Ashley Gwinnell
@ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
1.4K followers 720 following 190 posts
🧰 Indie game marketing tools guy – making impress.games toolkit! 😸 Press Kitty — free press kits 🤖 Coverage Bot — pr/influencer alerts 🚀 Launchpad — creator discovery & key distribution 🎓 Academy — marketing guides He/him
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ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
OMG!

My indie game marketing toolkit, IMPRESS, has been awarded funding to develop Launchpad – a creator discovery & key distribution tool! 🚀✨

Early Access opens up today! 🆓 🙌

Launching a game soon? Apply below and I'll be in touch! 😇

🔗 forms.gle/4mv6GoXbvgCb...

#indiedev #gamedev #indiegames
IMPRESS mascots Coverage Bot and Press Kitty stand beside a rocket-balloon, ready to launch your indie games!
Reposted by Ashley Gwinnell
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
If you're feeling not quite ready for #SteamNextFest, then watch this video!

The recording of @heydanthomas.bsky.social's conversation with Chris Z is now up on YouTube!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5uj...

#indiedev #gamedev
Steam Next Fest Marketing Q&A with Chris Zukowski (HowToMarketAGame.com)
YouTube video by IMPRESS // Ashley Gwinnell
www.youtube.com
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
If you're feeling not quite ready for #SteamNextFest, then watch this video!

The recording of @heydanthomas.bsky.social's conversation with Chris Z is now up on YouTube!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5uj...

#indiedev #gamedev
Steam Next Fest Marketing Q&A with Chris Zukowski (HowToMarketAGame.com)
YouTube video by IMPRESS // Ashley Gwinnell
www.youtube.com
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
live now!
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
Our Steam Next Fest marketing workshop with Chris Zukowski starts in ONE HOUR (6pm BST)!

The lovely @heydanthomas.bsky.social will be hosting!

Join us over in the IMPRESS Discord here: 👇

discord.gg/63tZmEep38?e...
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
Our Steam Next Fest marketing workshop with Chris Zukowski starts in ONE HOUR (6pm BST)!

The lovely @heydanthomas.bsky.social will be hosting!

Join us over in the IMPRESS Discord here: 👇

discord.gg/63tZmEep38?e...
Reposted by Ashley Gwinnell
heydanthomas.bsky.social
Applications close in 2 weeks.
Don't miss your chance to get in person feedback from six top publishers on your indie game pitch 👇
heydanthomas.bsky.social
Got an awesome #IndieDev game you wanna pitch but not sure how it all works?

📢Pitch Up!
🗺️4th November, Bristol, UK
💜Organised by indies for indies
(me, @ashleygwinnell.bsky.social & @lyndyb.bsky.social )
🙏Enabled by @silverliningint.bsky.social

👉 forms.gle/6ya2g78kARVv... 👈
Pitch Up! Consequence-free indie game pitching!
Guy Richards, ID@Xbox
Eben Cunningham, Silver Lining
Meg Clarke, Team17
Reese Wright, Devolver Digital
Joshua Garrity, Secret Mode
Kerryn Frean, Fireshine Games
4th November, Bristol UK
Enabled By Silver Lining
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
I've put together a checklist for "things you should be doing before, during and after Steam Next Fest" if you're an indie developer.

Check it out here and pls share if helpful! 👉 impress.games/steam-next-f...

#indiedev #gamedev
a pink cat (press kitty) and a small green robot (coverage bot) jump with joy holding balloons outside the steam festival tent. there are fireworks in the background and bunting up front because those are the vibes.
Reposted by Ashley Gwinnell
heydanthomas.bsky.social
Should you be in Next Fest? How do you get the most out of Next Fest? How do you Next Fest?

I'll be finding out all this and more from the internet's biggest Steam marketing nerd, Chris Z and I CANNOT WAIT.

JOIN US! FREE NEXT FEST KNOWLEDGE FOR ALL!
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
Steam wizard Chris Zukowski will be joining us to chat Next Fest marketing strategies & best practices!

We're going to look at what you should be doing before, during and after the festival, so you can give it your best shot!

✨ Monday Oct 6th @ 6PM BST on Discord!
👉 Go: discord.gg/63tZmEep38?e...
Reposted by Ashley Gwinnell
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
Steam wizard Chris Zukowski will be joining us to chat Next Fest marketing strategies & best practices!

We're going to look at what you should be doing before, during and after the festival, so you can give it your best shot!

✨ Monday Oct 6th @ 6PM BST on Discord!
👉 Go: discord.gg/63tZmEep38?e...
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
Steam wizard Chris Zukowski will be joining us to chat Next Fest marketing strategies & best practices!

We're going to look at what you should be doing before, during and after the festival, so you can give it your best shot!

✨ Monday Oct 6th @ 6PM BST on Discord!
👉 Go: discord.gg/63tZmEep38?e...
Reposted by Ashley Gwinnell
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
Indies! Are you prepared for #SteamNextFest? 🕹️

If you'd like a quick 10–step marketing sense-check, expand this post here: 👇 📌
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
It really is! 😱 games games games! marketing marketing marketing!
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
This has been a snippet from my IMPRESS Academy newsletter, where I help indies with marketing. If you've done all this, well done!

Follow for more – and join 3,500+ indies using IMPRESS today! 🚀
IMPRESS – Your toolkit for indie game publishing!
Elevate your game marketing with IMPRESS. Essential tools for indie game developers, publishers, and PR professionals. Grow your games business now!
impress.games
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
10. Have you set up a Steam broadcast? 📺

Attract more visitors to your page, showcase your best gameplay footage, increase your conversion %!

You can even automate a looping stream with RoboStreamer! 💪
RoboStreamer
Increase your Wishlists and Sales on Steam by streaming Broadcasts. With RoboStreamer, you can upload videos and have them streamed in loop as long as you wish.
robostreamer.com
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
9. Are you setup to track your results? 🔍

Not just the Steam backend.

Which creators are streaming your game?
Which media outlets have mentioned you?
Are folks making TikToks?

Get live alerts & stats. Engage & signal boost! Tag creators for later follow up.
Coverage Bot – PR & Influencer Monitoring for Games | IMPRESS
Never miss a live stream event ever again! Track all your game mentions across the Web, TikTok, YouTube and Twitch - and grow your community!
impress.games
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
8. Is the build actually ready? 🧱

Does it captivate the player in the first 5 - 10 minutes?
Does it promote feedback or Steam forum discussion?
Does it link out to your mailing list and/or press kit?

There's a lot more to discuss on demos, but I've focused on the marketing angle.
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
7. Do you have a newsletter / mailing list set up? 📧

Steam is great. But owned, off-platform channels give you a direct line of communication to your game's champions.

These fans will give you your best shot at word-of-mouth virality. Treat them well.

Very well.
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
6. Have you scheduled your social media posts? 💌

Write as much as you can in advance!

You don't want to find yourself rushed off your feet with other tasks (community engagement, bug fixes, etc.) and neglecting your marketing channels.

Keep. On. Marketing.!
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
5. Is your Steam page optimised? ⚡️

This is a HUGE topic in itself, but in my opinion:

For Next Fest, optimise for demo downloads THEN followers and THEN wishlists.

Here how to make the most of your Steam page:
How to Make the Most of your Steam Page | IMPRESS – Blog
✨ Learn how to make the best Steam game page – what to prioritise, how to tag, and where to add your unique indie flair!
impress.games
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
4. Are you ready for player feedback? 💬

Tidy up your Discord & Steam forums, lock old threads, etc.

Publish your "launch roadmap" and any current bugs or issues.

Be transparent with players, build trust, make them feel like insiders, encourage them to stay involved in your communications!
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
3. Have you setup your press kit? 😸

Is it up to date?
Linked from your website?
In your email signature?

In this visibility push, creators will be looking to you for assets!

Setting one up takes just 5 minutes!
Press Kitty – Make your free Press Kit today! | IMPRESS
Everything you need to create the ultimate indie game press kit! All of your press, influencer and content-creator assets – in one place!
impress.games
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
2. Have you announced your involvement? 📣

You need to build momentum, so make a lot of noise!

You should be engaging with your audience & community on all your active platforms. Don't be shy!

And reaching out to relevant creators & influencers too, as soon as possible!
Creator marketing made simple – Launchpad | IMPRESS
Forget bulky spreadsheets and disparate tools! Find the best creators for your game – and distribute keys with ease!
impress.games
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
1. Ask yourself – is the timing right? ⏳

You can only enter Steam Next Fest once.

You should be ~ 100% SURE ~ the one you enter is the one closest to your launch date and that your timeline won't slip!

Don't succumb to hype-entropy.
ashleygwinnell.bsky.social
Indies! Are you prepared for #SteamNextFest? 🕹️

If you'd like a quick 10–step marketing sense-check, expand this post here: 👇 📌
Reposted by Ashley Gwinnell
heydanthomas.bsky.social
Got an awesome #IndieDev game you wanna pitch but not sure how it all works?

📢Pitch Up!
🗺️4th November, Bristol, UK
💜Organised by indies for indies
(me, @ashleygwinnell.bsky.social & @lyndyb.bsky.social )
🙏Enabled by @silverliningint.bsky.social

👉 forms.gle/6ya2g78kARVv... 👈
Pitch Up! Consequence-free indie game pitching!
Guy Richards, ID@Xbox
Eben Cunningham, Silver Lining
Meg Clarke, Team17
Reese Wright, Devolver Digital
Joshua Garrity, Secret Mode
Kerryn Frean, Fireshine Games
4th November, Bristol UK
Enabled By Silver Lining