tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281428715366750186.post8772525734044481603..comments2023-10-01T07:57:28.204-07:00Comments on This Blog Has Moved to http://www.thestrategicguy.com/: Virtual Worlds Get Down to BusinessMarc Hausmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654354560113862550noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281428715366750186.post-41014345804413329032009-08-11T09:34:03.542-07:002009-08-11T09:34:03.542-07:00with the exponential growth of virtual worlds, mar...with the exponential growth of virtual worlds, marketing within virtual worlds is an emerging and effective vehicle. <br /><br />I think once virtual worlds move to mobile computers and cell phones (5-10 years from now), no marketing team will be able to afford NOT to advertise within virtual worlds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281428715366750186.post-51295507515275521332009-08-10T18:48:05.131-07:002009-08-10T18:48:05.131-07:00Entertainment companies are using virtual worlds t...Entertainment companies are using virtual worlds to build and maintain brand loyalty and in some cases sell merchandise, even virtual merchandise. Build A Bear and Webkinz do this in a limited fashion. McDonald's has one, Disney Channel does it. <br /><br />I've thought a lot about this topic. Like you I have had some negative early impressions of Second Life as a business vehicle. Many corporate and government facilities I've seen there, and some of them are actually pretty impressive, tend to be deserted when I vist. And yet I remain very intrigued and optimistic. This technology is in its infancy and there are too many barriers for most users. Ten years from now, we might all be logging into one or more on a daily basis. It wasn't that long ago that many of us thought we had no need to use the Internet to do banking or send mail to each other. <br /><br />The danger in population numbers on virtual worlds is that they include people who logged in once and never returned, or return very rarely. Average number of visitors per day is more relevant than number of subscribers. Even with that taken into consideration, populations are rising and almost certainly will continue to do so. <br /><br />Second Life needs to be a lot easier to use. Multiverse has what sounds like a better business model for companies (more control, for one thing) but isn't as well known, at least not yet. <br /><br />For now, companies that see a potential benefit to virtual worlds should follow one of two strategies: lead, by experimenting with different techniques in-world to see what achieves organizational objectives, or follow -- watch and wait and let others figure it out, and then imitate. But there can be a lot of value in being first. <br /><br />Objectives for a virtual world presence don't necessarily have to be what we traditionally think of as ROI (number of widgets sold). Recruiting, brand awareness, public education, market research, and publicity are all possible benefits to an organization that establishes a presence now.Stephen Manningnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281428715366750186.post-54806662481246813242009-08-10T09:40:39.858-07:002009-08-10T09:40:39.858-07:00No wonder the virtual world is starting to take of...No wonder the virtual world is starting to take off. It's relevant, fun, engaging, and 3D. A web page is a lonely place. A virtual world can be lonely if there's no one there; however, if the place is hopping, it's a killer application.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00751254530645792125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281428715366750186.post-1121497926739352132009-08-04T12:05:30.046-07:002009-08-04T12:05:30.046-07:00With the decline of the economy and the slashing o...With the decline of the economy and the slashing of travel budgets, virtual worlds have emerged as a meeting alternative. All of the virtual worlds kids play in are 3D environments, leading one to believe that 3D, like 2nd Life, will be the future. 2nd Life is definitely a challenge to get in and move around and get yourself established, it's hardly for the novice user. Another company that produces 3D virtual worlds for business applications is Digitell. Their VirtualU universe, found at www.virtualbeginnings.com, is geared more for the virtual novice and is a complete turnkey system making it easy for any company or organization to use this technology.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7281428715366750186.post-40674022847086090772009-08-04T09:01:06.368-07:002009-08-04T09:01:06.368-07:00The learining curve to get up to speed in virtual ...The learining curve to get up to speed in virtual worlds like Second Life requires a certain tenacity. <br />On the business side, there is a strong trend to engaging customers in virtual environments that are really easy to use, allowing participants of conferences, trade shows and other corporate events to learn, network and connect, without having to board a plane. Unisfair has been leading this effort since 2000. <br /><br />MarketingSherpa just published a nice article showing that virtual environments have the highest growth (30%), even more than search engines.<br /><br />Check it out on our facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/UNISFAIR/212940810283Joerg Rathenberghttp://www.unisfair.comnoreply@blogger.com