{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Game Dev Podcast | Coffee with Butterscotch","title":"[Ep550] Are ads worth it for indie game devs?","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/02a9ecda\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3366,"description":"In episode 550 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers take a hard look at online ads and why they rarely deliver the wishlist conversions indie devs hope for. They break down misleading metrics, misclicks, and the high cost of chasing visibility through paid channels. The conversation also gets into conventions and showcases, exploring why in-person events are great for networking and playtesting but often fall short as direct sales drivers. It’s a grounded look at where marketing effort actually pays off and where it evaporates into thin air.\nSupport How Many Dudes!\nOfficial Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/how-many-dudes\nTrailer Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQM1SceEpI\nSteam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3934270/How_Many_Dudes\n00:00 Cold Open\n00:12 Introduction and Welcome\n02:48 The Role of YouTube Shorts in Game Promotion\n05:32 Understanding Steam's Algorithm and Wishlist Dynamics\n08:44 Challenges of Scaling Marketing Efforts\n11:27 Exploring YouTube Ads and Their Effectiveness\n14:31 Evaluating the Impact of Advertising on Game Visibility\n19:54 Navigating Google Ads for Game Promotion\n22:51 Analyzing Click-Through Rates and Conversions\n26:07 The Efficacy of YouTube Ads\n29:45 The Illusion of Effective Advertising\n34:47 The Uncertainty of Marketing Outcomes\n41:47 Evaluating Events and Conventions\n43:09 Digital Events and Showcases\n45:39 The Challenge of Exclusivity in Marketing\n49:09 Understanding Randomness in Game Promotion\n51:45 The Cost-Effectiveness of Marketing Approaches\n55:02 Balancing Development and Marketing Efforts\nTo stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. \nIf you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! \nSubmit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to podcast@bscotch.net, and send...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/57RnUDMrX7h6l91fJ2kOsVBxjM7ppOThe0dep8MNmrA/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzMxMTcxLzE2NTM1/MDM3OTEtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}