No one would argue that virtual worlds are a new front tier in digital life -- and that marketers will need to figure out how to exploit them. But I never would have predicted just how fast big brands are staking out key venues like Second Life.|
Consider the deal wrap-up posted recently on Virtual Worlds News. Among other initiatives, Dell (DELL) has decided to expand its use of SL to simulcast its CES release, micro-lending site Kiva is opening new offices there, UK pharmacy Boots has begun selling its No.7 cosmetics line on SL and lighting company OSRAM is running a contest regarding ideas regarding light, VWN says.
It’s hard to avoid the conclusion that SL could go from being a playground to an office park and a strip mall and a convention center–frequented by pretty much all big brands–within 2008. Which brings up intriguing side question: what happens to Google (GOOG) and other search engine players if someday, it becomes more important to optimize for SL or other virtual environments than it does for search? For heaven’s sake, how DOES one optimize for a virtual world? If you’re a consumer marketer, you may want to figure that out ASAP.
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