collection of some of his favorites available here.
Mobilize your followers
This advice is valuable anywhere, but it’s still worth highlighting: Nobody will buy your project if they don’t know it exists. Furthermore, the expectation that someone will magically find your game and make you a millionaire is roughly the same as getting struck by lightning. Just because it can happen doesn’t mean you should wear rubber underwear every day.
So what does that leave? If you’ve been telling people about your project you’ve already got a built in following of your most devoted fans. Send them your itch.io page. Tweet the link, send it to your email list, put it on a billboard. You can also embed an itch.io widget onto your site. That way you can keep even more of your profits and monetize your existing homepage.
Talk to us!
We’re passionate about games at itch.io. I don’t think anyone would fight that claim. We hand curate nearly all of the home page on itch.io and we’re always looking for more awesome projects to feature. Sadly, there isn’t enough hours in the day for our team of 6 to comb through each and every game that releases on the service. Maybe one day, but not today. If you want someone at itch.io to know about your upcoming release you have to, well, let one of us know. It’s not a complicated setup but it’s one worth mentioning.
This should be a good starting point for anyone looking to launch their game on itch.io but it’s just that: a starting point. Do you have any tips and tricks for your fellow developers? Share them in the comments below.