Advertising: Ideas to help Graal

[Tyhm]

My ideas are getting buried in the Lifetime Classic thread, so I'll start a few new ones.

Advertising
Purpose: to draw new traffic to Graal (which means new people to give money to the Server Upkeep Fund)
Options: Myriad - we can go with Google Ads, old fashioned banner ads on webcomics, I'm sure there are services that offer Popups and Popunders still. Magazine ads aren't cheap, so if Unixmad's gonna buy one it should be well placed. Radio and TV ads are freaking expensive, I don't forsee that Ever happening.
Requires: Money, the ad itself

We've reached the point in Graal's lifecycle where the current playerbase can't keep the servers afloat anymore - we need a transfusion of new blood. This means we're going to need newbies, and newbies that are willing to shell out the money to upgrade.
Where do we find them?
How do we attract them?
I don't know. You guys might. Any thoughts?
Google Ads are the favorite from what I've seen.
I know Dave from Bobandgeorge.com sells ads, and they're fairly reasonably priced.
Regardless of whether or not we should be worrying about this now (please limit such opinions to the poll), anyone got a killer ad campaign idea? Preferably someone of the "And here's the animated gif" variety? Though an awesome script for an ad could still be progress...something besides Fung Si Yan dropping a bomb in front of a baddy...(though I kinda miss that intro)

[Curt1zzle]

I've emailed Unixmad countless times about some offers. He makes empty promises to talk to me about it, then never does.

So, **** it. If the owner isn't motivated about helping his game grow, why should we?

[k0rupt_ed]

Graal: The movie.

[Tyhm]

Originally Posted by Curt1zzle

I've emailed Unixmad countless times about some offers. He makes empty promises to talk to me about it, then never does.

So, **** it. If the owner isn't motivated about helping his game grow, why should we?

He doesn't respond to me either. I entreat you not to punish the game because of the schedule of the owner...it's like giving up on Star Wars because Lucas never wrote back.

[Lord Sephiroth]

Find Myspace accounts that are being used to publisize movies (Things are doing that now-adays for some reason) or some myspace account with a lot of traffic, then just spam it up with GraalOnline links!

Fool proof!

[Curt1zzle]

Originally Posted by Tyhm

He doesn't respond to me either. I entreat you not to punish the game because of the schedule of the owner...it's like giving up on Star Wars because Lucas never wrote back.

While I see your point, I still laugh in the face of Graal's management.

[Damix2]

Product placement. Imagine Brad Pitt and Catherine Zeta-Jones having hot steamy sex, and then after Pitt going to play Graal.

[Curt1zzle]

Originally Posted by Damix2

Product placement. Imagine Brad Pitt and Catherine Zeta-Jones having hot steamy sex, and then after Pitt going to play Graal.

What I would do for him...or her...

[konidias]

Originally Posted by Damix2

Product placement. Imagine Brad Pitt and Catherine Zeta-Jones having hot steamy sex, and then after Pitt going to play Graal.

Angelina Jolie.

Better yet, have Angelina Jolie play Graal. I'd definitely upgrade.

[Spark910]

Originally Posted by Damix2

Product placement. Imagine Brad Pitt and Catherine Zeta-Jones having hot steamy sex, and then 2 seconds later Pitt going to play Graal.

Poor pitt.

There are many websites out there for games that are cheap to advertise on, topwebgames I think was $50 for 3months last time I checked (and that was about 2 months before my globalness ended). They had good traffic too, so it's not too hard to find easy things to advertise on.

Hmm topsites200 was relatively cheap a while back, but the guy has got all fussy over advertising now, so I'm not sure he wants to talk to you unless you're gonna chuck $500 at him.

But ONLINE advertising only. It's an online product. If you use offline advertising you've gotta be really good to get someone to then go look at your product, online advertising all you need is to have 2 frames in a gif with FREE IPOD and you get clicks like crazy! So for the best results stick to online.

And these websites for MMORPGs and games will probably be cheaper than google adwords, as that starts to get very expensive with popular words!

But here are things I'd personally do:
1) Update/make a new website (with a quicksite)
2) Get zone its own website with relevant info on it - get gaming website to review this - as I think it'd go down very well.
3) Make one server free for all (unixmad will never do this - I've probably suggested it 2/3 times - but no luck). But I think it's important, people NEED to experience the full Graal experience. One server could be made specifically for this, which could have so many quests and a few self events (no staff required - spar etC) and very little (but still SOME) updates. It should have a good tutorial, feature the main elements of a server (jobs, quests, events, item shops) and be free for all at any time of the day or night.
4) Release the 1 month trial that can be used on any server
5) Start to do more events such as free access weekends - where everyone can go on any server and save *INCLUDING TRIALS*
6) Update GK/Zone and make another new server
7) Keep lifetime accounts. If you want them to upgrade, give them a reason. New players are more likely to get a lifetime than a monthly.
8) Make forums free for all posting (except trials) in most areas. The forums aren't a valueable feature that most would consider as upgrading for (at least not new players) so it wouldn't devalue gold/vip for new players.

Dunno, I've lost my line of thought now, and my washing is just done brb

[pooper200000]

Hte monst important thing is CONSTANT updates no matter how challenging this is. Oh and I have aquestion. I don't think breaks the rules. Its a borderline thing that the nice mods could ignore :winky: If stefan owns graal is that all he does with his time or does he have anoher job? If he has another job but if not could he put more updates and effort into thingsd the players suggest?

[Tyhm]

It's a valid question: Stefan works full-time for Graal as I understand it, Unixmad works part-time as some sorta high-tech engineer for a major French tech firm last I heard, that's where the investment capital comes from.

Back to the topic: Yeah, if we could get away with an ad where we take a clip where Angelina's on a computer from Mr. and Mrs. Smith, then do a YTMND-believable overlay of a Graal screen, it'd make a good ad - but would it be legal?
(I'm sure it would be if we got a look-alike and used the parody laws...but how expensive would THAT be?)

[Rufus]

Originally Posted by Damix2

Product placement. Imagine Brad Pitt and Catherine Zeta-Jones having hot steamy sex, and then after Pitt going to play Graal.

You've got the right idea, I haven't seen anyone else hit the nail on the head though.

However, advertising is not the only option.

[Tyhm]

Originally Posted by Rufus

You've got the right idea, I haven't seen anyone else hit the nail on the head though.

However, advertising is not the only option.

What else did you have in mind?

[Spark910]

I'm looking forward to a Googi spinoff soon: How to save Graal!