Social Gaming Sites Increase Return Rate Through Loyalty Suite

BOSTON, Jan. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Social gaming companies are keeping gamers coming back for more by utilizing an innovative loyalty suite from local tech and marketing firm, FreeCause. The firm has become the go-to destination for social gaming sites, such as OMGPOP and Sometrics' Gamecoins.com to increase user loyalty in a space where a game's success is measured by its longevity.  

The FreeCause gaming Loyalty Suite includes an online toolbar and shopping mall. These tools allow companies to directly contact gamers with updates and exclusive hints and offers. Gamers also earn virtual currency that they then can exchange for exclusive upgrades and points. For instance, purchasing a movie subscription through the OMGPOP Mall rewards gamers with virtual currency that they then can then use to buy new virtual goods. These new loyalty tools build retention by intuitively building rewarding relationships with gamers.

"By installing our GamerBar, our users are able to get the latest updates and information without always having to be logged into our site.  For us it's great because we can stay connected to our members and provide them with reasons to come back to the site.  Our users love it because they can quickly check in through the GamerBar and earn extra coins for their everyday searching and shopping activities," said Andy Artz, VP of Analytics of OMGPOP. The company has recently raised over $10 million to put toward creating a new lineup of games for both Facebook and the iPhone in the next six months.

On December 9th, Gamecoins.com launched a holiday giveaway exclusively through the FreeCause GamerBar.  Results showed a 27% increase in search volume and a 34% increase in installs. The promotion not only sparked gamer-engagement by encouraging gamers to perform more searches, but also gave nonusers ample reason to install the GamerBar. Gamers who performed at least 25 valid searches using the GamerBar before December 31st, were automatically entered into a drawing in which 10 lucky winners will be awarded a total of 20,000 Sometrics Game Coins.

"Our partnership with FreeCause has proven to be extremely successful in making us stand out from other virtual currency providers. With our Loyalty Suite, we are now able to offer our gamers a more dynamic experience with greater rewards that will only lead to higher and prolonged engagement," said Director of GameCoins.com, Jennifer Bartlett.

FreeCause is also working with industry-leading social games, creating a stronger bond between a player and their favorite game. The firm is currently working with popular games, such as Metamoki, Inc.'s MobWars, Artix Entertainment, GameTheory, and WeeWorld, with plans to expand its hold on the social gaming loyalty market.

"Monetizing virtual economies and leveraging the power of virtual currencies is what FreeCause does better than anyone in our industry," said Michael Jaconi, Co-President of FreeCause. "This model, coupled with our ability to monetize users' online searching and shopping, are the reasons why many of the world's leading social and online gaming companies are choosing FreeCause."

About FreeCause

FreeCause is a full service technology and marketing firm that develops and enhances loyalty rewards programs for major brands, airlines, hotels, sports teams and social games. Headquartered in Boston, MA FreeCause offers a comprehensive portfolio of market-leading technology and expertise that allows organizations to accelerate lasting, profitable relationships with their customers and supporters. With more than 10 million subscribers, the FreeCause advanced loyalty and engagement solutions drive user behavior and strengthen brand loyalty while simultaneously generating new revenue streams for organizations through our extensive network of merchants and partners.

About Rakuten

Headquartered in Tokyo, Rakuten is one of the world's largest and most comprehensive Internet service companies, providing leading services in e-commerce, portal & media, travel, financial services, and professional sports. Rakuten focuses on new business development and increasing its scope in order to improve and diversify service offerings. Rakuten is a publicly traded company in Japan (JASDAQ: 4755).

About Sometrics

Founded in 2007 and based in El Segundo, Calif., Sometrics helps publishers monetize free-to-play online video games, social applications, casual games and virtual worlds through virtual currency with one of the industry's most advanced in-game payment and optimization solutions. With Sometrics, game publishers gain a new revenue source that enhances existing payment methods and increases conversions among paying users. The company has a global inventory of payment options ranging from credit card, mobile, pre-paid cards, surveys, videos and more, working with top publishers in the online gaming space.

About OMGPOP

OMGPOP is a leading developer of online social and multiplayer games. Headquartered in New York City, NY, OMGPOP develops real-time multiplayer games for its flagship destination site, www.omgpop.com, as well as engaging social games for the Facebook and iPhone platforms. Additionally, OMGPOP distributes multiplayer games to leading social networks, content sites, and other social platforms. Over 2.5M users play OMGPOP's games each month across all channels.

SOURCE FreeCause