Thread by @TheVTran

Alright. Press, content creators, influencers. 🎥

You want a key. You're emailing to maybe get one.

Here is what my ✨dream✨ outreach email from you would include - for an indie studio, anyway.

A thread 👇 (1/10)

1. Keep it short. SHORT!

I want to be able to skim it in 30 seconds. I get key requests every day. HUNDREDS during launches. Don't make me scour through a long, winding email pleaseeee. 😓

2. INTRODUCTION

Tell me who u are, why you're interested, and any relevant info (e.g. we met at PAX or your audience loves our games)

I can tell u haven't done ur research if:
- U ask for a key to "our game" without specifying WHICH ONE (we have several)
- U get any names wrong

3. VERIFICATION 🕵️

If u dont have an official domain email (e.g. name@site . com) and only have a webmail (e.g. @ gmail), LINK TO AN OFFICIAL PLACE THAT PUBLICALLY REFERENCES UR EMAIL (Twitter bio, YouTube About, website staff bio)

Screenshots don't count. Easily Photoshopped!

3.5. SERIOUSLY. VERIFICATION.

If I have to dig (especially when it's busy) to prove you're really who you say you are, chances are your email is being skipped over and forgotten about.

:( 🗑️☠️

4. STATS 📊

Prove your legitimacy and ability by providing stats!

I'd love to know:
- Follower # (less important than u think)
- Avg. concurrent viewers (IMPORTANT!)
- Avg. hours streamed per week
- (If press) Website traffic/unique visitors

5. SOCIAL LINKS 🔗

Look. All community ppl do background checks, regardless if you link us or not.

Make it easy for us but also add legitimacy by linking your social media accounts! We wanna see your good tweets!

6. BE NICE 🌺

Say thank you, be polite, etc. No need to go full formal, but we aren't just key-generating machines. 🙄

... And I'll tell you now: lots of community devs have blacklists we share amongst each other for ppl who've been rude/demanding.

Don't be on that list.

7. FOLLOW UP (Optional)

Don't be afraid to poke us if you haven't heard back (maybe it got lost in the mail), but do it like, once.

Also don't be afraid to email us back after you've played the game with thoughts/stats! Let's be friends!!

Look, at the end of the day we WANT you to play our game! But there are so many fakes/scams/people just trying to take advantage of us we have to do our due diligence.

I can't say this will guarantee you'll get a key, but maybe it'll help!

🤝💖🔑