Sweet Businesses » Online game http://www.sweetbusinesses.com Never Trust A Guru Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:57:16 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Let The Games Begin!http://www.sweetbusinesses.com/2010/02/25/let-the-games-begin.html http://www.sweetbusinesses.com/2010/02/25/let-the-games-begin.html#comments Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:13:54 +0000 Teasastips http://www.sweetbusinesses.com/?p=778 Google Buzz

Great Day Games
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STUDY SHOWS WOMEN EMBRACE THEIR INNER GAMER…

A November 2009 study from Q Interactive and Social Media World Forum shows that more than 2000 women actively engaged with brands as they dabbled in social media games. It shows that women are passionate and very competitive about games like Lil Green Patches and Happy Aquariums and stocking up on virtual currency. According to Pew Internet, the study showed that 50% of U.S. women play online games which shows growth in a group where certain brands fit in. This is good news for the gaming industry which is already a $720 million online social gaming market is expected to at least double to over $1 billion this year.
Here is what the typical female gamer looks like demographically:

• 85% of those surveyed use 5 or less games/apps regularly. Women are loyal to a handful of favorites, and approximately 15% regularly invest in 6 or more games/apps at a time.
• 57% are earning/spending virtual currency daily
• 74% got involved in a game or app due to a recommendation by family or friend or because they noticed a friend or family members’ score
• 95% utilize virtual currency primarily to gift and/or advance games
• When women interact with games and apps, 57% feel virtual gifting, for example, giving a bag of virtual makeup from Sephora is as meaningful as real life gifting

So if you’re a game application developer, a good target audience is women. Its as if these games are a part of the everyday lives of women who chose online gaming. A February 2010 study conducted by Q Interactive and Engage! Expo showed that women are the largest demographic of social media users. The study of over 700 women proved that 54% of the women play games online everyday while a segment of the women (30%) play weekly.

But, what is really interesting is that 42% of the women responding say they are ‘gamers’ while 7% believe they are obsessed with online gaming. 67% of the respondents said that playing games online 1-5 hours a week is socially acceptable. While almost 45% of those surveyed say they have friends whom they consider obsessed with social media gaming.   And get this, close to 16% of the respondents say they hide or sometimes hide their gaming habits.

Are there stigmas attached to obsessive social media gaming habits? 24% of the women believe the games are addictive, while 21% said playing online gaming makes you neglectful in other areas of your life. Of course there are those who believe that playing games online is a total waste of time (17%); while playing at work is taboo, 93% of those surveyed say they mainly play at home.

A major fear of women gamers is that their favorite pastime will no longer be free. Over 54% believe the future of online gaming lies in payment. But developers beware, if you make your huge customer base pay for their favorite online activity, 77% say they would give up the game. Only 10% reported they would agree to a monthly subscription or fee, but another 10% revealed that a pay as you go system would be acceptable. Just 2% preferred a separate payment scenario for each game played.

All this data reveals both challenges and opportunities for the gaming industry. Because I have marketed and promoted some games in various social communities, I have grown to understand that the majority of my users are women. Now, having a better understanding of this important demographic, I’m ready to let the games begin!


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]]> http://www.sweetbusinesses.com/2010/02/25/let-the-games-begin.html/feed 0 Unemployed and On My Death Bedhttp://www.sweetbusinesses.com/2010/01/23/unemployed-and-on-my-death-bed.html http://www.sweetbusinesses.com/2010/01/23/unemployed-and-on-my-death-bed.html#comments Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:30:40 +0000 Teasastips http://www.sweetbusinesses.com/?p=629 Google Buzz

Conventional (mechanical) sphygmomanometer wit...
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Its not something I’m proud of, but I had just lost my job in March 2008.  Having emergency surgery on a new job didn’t go over well with my employer, so I was informed my job was not going to be held for me while I recovered.

This traumatic experience didn’t really mean anything to me because I was teetering between life and death.  Lying in a hospital bed watching helplessly as my blood pressure continued to drop as doctors and nurses frantically worked to make everything right.

It was at that point, at that time, I decided to live.  To do my hearts desire, no matter where it took me.

However, there was one problem, I didn’t have a job anymore.

Being a prayerful woman, I sought wisdom and understanding.  I needed to figure out if this internet marketing thing was really going to work for me.  After all, I didn’t have any other choice.

Its amazing because when your back is up against the wall, you will DO whatever it takes to survive.  And that’s just what I did.

I sought out programs and resources that would enhance my knowledge of making money online.  My range of understanding allowed me to accept that my new task was not going to become profitable overnight.  And that I had to be patient and persistent.

As a result of that patience and persistence, I now am debt free, I work my own schedule, and I have a list of products that earn me monthly commission checks.  Glory to God!

But, it took time, as I stated before, patience and persistence wins the race. Respect that, and don’t jump into every ‘golden’ opportunity out there.  Take your time, read up on programs before you join them.  Ask around.  I know I do.  Attend webinars, etc. and find out if people are really making money, or are they just fishing for signups.

Don’t become another piece of internet marketing road kill ~ be an informed investor.  After all, its your time and your money.

I promote online games now, like Bejeweled 2, Bejeweled Blitz, Scrabble, Fiesta Epic Battle and more.  Surprisingly, this is turning into a nice source of income.  Most people like playing games online, try a couple, they’re fun.  Once you download them, they are yours to keep.  Thanks for reading!

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]]> http://www.sweetbusinesses.com/2010/01/23/unemployed-and-on-my-death-bed.html/feed 11 Affiliate Offers Sometimes String You Alonghttp://www.sweetbusinesses.com/2009/12/23/affiliate-offers-sometimes-string-you-along.html http://www.sweetbusinesses.com/2009/12/23/affiliate-offers-sometimes-string-you-along.html#comments Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:00:20 +0000 Teasastips http://www.sweetbusinesses.com/?p=493 Google Buzz

Affiliate marketing illustration by User:xDani...
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One thing I do before I enter into an arrangement to become an affiliate for a company is I research the parent company of that affiliate offer.  I have learned that I am not going to put forth lots of effort into an affiliate program that is going to go belly up in six months. Thus bringing me to PeopleString.

It seems everyone is promoting PeopleString.  I was on Facebook recently and one of my friends was trying to sell me a bill of goods on the offer.  I kept telling him that I wasn’t interested in the offer, and that I research everything.  Well he was quite insistent.  So, as he was writing I did a Google Search on PeopleString and its parent company Big String Corporation.  I discovered some pretty interesting information.

In March 2009 an auditor said:

Bigstring Corp. filed its 10-K on March 31, 2009 for the period ending December 31, 2008. In this report its auditor, Wiener, Goodman & Company, PC, gave an unqualified opinion expressing doubt that the company can continue as a going concern.–Businessweek

Also, on December 22, 2009 their stock was at two (2) cents a share and dropping (can you drop lower than two cents?) This company did.  In March of this year they were at one (1) cent a share.   That sent up a huge red flag to me.

I kept thinking, all of these people are getting duped!  There are only four (4) employees that work for the company, an auditor has raised doubt that the company will survive, I’m not sure this is the affiliate program I want to invest my time and energy in.  There are just too many questions and doubts going on in my head about the offer.

Maybe it’s just me.

But, I prefer to promote offers I feel good about.  You see you should choose wisely the affiliate offers you join.  Some of them are worthless, and don’t pay.  There are many companies/affiliate programs littering the affiliate program cemetery, ‘here today, gone tomorrow.’  And when they leave, they leave with your money.  Don’t get suckered, don’t let them string you along.  There are many tools you can use to research a company, and determine if it is worth your time.

Personally, I use CPA networks to work online.  One affiliate offer I promote is Bejeweled 2 and I developed an application on Facebook for it.  This game as of December 22, 2009 has 1,311 monthly users and growing.  That’s great because I get paid each time someone uses the game.  Bejeweled 2 is a fun and addictive game that Facebook promotes for me.  I don’t have to do much promoting of the game because it is in the Facebook game directory.

Bejeweled 2

Bejeweled 2

One valuable piece of advice I can pass onto you is, don’t be hustled by the hustler.  Do what you love, and the money will follow.  If you like playing games online, find some games to become an affiliate for and promote the sleeves off that program!  Put your all into it.  Don’t be fooled by aggressive online salesmen trying to tell YOU what to make money from.  Be an informed consumer and figure out the best course of action for yourself, and don’t let them string you along.

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