The video game industry is rapidly growing into new realms making it more lucrative for companies to get involved in. From the likes of in-game advertising, the sponsorship of E-Sports gamers and advertising at E-Sports events, there are many possibilities for companies to grow their brands through the video game industry.

So if you haven’t grasped the significance of the video game industries growth over the years and its impact on generations, it’s time to get with the times. Video games are bigger than ever and for the first time in history, a kid can make millions of dollars by becoming a professional gamer.

Wait, wait wait, stay with me…

If you are over the age of 30 you probably think I’m insane and that playing a video game is not a career. But news to you, it actually is and kids are gaming harder than ever because they realize they could be the next generation of gamers playing at huge E-Sports events like the “Overwatch League“.

So if you are still wondering what the growth in the video game industry has to do with marketing, don’t worry I am here to break it down for you. As a marketer, you are constantly looking for new ways to connect with consumers and grow your brand in a cost-effective way. But often times, your ego gets in the way because you aren’t willing to try out the latest and riskiest marketing strategies or platforms. This could simply be because you don’t want to waste money or lose your job, I get it.

But if you want to stay on top of the latest trends in consumer behavior, don’t let the video game industries growth pass you by as a marketer or business.

If you aren’t a gamer yourself you might not understand the number of possibilities when it comes to business marketing opportunities in gaming, so let me explain.

Never before has there been competitive gaming leagues and tournaments where individuals and teams actually get paid. This is incredible, there are competitive teams and tournaments for all of the hottest multiplayer games out there.

For example, one of the most popular gaming tournaments this year was with the 2018 EA Sports NHL Gaming Championships which isn’t even thought of as an official MLG (Major League Gaming) game. To give you an idea, this NHL 2018 video game tournament had a shared grand prize of $100,000 dollars.

Yes, I said $100,000 dollars.

So put on your VR goggle because there is money to be made in the gaming industry. Although right now the industry has a “cult-like” following, it is only a matter of time for the industry to blow up even more. For example, Drake playing Fortnite with Ninja was a huge step into the mainstream in regards to making the act of gaming trendy and normal.

So if you are looking for ways your brand can reach new customers in the growing video gaming industry, here are three ways you can start advertising today!

In-game, advertising has already been prominent in video games for years now. From product placements to sponsorship, brands have been connecting with consumers through video games.

For example, on PlayStation 2, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 alone had tons of in-game advertisements and product placements. Some of the popular advertising types in this 2001 video game was custom skateboard decks and in-game skate park ads. For example, in the skate shop players had the option of picking trendy skateboard decks from brands like Birdhouse Skateboards and Ricta Wheels. But even outside of the skate shop ads could be seen on billboards and walls, for example, Jeep advertised on the wall in a popular level. Yes, Jeep the car company.

But since 2001 video game advertising has evolved substantially in games like “Gran Turismo Sport“. A game like this not only offers brands product placement, race track advertising but also brand spotlights. Yes, in Grand Turismo Sport they have special sections in the games menu to showcase and feature brands such as Tissot watches.

The concept of “professional” gaming would have been laughed at 20 years ago. But in 2018 the idea of becoming a professional gamer is actually a viable career option. There are professional video game YouTubers like Pew Die Pie, Ali-A and Ninja that simply play video games while streaming. But there are even professional E-Sports athletes such as JJoNak from New York Excelsior that solely plays Overwatch in the Overwatch League and makes loads of money.

Furthermore, influencer marketing is more prevalent nowadays so the thought of sponsoring a professional athlete or gamer isn’t unrealistic. For example, professional video gamers compete in “live” tournaments and leagues such as League of Legends league and the teams and athletes are often sponsored by brands relating to the industry. But don’t worry, even if your brand isn’t directly related to the video game industry, you shouldn’t take video game influencers off your marketing list. Simply having a product placement on a video game channel could be beneficial and cost-effective if it relates to your target audience.

Have you ever sponsored or held a booth at an event such as the DX3 Conference? Well, there is a new type of event that is popular amongst millennial gamers, E-Sports events.

If you have never seen an E-Sports event before, trust me they are huge. Not only do some of these E-Sports events pack football stadiums or theatres, they often offer huge cash prizes to the winners and runner-ups. So if you think E-Sports gaming is a new and shoestring budget industry, you are wrong.

Thus, if your business is targetting the demographic that attends E-Sports events for specific games, it could be very beneficial to start advertising and having a presence at these events while becoming a part of the community.

We are in a new age of gaming and the video game industry is truly developing some great opportunities for businesses to grow their brands. So don’t sleep on these opportunities because they are risky or simply too innovative, the video game industry truly has the potential for brands to grow and that is worth your attention as a marketer. So if you are looking to grow your brand and hop on the video game industries growth, it might be time to try in-game advertising, sponsoring an E-Sports athlete or sponsoring an E-Sports event.

So what are you waiting for? “Get in the game”. (EA Sports Voice)