A lot of indie devs think marketing starts when the game is almost done.

That’s too late.

Marketing with zero budget is not about “going viral”.

It’s about showing small proof again and again:

- a gif

- a mechanic

- a weird enemy

- a before/after

- a short demo moment

- a devlog with one clear idea

⚠️ Common mistake:

Waiting until release day to tell people the game exists.

By then, you’re not “marketing”.

You’re shouting into an empty room.

✅ Quick fixes:

- post one visible thing every week

- show gameplay, not vague promises

- make your Steam page early

- collect wishlists before release

- test which clips people actually react to

🎯 Rule to remember:

If nobody sees the game before release, don’t expect them to care on release day.