Adotas Article Comment Response
1. Collete-
Second Life as a Sandbox is a great concept. If you are thinking of doing something in real life but are uncertain, try it in SL first!
As for this comment:
"I have enough trouble staying on top of my first life, so I’m not sure how well my second life will keep up with this new world."
Collete, even though I have known you for a short time only, I know you have more foresight and curiosity than that!
You say the above comment now but, a brilliant and curious mind such as yours can only stay distant for a short time! :)
Thanks!
You are so right! As Bob Dylan said, "admit that the waters around you have grown, accept it or soon you'll be drenched to the bone"
My feeling is that if you would not touch an SUV in your first life, I would not do it in Second Life. Second Life IS in fact real. Yes, you may not damage the environment by driving an SUV in SL but, the fact that you are endorsing SUV sends out a statement. One that you may not want to make. Second Life has first life ramifications and as I send in my article, is an extension of first life
Continue The Conversation...
I am not sure the best way to do this but, I really want to rope in the comments from Adotas.com and begin a new conversation.
Here are three comments on Adotas that I will address in the next post:
But what’s the avatar represent? Does it respond to the same stuff my real ego does? Like in “real” life, I’m a committed environmentalist and wouldn’t touch an SVU if someone gave me one, but in Second Life, where it’s no more real than I want it to, why not have some fun and tool around in that gas guzzler — a return to the halycon days of childhood where I could afford to occasionally irritate the world (mainly may parents) for the pure fun of it. I have enough trouble figuring out real world motivations, let along virtual ones presented through some second(?)party persona whose relationship to reality is literally an enigma wrapped within a mystery.
GREAT article and kudos to Starwood Hotels for launching a hotel chain in-game that seeks to enhance Second Lifer’s experience. I’m always fascinated when anyone, especially marketers, would be hesitant about getting their virtual feet wet and signing up for an online phenomenon like Second Life. We are not in a time any longer where playing it safe is an option. Having a presence on portals like Second Life, MySpace, and so on is a must. Having a podcast/videocast for your company is a must. Long story short-you may not like or even “get” what Second Life is all about, but you’d better start learning since your competitors will.
-John C. Havens
http://podcasting.about.com
Nice article Adam. I think you’ve hit the nail on the head with the paragraph towards the end about 2L not claiming to be a ‘reality’. It is whatever we make it out to be: a sandbox to try new things, a place to launch a new product or idea, an on-line world that is merely an extension of our off-line life, a place to learn (like your CC Chapman example), a bridge to connetions around the world, or whetever else our imaginations will create. As for me, I have enough trouble staying on top of my first life, so I’m not sure how well my second life will keep up with this new world.
Tags: John C. Havens, Collete Vogele, David Beckert
Adotas Article
This is my article on Adotas about SL. By the way, the dog is not really me :)
Tags: Second Life, Adotas, Adam Broitman
When Is A Site Responsible For Good Creative
It is a lazy Sunday, I am a little beaten up from the night before and I have yet to decide what adventures (if any) are in store for the day. I think to myself, "perhaps I will see a movie". I go to fandango and, with no ideas for what I want to see start cruising the site.
As I begin poking around a loud scream occurs. I realize that the scream is being triggered every time I mouse over either the 160x600 or the 728x90. Now, this is not just any scream, it is a bitingly harsh and very annoying scream. So much so that I found myself doing everything possible to avoid mousing over the banners.
My entire movie browsing experience is tarnished by these banners with the shrill scream and I realize that there are so many other sites that I can go to to get movie listings. Then I think to myself, "maybe I don't really want to go to a movie today".
The Take Aways:
1. As advertisers we do want to grab people's attention but, doing it in a negative fashion is not always a good thing. Sure I now know about a film festival that I did not know about before but, I am still not interested in it (there is less of a chance I will go to it now then there was before!)
2. The site itself should take some onus as to what creative is implemented on their site as it is a reflection of the integrity of the site.
a. Perhaps next time I will skip fandango. I certainly will not go there in the near future if there is a chance of me seeing that ad again!
Tags: fandango, creative, The Departed, bad creative
More ammo to convince...
your family friends and clients that you are not playing games.
Tags: second life, social media, avatar, robo studios
A great post on second life expansion
Feed Your Home
This meme was started (at least in my sphere) by Steve Rubel. I have been feeding my head with RSS for a while now and it is time to start feeding my home with RSS.
Although what I am talking about at the moment is simply placing RSS feeds in an alternate location, those of you with vision may say, "What can't we feed commands to devices in the home via RSS, and what other life applications can RSS have?"
I really do not know what I am saying specifically. I am very tired and overworked at the moment but, RSS will probably not stop with news and entertainment. I am going to be doing a lot of thinking about what other types of things can be syndicated via RSS.
Tags: Feedburner, RSS, Steve Rubel, Micro Persuasion, eHome, Mobilewares, Tivo, Convergence, meme, television. syndication
Educate Your Avatar
Google: Arrogant But Good
If you guys were not so good at what you do, I would stop saying Google as a verb and, I would stop "Googling" altogether.
You don't want us to say use Google as a verb because, you have a brand to protect, what the hell does that mean?
What Google means in common parlance whether Google likes it or not!
Tags: Google, Googling, To Google, I have been Googled, Lets go Googling, You are such a Googler, Google This!, I am feeling so Googley today, That search was Googlicious, The Show was Googtacular, Googish, Oh Googers!
Ad:Tech NY On The Way
I will be at ad tech, where will you be? Come down! Hang with me. Lets talk media and marketing. If you are a blogger, ping me before the show and let me know where you will be. If you are a blogger who cannot make it, help me cover the event by commenting and expanding on my post as I post them in near real time.
Tags: Ad Tech NYC, Ad Tech, Cubicle, Bloggers, Media and Marketing Bloggers Unite, Conversation
More Talk on Second LIfe
Things are growing so fast, we are going to have to start to search
Google Gets Personal
Vertical search has long been the hope for the next wave of searching the world but, what is the best way to verticalize?
Leave it to Google to give their thoughts on the matter:
Welcome Google Co-Op
Others have tried the personal search approach but you can bet Google will out do all of them!
I am impressed, I would love to hear what everyone thinks of this product. Here is the A Media Circus search engine.
Tags: Google, Vertical Search, Personal Search, A Media Circus
The Ringleader On Rocketboom
Good PR
I am a little late with a statement on the Edelman debacle but, PR is not my specialty (although my interest in social media has certainly led me to pay much closer attention to Public Relations and, perhaps in my next life I will find a career in it) and I am a bit reluctant to to form an opinion from a professional standpoint however, from a human standpoint I want to know; who thought this was a good idea?
It doesn't take a PR professional to know that this was a gross misuse of a medium that is supposed to be a candid conversation. Did anyone think that this would be sustainable?
Allow me to point you to those who are more equipped to give a professional opinion on the matter:
I would love to hear some opinions on the matter. I would actually love to hear from someone who thought this was a good idea!
Tags: PR, Edelman, Shel Holtz, Marriane Richmond, Ad Age, BusinessWeek
Media Creativity
Read the Article In Mediapost, here is my response, join the conversation!
Amy
I am not sure how I feel about this campaign. You mention brand ambassadors (who I am a huge fan of) but, what value are these ambassadors distributing?
In the this campaign I would not really call these people ambassadors as much as I would street marketers (I know this is merely a semantic distinction but, brand ambassadors can be leveraged in a much more effective manner than merely handing out a gimmick to draw attention to a product).
When boiled down this campaign is in essence a bunch of street marketers handing out gimmicks. I am not that impressed. Perhaps it is clever (well sort of clever) but, I don’t think clever sells as much as value; especially to today’s consumer.
Tags: Mediapost, Amy Corr, Media Creativity, American Airlines, Fortune Cookie, Marketing
The Disappearing Desktop Part 200
Color With Crayon
From Joseph Jaffe:
It is with great pride, excitement and anticipation that I get to share the news that I've started a new company called "crayon"
In short, crayon is a different kind of company that specializing in new marketing: new marketing for a new consumer.
You could say crayon is the embodiment and natural extension of "Life after the 30-second spot," but in truth it's much much more. Consider the fact I didn't even have a blog, let alone a podcast before the book came out.
crayon is a mash-up of the best of the agency, consulting, advisory, thought leadership and education worlds rolled into one shape-shifting package.
Our motto or mantra is: "Conversation and Transformation above Communication," which I think answers David Weinberger's question.
Instead of expanding on crayon myself, I'm going to direct you to three of the new crayons, my good friends Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz, who as you probably know are co-hosts of the popular PR podcast For Immediate Release, and podcasting music pioneer and all-around good guy, C.C. Chapman. They do a pretty damn fine job explaining everything on their own blogs.
Are you sensing a pattern here?
We launch officially on Thursday at an undisclosed Island...more info and surprises to follow this entire week. In the interim, if you have any questions, comments, would like to chat etc., drop me an e-mail at my new home: jaffe at crayonville dot com
Tags: Crayon, Joseph Jaffe, CC Chapman, Neville Hobson, Shel Holtz
How long will it take for Google to attack?
Tired of getting sponsored links from ebay no matter what your query is (unless you are a search marketer my guess is you do not really care and have given little mind to this)?
Do you want your Google back?
Try Give me Back My Google and thwart all those pesky affiliates bidding on everything under the sun.
How long do you think it will take before Google comes after these guys? I do not think there is really anything they can do anyhow...
Tags: Google, Give me Back My Google, Search, Affiliate