Key Points

  • Advertising is an effective way to earn ongoing revenue from your mobile game.
  • Increasing ad revenue in mobile games requires developers to follow a few best practices, ranging from ad format to placement, and testing.
  • The right ad tech partner will make monetizing your mobile game simple, streamlined, and scalable for long-term revenue.

Hoping to increase ad revenue for your mobile app game? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve been trusted by thousands of game developers and mobile app publishers for over 15 years, and we’ve learned a few (hundred) things about turning games into maximized, dependable revenue sources.

Read on to discover our top tips for increasing ad revenue in mobile games of all types.

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Game Monetization Pillar

Game Monetization Guide: Monetizing with In-Game Advertising

Mobile Game Advertising Basics

There are many ways for mobile game publishers to earn revenue, but advertising is one of the most dependable and effective. Partnering with advertisers means you can monetize your game without leaning on your players as the source of that monetization.

Getting started with mobile game advertising is often as simple as partnering with a game monetization company, such as Playwire. We’ll manage the entirety of your game ad monetization process, from initial setup to demand partner bidding and ongoing refinement of your ad strategy.

But even if you partner with an ad monetization software or platform, there are still some best practices for how to increase revenue in mobile games that every game developer should know.

Best Practices for Increasing Ad Revenue in Mobile Games

Want to make your mobile game an ad revenue machine? Here are the top six best practices to follow.

Create a Mobile Game Advertising Strategy

No matter what type of mobile game you’ve created or what your game monetization goals may be, you need to create a strategy.

It sounds simple, but many mobile developers stop at, “I want to make money.” But every dollar you earn from your game comes with some sort of cost — both a financial cost and a user experience cost. A great mobile advertising strategy is about bringing those costs as close to zero as possible.

Understanding your audience is one of the most important aspects of any monetization strategy. What type of people are playing your game? What do they like and dislike? What motivates them to keep playing? Answering these questions will give you a better idea of which ad monetization methods will be most effective.

Remember: in-game advertising that’s intrusive, irrelevant, or inappropriate for your audience will only turn players away. No matter who your target audience is, it is vital to strike a balance between generating app revenue and providing a positive user experience.

On the other hand, if you're not generating enough revenue, you won't be able to sustain your business in the long run. All these considerations make defining an advertising strategy an essential launch point for your game monetization goals.

Choose High-Performing Mobile Game Ad Types

Choose high-performing mobile ad types to maximize your earning potential. Banner ads are still one of the most popular ad types, but they often have low click-through rates and can be intrusive to the player's experience.

While they have their place and can work well when used strategically, banner ads are far from a comprehensive strategy. Here are some more impactful ad types to consider as well.

 

Rewarded Video Ads

Rewarded video ads give players the option to watch a short video in exchange for an in-game reward, such as an extra life, in-game currency, or bonus levels. This offer is usually presented at key moments in the game when the player is most likely to be engaged. The result of rewarded ads are that players are more likely to watch the ad. 

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Players are more receptive to this type of ad’s message because they chose to watch it. Additionally, rewarded video ads tend to have a high completion rate, which means that more viewers are seeing the entire ad. They are also classified as premium inventory, so publishers can earn a premium with them.

For game developers, these details all add up to increased ad revenue.

 

Interstitial Ads

Interstitial ads are full-screen ads that cover the interface of an app until closed by the user. They're usually displayed at natural transition points in the flow of an app, such as between activities or during level loading, and can be used to increase ad revenue in mobile games. 

When used correctly, interstitial ads for mobile games can be an effective and unobtrusive way to monetize a game without disrupting the user experience. 

 

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When placed at strategic points in the game, they can also increase player engagement by providing a brief break from the action. 

 

Integrated Ads

One more innovative form of game advertising is an ad that’s fully integrated into the game experience. It’s not in the menus or the game’s periphery, but actually part of the gameplay itself. 

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The possibilities are endless. A character’s clothes might feature a branded logo, or the character could interact with a product brand that actually exists in the real world.

These ads are engaging, non-disruptive, and can actually enhance the immersive gameplay experience for players.

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Game Monetization Resource Center

The Complete Game Monetization Resource Center

 

Place Your Mobile Game Ads in the Right Spaces

Strategic ad placement is essential within mobile games for a number of reasons. Limited screen space means that there is only so much real estate available for ads. Mobile gamers are typically very engaged with the game they’re playing, making them much less likely to tolerate disruptive ads. 

Also, unlike web or desktop-based games which can invite long play sessions, mobile games are often played in short bursts. This makes it important to ensure your ads are placed in strategic locations where they will be seen by the maximum number of players. 

With careful, calculated ad placement, mobile game publishers can increase ad revenue without disrupting the gaming experience.

Combine Mobile Game Monetization Models

Turning to advertising doesn’t mean turning away from other game monetization models. You can combine in-game advertising with other revenue models for even greater earning potential and to bolster the overall user experience.

For example, you could offer players the opportunity to preview premium in-game items by asking them to watch a rewarded video ad. This provides ad revenue and allows players to try out items for purchase, increasing their chances of paying for them. 

A blended approach also gives publishers a steadier stream of revenue. 

Refine, Refine, Refine

A/B testing is a process of experimentation where two or more variations of an ad or monetization format are presented to users in order to determine which performs better. 

A/B testing is essential and can be used to test a variety of elements, such as ad placement, frequency, and duration. By carefully analyzing the data from these tests, publishers can make informed decisions about how to optimize mobile ad campaigns for maximum effectiveness. 

In a highly competitive market like mobile gaming, A/B testing can be the difference between success and failure. That’s why Playwire built a proprietary algorithm for game monetization designed to constantly refine monetization strategies based on thousands of data points.

Choose the Right Mobile Game Monetization Partner

Choosing the right ad monetization partner is essential for game publishers looking to increase ad revenue in their mobile games. 

The right software and the right team can offer much more than just the technology required for mobile game monetization. They’ll also provide the experience, service, and innovative solutions to overcome any obstacle on your way to gaming domination.

From overcoming programmatic barriers for tricky-to-monetize platforms (we’re looking at you, desktop apps)  to ensuring competitive bidding for your ad slots, the right mobile game monetization partner is essential.

Why Choose Playwire for Mobile Game Monetization

At Playwire, our revolutionary RAMP Platform combines the entire ad tech stack in one unified solution. 

There’s a reason we’re trusted by thousands of web and app publishers around the world. Using our proprietary Revenue Intelligence {RI} technology, we’ve helped publishers connect with the right demand sources and deliver impactful ad units to the right audiences at the right time.

Ready to learn what we can do for you? Contact Playwire today.

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