Attracting RL Businesses in SL

Attracting RL Businesses in SL
Vio Business Series #20

INTRODUCTION

Business is alive and real in the virtual world. All apsects of business are important in the virtual world. Even with the downturn in the economy, there are opportunities for those who know where to look or how to make lemons into lemonade. Companies looking to reduce the bottom line are finding new technologies and virtual environments as cost-savings solutions, and those who are positioned to provide the solutions are cashing in.

Vio Business and Innovirtua are proud to provide its members with the opportunity to learn from our own persepctive and from the perspective of other members of our dynamic business group.

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Attracting RL Businesses in SL
by Xander Newman

Yes, there is REAL money to be made in the virtual world, including Second Life. The best opportunities are getting paid by real-world companies for in-world business solutions. The challenge is reaching these companies early on in their discovery process. Afterwards, it's all about developing trust, reaching a commitment to a working relationship, creating a reliable channel of communications, follow-through with your provided solutions, follow-up and evaluation.

How does one reach the decision-makers of these companies?

Fortunately, there has already been a high level of visibility in the business world about the virtues of the virtual world. There was a boom of publicity in late 2006 and early 2007. PR is getting out in the media sporadically these days, but word of mouth in the business world has continued to spread the virtues of the virtual world and have companies continuing to inquire about the benefits of SL and other platforms.

Usually, the first line of decision makers are members of a company who are hired to make decisions on technical solutions. These could be IT Directors, the VP of Technology, CTO, or even the business owner. And these people are usually taking the initiative to research the solutions, so they are the ones you want to reach before others do. Their research may start with Internet searches, word-of-mouth, or print publications.

HAVE A WEB PRESENCE

We cannot underscore the importance of having a web site that can be found on the Internet. The web site should be rich in content about the virtual business solutions you are providing. It should also have the professional appearance that real world businesses look for to make the best first-impression. If you can't afford a web site, at least start with a blog, as they are free. An example of a blog can be seen at:

http://successfulvirtualbusiness.blogspot.com

Some web developers in the Vio Business group are:

Random Merryman
Hubi Hynes

GET THE WORD OUT EFFECTIVELY

Once you have a web presence, how do you get found?

People often use the Internet to search for answers, so the key is providing information people are looking for on a web site or letting people know who they can talk to to get the answers they seek. Being found on search engines becomes crucial in connecting with RL business decision makers before someone else does. This is where Search Engine Optimization (SEO) comes in. It is important to have one of the first found on the search engines when your taregt market does a search.

Also, use Web 2.0 tools and social networking sites to help you reach these decision-makers. Join these web site and join groups to network with people who are into technology and IT.

www.facebook.com
www.myspace.com
www.linkedin.com
www.youtube.com

These are just some of the top sites where you should have a presence.

When you have your initial conversations with the decision-maker, you will need to be well-positioned to be seen as a leader in your field. It will take building a level of trust with the person, to get to the point of ultimate decision-making.

The Topic of the next seminar will be about Positioning and Trust-Building in working with RL Companies.

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SUMMARY

When a virtual services firm deals with a real world company in the virtual world, make sure all terms and conditions are clear and understood before a financial commitment is made. When dealing with RL companies, be prepared to work with them using the same standards and procedures they are accustomed to working with, including having written contracts, phone conversations, or even face-to-face meetings. Be prepared to protect yourself legally as a business entity in case anything goes wrong.