![Videogame: use SEO so everyone can find you on internet [SEO checklist]](http://onlineyougrow.com/cdn/shop/articles/cov-seo-checklist-2_bf979d0b-b112-46c7-a895-3b83f1894a87.png?v=1715867383&width=1100)
SEO isn't just for tech giants and e-commerce sites—it's a game-changer that the top video game developers use strategically to attract players.
We understand that you're busy developing your game and the idea of optimizing your website might seem like an additional challenge.
But here's the thing: you don't need to be an SEO guru or spend a fortune to make it effective. Just a few simple steps can significantly boost your online presence and bring more players to your game.
To assist you, we've created a free SEO checklist - and for a comprehensive action plan, please check out our pack of marketing tactics and strategies for game developers.
Get the SEO checklist made for video game developers
The best videogames rank first on Google. Here is a free tool to to get you started.
What is SEO for videogames exactly?
Simply put, SEO is all about making your video game's website more attractive to search engines like Google.
When someone searches for "best action-adventure game" or "top indie games of 2023," SEO helps your game show up in the results. The goal is to get your website higher up on the search results page so more gamers can find and play your game.
Why is SEO Important for Video Games?
SEO is incredibly important for video games, and here’s why:
- Increased Online Visibility:
The higher your website ranks on search engines, the more people will see it. This means more potential players discovering your game online, especially when they're looking for new games to play.
- Higher Rankings on Search Engines:
Most people don’t look past the first page of search results. By optimizing your site, you can climb those rankings and beat out the competition. Imagine someone searching for "best RPG game" and finding your game right at the top!
- Attracting More Targeted Players:
SEO isn't just about getting anyone to your site—it's about getting the right people. Targeted SEO helps ensure that when someone interested in your game genre searches for a new game, your title pops up. This means more downloads and more engaged players.
Key Components of SEO
Now, let’s break down the main parts of SEO specifically for your video game:
On-Page SEO
This involves making sure the content on your website is optimized. It includes things like:
- Keywords:
Using the words and phrases people are searching for in your titles, descriptions, and content. For example, if your game is a puzzle game, make sure you use phrases like "best puzzle game" or "challenging puzzle game" on your site.
- Content Quality:
Providing useful, engaging, and fresh content about your game. Share gameplay videos, updates, special events, and stories about your development process and team.
- Meta Tags:
Using meta titles and descriptions that are relevant and appealing to searchers. For instance, a meta description for your homepage could be "Experience the thrill of [Your Game Name], the top-rated action-adventure game of 2023."
Off-Page SEO
This focuses on actions taken outside your website to impact your rankings:
- Backlinks:
Getting other reputable websites to link to your site, which signals to search engines that your site is trustworthy and relevant. This could be from gaming blogs, review sites, or community forums.
- Social Media:
Being active on social media with your game’s page can drive traffic to your site and improve your online presence. Share your latest updates, player reviews, and special events to engage with your audience.
Technical SEO
This ensures your website meets the technical requirements of search engines:
- Site Speed:
Making sure your website loads quickly. No one likes to wait, especially gamers eager to learn more about your game!
- Mobile-Friendliness:
Ensuring your site looks and works well on mobile devices. Many people search for games on their phones while on the go.
- Secure Website (HTTPS):
Having a secure website that users (and search engines) can trust. This is especially important if you have an online store or in-game purchase system.
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Which keywords should you target for your videogame?
Game developers, like you, must target specific keywords in SEO because it helps your game appear in search results when potential players look for the type of gaming experience you offer. This increases the chances that people will find and play your game.
For example, if you specialize in puzzle games, targeting keywords like "best puzzle game" or "puzzle games for mobile" helps attract players searching for those terms. This makes it easier for people interested in puzzle gaming to find your game online.
Here are some keyword ideas for you. If you want a more developed strategy with actionable steps, go check out our strategy pack for game developers.
| Keyword | Competitiveness Level | Tips and Initiatives |
|---|---|---|
| Best [Game Genre] game | High | Optimize your game’s website with high-quality screenshots and trailers, gather player reviews, list on gaming directories, and use gaming SEO strategies. |
| Top [Game Genre] games | Medium | Create blog posts or pages on your website highlighting your game’s features, use keywords naturally in content, and engage with gaming bloggers and influencers. |
| Games with good graphics | Medium | Use stunning imagery and videos of your game, gather positive player reviews, and ensure your game’s profile on platforms like Steam or Google Play is complete. |
| Best [Game Genre] for [Platform] | Medium | Feature specific platform compatibility prominently on your website (e.g., PC, mobile), use platform-specific SEO tactics, and promote updates on social media. |
| [Game Genre] game for [Platform] | High | Highlight unique aspects of your game, create SEO-friendly content about your game’s features, and engage with the gaming community online. |
| Top-rated [Game Genre] game | High | Encourage satisfied players to leave positive reviews, optimize your game’s website for mobile, and ensure accurate information on gaming platforms. |
| Affordable [Game Genre] game | Low | Highlight affordable pricing and special offers on your website, use keywords related to value, and promote deals on social media. |
| Where to find [Game Genre] games | Medium | Use local SEO strategies, create content around popular game features, and ensure your website is optimized for mobile users searching nearby. |
| Popular [Game Genre] games | Medium | Use social media to share popular game features, engage with gaming influencers, and gather player testimonials to build credibility. |
| Best [Game Genre] for families | Low | Create family-friendly content, highlight family-friendly features on your website, and host family-themed events or promotions to generate buzz. |
What really matters when you do SEO for a videogame
Actually, we think that SEO often follows the 80/20 rule, meaning that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. For game developers, like you, this means it's crucial to focus on the right strategies to maximize impact without feeling overwhelmed.
| Action / Initiative | Why It Matters / How It Helps Attract Players |
|---|---|
| Optimize Google Play and App Store listings | Ensures your game appears in relevant search results, provides essential information (description, screenshots, ratings), and collects reviews to build trust. |
| Gather and respond to player reviews | Positive reviews build credibility and trust. Responding to reviews shows you value player feedback, encouraging more people to download and play. |
| Create high-quality content with targeted keywords | Helps your website and game pages rank higher in search results for relevant queries, attracting players looking for specific types of games or experiences. |
| Optimize for local SEO | Ensures your game shows up in local searches (e.g., "mobile games near me"), driving downloads from nearby potential players. |
| Ensure website is mobile-friendly | Most users search for games on their phones. A mobile-friendly site provides a better user experience, leading to higher engagement and conversions. |
| Use high-quality images and videos of gameplay | Attractive visuals entice potential players, showcasing your game's graphics and features, which can significantly influence their decision to download. |
| Include detailed game descriptions with keywords | Allows search engines to index your game, helping you appear in searches for specific game genres or features, and makes it easy for players to understand what you offer. |
| List your game on gaming directories and forums | Increases your online presence and backlinks, improving your search engine ranking and making it easier for players to find you. |
| Engage with gaming bloggers and influencers | Generates buzz and word-of-mouth, reaching a wider audience and attracting players who trust these gaming voices. |
| Promote special events and in-game offers | Creates a sense of urgency and excitement, encouraging potential players to download your game for unique experiences. |
| Utilize social media to share updates and engage with players | Builds a community around your game, keeps players informed about new features, and drives traffic to your website and game pages. |
| Ensure accurate and consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information across all platforms | Prevents confusion, helps search engines trust your business information, and improves your local SEO ranking. |
| Offer in-game purchases and rewards | Makes it convenient for players to enhance their gaming experience, leading to increased engagement and revenue. |
| Create blog posts about your game and development process | Attracts visitors to your site through informative and engaging content, improving SEO and showcasing what makes your game unique. |
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What is always useless when you do SEO for a videogame
We have studied a lot of video games when we built our strategy pack and we saw a lot of SEO-related initiatives that don't help attract new players. We explain here why they might be a waste of time or even counterproductive.
| Action / Initiative | Why It Doesn't Matter / How It Doesn't Help Bring New Players |
|---|---|
| Using meta keyword tags | Search engines no longer use meta keyword tags to rank pages, so focusing on them doesn't improve SEO for your video game. |
| Keyword stuffing in game descriptions | Overusing keywords in game descriptions makes them hard to read and can be penalized by search engines, turning away potential players. |
| Paying for backlinks from unrelated websites | Backlinks from non-gaming related or low-quality websites don't improve your SEO and can even hurt your ranking if considered spammy by search engines. |
| Using exact match domains like bestgameever.com | Having an exact match domain has minimal impact on SEO and can appear spammy, especially if it doesn't reflect your brand well. |
| Creating multiple pages for the same game features | Duplicate content confuses search engines and can dilute your SEO efforts. Focus on one high-quality page for each unique game feature or topic. |
| Using Flash for game trailers or download pages | Flash is outdated, not supported by many devices, and negatively impacts SEO. Modern alternatives like HTML5 should be used instead. |
| Focusing only on desktop optimization | Many players search for games on mobile devices. Ignoring mobile optimization leads to poor user experience and lower search rankings. |
| Using automated link-building tools | These tools often create low-quality or spammy links that can be penalized by search engines, hurting your game's SEO efforts. |
| Ignoring structured data for game details | Structured data helps search engines understand your game better. Ignoring it means missing out on potential SEO benefits like rich snippets. |
| Not updating your game content regularly | Outdated game information can frustrate players and harm your SEO. Regular updates keep content relevant and maintain search rankings. |
| Using irrelevant stock photos on your site | Low-quality or irrelevant images can negatively impact user experience and SEO. Use high-quality screenshots and artwork from your actual game. |
| Over-optimizing anchor text in links | Using exact match keywords for every link appears unnatural and can be penalized by search engines. Use varied, natural anchor text instead. |
| Ignoring page load speed for your website | Slow-loading pages frustrate users and can lead to higher bounce rates, negatively impacting your game's SEO. Ensure your site loads quickly. |
| Using too many ads above the fold on your homepage | Too many ads at the top of the page can be off-putting for users and may be penalized by search engines, impacting your SEO negatively. |
Should you pay someone for the SEO of your videogame?
Well, we will be transparent. Here’s the thing: SEO can get pretty complex, and having some support can really make a difference. Imagine trying to juggle developing your video game, managing your team, keeping players engaged, and then on top of that, diving into the world of search engine optimization. It’s a lot, right?
Having someone handle your SEO means you can focus on what you do best—creating an amazing video game. SEO experts know the ins and outs of getting your game’s website to rank higher on search engines. They stay updated on the latest trends and algorithms, which means your site will be optimized correctly and consistently. This can lead to more people finding your game online, and ultimately, more players downloading and playing your game.
- But here’s the kicker: there are a lot of low-hanging fruits in SEO that you can tackle on your own, even if you don’t know much about it.
You will find a lot of low-hanging fruits that cost nothing, are quick to implement, and will make your game’s website much more visible in strategy pack for game developers.
Simple actions like optimizing your Google My Business profile, ensuring your website is mobile-friendly, and using relevant keywords can significantly improve your online presence. These tasks don't require deep technical knowledge but can make a big impact.
So, should you increase the marketing budget of your game and pay someone to manage your SEO? If you can do it, it’s a worthwhile investment. But don't underestimate what you can achieve on your own. Start with the basics, see the results, and then decide if you need more specialized help.
Make your videogame more profitable
We have studied the strategies of the best videogames in the world. All their tactics are explained in our pack!
Useful tools video game developers can use for their SEO
Here are some essential tools that our team has collected and listed, to help you enhance your video game's online presence and SEO.
| Tool | How It's Useful |
|---|---|
| Google My Business | Ensures your video game appears in local search results and Google Maps, provides essential information (release date, platform, genre), and collects player reviews. |
| SEMrush | Helps identify the best keywords for your video game, analyze competitors, and track your search rankings. Provides insights to improve your content and visibility. |
| Yext | Manages your video game's listings across multiple directories, ensuring consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information to boost local SEO. |
| Google Search Console | Monitors your video game website's performance, identifies issues, and provides data on search traffic and keywords to optimize your SEO strategy. |
| Metacritic | Collects player reviews and ratings, which improve your video game's online reputation and visibility in search results. |
| BrightLocal | Offers tools for local SEO audits, citation building, and review management, helping your video game improve its local search presence. |
| Moz | Provides keyword research, link building, and site audit tools to enhance your video game's SEO efforts and improve search engine rankings. |
| Ahrefs | Analyzes your video game's backlink profile, identifies top-performing content, and tracks keyword rankings to boost your SEO strategy. |
| Screaming Frog SEO Spider | Crawls your video game's website to identify technical SEO issues, such as broken links and duplicate content, helping improve site health and rankings. |
| AnswerThePublic | Generates content ideas by showing what people are searching for related to your video game, helping you create relevant and engaging blog posts and pages. |
| Canva | Helps create visually appealing social media posts and graphics for your website, which can improve user engagement and indirectly boost SEO. |
| Hotjar | Provides insights into user behavior on your video game's website through heatmaps and session recordings, helping you optimize user experience and reduce bounce rates. |
Copy the SEO tactics of the best video game developers
We understand why many indie game developers might shy away from SEO and marketing.
Developing a video game is already a full-time job, and the concept of SEO can seem vague and foreign. The terminology can be confusing, and it often feels like marketing is a luxury only big studios can afford.
Plus, there's the constant worry about costs and whether any marketing efforts will actually pay off. We get that you prefer to focus on immediate, tangible improvements to your game rather than dive into something that seems complicated and uncertain. No need to deteriorate your game's budget here.
That's why we've created a "marketing pack" specifically for indie game developers like you.
Our pack is designed to address all these concerns head-on. It includes easy-to-follow guides that break down SEO and marketing into simple steps, so you don't need to be a tech expert to understand. We offer cost-effective strategies that fit within tight budgets, and our step-by-step plans ensure that you can implement a good marketing strategy for your game without feeling overwhelmed.
Plus, we've included real-life examples and tips that have worked for other indie games, so you can see the tangible benefits before you even start.
Our goal is to make marketing accessible and practical, helping your game thrive without adding extra stress to your already busy life.
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