"This is one of those posts where you’ll inevitably learn more about the person behind the keyboard. But hey, they say authenticity is critical for us social media geeks so I suppose it’s all good. I’ll start with a confession: I “play” Second Life. Yes, my name is Kelly and I am a Second Life (SL) addict. Whew, there. I said it." (...)
"I admit it has taken me this long to form an opinion on whether SL was just Barbies for adults or if businesses or brands could, in fact, utilize the social networking or virtual submersion aspects of it for marketing or business benefit. Wait no longer, my verdict is in. And yes, I do think there are important uses and applications for Second Life as a business tool." (...)
"There are a variety of examples of companies using Second Life as a tool for business and branding, the least of which is IBM. Back in November 2007, IBM announced a $10million investment in Second Life and other virtual technologies. Other brands like Dell, Intel, Coca-cola, Saturn, and Coffee Mate–to name a few–are experimenting with marketing in SL." (...)
"Despite all this activity, I remained unconvinced corporations could realize significant ROI by adding the social networking tool to their marketing mix." (...)
"The other day a friend of mine walked me around Vassar College’s virtual campus within SL where I visited a miniature but exact replica of the Sistine Chapel. I also met someone who had pulled Google Earth into Second Life and combined it with 360 degree photography of certain locations and news stories from those locations." (...)
"So if you’ve been skeptical yourself of the possibilities of Second Life, I suggest you take another look. According to Business Week, Gartner predicts that by the year 2011, over 250 million people will be involved in virtual worlds like Second Life. And, like all social media, there are right ways and wrong ways to go about using the medium as an effective marketing tool." (...)
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