Playing the Business Game: Four Gaming Industry Trends You Can Learn From

Business isn’t a game but businesses can learn from the gaming industry. Regardless of the sector you operate in, the likes of Pokémon Go, virtual slots and even Twitch streamers like Ninja can all teach you something. Of course, like all valuable lessons, you need to do a little digging before you can unearth a nugget of information worth using and that’s what we’re going to do today. Taking the world of games as our inspiration, we’re going to outline four ways you can enhance your business by looking at how gaming companies play.

Going Virtual

(CC BY 2.0) by Guido van Nispen

To sit on the sidelines as the world is going virtual could almost be classed as a sin. While the world at large is still taking its first tentative steps into virtual reality, gaming has embraced it in a big way. Oculus Rift and its peers have led the way in the PC and console space but it was Niantic’s Pokémon Go that showed us that an alternative reality could be both portable and accessible. Indeed, as well as having 65 million users, the mobile game projected computer images onto physical landmarks.

As a business owner, the obvious lesson here is that it’s a good idea to embrace new technology. However, it’s slightly more nuanced than that. As a business owner, not being afraid to move in a new direction or introduce something unique is a powerful trait to have. Other than being a clever game, Pokémon Go upset the applecart. Yes, it could have fallen flat because the technology hadn’t been perfected or people weren’t ready for it. However, the developers took a chance and it paid off. That’s a great lesson to learn.

Overviews and Reviews

“Read/Review” (CC BY 2.0) by Wiertz Sébastien

The gaming industry has become a multibillion-dollar enterprise and that’s led to a market filled with options. Whenever there is great choice, there are great decisions to be made. To counter this and ensure gamers get the best experience, review and overview platforms have become common. As an example, an aspiring casino fan can get info about Europalace online by reading a third-party review. Separate from the site itself, a casino review will not only run through the basics of a site such as the software and payment methods it offers; they also offer star ratings. Using these opinions, users can then start to rank a site based on certain variables.

From this, it’s possible to take high-quality reviews of online casino sites and start to compare platforms on a like-for-like basis. By scanning, for example, a table of top-rated Canadian casinos, a player can get a quick insight into the bonus offers, mobile provisions and more. Through these provisions, a complete novice can not only build up an image of the industry as a whole but each individual operator. In essence, if you give people more information and resources, they’ll be more likely to engage.

Getting Interactive

“Social Media Class” (CC BY 2.0) by mkhmarketing

Another thing the gaming industry does particularly well is interaction. Twitch has become a hub for the gaming community over the last decade. Now home to 100 million+ monthly users, the site has used streaming to create a connection between gamers and players. In fact, off the back of this dynamic, Twitch Play has emerged as a place where users can play games and interact by typing commands into the chat box.

The lesson here is that creating some type of personal connection between your product and your audience is essential. With social media now at a point where communicating to the masses is easier than ever, the days of faceless companies are numbered. Whether you choose to engage via Facebook, YouTube or even some form of live stream, connecting with consumers is crucial. Doing this not only shows that you’re invested in your product and those that use it, it also gives people a point of contact.

Staying Safe and Secure

“VPN & Internet Security on Your Computer” (CC BY 2.0) by mikemacmarketing

The final trend gaming companies across the board have mastered in recent years is safety and security. Take any gaming site, whether it’s an online casino or a platform such as Steam, and you’ll notice a number of safety provisions. From SSL-encrypted software and two-factor authentication logins to independent regulation, the industry as a whole has made security a priority. With experts suggesting cybercrime will cost $6 trillion by 2021, this is a lesson you can’t ignore.

In fact, with the introduction of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), companies are now being forced to change the way they handle user data. With potentially huge fines for data breaches and miscommunication, you can’t afford to ignore the welfare of your customers. Indeed, as a business owner, there is no point employing a variety of techniques to attract customers if you can’t protect them. Therefore, if you take only one trend from the gaming industry and apply it to your business, make sure it’s this focus on safety and security.

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