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is it considered a cheap move to use my youtube channel to market my game?
r/IndieDev
7/7/2025
Content Summary
A YouTuber with 40k subscribers in game lore content seeks advice on promoting their indie game through existing channel. Main concerns include audience alienation, algorithm confusion, and self-promotion ethics. Community suggests strategies like creating separate channels, soft mentions similar to sponsorships, using community polls, and leveraging collaborations. Emphasis on testing with demo version and phased content integration.
Opinion Analysis
Mainstream opinion supports strategic self-promotion with precautions. Most agree it's smart to leverage existing audience but recommend:
- Soft launches via sponsor-style mentions
- Creating separate channels for game content
- Using community engagement tools
Controversial aspects:
- Algorithm impact: Some warn about content type mixing affecting recommendations
- Frequency debate: Between minimal mentions vs dedicated videos
- Channel separation: Split opinions on new channel necessity vs main channel integration
Key perspectives:
- Growth-focused: 'All is fair in marketing' vs
- Audience-centric: Gradual integration to maintain trust
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube | https://www.youtube.com | Video Hosting & Marketing | Channel with 40k subs, 90-95k monthly visitors |
| Discord | https://discord.com | Community Building | Suggested for alternative communication |
| Steam/Itch.io | https://store.steampowered.com, https://itch.io | Game Distribution | Platforms for demo/game analytics |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- Fear of alienating existing audience with unrelated content
- Algorithm confusion risk when mixing content types
- Uncertainty about self-promotion ethics
Problems to Solve:
- Marketing indie game with limited resources
- Balancing content consistency with self-promotion
- Measuring audience interest effectively
Potential Solutions:
- Create separate channel for game content
- Soft mentions similar to sponsor segments
- Use community posts/polls for engagement
- Leverage existing creator collaborations
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Leveraging existing audience for product validation
- Phased content integration (test videos first)
Marketing & Acquisition:
- Cross-promotion through creator collaborations
- Using demo as MVP for market testing
- Strategic CTAs in video chapters
Monetization & Product:
- Free demo as validation tool
- Potential Steam/itch.io distribution
User Engagement:
- Community polls for content direction
- Discord integration for dedicated fans
- Gradual content integration to maintain trust