Esports is a rapidly growing segment of the gaming industry, with its fan base growing each year. Seeing its potential, many popular gaming and non-gaming brands have been using esports marketing for brand promotion. Some of these brands include Red Bull, Coca Cola, ESPN, and Mercedes.
A recent study shows that the global esports audience has reached over 540 million in 2024. Statista projects that by 2030, the total Esports revenue will reach nearly $6.96 billion.
So, if you wish to use esports as well to grow your brand, here are some foolproof strategies.
Understanding which category of games your target audience prefers will make it easy for you to cater to their needs.
When analyzing the platforms, check their user counts and subscription plans. Read online reviews to determine their effectiveness as marketing tools.
Influencer marketing can impact the reach and effectiveness of your marketing campaigns. Collaborate with influencers who have significant following on your chosen platforms and an audience that matches your brand. This way, your promotional content will get to the right people and bring in more sales.
You can choose to work with either micro or macro influencers, depending on your budget and campaign goals. Macro-influencers have wider reach and established credibility. On the other hand, micro-influencers offer authenticity and actively engage with their followers. Determine the right type of influencer to ensure your campaign succeeds.
If you want to increase brand awareness by using high-profile esports streamers, consider sponsoring their events. Doing so will get your brand before a large fan base that's highly interested in the event you are supporting.
Consider sponsoring conventions and business summits to popularize your brand. This helps build lasting relationships with key industry players like video game streamers, top esports teams, organizers, and other like-minded businesses.
Run contests where gamers can win branded merchandise and freebies that appeal to the gaming community. These contests spark conversations and help expand your user base.
Brands can also partner with popular streamers, offering merchandise in exchange for exposure. This strategy can attract esports teams, leading them to approach your company for product sponsorships in upcoming competitions.
Esports teams are groups of professional gamers who compete in video game tournaments. Why have your own team? When they stream, you get prime advertising spots and control over campaigns and fan engagement.
You don’t need to be a big brand to start an esports team. To form a team from scratch, you need Partner status on Twitch, or you can collaborate with someone who has it.
Video marketing through ads is another strategy that can be effective if shown to the right audience. Since your target audience is gamers, they would naturally prefer interactive content similar to what they experience in games. Twitch streamers are able to run pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll video advertisements, so partnering with them is beneficial.
Your esports campaigns are ineffective if they do not bring the desired results.
Track how your audience engages with your content to determine what they like. Calculate the ROI to determine the effectiveness of your campaigns. If the ROI is not good, invest in a new strategy. Regularly test and measure to find the best approach.
Esports has seen significant growth, creating a prime opportunity for brands to connect with a large, engaged audience. Esports marketing provides a powerful way to increase brand awareness and stay ahead of the competition.
If you're interested in learning more about the dynamic world of gaming, be sure to explore our other blogs for additional insights!