This post is meant to provoke discussion and agreement as to the proper direction to take for RPTools marketing efforts. It contains ideas for putting a better face on RPTools. Some are complete others require input and help. The goal is to increase RPTools exposure and drive more potential users to RPTools.net.
Social Media:
Social Media is the key to a successful Internet marketing campaign. RPTools users, by definition, exist on the net and the tools are well situated for the wired gaming community. Social networking has the ability to feed upon itself generating buzz going far beyond the actual work required to produce content. To that end I propose making use of the following social networks:
- Facebook: There is a new page on Facebook titled RPTools. We’ll place announcements, screenshots, videos, and interesting links there.
- Twitter: The 140 character micro blogger is the powerhouse in the social networking arena. Currently I looks through the forum posts each day and tweet those that others might find interesting. If you run across something RPToolee you’d like me to tweet let me know. You can tweet it yourself with a @RPTools and it will show up in our feed.
- YouTube: Invaluable for covering complex concepts in a short amount of time. Brad’s videos are great. We’ll want to add more, shorter videos for marketing. Send your videos to bard (at) rptools (dot) net if you want them included (or send me a link so I cna download them myself.
- Flickr Photo Gallery by Yahoo: Photo galleries help increase Search Engine Optimization (SEO) back to the referencing site. Basically we get a lot of free links increasing the likelihood of someone finding RPTools the more photos we post to Flickr. Currently someone has RPTools as a Yahoo account. If this is you, let me know if you’re willing to let go of it.
- Podcasts via iTunes: We’ll begin a podcast at some point in the future after several other things are put into place. Let me know if you’re willing to help.
Marketing Content:
We need to create a set of marketing content available to folks willing to spread the word about RPTools. This is spread by the social media, word-of-mouth, and RPTools events (like conventions). I propose the development of the following marketing content:
- Screencasts via YouTube
- A short marketing brief to whet gamer and content producers’ appetite.
- Powerpoint presentations and whitepapers posted to Scribd.com, HubPages.com, Slideshare.com pointing back to RPTools.net
- The Google Docs MapTool Documentation produced as a PDF available for download via RPTools.net and the sites above.
- A RPTools Affiliate Badge graphic for web sites that support RPTools including (hopefully) venders who produce maps in MapTool format.
I undertook this task with a friend of mine. We need graphics designers to pitch in and help. You can find the mockup site at http://rptroll.com/rptools. I can use any of the fonts at http://www.fontsquirrel.com/fontface.
The current site is fairly static with fairly outdated information and hasn’t changed in a long time. The new site uses WordPress. My goal is to make it more interactive and dynamic by adding some of the following elements:
- Marketing Content (see above)
- Gallery of rotating images showing MapTool functionality
- Blog space for the Bard’s Guild members and Staff. Each could get their own blog to discuss whatever game/tech related information they desire.
- Social media display
- Announcements
- Screen Shots of Active Games (post 1.4 web view)
Other Ideas:
Contests - run contests for scenario, framework, and map creation. Winners get swag.
Affiliate Programs - these are a great way to bring people in. I recommend becoming a vendor affiliate as well to make some money to provide gaming swag to contest winners.
‘Sell’ MapTool - Sell MapTool for free on vendor sites. That puts us in direct competition with the pay-for products on their home turf.
I NEED YOUR HELP!
Please let me know If you want to be a member of the Bard’s Guild. We need
- GM’s willing to run games both at conventions and online. We’ll provide technical support and help organize the adventures.
- Graphic Artists to help with the web site and provide affiliate logos
- Bloggers to help in the RPTools blogging network feed into RPTools.net
- Tweeters to help your followers find @RPTools
Thanks to those that have already volunteered. I’ve already received artwork from Bhoritz for the new Bard’s Guild logo.
I look forward to working with you,
Keith