The In-Game Holiday Guide for Brands: Capturing Festive Engagement in Mobile Gaming
The holiday season presents a prime opportunity for brands to engage with audiences through mobile gaming. With millions of players immersing themselves in games during festive downtime, this period offers a unique chance to connect with consumers in a beloved environment. Notably, by 2025, over 62% of online transactions are projected to occur on mobile devices, underscoring the importance of mobile platforms (and mobile gaming in particular) for driving brand engagement and commerce during the holidays.
Why Mobile Gaming Is Essential This Holiday Season
Mobile gaming usage surges during the holidays, providing a powerful platform for brands to reach their audiences. With nearly half of all generations relying on mobile devices for holiday shopping, the connection between gaming and commerce has never been more significant:
- 48% of all generations plan to use their mobile devices for holiday purchases.
- 50% of Gen Z and 47% of Millennials intend to shop via mobile, highlighting the importance of targeting tech-savvy, younger demographics.
- 48% of Gen X and even 39% of Baby Boomers+ also plan to use their phones for shopping, demonstrating mobile’s growing role across all age groups.
(Source: Unity)
This trend underscores the need for brands to integrate advertising campaigns with mobile gaming and apps, where audiences are already actively engaged during their leisure time.
In-App and In-Game Advertising: Capturing Attention Where Audiences Are Most Engaged
Mobile gaming has exploded in popularity, and the holiday season sees even more consumers turning to mobile games for entertainment. More than 35% of adults in the US intend to spend more time playing mobile games over the Christmas holiday. By integrating ads directly into games, brands can capture audiences’ attention in a seamless, non-intrusive way.
For example, rewarded video ads (where users opt-in to watch an ad in exchange for an in-game reward) are highly effective. This format not only drives engagement but also creates a positive association with the brand by offering something of value. During the holiday season, brands can launch holiday-themed in-game campaigns to align their messaging with the festive mood and encourage purchases.
Personalized Ad Experiences: Targeting the Right Audience
This holiday season, personalization is key. With privacy regulations tightening and third-party cookies phasing out, brands are turning to contextual targeting to deliver more personalized ad experiences. Tailoring ads based on real-time preferences can significantly increase conversion rates. Prado’s ad tech platform helps brands use contextual signals from mobile apps and games to serve up relevant, highly targeted ads.
Interactive In-Game Ads: Driving Engagement Through Play
Another major trend this holiday season is the use of interactive in-game ads. These ads encourage users to engage with the brand directly through gamified experiences. This approach not only entertains but also increases brand recall by making the interaction fun and memorable. Prado has helped some of the world’s largest brands connect with their target audiences all throughout the year with our exclusive custom AAA game ads and brand wraps. These units outperform every other type of video ad and create meaningful connections again and again.
How Prado Helps Brands Win the Holiday Season
At Prado, we understand the unique challenges and opportunities the holiday season presents for advertisers. Our global network allows brands to leverage in-app advertising to create festive and impactful mobile experiences, where your brand can not only capture attention but also drive meaningful engagement and conversions during this critical time of year.
Ready to make this holiday season your best yet? Get in touch with Prado today to explore how we can elevate your mobile advertising strategy this holiday season and beyond.
