what i've learned starting neon play - ten top tips for starting and growing an exciting...
DESCRIPTION
Having set up Neon Play in 2010 with no staff, not much talent and no experience of making and marketing a mobile game, Oli Christie has created one of the most exciting and talked-about companies in the UK. In this informal and fun talk, Oli will outline his top 10 tips for starting a company, growing it, maximising your exposure and creating a talked-about brand on a national basis. With 50 million downloads and 10 global number ones with hits like Flick Football, Paper Glider and Traffic Panic London, Neon Play has become one of the top mobile games studios in the UK in just three years. Find out how Oli has grown the company to 25 people in Cirencester and an insight of the challenges of making money from the App Store.TRANSCRIPT
Oli Christie, CEO
Top tips to start & grow an exciting business
Today...• About Neon Play• Top tips for starting• How to grow• Team importance• Culture & marketing• Make a difference
@neonplayoli
My CV• Useless, lazy student• Failed business• Truly terrible ad exec• OK’ish copywriter• Not bad creative director
@neonplayoli
Paper Tossers?
About Neon Play• Mobile games studio• Launched June 2010• 24 staff• 60 games - global• Top 50 in world
@neonplayoli
Neon Play’s games
@neonplayoli
15 games with over 1 million downloads
@neonplayoli
6 million downloads
12 million downloads
12 milliondownloads
155 countries
@neonplayoli
73% export
@neonplayoli
53,000,000downloads
@neonplayoli
Top 10 tips
1. Your brand is everything
@neonplayoli
Beware the URLExperts Exchange - where programmers exchange advicewww.expertsexchange.com
Looking for a pen? Go to Pen Island...www.penisland.net
Need to find a therapist? www.therapistfinder.com
Italian Power Generator company…www.powergenitalia.com
Mole Station Native Nurserywww.molestationnursery.com
A good logo
Business card
Tip 2: Get a partner
@neonplayoli
Partner in crime
@neonplayoli
Get a mentor
@neonplayoli
Tip 3: Your staff are everything
@neonplayoli
@neonplayoli
A maybe is a no
@neonplayoli
Get rid of bad apples
@neonplayoli
Commitment to the whole human being
@neonplayoli
Tip 4: Your office is your brand
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@neonplayoli
NO!
You’ve got to start somewhere
@neonplayoli
@neonplayoli
Tip 5: Culture is king
@neonplayoli
• Get your birthday off• Free beer on Fridays• Watch the footie• £100 joining gift
10 reasons...
Posh bog roll guarantee
@neonplayoli
Clay pigeon shooting
Off to the fair!
Go-karting
Think big. Act small.
@neonplayoli
Tip 6: Great marketing works
@neonplayoli
PR is golden (and free)
@neonplayoli
National press
Games press
Get yourself out there...
@neonplayoli
Lady luck...
@neonplayoli
Use social media
2m+ views500,000 fans 77,000 followers
@neonplayoli
@neonplayoli
Incentivise your fans
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Kaboom!
Tip 7: Enter awards
@neonplayoli
@neonplayoli
Tip 8: Accept it won’t be easy
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You will feel...
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Tip 9: Make a difference
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Give people work experience
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Work with local charities
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Education and industry
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Tip 10: Take risks. Make mistakes.
“Take risks. If you win, you will be happy. And if you lose, you will be wise.”
Failure is good
“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”
Enjoy the highs. Ride the lows.
@neonplayoli
@neonplayoliNever give up. Ever.
@neonplayoli
Emotionally rewarding
@neonplayoli
