Our AdMob experience
So AdMob is the leading iPhone and iPod touch advertising company (according to them). Check them out here.
We’re trying pretty much everything we can think of to promote and advertise Whack ‘em All, our new game for iPhone and iPod touch. If you haven’t seen it, check it out here.
I decided to run $50 worth of banner ads through AdMob targeted specifically at iPhone users. That is, on apps like Tap Defense, users would see a banner ad for Whack ‘em All. When they click on it, it sends them directly to the App Store page for our game. The banner ad said “The best .99 iPhone game!” (you’re limited to 35 characters).
Results? The ad was approved yesterday at 7:56pm. The $50 ran out exactly 9 minutes later 
During that time, they showed our ad 22,727 times (hard to believe?). 500 people clicked on the ad for a click through rate of 2.2%. 16 people downloaded the game yesterday, up from 11 the day before. My impression? Waste of money 
If I were going to do this again (and I don’t think I will), I would use a title with Whack ‘em All in it, or perhaps, “like Whack a Mole?”.
Have you used AdMob? You’re impressions? Other ideas? Please let me know!
Thanks!
January 1st, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Isn’t it fun to try out a new business idea?
Marketing quick hits:
* SEO - make sure you have a page of your own dedicated to it and keyword the heck out of it. Research META tags.
* Technorati - make sure you’ve claimed your blog on Technorati and are getting credit for every post you write (this is wordpress right? Put it in your “ping services” so Technorati gets hit everytime you post)
* Adwords - better than most PPC. Don’t bother with Overture/Yahoo.
* Be active on iphone forums, especially ones related to your product. Not spammy active but genuinely involved with a link in your siggy.
* Facebook, Myspace, Twitter. Nuff said.
* Your ad didn’t say what it was. Just “the best” - what if I think sports games are the best? Or strategy? Try hitting something that pulls at their emotions, like humor or being twisted. Depends on your target market. If mine was teens, I’d use something like “Whack Em All: touchscreen on crack.” Something that makes people think others are already playing is never bad either. “A new .99 addiction: Whack Em All.”
Good luck!
January 1st, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Wow Matt! Thanks! I’ve got a lot to do tomorrow now!
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Matt - you’re a web marketing animal. Love it.
James - Not sure about the complexity involved, but if you could get some sort of “are you whacking more than your friends?” thing going, it could really kickstart adoption.
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Yup, I really need to figure out how to do that without spending another $50
January 3rd, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Youtube was a good idea btw!
January 4th, 2009 at 9:12 am
Thanks!