How to build a successful arcade flash game site.

[Stephan]

I read and I get the question “how to start” many times and thought to write a step by step list how to build a successful arcade site for the visitors from AWF.

Before you buy any domain name, write down what you like to do with your arcade.

There are sites just to play games, other have also members, chat rooms, forums, and many other offers for the visitors from the sites. Another “category” from arcade sites are the trade sites, this websites use special scripts to send the player out to another site to play the game.
In a short description this works like this: Site A send the player to site B to play the game and site B send a new player to play a game on site A.

I don’t want to go more into the trading, as I like to show you how to build up a normal arcade site just to play games.

What you need:
1. Domain name
2. Script
3. Template
4. Host
5. Games

Step: 1
Ok let’s get a domain name. The problem is the best names are not available anymore, so we have to find something your game site visitors can remember and the domain should also include some keyword. If you setup a site with just racing games then it is very good if you find a domain with the word “racing” included.

I take for the example my site sniperflashgames.com, the domain has 3 good key words or also key phrases inside. “sniper flash games” “sniper games” and “flash games”.
So you need to find available domain names, therefore I use for example the Yahoo domain search tool: Click Here there are many tools out there to use, after you find a free domain you like, you still can register the domain with any other company you like.

After you found a good domain name STOP, don’t register the domain!

Let’s find out how many searches the keywords in your domain get from Google and other search engines. For this you can use the tool from Google: Click here

Check now how many searches the keywords in your domain get monthly. For example search like this for my domain sniperflashgames.com: “sniper flash games” “sniper games” and “flash games”
If you can see a high amount of searches for your keywords, go ahead and register your domain. If the searches are low, search for a new free domain name.

Step: 2
Now you have a domain, let’s purchase or use a free script to setup your site later. I can’t tell you what’s the best to use; you have to know what options you like to offer to your visitors. In the AWF forum section Arcade scripts and Software you can see the most popular scripts, the best is to search around, ask other webmasters about the pro and contra.

Step: 3
Most scripts include default templates; you should not just use the template like it is, try to change the layout to get your own unique look for your site. If you have some $$$ left you can buy also a nice template for your script or let some designer make a unique template for you.

Step: 4
You need a hosting company to get your game site online; this is also not so easy as there are too many. My tip: don’t use the first cheap one you find, remember a busy game site with many visitors need a lot of bandwidth and disc space. Go and search around what other arcade webmasters use and go for it.

After you have your hosting account, install your script, setup everything you need, let’s go to step 5.

Step: 5
A big mistake is to but your site full with any games you find, there are scripts who offer to download 10000 games with one click, but this is not a good start for your successful arcade.
Visit big arcade site and look for the most played games or the best rated games they have, after download this games to your site and don’t forget to change the description to something unique, as this is very good for your SEO.

Now you have your arcade game site setup and you are ready to get your first players to play games. Just remember to update your site from time to time with new good games so your visitors come back again to play games on your site.

Good luck!

I will write another step by step instruction soon to show you how to get traffic to your site and more.

Stay around….

[fcm]

Very nice article.

All I can say is market, market, and market your site. If you don't market your site your not going to get anywhere. You can market your site with free PR releases banner exchanges, adwords, adbrite etc. Just test, and measure everything to see what is working best and is converting for you.

[gamer99]

Very nice work Stephan. This will be a great resource for new arcade webmasters to help them learn the ropes.

[cheekugames]

Excellent post stephen.

Regards
Cheeku

[Stephan]

Thanks everybody! Maybe today or tomorrow I will write about how to get traffic to your new site and more.