Funky Brit Furniture Design In SL

Starting a business in Second Life is hard work initially but then the potential to create an ongoing passive income is very exciting. The virtual world offers the same opportunities for business success as RL (real life) and the key to success in any world is marketing, marketing, marketing.

You can’t be a secret and still become a success so it’s a great place to cut your marketing chops.  Lots of lovely marketing tools which give you great ideas for marketing a real world business and it’s all about building a community around your business.

Examples of shops in SL that have done that brilliantly is Redgrave (H’s favourite) and Analog Dog Hair.

Hermione Watanabe likes to think of herself as a bit of a style spotter and when she came across Nesta Zerbino’s amazing furniture designs she immediately offered her space in the sky above her house, to set up a new shop [NZ Feather Designs NZ] and to help her market it, using Web 2.0 techniques.

First up a video on YouTube, then a set of photos on Flickr, all with a live SLurl attached so that those of you with SL installed can TP right on over.  http://slurl.com/secondlife/clone/117/144/401

Why not create an account in SL (it’s free) at www.SecondLife.com and pop over and have a look yourself at Crone, 117,144,401

Internet Marketing Defined

When reading Tamkin’s email about the Definition of Marketing, I felt there was something missing….so I added to it!

You see the same gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and chat for a while, listen, empathise, pick up on her biggest challenges (she is single, ready to settle down, and would like to meet someone with passion, purpose and a bit of substance instead of the total neurotic, skint losers she usually seems to attract).  Without giving too much away, you gently yet mysteriously and intriguingly indicate that you may be able to help.  You get her card or number, with permission to contact her again. 

By the time she get’s home, you have left a little message to thank her for spending time with you, and giving her a quick tip, hint or resource that may amuse or help her.  Two days later, you contact her again, with another suggestion and an invitiation for coffee  You take flowers – a big designer bunch of them – and it goes well, so in another couple of days you contact her again, with a dinner invite.  You make it very easy for her to accept, you give her all the details, you pick her up, with more designer flowers and perhaps a CD of her favourite band, and during the meal you let her know that she is liked, respected and will be safe with you.  You have a great time!  You kiss her on the cheek at the end of the evening when you drop her off.

A couple of days later, you contact her again with another date invitation, ……….and so it goes on varying the venue, the time of day and the entertainment, until, about about the 10th date, you invite her away for the weekend to an AMAZING castle in the country. 

Again you make it easy to accept by telling her upfront that you will book a suite, with two bedrooms, and will pick her up.  You also tell her what to bring, clotheswise, so she’s ready for country walks, cosy nights in the local pub and a swanky candlelit dinner in the castle restuarant.  You NEVER at any time mention underwear – although you have popped along to Agent Provocateur and bought something very glamourous and wonderful in the right size (taking advice from the female assistant!!).

You never, at any time on that weekend, say: “I am very rich. Marry me !” 

You don’t need to, because by now, she loves you and and wants you, regardless of your status and will say “Yes!” to anything (you still ask her to marry you first!!)

That’s permission based, relationship orientated, “long tail” based internet marketing!

Copyright Nicola Cairncross April 2008