The Long Tail Effect in Gaming UGC

In order to understand our point of view of gaming and content, we need to get busy with some some number crunching, starting with "The Long Tail" .

The "long tail" is a concept in economics and business that describes the strategy of selling a large variety of niche items in small quantities, as opposed to selling only popular items in large quantities. The "long tail" - the portion of the distribution having a large number of occurrences far from the "head" or central part of the distribution - can often contribute a significant portion of the total sales.

In digital marketing and SEO, for example, the long tail refers to a strategy that targets less competitive, more specific keywords, often longer phrases with lower individual search volumes. These long-tail keywords typically have lower competition, making it easier to rank higher in search results. For example, instead of targeting the highly competitive keyword "running shoes," a small athletic wear company might target long-tail keywords like "women's waterproof trail running shoes," reaching a more specific audience that is more likely to convert.

Traditionally only "The Short Head" of the graph got noticed and rewarded (Blockbuster movies, prime time tv shows etc.) , but the shift to digital platforms introduced a void occupied by lesser known publishers called "The Short tails". In the context of gaming - that's UGC.

This tail holds tremendous potential for both gamers and advertisers.

UGC in Gaming: A Vast Ocean of ContentUser-generated content

(UGC) in gaming has revolutionized the way gamers interact, create and share their experiences. From Twitch streams and Let's Play videos to fan-made mods and in-game screenshots, UGC has unlocked an ocean of diverse content, existing entirely in the short tail of the graph. This vast array of UGC presents an exciting opportunity for advertisers to tap into the long tail, while helping all creators earn more.

As the gaming industry continues to thrive and evolve, UGC gaming advertising presents an exceptional opportunity following the new monetization problems created by this model, which we at LootLabs aim too solve.

By understanding and leveraging the long tail effect, versus the short head of traditional publishers, we can help better distribute revenue to lesser known creators, which unlike game studios, depend on those funds to continue creating content .

Finding a Win-Win-Win Scenario is always exciting, because it holds great potential. That's what we realized we can do before founding LootLabs: creating a way to harness the media power of the long tail, while also rewarding creators (Big and small). We are partnering with advertisers in order to help creators earn more and produce more for their audience, empowering the entire UGC eco-system.

Let's revolutionize the way brands engage with gamers and make our mark on the gaming industry! Feel free to reach us via the form on the LootLabs site. Currently we have an Invite only model.

Together, we can shape the future of gaming and advertising!

Shai Benbasat
November 5, 2024