Topic: What's the best places to advertise to parents plus others?

[Pajama Sam]

As It probably is fairly obvious my games are made for kids.And the biggest challenge for me is advertising to parents.I have been searching for websites that advertise and most of the costs I've found are way too high for my budget.$500 a month is an extremely large price for me.Maybe after I get my business going I would spend more but I'm asking anybody.If you know of some places to advertise (even expensive).A list of many places would help alot.
Thanks

[Danvzare]

I don't know how useful this would be to advertise to parents, but Project Wonderful is pretty good for advertising on a budget. You can even get things advertised on there for free.
Although the last time I used it was nearly ten years ago, so things might have changed since then.

EDIT: And looking it up... it looks as though it's been dead since 2018. 

[Rik_Vargard]

I did 2 quick Google searches:

1. Where can I promote my game for free
2. Forums kids video games

Perhaps you can promote your game the normal way and then go to forums where parents talk about videogames for kids?

[Pajama Sam]

Have you got examples of forums that parents talk about games  for their kids?

[Rik_Vargard]

Like I told you it was a very quick search and I just found some links like this one (for what it's worth) : https://forum.grasscity.com/threads/video-games-and-children.1428899/

My suggestion was to do those kind of searches and find what you think will best fit your goal based on your strategy. 

[Pajama Sam]

Thanks for the tip but that was a horrible website.That website was for people who buy Mariwana.That would be a horrible impression.   
That's ok I'm sure you didn't know.
I'll search on my own like you said.

[Rik_Vargard]

Ohhh boy,  I'm sorry !!! 

Like I said it was a quick search in order to help...

I do hope you do find what you're looking for !

[Pajama Sam]

Thanks and if anyone else has some suggestions i'd like to hear some.

[Cassiebsg]

No suggestions, rather than say that parents will most likely search (Google) for it, or use Steam/GOG/etc and search for kids games. But if they're anything like me, they let their kids find the games they want by themselves.
Apart from a few AGS games I downloaded cause I thought my kid would enjoy them (or I downloaded them for my self, and then let him play it as well), all the games my son plays he has either downloaded them from Google play (to his tablet) or when he uses the computer he uses a site with games for kids (this site: https://www.friv.com/). I basically just check them to make sure he's playing something that is age appropriate.

[Pajama Sam]

Friv.com looks like a good place if I was publishing free internet games but my game isn't online  or free.That's why is I want to advertise to parents because most  parents would rather they bought their kids games instead of kids  buying from adds without parents knowing about it.Many advertisements target kids directly and a lot of parents lose money on kids click adds.I want to be fair about it.Also advertising paid games to kids is illegal in some places.That's why I'm advertising to parents.

So Thanks for mentioning that website.That might be helpful in the future for html5.

I just should mention to anybody that I'm looking for places to advertise to parents (not kids)for offline (paid) kids games.

Has anyone else got some ideas?

[Babar]

I don't think seeking places/services to specifically target parents is useful, rather you should market your games as being for kids, and then naturally when parents search for them, they will find your games.

[Cassiebsg]

I get what you are after, I was just sharing my own experience as a parent. I can't however talk for other parents.

Personally, I would ever only buy a game for my son, if I thought there was some good educational value attached to it. Like learning a new language in a fun way, or math, or history or... There are just so many good free games that he finds fun to play (and some even teach logic thinking! and I'm happy when I see he choose such a game instead of me imposing it on him).
Your best bet is mouth-to-mouth (or keyboard-to-keyboard), as you make the game, some parents see it, get it for their kids and the kids love the game that they tell their friends about it, or the parents tell their friends about it which in turn gets them to buy the game.

So make it fun for both parents and kids to play, label it correct and post it in as many platforms as you can, advertise it via social media, game reviewers and game events. In other words, just like any other game is advertised. And don't expect to cash in in it the first month or two or...
You can also try and found raise to get the game done, since that would at least give you some advanced sales if successful.

[Blondbraid]

If I may pitch in, my interest is twofold, both since I released a kinda edutainment, kinda kid-friendly game about Gustav Vasa on Steam with some friends a while ago,
but also since I'm hoping to get my cousin's oldest kid interested in gaming (six years old as of writing) and would love to find some good games that, aside from a suitable age rating,
also doesn't require too much reading or knowing English in order to learn to play the game.

[Pajama Sam]

Blondbraid.I'm not sure if your asking about the game or saying what you like.I heard from a lot of places that edutainment is what most parents want but I've also heard the side of the story from kids.Most edutainment games are good and fun to a point.I've heard from many sources that kids will play these games but because many games use education as a blockage to the story the game drags.kids just don't have that kind of attention to enjoy it.Having a reasonable amount that doesn't hold up the game is a good idea.I didn't have edutainment in this game because I couldn't figure a way to fit it in.It is a good wholesome game that ranges from ages 5 to 14 maybe even any age.The game is packed full of about 500 background animation jokes that are age appropriate for anyone.There is not one moment of immorality and yet it's hilarious the whole way through.I made this game purely as proof that you can have immeasurable fun without immorality.I know there was no reason for me to say all that but I just had to say.And no it doesn't require much knowledge of english.and all speech is choosable as text or sound.
I'm not saying your wrong about edutainment.It all varies upon how it's used in a game.I am definitely considering it.



You gave many good details cassiebsg that I probably will do.
Thank you for your opinions cassiebsg and blondbraid.
Your opinions are very useful to me.

I am asking this very early considering that the game won't be ready for at least a year or two.but I want to get as much knowledge as I can.So even though most everything has been mentioned as ways to advertise. If anyone knows something that wasn't mentioned .I could use as much help in this as I can get.

Sorry for such a long post.I talk so much at night.

[cat]

You could start with learning proper punctuation. I definitely wouldn't buy a game from someone who doesn't care to write correctly, especially if it's a game for children.

[Pajama Sam]

I normally use proper punctuation fluently. It' s this irritating autocomplete  on my kindle.It changes what I type.It also switches phrases around in different places. I don't worry too much if it changes punctuation  on ags forums.It is harder typing on a kindle and it's much worse than typing on  a phone.
Thank you for opinion anyways.