When budding entrepreneurs start to fret over the costs of getting their business off the ground and growing it, chances are somebody will try to encourage them by offering the famous saying “You must spend money to make money.” This gem of wisdom is attributed to Plautus, an influential comic playwright of ancient Rome.

Enterprising individuals come to learn that it is impossible to build a successful business without investment. One could even argue that modern-day entrepreneurs have no choice – they operate in a globalized, technologically advanced business landscape where competition is fierce and the battle for customers merciless.

Perhaps it is no coincidence that advertising has been around for as long as the concept of commercial activity has existed. By informing people of new products or services and persuading them to buy, ads have kept the engine of business running for millennia. Advertising remains as potent a tool as ever, proving indispensable for raising brand awareness, attracting new customers, and growing revenues.

In the case of iGaming, these rules also apply, but the industry also has unique challenges to overcome. For one thing, it is a strictly regulated one, and online gambling remains prohibited in many countries. On the other hand, the market is expected to grow at a healthy rate as the regulatory grip relaxes in new jurisdictions and disposable incomes increase.

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While the opportunities are there, iGaming operators still need to make an effort to seize them. Since the primary goal is to expand customer bases, online gambling providers should make the most of advertising, carefully crafting their strategies and prioritizing channels that deliver the desired return on investment.

The advent of digital platforms has created numerous options for advertising, but several choices have proved to work best for iGaming operators when it comes to player acquisition. Given that no strategy is perfect, the best course of action is to opt for an integrated approach.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

This is not an advertising channel per se, but no digital strategy can hope to succeed without incorporating SEO. Search engines keep the wheel of internet activity turning, and constantly improving algorithms make search results increasingly accurate.

On the other hand, the deluge of online data has become a serious challenge for marketers, requiring a laser-sharp focus to create campaigns that work. SEO is critical for achieving a prominent ranking in search results, and by optimizing their website content, iGaming companies can put their brand on the map and attract traffic, potentially converting visitors to players.

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The good thing about SEO is that it is basically free if one does not count the cost of hiring experts to handle this part of the customer acquisition process. However, this is unlikely to deliver optimal results on its own.

Affiliate Marketing

Provided they secure the right partners, iGaming companies may derive the greatest benefits from affiliate marketing. Simply put, it involves the use of third parties to promote products and services in exchange for a commission. According to some estimates, affiliate programs account for between 15% and 30% of sales for advertisers. Here’s an example of content based online gambling affiliate website – best online casino sites for real money at SlotsUp.com.

The enduring appeal of affiliate marketing has to do with its cost-effectiveness as a result of its performance-based model, meaning that payment is made only for converted players. In addition, this approach ensures highly relevant traffic, further enhancing the prospects for customer acquisition.

Paid Search Marketing

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iGaming businesses can step up their ad game with paid search marketing, which might be better known as pay-per-click (PPC). The success of such campaign hinges on extensive keyword research and the selection of just the right one(s).

This approach is the most certain way of ensuring that a company product or service gets top ranking on a search engine results page. Another advantage is that a PPC campaign requires little time and effort to launch while offering one of the easiest and most accurate ways of tracking return on investment.

Social media

It is no longer possible to imagine the internet without search engines, and the same has come to be true of social media platforms. They have taken over personal communication but also provided brands with an advertising channel of tremendous power.

With about 3.5 billion people (45% of the global population) actively using social media, iGaming operators have an exceptionally valuable tool for acquiring new customers. These platforms are communication hubs where a website link, an announcement, a positive review, or a brand-related image can reach a staggering number of people.

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Given the nature of their business, online gambling companies cannot advertise with absolute freedom, but they can still tap the immense potential of social networks by providing high-quality, relevant content and engaging their audience. As brand recognition grows and visitors start to associate the name with a worthwhile experience, the conversion rate is bound to accelerate.

These player acquisition strategies and some other suggestions are explored in depth in an e-book published by BetConstruct, a company offering technology and services to gaming operators. Ultimately, it is up to iGaming providers to experiment with various options, analyze the outcomes, and create a combination that maximizes conversion rates while reducing customer acquisition costs.