This is part 3 of our blog report on online games. Don’t forget to check out the Seeker Game.

You got the whys and you want to get started with advergaming as part of your online and social media marketing program. How do you make them work? Here are some of the items we stress when guiding our clients in advergaming.

1. Do you want your own game or do you want to sponsor someone else’s? - There is a lot of time and energy in running your own game, but the rewards can be immense as stated in the previous blog. There are opportunities to sponsor other games as a way to dip your toe into this world. (Shameless plug here – UniversalWit has a schedule of games on tap for 2008)

2. How simple or complex do you want the game to be? - Analyze your audience and your brand and determine the complexity that is best for you. From a simple scavenger hunt to a more involved mystery, games can be tailored to be effective for your goals.

3. Start with a good story – No one is going to want to play if you don’t engage them with a strong story.

4. Keep your expectations in check but plan for the home run – Don’t expect to be viral or the most popular thing to hit the web. However, make sure you have the resources planned for in case you become such a thing. Make sure you can handle increased traffic and that you can keep your game running.

5. Leave enough time – Give your players enough time to find and play your game. Most won’t take off over night and you should not penalize those that join late. Manage the experience for optimal impact.

6. Keep it fun – Yes, this is a commercial venture for your company, but remember games are supposed to be fun and that is a big why people like them. You have more than 30 seconds with your audience so don’t feel rushed to get to the point.

For a complete consultation on advergaming, don’t hesitate to contact us.