Test for Sigang

西港 我養育我三個混血兒

Sigang- Where I raise my three eurasian boys.

Networking in the Virtual World

Virtual Networking

Vio Business Series #23

INTRODUCTION

The virtual world still presents a digital frontier for business, providing much potential for companies willing to explore and develop the benefits it provides. The real value comes to businesses willing to invest the time, and push the envelope of creativity to develop new functionality.

An obvious benefit of the virtual world, especially Second Life, is the social networking capabilities.

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VIRTUAL WORLDS, THE RICHER ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKING MEDIUM

Why have online social networks become so popular? Think about it. People are busier. They have less free time. It is getting more difficult to keep up with friends and family living all over the world. Online social networks provide the technology that allows people to share more information, images and videos, with more people in less time. With the expanded ability to share, we also get a better ability to keep up with the lives of people we care about.

Also, as a source for business networking, social  networks, especially those catering more to professionals (LinkedIn, FohBoh), do save time. Instead of going to networking events in real life to find people interested in your type of business, a person can visit an online social network, and access people who have directly expressed interest in specific business topics. You can join Groups of special interest and socialize with people immediately. This cuts down on an immense amount of time to reach the same number of interested people. In my experience, I have seen many service providers land contracts getting to know people socially in the online social networks. If one doubts the power of social networks, it is now an integral part of any web marketing campaign, because it has the power to attract more web site traffic than search engines.

I believe virtual worlds have the potential to be a serious challenger as a leading social media, because it has all the essential ingredients:

1) It gives people immediate access to instant communication with a large global network of people.

2) It provides the ability to share information, images and video.

3) It has groups of people, which makes it easy to find people interested in specific topics.

I believe virtual worlds have greater advantages than other social media because:

1) People can communicate through Voice.

2) Interaction with avatars is a richer, more 'human' experience.

3) The 3-D environment expands creativity level and providers a greater emotional connection.

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IS SECOND LIFE A FEASIBLE BUSINESS NETWORKING ENVIRONMENT?

Second Life is the virtual world with the largest membership base. The company has millions of registered users. But given that people can create multiple accounts, there is probably less than a million unique users. Given that a large portion of people who sign up for account explore Second Life and never return for one reason or another. There may be a few hundred thousand people who are active, and at any one time, there may be tens of thousands of people online at the same time. Most of these people are in Second Life to explore the social and gaming aspects of the platform. I'd be surprised if 10% of the account holders in Second Life were here for business.

If your company provides gaming, entertainment, or virtual fashion, Second Life would be a worthy investment of time to network and find potential customers. For other traditional businesses, the potential market is much smaller. In my opinion, there may be about 5,000-7,500 active members who are in Second Life to network and develop their business. This may be a small number of people to work reach for the amount of effort put into networking in Second Life. There are some key reasons why networking in Second Life is significant for business:

1) The base of SL members who are involved in business is growing. Even though this is small as a percentage, it is growing because more business people are hearing about Second Life and virtual worlds. Also, many people who come to SL to explore the social aspects, eventually discover it is a viable and inexpensive place to build a business or to bring in their RL business.

2) Second Life is a great place for people to reach "early adopters." Because it is an incubator for creativity and technology, SL attracts innovators. People developing innovation often find the audience in SL the best place to reach early adopters, who may become great sources of word-of-mouth.

3) Second Life provides tools to reach people with specific interests. There are Groups to join. There are events to attend to meet people. There is media in Second Life to get the word out about your business. There are many ways to focus your networking efforts.

Successful networking is about meeting qualified potential customers or referral sources in the least amount of time. Making the most of your networking time in Second Life means putting yourself in front of the most interested people in the shortest amount of time, and making the best impression possible. You should join groups related to your Business. You should attend business events, and meet people who are in attendance and the presenters. (DO NOT interrupt speakers during their presentations!) For even more effective networking, be a presenter at events. Speaking on a topic gives people a more favorable impression of you. If you can't find a networking group that fits your area of business, create one!

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HOW TO MAKE A BETTER IMPRESSION WHEN NETWORKING

Just like in real life, in the virtual world, you only have a short time to make a good first impression. Here are some guidelines to follow to make a good favorable first impression:

1) Have a professional-looking avatar. Not much needs to be said here. If you want to be associated with an elf or dragon, that's fine, but don't expect everyone in SL doing business to take you seriously.

2) Be professional and polite. When approaching someone to speak to them, ask if they are busy. Let them know succinctly who you are and ask when would be a good time to talk to them. Consideration goes a long way.

3) Be a good listener. When you listen well, you will find out more about the person you are talking to. This gives you more opening for discussion and connection. Let them know that you are listening well, by responding to what they are saying.

4) Offer something of value. People tend to resist being "sold to." Listen to them and think of what you can "give" that can be of value to them. This can be a helpful connection or resource, or even an item you have in your inventory that they may need. Sometimes, the best thing you can offer is some information, ideas or expertise that can save them time. Later, you can find ways to offer them "solutions" for things they may need that your company offers.

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HOW TO NETWORK AS A LEADER INSTEAD OF A FOLLOWER:

One of the most effective ways to use your networking time is to make appearances as speaker or presenter for a business event. You can sit on panels discussions, and even join Boards to attend board meetings. In any of these cases, you are viewed differently than if you were just sitting in an audience. As an opinion leader, your views and what you say carry more weight. People are also much more open when talking to you.

It is not too difficult getting opportunities to present business material to a network of professionals. Getting set up to present material is also easy. Contact Xander Newman in Second Life to be scheduled for a presentation to the ViO Business network.

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CREATING A SUCCESSFUL NETWORKING GROUP IN SECOND LIFE

A great opportunity to attract professionals in your industry is to create a networking group. You have control over the content presented, and you can grow a captured audience of loyal people. When creating a group, it is important to keep the membership engaged. Stay in their scope of vision, but don't spam them to the point of leaving the group. The Mission of the Group should be to promote collaboration, networking, sharing best practices, and providing a greater voice for all members. The Group should offer something of value to keep membership growing. Having events is one way to do that. Offering special deals to members can be another benefit. Offering the sharing of information and resources is another approach. Treat the members like family. Engage in conversation through IM and chat, and encourage all members to do the same. What you produce is a community with a shared purpose.

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RESOURCES

Here are some active Business Groups you can join:

1) ViO Business: Web Site: http://www.getvio.com

2) vBusiness Link: Web Site: http://vbusinesslink.net

3) Virtual World Business Bureau

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SUMMARY

Virtual Worlds provides a frontier for business networking that is still small, but is growing in importance. Networking in Second Life can be beneficial, especially if it is important to reach innivators or early adopters. Choosing a focused approach to reach potential business contacts will make your time more efficient. You can attend events and join Groups. If you are more ambitious and want to stand above the crowd, you can become a speaker or presenter at events. You can even create Groups and host your own events to build your own community.

As the virtual worlds mature, the opportunities will only increase and the networks will grow. The opportunity is how to be a part of shaping how the networking landscape will look in the future.

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BACKGROUND

About The Speaker: Tony Coolidge (Xander Newman) has owned Virtual Innovative Opportunities (ViO) since April 2007, a virtual business community and incubator in Second Life. ViO is a subsidiary of HybridWeb, Inc., a Texas corporation. His expertise is bringing together businesses and resources in SL and RL. In the real world, Mr. Coolidge has been an expert with Internet technologies since 1995, owning his own Internet development and SEO company. He also has a Bachelor's degree in Advertising from the University of Texas. Tony is trained in creating organizations, networking and team-building, and by combining all of his skill set, he has been able to:

1) Co-found a publically-trading Internet auction company

2) Create two non-profit organizations, including the largest volunteer organization serving the needs of Hurricane Katrina survivors.

3) Create a documentary film (http://www.voicesintheclouds.com)

4) Become an advocate for the indigenous (tribal) people of the world, speaking in front of world leaders at the United Nations in May 2004.

5) Co-founded a business consortium bringing companies to China for joint venture projects.

In his view, the secret to his successes in life come from making his goals about the benefit of others, and surrounding himself with a variety of talent and expertise. Tony enjoys building bridges between people and resources, and seeing the magic that is created.

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For more information on this topic, feel free to contact Tony Coolidge (Xander Newman), founder of the Vio Network.

E-mail: xander@getvio.com

©Copyright 2010 HybridWeb, Inc. All rights reserved.

ViO Business Feature - Issue 2

ViO Business Feature

An interview with NESTO PHILLY of the SALES TEAM.

Visit their web site at: www.salesteameast.com.

ViO: Tell us a little about your RL self and how you got interested in or into SL.

Nesto Philly: I am Head Coach at SalesTeam East LLC in RL and realized this year the exciting potential of SL as a convenient and cost-effective tool we could use to deliver our unique and ongoing membership-based sales training to RL clients.

ViO: Tell us how you ended up with the business venture we are featuring here in our story?

Nesto Philly: I have been in the management and development of people just about all of my adult life. After my last position as a sales and management executive, I took advantage of the opportunity to start SalesTeam about 5 years ago.

ViO: What need/benefit do you see your venture providing and for whom?

Nesto Philly: We specialize in helping our clients reach their sales and service goals, and clients range from individual sales professionals and business owners to corporate teams and organizations.

ViO: If others are providing the same benefits or services, tell us what sets your venture apart.

Nesto Philly: At SalesTeam, we realize that human beings are creatures of habit. Our performance changes only when our behavorial habits change, and those habits only change over time and at individual rates. SalesTeam training is fashioned to maximize improved performance from behavior change over time. When that happens, client sales always increase.

ViO: Tell us what challenge(s) you have faced that you have overcome for your venture. What can others learn from your overcoming this obstacle?

Nesto Philly: My biggest challenge was being in business alone and wearing all the hats at first. Prioritizing became critical. Getting customers through marketing and sales must be a top priority.

ViO: Tell us what challenge you are currently facing that you are looking to overcome.

Nesto Philly: We are working to replace lost revenue in a lean economy and add some sales staff.

ViO: Tell us a success story about a client or customer that your venture has helped.

Nesto Philly: Through our RentASalesPro solution, we successfully performed contract sales work for a legislative research firm in the business to business market. The one-year effort was to develop new business in a new territory for the organization. Our work was so successful that the firm was able to place a full time sales representative in the territory for significant residual business after the project finished.

ViO: Tell us what the future has in store for your venture. (i.e. new product rollout, goals for expansion, more services, etc)

Nesto Philly: At SalesTeam, we will continue to offer affordable membership for regular client workouts to improve sales fitness, a no-brainer for anyone who is serious about selling. This includes access to solutions using the award-winning sales, service, and leadership curriculum from Integrity Solutions. We will also continue to offer contract business development services under the RentASalesTeam solutions, the ultimate in customer service training, and awesome coaching for those in leadership positions.

ViO: Tell us what your ideal target market is for your venture.

Nesto Philly: We can help any organization that is made up of human beings achieve its ultimate goal of providing a product or service to someone who will pay for it. All organizations have this goal, whether it is widely realized or not.

ViO: Tell us any special offers or deals you are offering to the ViO network.

Nesto Philly: We will offer the ViO network a $3.00 rebate on our introductory SL seminar, "Best Practices in Selling." Register for the seminar at http://www.salesteameast.com/best_practice_lic.htm.

ViO Business Feature - Issue 1

ViO Business Feature
An interview with Mike Bemis (SL Name: Mike Burleigh)
Founder of Remembering Our Friends Memorial
http://www.rememberingfriendsmemorial.com



ViO: Tell us a little about your RL self and how you got interested in or into SL?

Mike Bemis: I started using Second Life about 4.5 yrs ago when I lost my mom to Multiple Sclerosis. I have 23 yrs in Sales in RL. I live in Michigan, USA.

ViO: Tell us how you ended up with the business venture we are featuring here in our story?

Mike Bemis: I had a friend pass away in SL. Plus with loss of my mom, I thought there needed to be a place to grieve in SL.

ViO: What need/benefit do you see your venture providing and for whom?

Mike Bemis: Support for those that have SL or first life friends or family pass away. Plus a collaberation with smaller SL/RL support groups. I want to provide them a way to get exposure in Second Life.

ViO: If others are providing the same benefits or services, tell us what sets your venture apart.

Mike Bemis: Customer service... Opportunity to talk with a real person, not a bot or an empty sim.

ViO: Tell us what challenge(s) you have faced that you have overcome for your venture. What can others learn from your overcoming this obstacle?

Mike Bemis: Misinformation... People think we are only a memorial, when in truth we offer remembrance, education and support. We have learned that you should constantly get the word out through groups like VIO for example.

ViO: Tell us what challenge you are currently facing that you are looking to overcome.

Mike Bemis: The challenge now is finding new creative ways to get people to donate to a worthy cause. We need help to pay our tier, so we have resources to help other groups.

ViO: Tell us a success story about a client or customer that your venture has helped.

Mike Bemis: A person in SL named Pat lost her RL/SL husband. She came here to place a memorial. She has been here ever since. She now runs Remembering our Friends Memorial for us.

ViO: Tell us what the future has in store for your venture. (i.e. new product rollout, goals for expansion, more services, etc).

Mike Bemis: The future is here. We have created The ROF Group to manage Remembering our Friends Memorial, our new HIV/AIDS Education and Support area and Memorial, our M.S Education and Support Area, and The V-Innovate new player help and support at ROF.

We are using our sim and remaining donation after sim tier is paid to help smaller support groups get a foothold in SL to make people aware of theiir cause and to grow. Our goal is to help people. We are interested in working with SL and first life education and support groups.

ViO: Tell us what your ideal target market is for your venture.

Mike Bemis: Ideally, people that have lost loved ones, or who are interested in collaborating with us, or helping us educate and support people on the various cause we are working with.

ViO: Tell us any special offers or deals you are offering to the Vio network.

Mike Bemis: Well our services are free. They always have been. We strictly work on donations. If you are a smaller support group that has a good cause, IM me in world or e-mail me at mikeburleigh@comcast.net to setup a meeting. Also anyone can request a Voice tour so I can personally show them around. :)

Positioning yourself as a in-world solutions provider

Positioning Yourself to Attract RL Businesses in SL
Vio Business Series #21

INTRODUCTION

Business is alive and real in the virtual world. All apsects of business are finding value 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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Positioning Yourself to Attract 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. Last week, we discussed the first challenge, which was reaching these companies early on in their discovery process. We touched upon ways to get the attention of the decision-makers of these real-world companies. We discussed the importance of web sites, web 2.0, web marketing, PR and word-of-mouth.

But what if you get face time with the decision maker of the prospective client, and you aren't ready to present yourself as a top-level virtual world solutions provider?

This conversation will focus on positioning (and branding) yourself as a business entity that can:
1) Develop trust
2) Reach a commitment and contract to a working relationship
3) Create a reliable channel of communications
4) Follow-through and evaluation of your work.

DEVELOPING TRUST

There has been enough PR and a steady track record of results that decision-makers can find during their initial research into virtual world solutions. The key is for that decision-maker to feel you (or your team) is the ideal partner to accomplish his goals. In dealing with an industry that he ro she is unfamiliar with, the decision-maker is putting a high-level of trust or faith in someone they may not know very well. Thousands, or millions, of dollars may be at stake, and so may be the job of the decision-maker.

KNOW YOUR STUFF

When talking to you about the virtual world solution, the decision-maker will be listening for a high-level of knowledge. They may not know much about virtual solutions, so they will also listen for the level of confidence you convey. The decision-maker gains confidence as they learn more, so the more you can teach, or the more questions you can answer, the more confident they will be that you are the person they should be working with. Spend the time to evaluate their level of knowledge and offer what helpful information you can. When your knowledge is limited, create and count on a team of virtual world professionals taht you can work with to expand your knowledge base.

SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE

When talking to a decision-maker, don't speak over their heads. Evaluate their level of knowledge and speak to their level. Ask questions and learn about their business, and try to relate what you know to their industry, and specifically share ideas and concepts that may be most valuable to their line of business.

PRESENT YOURSELF PROFESSIONALLY

Just because you are a SL or virtual world solution provider doesn't mean you should cut corners on your branding and image. Companies spend a lot of money in the real world to attract the attention of and protray a high-level of professionalism to attract larger and more professional clients. Your professionalism in your RL marketing is as important as your professionalism in-world. Professional avatars, meeting space, and communication are helpful in strengthening your first virtual face-to-face impression. If a company has enough at stake financially, be prepared to meet with your new clients in person.

PRESENT YOURSELF AS THE BEST SOLUTION PROVIDER

You will probably not be the only solution-provider that the decision-maker is interviewing. How do you earn the perception of being the best choice?

1) Make the decision-maker feel heard

I can't tell you how importanrt this one is. On many occassions I have been chosen by a client because they said I was the one who they felt listened to them. Other solutions-provider would tell a decision-maker what they should do often make them feel uncomfortable or feel like they are not listening to the specific needs of the decision-maker.

2) Show a strong track record

A good portfolio is a must, and also refer the decision-maker to people who can provide testimonials. Another benefit of having a team is that you can pool the testimonials and portfolios of more people to have a stronger presentation.

3) Be perceived as a leader

Companies love working with leaders in business. Being a leader and being perceived as a leader can come in many forms. Teaching people your expertise makes you seen as a leader. Serving on committees or boards gives you leadership credentials. Starting your own committees or groups gives you leadership value.

4) Expand your value through collaboration

Leaders like working with leaders. Large companies tent to trust organizations of larger size. If you are a one-man shop, you may not get perceived the same as a team of professionals providing a wider scope of work. Join groups, network and find good people you can trust and work with. Forming alliances, consortiums, netwroks or other business entities can position YOU as a solutions provider on a higher playing field.

We at Vio and Innovirtua pride ourselves in creating an environment of collaboration. Joining our group to explore how we can work together may open new doors. Or you can create your own working relationships with the people who call Vio their business community.

Go out, collaborate, and prosper.

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.

PR in the Virtual World

PR in the Virtual World
Vio Business Series #12

INTRODUCTION

The virtual world provides emerging opportunities for business and organizations. Any place where you can reach large groups of people worldwide is a good place to get the word out.

In the virtual world, there have been different forms of media developed by resourceful and entrepreneurial groups of people. They each provide business owners in the virtual world different opportunities to reach the eyes and ears of the virtual marketplace. When organizing a strategy for getting information and news about your business or group to many or just the right media outlets in the virtual world, it helps to work with someone who specializes in virtual world PR and has the established relationships to get your message noticed.

Vio Business believes in learning from the successes and mistakes of others, in order to improve your own chances for success. We also believe in using as many of the resources around us as possible to generate business. We are proud to provide Vio Business members with the opportunity to learn from a virtual PR specialist, Annette Wilder of Wilder PR.

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An Overview of the PR in SL
by Annette Wilder

Bio on the Speaker

website: http://www.wilderpublicrelationsfirminc.com/index.htm
blog: http://wilderprfirminc.blogspot.com/

Hello I am Annette Wilder. I am the Founder and CEO of Wilder Public Relations Incorporated. Wilder PR officially opened December 17, 2007. I began Wilder Public Relations Firm as a result of being the Public Relations Specialist for AVENUE Models. Rusch Raymaker, CEO of AVENUE Models, saw the ability in me to succeed at PR even when I did not see it in myself. Working as PR in the fashion world was fast paced and very interesting and I learned to sharpen my skills as a communicator. In real life I am a college graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Science with an emphasis in Advertising. Public Relations seemed to come natural for me as I am a communications major who loves to talk, proficient writer and is really interested in how businesses are ran.

Wilder Public Relations could not live without Mahala Bing. Mahala is my PR Executive whose job performance cannot be described with any other word short of phenomenal. Mahala excels at all job duties I dole out to her and I have never had someone so dedicated and willing to work and learn. Wilder Public Relations is very lucky to have her. She is the first person all potential new clients must contact in-world. So be sure to send a notecard to Mahala if you are interested in our services.

When Wilder takes on your business as a client we want to know the ins and outs of how it works. We do not take on clients who we feel are not up to par. Wilder Public Relations has been called the best in SL and with that title comes the responsibility to also work with the best clients in SL. Each of our clients are hand picked and we represent them with pride. If you are chosen to come on this wild ride that we call PR with us, trust me it will be worth the trip and we’ll get you to where you need to go.Our clients are important to us and for those of you who have entrusted your business to us I say,

” Thanks for your trust, dedication and hard work. We look forward to continue to serve you as well as our future clients.”

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SUMMARY

When dealing with a PR firm in the virtual world, make sure all terms and conditions are clear and understood before you make a financial commitment. If you experience any disputes, you should use proven dispute resolution providers in the virtual world, such as OliveEue Sholokhov.