[Ep549] How to use Youtube Shorts to market your indie game

[Ep549] How to use Youtube Shorts to market your indie game

Author: Butterscotch Shenanigans December 3, 2025 Duration: 1:01:46
Game Dev Podcast | Coffee with Butterscotch
GamesGames & HobbiesArtsComedyCultureHobbiesPhilosophySocietySociety & CultureTechnology

In episode 549 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers dig into how short-form video fits into indie game marketing and why it should be part of development from the start. They talk about tools, storytelling, and the strange logic of YouTube Shorts and TikTok, then get into what engagement metrics actually mean and how to use them without overthinking it. The conversation focuses on experimenting, learning from the data, and using community feedback to shape both your game and your marketing.

Support How Many Dudes!
Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/how-many-dudes
Trailer Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQM1SceEpI
Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3934270/How_Many_Dudes

00:00 Cold Open
00:25 Introduction and Welcome
02:47 Creating Engaging Short-Form Content
05:34 Tools and Techniques for Video Editing
08:39 Understanding YouTube Shorts
11:50 Crafting Compelling Stories in Shorts
14:39 Experimentation and Iteration in Content Creation
21:19 Engagement Strategies for Video Launches
26:21 Understanding Video Performance Metrics
28:38 The Importance of Stick Rate
32:14 Algorithm Behavior and Video Longevity
40:31 Translating Engagement into Sales
44:38 Engagement Challenges with YouTube Shorts
46:49 Analyzing Video Performance and Viewer Retention
49:07 Understanding YouTube's Algorithm and Game Discovery
54:11 The Importance of Video Structure and Viewer Engagement
59:44 Identifying Signals of Success in Game Development
01:03:46 Community Insights and Sharing Data for Growth

To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. 

If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! 

Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to podcast@bscotch.net, and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. 

Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net.

★ Support this podcast ★

Pull up a chair and pour something warm. Each week, the folks behind the award-winning indie studio Butterscotch Shenanigans-the creators of Crashlands-sit down to untangle the messy, rewarding, and often absurd reality of making games. Coffee with Butterscotch feels less like a formal broadcast and more like eavesdropping on a freewheeling conversation between friends who’ve been in the trenches. You’ll hear them dissect the nuts and bolts of development, from art pipelines to bug-squashing, but the discussion rarely stays in the technical lane. It veers into the philosophy of creativity, the rollercoaster of running a small business, and the strange habits that fuel productivity. The tone is unfiltered and genuinely funny, because the hosts don’t separate the work from the life surrounding it. This podcast digs into how to solve problems, ship your projects, and keep your sanity while doing it, all served with a heavy dose of camaraderie and self-deprecating humor. It’s a weekly dose of insight and laughter for anyone curious about the stories behind the screen, whether you're a seasoned developer, an aspiring creator, or just someone who enjoys peeking behind the curtain of how things are made.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Official website RSS
Game Dev Podcast | Coffee with Butterscotch
Podcast Episodes
[Ep518] Yellow Paint [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:36
In this episode, we discuss plushies, shadow drops, and patch philosophy. Launch day sets the stage, but the first big update shapes how the game truly lands with its audience. Early feedback and thoughtful iteration hel…
[Ep517] Missing Pieces [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:14
This week, we talk about soundtracks, review scores, and mysterious absences. Reviews don’t just highlight flaws; they can reveal the gap between expectations and reality. Even the smallest systems can leave a large impa…
[Ep516] Exploding Servers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:41
In this episode, we discuss launch stats, slippery servers, and squishy plushies. Crashlands 2 hit the ground running with five times the sales of the original and a tidal wave of new players! Steam charts lit up, bugs s…
[Ep515] Crashlands 2 OUT NOW! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:26
On this special bonus episode of Coffee with Bscotch, we celebrate the launch of Crashlands 2! We talk about the studio's journey and reflect on a decade of shenanigans, butterscotch-flavored and otherwise. If you’re new…
[Ep514] It’s Coming [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:49
In this episode, we discuss comfort systems, progression maps, and pre-launch vibes. Everything’s ready, the fuse is lit, and now it’s the final countdown. Crashlands 2 launches tomorrow! Are you ready?Support Crashlands…
[Ep513] Locked & Loaded [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:58
This week, we talk about golden builds, crabs, and slippery fish. Some weapons in Crashlands 2 have a catch, literally. If you manage to hook one of these powerful items, you might find that they’re hard to hang on to. E…
[Ep512] Sequel Struggle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:42
In this episode, we discuss development time, co-op, and sequel iterations. Turns out, building a sequel is less about stacking on new features and more about wrestling the original into shape. Sometimes you circle all t…
[Ep511] Final Stretch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:15
This week, we talk about the beta wrap-up, player stats, and endgame design. The end of a game is where things get weird. Players want closure, but they also want more to do. There’s a fine line between sticking the land…
[Ep510] Lock & Launch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:58
In this episode, we discuss edge cases, string lock, and embargos. Press keys are out, and now it’s a trust fall. Will the embargoes hold, or will spoilers make it into the wild? Will our calculated risks pay off, or is…
[Ep509] Median Madness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:51
This week, we talk about median playtime, weapon balance, and revisiting our older games. From chaotic co-op antics to echolocation-based platforming, our game jam experiments were always a blast, even if they were never…

«12345678910»