Nowadays, websites are not just a flashy image but a whole channel for lead generation. They become a business card, forming a proper impression for potential customers and, as a result, make them contact representatives.
However, ignoring such a valuable part of promotion simply makes users turn to competitors and explore their platforms. So today, we will explain the importance of a proper website for gaming companies and provide you with a case study from RetroStyle Games.
Why Websites Matter More Than Ever for Creative Studios
When a studio needs game assets, its representatives start researching options online. Contractor’s image is the very first thing to pay attention to, so the website has a special role.
An outdated website with archaic solutions leads to nothing. A potential client might think that the outsourcer is not reliable, out of business, or has irrelevant design services.
According to Digital Experience Benchmark, we can see that on average, users spend around 54 seconds on a page after visiting a website. During this time, they need to make up their mind and realize that your company is worth their attention.
Common Mistakes Game Art Studios Make With Their Websites
Business websites are not just simple images, but a complex space for your customers. With a lot of nuances, web artists often make crucial mistakes.
Archaic design solutions
The worse the design, the less trust your potential clients have. In cases when people want to order art from a studio, it is required to show your capabilities on your own website. Make sure you use up-to-date solutions that show your creativity as a studio.
Lack of CTAs and inquiry forms
When a client makes up their decision, make sure they are properly guided to finalize it. Buttons that lead to required pages and contact forms are required to help them reach out to you. Ensure that these elements are not only present but also fully visible to all visitors.
Weak SEO and slow loading speed
SEO affects the position of your website in the search results, and it is in your best interest to make it higher. Alt-tags, carefully crafted keywords, and necessary links are crucial. And don’t forget that all the pages have to be optimized (including photos, videos, animations) to make the page load faster.
Focusing only on visuals, ignoring usability
As we mentioned, visuals play a key role, especially in the area of design solutions. However, potential clients have to be properly guided through your site. To achieve it, you need to carefully distribute the information, highlight priority points, and focus on proper navigation. The main goal is to let your customers explore the website seamlessly.
Best Practices for Game Art Studio Websites
The gaming industry is complex, and each and every project requires various services. And there are solutions that make your outsourcing company stand out.
- Service-based navigation with clear categories. Make the navigation simpler to help your audience explore all you have to offer.
- Showcasing case studies instead of just static galleries. Explain each project individually and tell your customers how your art helped.
- Adding testimonials, partner logos, and trust markers. Show your clients that you are a reliable partner for their future projects.
- Optimizing for speed and mobile. Make the website more accessible for all people by optimizing its speed and adaptability.
- Localizing content for global clients. Don’t exclude the audience and provide more languages for them to understand your services.
How RetroStyle Games Increased Website Leads by 40% in One Year
By looking at gaming industry examples, we can see that more companies focus on improving their online presence. And RetroStyle Games comes as a great example of a proper redesign.
Step 1 – Portfolio Redesign
Portfolio change had to better highlight all the crucial steps. In this case, the studio adjusted the design, making all the elements on the pages more visible and recognizable.
Reworked links and CTAs allow new customers to engage better with the service, and old ones see the constant progress the studio makes.
Step 2 – Optimized Service Pages
Service pages also came through massive updates, since the company aimed for higher conversion rates. In this case, the content was changed to better highlight all the advantages of cooperation.
The landing design was also improved, compiling more information on each screen. With the balance adjustments, visitors can absorb more information without being overwhelmed.
Step 3 – Conversion Funnel Updates
The next step was to work on better navigation. In this case, the main focus was on adding more buttons, forms, and other CTA elements. It allows the audience to immediately reach out, without taking additional actions.
What is also important is the work on the context. All the links and buttons became better integrated into the overall content logic, helping the audience understand more about each service.
Step 4 – SEO & Performance Improvements
To advance the company in the search results, more optimization steps were taken. First of all, the work on relevant keywords and links. All these help reach out to more people and fulfill their demand.
On the other hand, photos, videos, and animations were overhauled. By optimizing them, the platform managed to reduce the loading time and make the website more accessible.
What Sets Successful Studios Apart
Making a simple showcase will not lead to more customers. Beautiful images and models will not be enough to make the targeted audience more inclined towards purchasing something.
The design that is focused on UX makes the difference, since the audience needs to learn everything they need before making a decision. In the case of RetroStyle Games, you can see how carefully crafted solutions help reach out to a broader audience and explain all the nuances without overcomplicating.
Services That Help Studios Convert Traffic Into Clients
The gaming experts always seek more advanced solutions for their new games. And while looking for contractors, they want to fulfill various needs for projects. However, among the most popular ones are the following:
- UI/UX Design Services. It is necessary to provide players with smooth gameplay and integration. In this case, UI and UX outsourcing is one of the most important parts that many clients use. It helps teams focus on other mechanics, while professionals handle smooth navigation for the core audience.
- Game Art Outsourcing. General outsourcing is a nice way to bring fresh ideas into your project. It varies, and can include everything, from minor adjustments to full-cycle development.
- 2D/3D Presentation and Branding. Studios help with qualitative portfolio pieces and project presentations. In this case, it consists of logos, mascots, and professional art enhancements.
The Future of Studio Websites in the Gaming Industry
More and more gaming companies appear, trying to showcase their skills. And with further development, it is possible to see even more advanced ways to attract more audience. They include:
- Interactive portfolios. Giving the audience even more ways to explore your work will be a great way to boost conversions. VR and WebAR, WebGL and 3D showcases. All these solutions will only lead to more interested users who would like to try the services.
- AI-driven personalization. Using AI to better personalize the website would be a relevant solution, even in the near future. With the proper use and careful adaptations, it will be possible to not only advance designs but also better analyze the needs of the audience.
Turning Your Studio Website Into a Lead-Generation Machine
Website is not an option now. In a niche where people come to get professional design solutions, having an up-to-date platform, where they can inspect designs, is necessary. It becomes the main source of sales, helping the audience finalize their decision and order the services.
In the example of RetroStyle Games, you can see how conversion rates can be boosted with high-quality solutions and complete design overhauls. Focusing on UI/UX designs makes navigation better and helps customers remain longer on the platform.
