The Do’s And Don’ts Of Creating A Customized In-game Store

Be sure to follow these do’s and don’ts for the best experience.

Creating a game app is a fun, creative, and challenging process. It is one that comes with many decisions. An easy one is whether you should have an in-game store. That answer is yes because it’s a smart tool to monetize the game. After all, you deserve to get paid for all your hard work. When creating the in-game store, be sure to follow these dos and don’ts for the best experience.

Do Focus On Creating a Fun Shopping Experience

When you create your in-game store, think of what the experience will be like for players. They’ll want to spend time in the in-game store and spend money if it’s a fun part of the game.

It’s worth investing in an attractive design, thought-out imagery, and skilled copywriters who can make the shopping experience enjoyable. According to Psychology Today, creating a sales funnel can be as simple as showing the gamers how a purchase can improve their lives or simply their gaming experience!

Don’t Skip Over the Creation of a Basic Business Plan

Although monetizing your video game can seem like a fun part of the experience, it also needs to be taken as seriously as a brick-and-mortar store that you invest it. After all, you are investing in the game on multiple levels, and you deserve to reap the rewards. Take the time to create at least a basic business plan for your in-game store.

The business plan doesn’t need to be dozens of pages long. It does, however, need to cover the basics of how you plan to create and run your in-game store. Start by summarizing what your store is all about.

Next, write an overview of your online store. Be sure to specify whether there will be other components to the store too. Do you plan to sell things outside the game app? Perhaps you want to also sell merchandise at a local gaming shop. If so, include that information. However, try to stay focused on the plan for the in-app
game store.

You need to also include a summary of how your in-game store will function. Will you be the sole proprietor? Are you going to regularly be updating merchandise? Be as specific as possible on the technical goings-on of running the shop. Also, explain how you will raise any funding that’s needed for the physical
merchandise.

Also, write a brief marketing plan. This should include information on how you will spread the word about the shop and how you will use in-game advertising to let players know that they can buy merchandise and in-app additions to the game.

Don’t Sell Only Virtual Stuff

While it’s smart to have virtual add-ons as a primary part of your in-game store sales strategy, you are leaving money on the table if you don’t also offer physical merchandise. Once you have your logo and art of your characters, deciding what to place on merchandise is fairly simple. You can start with a few items then add later or offer a big selection right away.

When fans buy game merchandise, it serves another purpose too. Beyond the immediate profits that you get from the sale, you also get an advertisement. Word of mouth is a powerful tool in and of itself. However, what’s priceless is a word of mouth that’s backed by a player who is so passionate about the game that they wear
merchandise of it.

Do Work Solo If You Don’t Have Total Trust in a Partner

When you create a video game app, solo work can get difficult for some people. You may prefer to get a partner to help with some aspects of the game. However, that can be a tricky proposition. If the game is mostly your idea, it can seem unfair to split profits with those who may not have put in as much work or
creativity.

Likewise, if you create an in-game store, it’s probably best if you are the only one with control over the store. If you trust the wrong person with that task, you can end up losing money. Unless you have a business with employees, you probably don’t need to hire someone to keep track of your store. Accounting and
statistics will be online and pretty easy to understand.

Don’t Include Anything That’s Not Completely Original

You may be tempted to make tribute merchandise to some of your favorite games and characters. However, that could infringe on the property of others. No matter how well-meaning you may be in paying homage to other games, it’s not worth the risk. Stick to selling only merchandise that’s completely original and owned
by you.

Finally, keep an open mind while creating your in-game store. Also, be willing to make changes as you go. As players discover your store and start to make purchases, you’ll be able to determine what is and isn’t working. The purchases can also show you which characters are most beloved, and that can even help you determine what you include in future storylines or sequel games.

At Xsolla, we are dedicated to helping you build and monetize your game. With gaming-specific solutions to make money and the platform that’s designed to help you succeed, what’s not to love? Contact us today for more information on how you can create the video game of your dreams and make money from it.

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