Comments on: Will Marketers ‘Get’ SL in 2008? http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/will-marketers-get-sl-in-2008/1588/ VTOR - Virtual TO Reality, featuring Second Life Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:24:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Jack http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/will-marketers-get-sl-in-2008/1588/#comment-10393 Jack Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:34:57 +0000 http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/will-marketers-get-sl-in-2008/1588/#comment-10393 I agree with what Greg Verdino says - that "you [can't] just parade into a virtual world and take it over as if you belonged there all along", and that "people did a lot of stupid stuff in virtual worlds that they shouldn’t have been doing.” That said, I would point to Greg's company - Crayon - as being one of those companies! They launched in '06 with a build on their own sim, p-ssed all the SL residents who were paying attention off and then left! If you go to Crayonville (Traffic: 1) all you will find is a big empty sim! Pathetic. I agree with what Greg Verdino says - that “you [can't] just parade into a virtual world and take it over as if you belonged there all along”, and that “people did a lot of stupid stuff in virtual worlds that they shouldn’t have been doing.” That said, I would point to Greg’s company - Crayon - as being one of those companies! They launched in ‘06 with a build on their own sim, p-ssed all the SL residents who were paying attention off and then left! If you go to Crayonville (Traffic: 1) all you will find is a big empty sim! Pathetic.

]]> By: Admission Essay http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/will-marketers-get-sl-in-2008/1588/#comment-10266 Admission Essay Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:28:00 +0000 http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/will-marketers-get-sl-in-2008/1588/#comment-10266 Hey great links, I always enjoy playing this game esp, when it has certain realism in it - I hope that my real life is what my second life is :D Anyway great post! Hey great links, I always enjoy playing this game esp, when it has certain realism in it - I hope that my real life is what my second life is :D

Anyway great post!

]]> By: Jax Streeter http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/will-marketers-get-sl-in-2008/1588/#comment-10257 Jax Streeter Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:00:04 +0000 http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/will-marketers-get-sl-in-2008/1588/#comment-10257 In 8 short weeks, my live concert performances and cross marketing between SL and RL have generated over 2,000 downloads of my original music in over 18 different countries resulting in over 100,000 hits on my website. www.jaxstreeter.com The cost of marketing to sales? Put it this way, I spent more going to see Alvin and the Chipmonks, popcorn and a drink in one night compared to the last 8 weeks.......Jax Streeter In 8 short weeks, my live concert performances and cross marketing between SL and RL have generated over 2,000 downloads of my original music in over 18 different countries resulting in over 100,000 hits on my website. http://www.jaxstreeter.com The cost of marketing to sales? Put it this way, I spent more going to see Alvin and the Chipmonks, popcorn and a drink in one night compared to the last 8 weeks…….Jax Streeter

]]> By: Dave Elchoness http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/will-marketers-get-sl-in-2008/1588/#comment-10243 Dave Elchoness Wed, 02 Jan 2008 23:00:27 +0000 http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/will-marketers-get-sl-in-2008/1588/#comment-10243 Put up a glitzy billboard in the middle of Siberia and wonder why no one cares. SL and other virtual worlds are first and foremost communications media, like the telephone. Primarily a tool to bring people closer together for purposes of community building. Marketing must follow from that premise. Once a "sim" or whatever is built, the owner must spend time and effort building a place where people want to spend time and build a community. Otherwise, you get a ghost town with teleporters. I say "BYOC" (Bring Your Own Community) is easiest -- as when a company asks employees to use a virtual workspace in SL. That's why I believe that widespread public engagement in virtual worlds will actually more likely follow some sort of enterprise engagement than vice versa. Put up a glitzy billboard in the middle of Siberia and wonder why no one cares. SL and other virtual worlds are first and foremost communications media, like the telephone. Primarily a tool to bring people closer together for purposes of community building. Marketing must follow from that premise. Once a “sim” or whatever is built, the owner must spend time and effort building a place where people want to spend time and build a community. Otherwise, you get a ghost town with teleporters. I say “BYOC” (Bring Your Own Community) is easiest — as when a company asks employees to use a virtual workspace in SL. That’s why I believe that widespread public engagement in virtual worlds will actually more likely follow some sort of enterprise engagement than vice versa.

]]> By: Lestat http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/will-marketers-get-sl-in-2008/1588/#comment-10241 Lestat Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:16:21 +0000 http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/will-marketers-get-sl-in-2008/1588/#comment-10241 <blockquote>As far as I can tell, Coke is still in SL, although it’s not promoting the sim with contests and events anymore.</blockquote> Probably because the sim would crash...

As far as I can tell, Coke is still in SL, although it’s not promoting the sim with contests and events anymore.

Probably because the sim would crash…

]]> By: diana hunter http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/will-marketers-get-sl-in-2008/1588/#comment-10237 diana hunter Tue, 01 Jan 2008 18:09:14 +0000 http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/will-marketers-get-sl-in-2008/1588/#comment-10237 I've often said that the problem so many of these outside companies face is the "if we build it, they will [automatically] come" mentality. Building and advertising in SL is no different from deciding to build or advertise in say, Hong Kong or Berlin. One must understand the culture before stepping in and investing money. Far too many places just plopped down an island and waited for Mrs. Horde and Mr. Masses to show up. It ain't that simple. All that said, I DO think SL is a viable advertising opportunity...or I wouldn't still be there, opening shops, giving workshops and readings, and, above all, connecting with readers. Sooner or later (sounds like later), the Big Companies are going to understand what we little folk have known all along...that SL is a great place to live (and work...and play)! I’ve often said that the problem so many of these outside companies face is the “if we build it, they will [automatically] come” mentality. Building and advertising in SL is no different from deciding to build or advertise in say, Hong Kong or Berlin. One must understand the culture before stepping in and investing money. Far too many places just plopped down an island and waited for Mrs. Horde and Mr. Masses to show up. It ain’t that simple.

All that said, I DO think SL is a viable advertising opportunity…or I wouldn’t still be there, opening shops, giving workshops and readings, and, above all, connecting with readers. Sooner or later (sounds like later), the Big Companies are going to understand what we little folk have known all along…that SL is a great place to live (and work…and play)!

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