Advertising Your RPG Site ... for Free!
A compilation of how to drive traffic to your game:
Advertise:
Post a link at RPG Gateway in the appropriate category.
Advertise your PBeM at PBeM2.com
Advertise your PBP at The Play By Post Network
Use search engines:
Do a google search on terms you think relate to your site. Then visit the sites that pull up. Send them each an individual email requesting a link enxchange. The ones that respond get you some high exposure links... which in turn actually raises your listing in search engines... a vicious cycle!
Talk it up:
Visit sites that discuss roleplaying, and put the url to your game in your signature, if allowed! Additionally, many sites will allow you to post a blurb about your game - in the appropriate topic.
Some sites you can frequent:
RPG StoryTeller
Treasure Tables
RPG Host
RPG Net
New Community Site
I just found a new site called WGFriends. You can list your game there (it promotes several different game formats), create groups, your players can create their own profiles, post blogs, reviews etc. Looks like a neat idea overall, even if it's still a bit small.
--Alayla
God Wars II | MudLab
WoD
World of Darkness Games can get easy advertising and link trades with the following 2 active sites
http://www.pissedoffgamers.com - Popular WoD site that offers quality link exchanges
http://www.wodchat.com - They do link exchanges
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http://www.twisted-ways.com/L5R/index.php - L5R RPG Chat Game
More Advertising...
If anyone wants to add their rp link to the links directory for The Age of Ahnicus I usually approve without there having to be a reciprocal link (though you'll get brownie points if you do!).
Alternatively my other site, Jacmus Prime provides advertising and promotional opportunties for RPGs including posting blurbs, articles in regular newsletters to members and much more.
http://www.ahnicus.com - Chat and Forum Storytelling Roleplay set within an original fictional world.
More stuff
Pbem2.com has more than just email games. They take ads for all PbP methods of RP including groups and forums.
Many sites have a specific area for advertising. Avoid the ones that don't, they can be mean about it. I don't allow anyone to advertise unless I can reciprocate on their own board somewhere.
Some more places that let you post links:
http://www.the-crystal-realm.com/ - New and kinda small, but why not?
http://www.rpglinks.net/ - A little secret one. Great layout.
http://barroks-tower.net/ - Friendly place with other resources. Ads go in the very last forum category.
Submit your site to the open directory project at http://www.dmoz.org
The directory is somewhat messy. I hope to clean it up more if they ever let me. You may want to start here:
http://dmoz.org/Games/Online/Roleplaying/
Or if it's a message board start here:
http://dmoz.org/Games/Online/Roleplaying/Science_Fiction_and_Fantasy/Mes...
- - - - - - - - Do not use dotted lines - - - - - - - - -
Advertise your online RPG - http://www.pbem2.com
Thar Shaddin - freeform fantasy PbP RP: http://tharshaddin.com