Business Communicators of Second Life®

Innovating and Investing in the Metaverse April 8

Come join us at University of California, Irvine on Tuesday evening from 6:00 -8:00 for what promises to be a truly fascinating "metaverse" panel discussion. We've gathered four stellar people - all working on enterprise initiatives in virtual spaces (two of which will be just returning from Virtual Worlds 2008): 

• Christian Renaud Chief Architect, Networked Virtual Environments, Cisco Technology Center
• Denis Browne, Senior Vice President, Business User Imagineering, SAP Labs, LLC
• Mary Ellen Gordon, Founder & Managing Director, Market Truths
• Crista Lopes, Associate Professor of Information & Computer Sciences, UCI

Each will be sharing their view of the business opportunities of virtual environments. specifics of what they are working on,  and we'll have a intimate chance to meet and greet and ask questions.

Try as we might, we haven't been able to organize and secure the UCI resources to stream the panel online or in a world, but we're trying for a conference number to at least provide the opportunity to listen in. I'll update this when I have teleconference info.

Here is the official description and please join the Facebook group whether you can attend or not:

Fully immersive 3D virtual worlds such as Second Life, There.com, Gaia Online and HiPiHi are seriously entertaining, and 30-40 million people are currently living, working and playing in them. In an April 2007 report, Gartner projected that 80% percent of active Internet users and Fortune 500 enterprises will be engaged in virtual worlds such as Second Life by the end of 2011.

Virtual spaces and technologies represent a serious business opportunity. More than 170 major brands in categories from automotive to consumer products, education to tourism are experimenting with the innovation, marketing and business value of virtual worlds. A recent Forrester report predicted that within five years, the 3-D Internet will be as critical a business tool as the Web is today.

What’s the opportunity for virtual world innovation and investment? Bring your questions and join our panel of digerati for an exploration of how organizations are using virtuality for collaboration, branding, R&D, recruiting and research.

The event is being sponsored by OCTANe Orange County. If you aren't familiar with the organization, it is  a 15,000 member strong hub of innovation, investment and people fueling the technology and biomedical sectors in Orange County, CA.  Check out their web site here.

Location details and registration link:  http://www.octaneoc.org/calendar/view_event.asp?CalendarID=667

Hope some of you can make it!

April 2, 2008

Liquid Beings Blog - Avatar Marketing: Fake Places, Distributed Selves, Real Marketing

I am cross-posting this here from my new blog, Liquid Beings - although I will not make a habit of it.  I invite you to check in on it and jump in if you are interested in virtuality and what it means for marketing. It provides a place for me to talk about broader issues of marketing in virtual spaces - and most especially those liquid beings we call avatars.

Avatar Marketing: Fake Places, Distributed Selves, Real Marketing

A new space, a blank scrap of web space on which to record my exploration of avatars, virtual spaces, our increasingly distributed attention and the quest we are on collectively for something real in a market-contrived world. These take us into “unreal” places.

These are the concepts marketers will have to deeply embrace in the early 21st century.  Who knows what lies beyond then?   I suspect virtuality, in its many forms, will be significant.

In the 25 years that I've been consulting with companies on business and marketing, there are really only two things that have come onto the scene that I doggedly insisted were absolutely systemic and would truly change the rules.  Those two are the Web and social media.  Today I am insisting the same is true of "virtuality." 

Every accepted medium springs from what is going on within the society - and in turn a culture springs from it, which then reflects back into the society at large, shaping it; changing it.

The web, social media and virtuality – each of these has or is changing our lives - each is changing us.  They are changing our language, and therefore the way we think.  They are changing our world and our views of it.

My experience in emerging media leads me to knowing that it isn't enough to simply "know about" a medium or how to “implement it.”  To be successful there has to exist a deep understanding of the interplay of the medium with those who participate with it.  The most successful businesses have been built upon that.

I've been delving deeply into virtuality and what it means for marketing, communications and business for quite some time. I am profoundly convinced that it is a force that is - and will increasingly - impact our world, as the web has already; as social media is presently.  I believe if we are going to communicate and operate well in virtuality, we must understand it deeply.

Social media - that is shareable media - isn't the beginning of "virtuality," but it is the "tipping point" in many respects. Virtuality and social media are closely tied.  They share a common lexicon, for now, and many of the concepts and principles are as good for one as the other at present.

I believe the avatar is the nexus.  While most are focused on the platform or the technology or the tool of social media or virtual environments, the avatar is the only true constant.  Platforms, tools and technologies come and go.  Avatars are Liquid Beings that move among them and who reside in the spaces between the body and the mind.

So, here I will explore these Liquid Beings and the principles by which we might communicate with them.

Avatar Psychographics Report:SL Business Communicators Meeting - March 7, 1:00 pm

Long-awaited research (for me, at least) on the psychographics and media usage of Second Life avatars and their owners is being released by research company, Market Truths on March 7 at 1:00 p.m. SLT.  I'm delighted that Market Truths president, Mary Ellen Gordon has been kind enough to let SLBCers be the among the first in the know - by reviewing the findings of the report titled, Psychographic Segments and Media Consumption, at our March SL Business Communicators meeting.

This is the only report of its kind that I am aware of - although there have been lots of speculation and extrapolation about avatar behaviors.  After months of research with avatars in Second Life, we now have some researched insights into the attitudes, behaviors and motivations of the people and avatars that inhabit Second Life.

This is information every marketer, communicator, virtual world developer, educator, and media agency needs.  I've been told there are some surprising findings.  We are also inviting members of the SL Marketing Club to join us for our meeting(s).

You are invited to come and get an overview of the findings, ask questions and hear the discussion.

The meeting will be held at Market Truths Island at the open-air beach auditorium located at 230, 107,21.

IM me (Znetlady Isbell) or email me with any questions.

See you there!

February 28, 2008

Real Voices in Virtual Business

Mike O'Hara started an an audio podcast series a few months ago, he calls Voices in Business: The Virtual Worlds BusinessCast.  He's a skilled and enthuastic interviewer, and more importantly,  he's building a library of the audio thoughts of early adopters of virtual worlds for business.

Mike was kind enough to interview me last week, and our conversation ranged from virtuals worlds as social media to our avatar selves.  If you are interested in listening to our conversation it is here. 

But browse around his site.  He's got a joint interview with two of my favorite metaverse evangelists, Roo Reyonds and Ian Huges of IBM; and a separate interview with Kevin Aires, Virtual Universe Community Leader at IBM.

Others include Nick Wilson, known for the Metanomics series in Second Life, and he has just launched an  intriguging "lower the barriers for business" project, Clever Zebra; Peter Dunkley of depo consulting; and Frank Campbell, Chief Business Officer of MindArk, and Karl Alberts, Vice President Product and Marketing at Paynova who are working with the Chinese Government creating the Cyber Recreation District, a project aimed at linking up the virtual and real worlds for e-commerce.

Go have a look.  Mike  does his homework before each interview, and as a listener that is most appreciated!

February 10, 2008

SL Business Communicators Meeting: SkyTran Tour Feb 1

Join us for a tour of SkyTran in Second Life, the simulation prototype of a futuritic, but real computer-controlled personalized transportation system that will move riders in two-person pods above the traffic-challenged freeways of California.  Crista Lopes, associate professor of informatics at University of California, Irvine will host us for a tour and discussion of her project on Friday, Feb. 1 at 9:00 a.m. SLT. 

Professor Lopes is using Second Life to test the software that will prevent the magnetically-levitated vehicles from colliding as they merge on and off the overhead roadway. She also hopes to build and test in Second Life the networking system that will allow passengers to direct the pods to a specific location as the project progresses.

Come and see the transportation simulation and learn how Second Life is allowing feedback to engineers and urban planners on the real world design.  The real world project is being built by Unimodal.

In addition to her work on SkyTran, Professor Lopes is the creator of web-based SL search engine and HUD, SLBrowser.  She'll also give us some insights into the search engine she developed for SL, which is being launched commerically by the technology incubator associated with the Unversity of California, Irvine, Tech Coast Works.  You can read a bit more on the SLBrowser and the incubator in this Orange County Register article.

Get a sneak peak at this new transportation system, learn about the SLBrowser, meet Professor Lopes and and bring your questions.

Reserve a spot and to get a landmark, IM Znetlady Isbell in-world or email me. 

Meeting with French Telecom, Orange Friday Dec. 7: SL Business Communicators

Come and join us Friday, December 7 at Orange!  We will be meeting with Stephane Adamiak (aka Sam Aska) with the business development division of French Telecom giant, Orange.   Mr. Adamiak spearheaded the internal research evaluating Second Life (and virtual worlds) as a strategy for Orange, He was instrumental in setting the project goals and concepts and running the RFP process to choose their SL developer, Metaversatility.  Stephane  tells me that their commitment to virtual worlds is not limited to SL, as they consider it a platform for a "potentially major trend for the next decade."

Orange has been exceptionally busy in Second Life since their virtual launch several weeks ago, making a commitment to active community building. You can find something happening there almost all the time from classes to concerts to meetups - all part of Orange's commitment toward that effort.  An editorial comment here, I must say Orange's launch event was one of the top-five best-run events I've attended in SL- largely due to the "social" savvy evident everywhere.

Stephane has been a major player in the corporate strategy for Orange's virtual presence.  Come with questions in hand and learn the what, how and why of Orange in SL. 

What:  SLBC Meeting with Orange
When:  Friday, Dec 7, 9:00 a.m. SLT
Location:  Orange Island, Slurl:  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Orange%201/194/133/31

See you there!  Questions?  IM Znetlady Isbell or email me!

SL Business Communicators November Meeting: Producing "The Office" in SL

SLBCers unite in Second Life on Tuesday, November 20th to meet with avatar Kiwini Oe a.k.a. Steve Nelson, EVP, Chief Strategy Officer of digital marketing agency, Clear Ink.  We'll be getting first-hand accounts and insights as to what was behind producing the Second Life TV segments for The Office "Local Ad" episode which aired on NBC on October 25th.

Clear Ink and Kiwini worked with NBC producers to create the in-world set design, character and extra avatars and to produce the machinima, plus all the  behind-the scene logistics that contibuted to the episode storytelling. 

Come on out in SL to meet Kiwini and learn what it took to put their piece of the total together, and why they made the various decisions they did when creating the in-world TV experiences.  The installation in SL is now closed - but this is your chance to go beyond visiting it and getting the low-down on what it took to make it happen.

I have to admit the subject of the production fascinates me as it fondly throws me back to my days of live webcasting  - some of which were simultaneous live broadcasting for TV.  In those days we were dependant on satellite for such complex broadcasting.  Fast forward to today and companies like NBC, CBS, CNN, MTV and film producers are moving to HD and 3D immersive  TV/movie/web experiences that are also both real time and on-demand.

There are important lessons to learn from Kiwini for communicators and marketers who must be thinking in multimedia, and bringing both real-time and "on-demand" experiences to niche communities of people as we meld all media into a myriad of virtual, personal (and still social) experiences.

We will be meeting at Market Truths Island in the gardens.  If you RSVP I'll send you an LM and a reminder.

Tuesday, November 20
9:00 a.m. SLT
Market Truths Island

Here's a couple of recommending readings on the project:
Clear Ink and NBC's "The Office" in Second Life - A Quick Recap
The Office: A Viral Approach to Second Life

Please join us!

November 17, 2007

RL Event: Oct 11, Second Life: Open for Business? UC Irvine

The California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology at UC Irvine has simply fantastic events - open to the public, stellar industry hosts, researchers and presenters on everything from telemedicine to gaming and virtual worlds.   Always great networking, wine and food too.

Well, this week on October 11 at 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., I am extremely privileged to be moderating a panel titled Second Life: Open for Business?  This particular event is being co-sponsored by UCI and Women In Technology International.  I invite you to come out in the O.C. and join us! 

Our panel covers a range of expertise and experience with the aim of giving us a broad and thoughtful perspective on Second Life as a business application/environment:

Crista Lopes of UC Irvine, co-inventor of Aspect Oriented Programming and creator of SLBrowser, will join the panel.  She is also using immersive environments to model and simulate a transportation system called SkyTran, according its real-world specifications.  Professor Lopes came to UCI from Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center.

Jeanette Gibson will join us from Second Life as a panelist.  She is the Director New Media & Corporate Communications at Cisco Systems.  Jeanette is responsible for extending Cisco's innovation with all types of new media. She will share Cisco’s insights related to their initiatives in researching 3D environments for enterprise applications.

A first mover in market research in virtual worlds, Mary Ellen Gordon, President of Market Truths is taking a detour on her way to Virtual Worlds 2007 to be with us to discuss her prolific and respected marketing research with avatars in immersive environments.

And on the virtual world development side, we have Ian Teapoot, Chief Creative Officer at Involve, Inc. In addition to his considerable experience in designing 3D environments, he also instructs game art, interactive media, animation and design at the Art Institute of California.

Get all the information - and register –at the WITI website here:  or at the Calit2 website under “Upcoming Events.” 

IM me if you have any questions - hope to see you there!

October 7, 2007

1-800 Flowers Expands SL Presence – Discussion at SLBC Meeting Tuesday, Sept 18.

Seth Lasser, 1-800 Flowers Director of Special Projects and Assistant to the CEO, sends news of their plans to expand their Second Life presence.  It is in the form of a contest to guide their next SL steps – and which culminates in the winning avatar staring in a Times Square video. 800 Flowers would like avatar ideas and inspiration for their upcoming build on Costa Del Sol.

I took the opportunity to ask Seth to meet with SL Business Communicators to give us the background on the brand’s decision to plant more seeds in SL, to talk about the contest and to allow us to directly engage the guy behind the brand’s initiative.  He most graciously agreed and he will be in-world with SL Business Communicators on Tuesday, September 18th at 5:00 p.m. SLT.

The 1-800 Flowers “Fields of the Virtual World” contest is going on now and we avatars get to vote for the grand prize winner.  Tell 800 Flowers what inspires you and your avatar by taking an in-world snapshot, accompany it with its 100-word story, and submit it by October 1.  The winning avatar will be on video in RL Times Square in November and December.

Get more information about the contest here – and join us on Tuesday in world to hear lots more about 1-800 Flowers in SL.

Last June 1-800-Flowers came into SL with a small greenhouse and pavilion, and a group of internal employee volunteers to staff it and to connect with avatar visitors.  The initiative was part listening, part promotional, part corporate innovation exploration.

The company has been savvy so far in their virtual world practices. They have taken it seriously at the highest level in the organization, centered it around connecting people and avatars and opening up the initiatives to the community.  They have also started small and set realistic expectations internally, which Seth reports have been exceeded.

Come and meet and chat with Seth.  Learn more about their SL successes and experiences and the on-going contest.  Be at the SL Business Communicators meetup on Tuesday.

RSVP and get further SLBC meeting details by IMing Znetlady Isbell in world or emailing me.

Photo Credit:  Cranial Tap

September 14, 2007

Second Life Entertainment Study Discussion Panel

We've lined up a panel discussion to delve into the recently released study, Second Life Entertainment Market.  We've aimed at getting expertise from several sectors in Second Life to contribute to the discussion and we invite you to come and get involved in the conversation. 

I will be moderating the panel and Mary Ellen Gordon of Market Truths will be among the panelists.  She will give us a briefing on the report and provide some additional insights.

The panel discussion will be held on Friday, July 27th at 9:00 a.m. SLT.

Panelists include:
Mary Ellen Gordon/Pebbles Hannya, President of Market Truths
Troy McLuhan, Director, SL International Spaceflight Museum
Link Pippen, Galveston Island
Giff Constable/Foresti Svarog, Electric Sheep Company
Ian Teepoot, Infinite Vision Media
Gary Goldhammer/G24khamr Goodfellow, Edelman Interactive Services
Moderator:  Linda Zimmer/Znetlady Isbell

We will be holding the discussion on the Depo Business Hub, at Market Truths 50/185/34.

Join the discussion and bring your questions for the panel!

July 23, 2007

SL Business Communicators Meeting: Virtual Law Q&A

Tonight at 6:00 p.m. SLT we will have intellectual property attorney, Benjamin Duranske, with us for a "virtual law" Q&A session.  Mr. Duranske writes a superb blog, Virtually Blind, focused on fascinating legal commentary on issues that impact Second Life and other virtuality.

On the docket tonight: we'll put questions before Ben that include his legal perspective on some recent copyright and trademark issues, LL's policing of content (bad idea, says Ben), possible employment issues with avatars operating in virtual spaces, and the Bragg versus LL lawsuit, as well as whatever questions the group may pose. 

This promises to be a fascinating meetup!

If you'd like to attend the Virtual Law Q&A. please IM Znetlady Isbell in-world.

July 12, 2007

Virtual World Strategy Quip of the Day

Speaking of Twitter, you may have noticed a new little area on the sidebar of this blog, VW Quip of the Day. It posts there from my Twitter page.  It is my daily virtual world thought in 140 characters or less.   

I use it as a bit of a challenge to myself to see if I can boil down salient concepts about marketing in virtual space that normally run around in my head within Twitter's limitation.  You know, get to the essence of virtual space strategies.   I also am including other voices that grab me, maybe a quote or a re-ordered thought I see along the way.

Join in!

 

July 6. 2007

Virtual Brand Answers: A Starter Kit for Marketers

Between us, we've talked to dozens of organizations who are looking for answers to "the big six" questions about virtual worlds: who, what, when, where, how and why. 

We've seen that organizations are looking for a way they can get a smart and clear start with a virtual world initiative.  So my company, MarCom:Interactive teamed up with marketing research company, Market Truths.  We put our heads together, took a hard look at our experience in the marketplace and came up with a kind of virtual world “starter kit.” 

We dubbed it Virtual Brand Answers.  It’s a simple services “kit” that provides qualitative research and some expert advice to get to the answers to those "big six" questions pretty quickly.  Here's our take:

Who:  Determines if the target market(s) is in the virtual world to a degree that makes sense for the brand.

Why:  Articulates clear goals that lead to great strategies that work.  Clear goals also set up a way to measure virtual world success down the road.

What:  A “go/no go” recommendation, based on the results of qualitative marketing research with real avatars.  Strategic and tactical recommendations for the brand’s virtual world presence.

How:  Concept generation if there isn’t one -  or qualitative research with real avatars to test a virtual world concept, if there is one.  (Concept generation is not a “build” vision, but the type of presence that makes sense for the brand.)

Where:  Which virtual world(s) make sense for the brand:  Second Life or Habbo Hotel?  Buy an island or a plot on the mainland?  Create a tribe or join an existing one?  Product placement or immersive Brand Land?

When:  Realistic time frame to create the virtual world program and other vital factors we think are vital to know related to timing of the virtual project or promotion.

Our goal with VBA is not to replace the visioning or in-world strategies that virtual world developers provide, but rather to set up that development process for the greatest success.

This is what Virtual Brand Answers currently includes.  I’m sure we’ll be refining it, and we’d appreciate your input on what you’d like to see included:

• Virtual Brand Answers Q&A Session
• Target Market Evaluation
• Goal Shaping
• Qualitative Research based on the target market (virtual world research evaluation of the brand presence concept): Research includes:
  • Four avatar-to-avatar focus groups (selected from Market Truth’s panels); or
  • Ten avatar-to-avatar interviews (selected from Market Truth’s panels)

• Concept Testing (qualitative research) ; or Concept Generation (if the“big idea” isn’t quite there yet)
• Qualitative Research Results
• Virtual Brand Answers Report
  • A Go or No-Go recommendation
  • The virtual world target that is right for the brand
  • Recommended or refined concept for the virtual world presence
  • Strategic suggestions
  • Timing & implementation implications
  • Measuring the virtual presence effectiveness suggestions
  • Other relevant recommendations

• Virtual World Expert Consulting

Based on our experience, this represents the “FAQ” organizations are presenting us with as they are getting started or evaluating internally whether to move forward on a virtual world initiative.

Our hope is Virtual Brand Answers will provide everyone involved in the process of developing a virtual world presence some key components for a successful marketing initiative - and will save organizations some time and money as well.  By the way, it isn't just for virtual worlds, it can be applied to social media of any kind.

If you’d like a PDF of the Virtual Brand Answers description, you can find it here or here.

Your comments on it would be most welcome!

July 4, 2007

SL Business Communicators Meeting – June 12

Come to Weather Island next Tuesday and meet Lawrence Pede, Sr. Manager, Corporate Development for The Weather Channel Companies.  His apropos avatar, Weather Merlin, will give us a tour of the “Epic Weather” themed island and informally discuss with us his insights on TWC brand presence.  Weather Merlin/Lawrence Pede heads up this corporate initiative, so he’s the man with the inside story. 

Weather Island is a popular SL destination.  Join us and hear what makes it successful and the lessons learned in the process.  Be there - rain or shine! (couldn’t resist…)

When:  June 12, Noon, SLT

Where:  Weather Island: Weather 113, 5, 26

IM:  Zetlady Isbell if you have questions or need a teleport on Tuesday.

Photo credit:  Oz Spade via Snapzilla

June 7, 2007

SL Business Communicators Wiki Growing Resource

If you haven't been by our Second Life Business Communicators wiki, I think we're keeping pace with the growing number of businesses, non-profits, media companies, public agencies, and civic entities establishing a Second Life presence.  Dylan Devillers  is contributing European entrants and various others have contributed links they've discovered.  Many thanks to all those who have contributed links along the way for helping create a resource that is useful to several thousand visitors a month.

If you are inclined to contribute, please let me know by dropping me an email or an IM in SL (Znetlady Isbell). 

In recent weeks we've added entries such as the NBA, Kelly Services, STA Travel, Australian Broadcasting Company, the UK's Press Association, Plant-it 2020, several politicians and French political parties, and the list goes on.

While I can't claim it is absolutely comprehensive, we've got a pretty thorough list in several categories.  I'm sure the marketing companies and politician lists need additions and the Media of Second Life will be updated very shortly with some new blogs and publications.  I'd very much like to expand the current tiny list of Useful Tools.

If you should be on the lists, let me know! If you'd like to contribute, please join in!  This is the only resource like it that I've come across - and, we also list locations, since many aren't easy to find. If you know of other wikis or resources, please share (and we can add them to the wikis list too)!

May 6, 2007

SL Business Communicators April Meeting: Market Truths and Edelman PR

You may be aware of the recent release of Market Truths' Brand Perception study that indicated 49% of Second Life residents feel positively about brand presences in SL.  If you follow such things, you may also put Market Truths' name together with the recent Edelman PR Business Plan competition - Market Truths' business plan came out on top.

I thought we should get Edelman and Market Truths together with SL Business Communicators to explore the compettion and the intriguing findings of the Brand study.  So, mark your calendars for:

Friday, April 20th at 12:00 noon, SLT.

Pebbles Hannya (Mary Ellen Gordon), President of Market Truths will join us in Second Life along with G24khamr Goodfellow (Gary Goldhammer), Vice President of Edelman Interactive Solutions.   Pebbles will delve into the SL Brand Perception study, it's findings and it's methodology - and answer your questions about it.  She'll also share her experiences with the SL Business Plan competition and what the results of her win have been.  G24Khamr of Edelman will share information on Edelman's decision to sponsor the SL Business competition as well as their work with Market Truths as its winner.  We might even persuade him to share his thoughts  on the findings of the Brand study, and what virtual world issues Edelman is addressing with their clients.

Our membership has grown to nearly 300 members, so if more of you wish to attend than we can accommodate at once, we will offer a second meeting/session to accommodate as many as possible.  So RSVP-IM me (Znetlady Isbell) in-world to get your name on the attendee list.

If you need any assistance with joining the group, attending the event, or have a question, IM me.

Note to calendar:  SLBC Meeting, April 20 - Noon SLT.

Hope to see you there!

April 12, 2007

Talent Across Generations

Virtual spaces are changing so much in our business lives - and not just virtual spaces of the 3D kind. 

Although not intuitive or on our radar, virtuality influences some very real generational challenges happening now in the work force.  In fact, access to virtual spaces  and connectivity has seeded new career orientations and motivations for GenXers and GenYers (Millennials).  These orientations and motivations cause new management challenges in integrating these workers comfortably into a work force dominated by Baby Boomers.

For example, GenXers want to build a portable career, influenced in part by one of their defining moments - the dot com boom and subsequent crash.  Millennials want to build multiple careers and to pursue multiple interests simultaneously. Simultaneous and instant access to all kinds of media and information for these digital kids mean they don't limit themselves much by time and space.  GenXers value autonomy, technology and informality.  Millennials need constant feedback, diversity and teamwork.

How do we recruit, retain and manage these dynamic Creative Class Garage Influentials who are Hypertasking while breathing Online Oxygen and who likely see their future in the Second .Coming?

First, check out some of the resources at the Interchange Group.  And, if you are in the Los Angeles area, I urge you to consider attending a workshop on June 8, 2007, Talent Management Across the Generations.  I have had the pleasure of hearing Annika Hylmo, an Interchange Group partner, speak on this topic before and the information is absolutely indispensible to executives, HR professionals, organization developers - and a "must know" for marketers and communicators.

The workshop description promises:

• identify different generational markers and motivations for work
• Communicate effectively with each generation
• Tailor recruitment strategies to attract target populations
• Create orientation, training and performance management programs to increase retention across generations
• Align compensation and benefits strategies to generational needs and expectations

The workshop is $399 if you register early, and I promise you it is worth every cent.  I plan to attend.

Get more information and register here.

Photo credit: unk. Help me [update] Khamon Fate (via Snapzilla).

April 12, 2007

Second Life Business Communicators Meeting: Monday March 26 with H&R Block

Come join H&R Block Vice President of Marketing; Digital, Paula Drum for our March Second Life Business Communicators meeting!  This is an opportunity to hear first hand why H&R Block chose Second Life and what their initiative is all about.

Meeting Date & Time :  March 26th, 12:00 Noon - 1:00 p.m., SLT.
Where:  HR Block Island auditorium:  HR Block 113/48/37/

Ms. Drum will present her thoughts on Second Life, their Tango initiative and answer all your questions. She is excited to meet and mix with us SLBC avatars and we're delighted to be the first group to meet at their new SL build.

[Update]:  There will be H&R Block tax professionals available to answer your tax questions as well.

Grab the chance to chat and network with her, each other, and to gain some insights into H&R's strategy.

Group announcement is going out in world as well.  No reservations needed.  If you are a member of the SL Business Communicators  Group you will get a teleport landmark with the group announcment.  If you'd like to join the in-world group it is free!  To join, search Groups on "SL Business Communicators" and then click Join in the result dialog box.

If you need help, have any questions or need a teleport, IM me, ZnetLady Isbell. 

Join us!!

March 22, 2007

TED Conference Streamed into Second Life by Clear Ink

It costs $4,400 U.S. to attend TED and you have to apply. It brings together 1000 of the smartest, most talented, most inspiring thought-leaders - the real movers and shakers in every industry - for four days of the fresh and the important.  It is invitation only.

Thanks to Kiwini Oe (Steve Nelson) of Clear Ink, you get to attend - right now and through tomorrow - in Second Life.

Last night they streamed the live presentations by Bill Clinton, photojournalist Jim Nachtwy, biologist E. O. Wilson and a performance by Paul Simon.  Today the world-class speakers tackle Intelligent Design, Tales of Passion, Exploration and Awe, and Imagined Futures.  There are at least a few speakers talking about subjects - and sharing ideas - you will not want to miss.

Kiwini tells me the streaming will also be available after the conference ends tomorrow.  And, he will be doing a short presentation introducing Second Life on the TED main stage tomorrow between 11:15 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. tomorrow.  That should be really surreal - seeing streaming video of Second Life while in Second Life.

Teleport to Allston at 165,100,25 and check it out and hear some of the most important ideas of our time.  You can get more information about the conference at the TED website and blog and see the full conference schedule here.

This is someplace you will wish you could be in RL - but thanks to Clear Ink we have the next best thing.

March 9, 2007

Upcoming Real World Events

The real world has been demanding in the past two weeks.  It makes me just a tiny bit grumpy, actually, to not have been able to post as often as usual to comment about an ever growing number of Second Life business issues and happenings.

But, the good news (for me) is that in the coming week, I will be at several meetings and conferences at which I get to meet avatars face to face and to introduce some new people to Second Life (as well as other social media).  I hope you might be some of those people - and if so, puleeze make a point of saying hello and chatting for a moment or two (without the frantic flying avatar fingers).

On Tuesday March 6th, the business community of Round Rock, TX is gathering at Texas State University for at Social Media seminar presented by yours truly.  I'll be presenting the topic, "Social Media 101:  New Tools to Connect with Your Customer" after which will be a panel discussion with some local business folks.    I'm delighted that Laura P. Thomas of Dell will be joining me on the panel, talking about their foray into the blogosphere and - of course - Second Life.  Professor Cindy Royal of Texas State will be highlighting citizen journalism, and Robert Quiqley, Internet Editor of the Austin American-Statesman, will be enlightening us on the successes (and challenges) this RL newspaper is having with their embrace of social media.  I know there are Texas readers here, so come by!  The seminar is free.

Heading easterly from there, I'm meeting up with many of you at the Ragan New Communications Forum where Kami Huyse Watson and I will be presenting a session on Thursday, March 8th:  Second Life Second Chance:  Why You Should Be Marketing in the Virtual World" (or not).

Back to Austin, Texas and to the SxSW Screenburn Festival 2007.  On March 11, Tony Walsh at Clickable Culture is moderating the panel Avatar-based Marketing, and he has invited me to sit in on the panel.  I'm looking forward to thrashing round the topic with Tony,  Eric Gruber (MTV Freelance), Paul Hemp of Harvard Business Review and Lauren Wheeler of Three Rings Design.   Tony has put together a panel with divergent experience and perspectives which will undoubtedly make for lively conversation.

I hope to see you!

March 4, 2007

Saturday Market Research Class Added

There is a robust interest in the Conducting Market Research in Second Life class we are holding next Thursday.  In fact that class is full, so we are adding one scheduled for Saturday, February 10th at 1:00 p.m.  I'm hoping this also accommodates those who were "time challenged" by the earlier date and time.  Always an issue for our global collaborations.  This is thanks to the kindness of Pebbles Hannya of Market Truths and the SL Business Communicators members appreciate her sharing her expertise so generously (and getting up so early in New Zealand).  /clap

Here are the details on the added/repeated class.  If you are interested in attending the Saturday class, or moving your Thursday reservation to Saturday, IM me in world (Znetlady Isbell) or email me in the real world.

Class Title: Conducting Market Research in Second Life.

Instructor:  Pebbles Hannya of Market Truths will share her experience and expertise on getting the most out of your research efforts in SL while adhering to SL culture and best practices.

When:  Saturday, February 10, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. SLT

Description:  Businesses have an opportunity to use Second Life to understand their customers and potential customers better, but following best practices with regard to ethics, privacy, and confidentiality is just as important when conducting (formal or informal) research in SL as it is in RL. In this session, some of the major principles underlying ethical codes and best practice guidelines will be explained.  We'll discuss how professional guidelines apply specifically to Second Life and the information collected in SL.

Market Truths is a real world marketing research company who established a Second Life presence early on, and has published two Second Life research studies, including the most recent on the fashion industry in Second Life.

February 2, 2007

BMW Second Life Meetup: A Second Chance

Munich Express aka Achim Muellers, Head of Brands and Cooperations for BMW  will be meeting with the Business Communicators of Second Life once again on Friday, January 26th at 9:00 a.m. SLT/ 6:00 p.m. CET.

If you missed our last meeting, or want to follow up with him, this is your chance!  We had a great discussion at that meeting - this will continue the conversation and answer more of your questions.

I am taking reservations so please IM me in world if you want to attend:  ZnetLady Isbell.

Details will be announced to those who reserve a spot.

January 19, 2007

Some Real World Event Notes

Thought I would share a couple of real life "program notes" I'm participating in for those that might be interested.

The January issue of Optimize Magazine (CMP United Business Media) will include a feature article I wrote about the potential of Second Life and virtual worlds for business.  It will be on the web as of January 1. I'll post a link.

On January 10th I will be speaking at the San Diego, CA PRSA chapter on social media and media trends for 2007.  Of course virtual worlds will be mentioned!  Please come if you happen to be in the area!

I will be co-presenting with Kami Huyse at Ragan's New Communications Forum 2007 in a session on March 8, titled "Second Life, Second Chance."  We'll be looking at the culture and discussing how marketers can be effective in virtual worlds. If you are attending, please stop by and say hello - It would be great to meet you!

This Friday I will be interviewed in world by students from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalsim who are creating a televison show on Second Life. One pre-production question:  "does your avatar's mouth move?"  A peak into the challenges of crossing virtual world with visual medium. 

It reminds me of this great (personal favorite) and award-winning machinima.

December 6, 2006

SL Business Communicators Meeting Set for Dec. 15

Our SL Business Communicators December meeting is set for Dec. 15. at 8:00 a.m. SLT/PST.  Notice was sent in-world to the Group members.  If you haven't turned that feature off, you also received the notice via email.  I have requested an RSVP for this meeting, so if you plan to attend on the 15th be sure you respond and get on the attendee list.

Watch for details this week through the Group notices!

If you have been unable to join the SL Business Communicators Group because of the "down" status of the Second Life Search or if you need the announcement again, IM me in-world:  Znetlady Isbell.

Hope to see you there!

Business Communicators Meeting in Second Life Tomorrow

A reminder of our Business Communicators of Second Life meeting tomorrow with Adam Reuters. It will take place at 9:30 a.m. SLT (Pacific Time) in the Reuters Artium.

We are going to keep the meeting with Adam to 30 minutes to respect his time and his time zone.  Bring your burning questions about Reuters, his SL beat, journalism in Second Life, or ??. 

If you are somewhat new to Second Life and need a teleport to the meeting, IM ZnetLady Isbell once you are in-world and I'll offer you a teleport to the Reuters sim. If you have trouble getting that far, email me before the meeting and I'll help you out.

If you aren't a member of our in-world group, it is open to anyone interested in seriously examining the potential and culture of Second Life for real world business.  We meet once per month in SL with interesting people who are doing interesting things - experts, SL business people, thinkers, creators, scholars, developers.  Our purpose is to tour, learn, listen, discuss and collaborate.

We do not have an island or simulation, but you can find us in Second Life by searching in Groups  for "SL Business Communicators."   You do not have to join the group to attend our meetings - they are open, but you can find out how to join the in-world group here.

Hope you see you and your avatars there!

Second Life Business Communicators Reminder

A reminder that if you join the in-world Business Communicators of Second Life Group, you can easily connect with other group  members when you are in-world.  You will be able to see when other group members are online and can IM them or transport yourselves and meet-up.  For those new to SL, this is a terrific way to meet people and explore places other people know about and frequent.  And, it is often a great way to get into the culture - just like going to the gym, it is a whole lot easier and more fun to do with someone else.

Also, from time to time we send out communications or special attachments via the in-world group - although you can keep up with announcments here as well.

A note about business avatars and personal worlds.  Many people/avatars in Second Life do not wish their real names revealed - and it is considered "bad form" to ask for Real Life (RL) information, a RL name - or even to use a RL name if you know it for an avatar when using public chat.  However, in SL business environments, while we may feel it necessary to reveal who we are in RL so that our RL business reputations come into SL with us for that particular setting, this is not the usual practice.  Keep in mind that many group members may not wish to mix their Second Lives with their real lives.

This opens a whole can of worms about reputation management in SL, in general, but we'll be discussing that topic in an upcoming BCofSL meeting.

If you wish to communicate with another Second Lifer outside of SL, you may email them via "SL Mail."  If they have their preferences set for email, any IM you send them in-world will be delivered to their regular RL email box if they are offline.  If they have not set their preferences to receive IM's via email, they will get your message as an IM the next time they log in.  Any emails sent or received this way will not reveal your RL email address. 

To join the in-world group, log in to Second Life and click your Search button.  Click on the Groups tab at the top of the search screen. Enter "business communicators" into the search box and click search.  "Second Life Business Communicators" will be listed in the results.  Hightlight it and click on Join Group in the dialog box that comes up. You're in!
 

I'm online nearly every day - feel free to IM me:  Znetlady Isbell

Business Communicators Meeting Sept 19th at The Infinite Mind in Second Life

Be sure to be there!  The Infinite Mind radio show producer Bill Lichtenstein and Drew Stein, who worked on the development of  the Second Life The Infinite Mind facility and collaborated on the in-world radio shows, will both be there to act as hosts and tour guides.  They will provide us with brain food about experiential media, their own experiences with creating a radio show in Second Life, and how people process 3D immersive environments.

You do not have to be a member of the in-world group to join our meeting.  Just gather at The Infinite Mind at 3:00 p.m. Second Life time.  If you need a transport, just IM me (ZnetLady Isbell) once you are in-world.

We will meet for about an hour.  Below are a few questions I thought would get the conversation going, but we will have the opportunity to ask Bill and Drew specific questions about their project or about operating in virtual environments.

1.  How do you define experiential media?  Is it specific to virtual environments like Second Life?
2.  What are the major challenges in disseminating information in Second Life?
3.  With the technological issues to deal with, why would this “medium” be more compelling than media people are familiar with?
4.  What are the major challenges with presenting information in Second Life?
5.  Do you have some “best practices” to share?

If you have suggestions or questions you want to be sure we cover, leave them here in comments and we’ll put them high on the priority list of topics.  But bring your questions, as well!

Let me know if you are new to Second Life and need help getting in-world or to The Infinite Mind sim. Drew has offered to help anyone who is new – so don’t be shy and take advantage of having an expert ready to help you get started!  Many of us weren’t this lucky.  Email me at lzimmer[at]marcominteractive.com.

The Infinite Mind sim is located at: The Infinite Mind 209/76/46

I hope you can join us Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 3 p.m. (SLT)!

September Meeting of Business Communicators of Second Life Set: Presentation and Tour of The Infinite Mind Sim

Join us in The Infinite Mind simulation for a presentation and in-world tour on September 19 at 3:00 p.m. (PDT, SLT). I’m delighted that Bill Lichtenstein, president of Lichtenstein Creative Media, producers of The Infinite Mind public radio show and Drew Stein of Infinite Vision Media, developers of The Infinite Mind presence in Second Life, have generously agreed to be our hosts, presenters and guides for our September meeting.  These two companies collaborated on the creation of The Infinite Mind in-world facility, and are enthusiastic about sharing their insight and experiences with us.

If you’ve been following the Second Life news recently, you probably know that last month The Infinite Mind broadcast a series of live radio shows originating from Second Life with guests such as singer/songwriter Suzanne Vega and author Kurt Vonnegut. The shows had simultaneously a virtual in-studio audience, web audience and radio audience.

Bill and Drew (aka Boliver Oddfellow) have promised to enlighten us as to how they are connecting Second Life with broadcast media, to discuss issues surrounding leveraging a brand here and advise on how people process this media. 

The success of the Infinite Mind project has prompted Lichtenstein Creative Media and Infinite Vision Media to combine their expertise into a joint venture call Infinity Squared.  The venture focuses on the full scope of participatory educational, social and non-gaming experiential activities that 3-D environments uniquely facilitate. I’ve been promised more information about this and will update you here as I get more information.  In the meantime, plan to attend our meeting on September 19 and grab this opportunity to learn and ask questions.

You do not have to be a member of our in-world group, however if the number of people who wish to participate is especially high, preference will be given to members of the in-world group.  To join, simply use the in-world search, search for “SL Business Communicators” and click “Join” in the dialog box.

If you would like an email reminder – or to receive other announcements by email – please send me a note at lzimmer[at]marcominteractive[dot]com, or join our in-world group, SL Business Communicators, and receive SL email.

More information to come.  Join us!

The Infinite Mind simulation is located at: The Infinite Mind 209/76/46.

Photo credits:  From ICMedia Flickr photostream

Second Life Business Communicators Meeting Set for August 22

Our first SL Business Communicators meeting will be held in-world on Tuesday, August 22, at 4:00 P.M. SLT (PDT) in the outdoor auditorium at the Second Life Library 2.0 on Info Island.  Lori Bell of the Second Life Library 2.0 and the Alliance Library System has generously and enthusiastically offered to give our group a tour of the Second Life Library, and Abbey Zenith will hopefully be joining us as well to show us the work she has been doing in developing the in-world business collection.  This is a chance for us to have access to people who are doing some very exciting and visionary work in Second Life.

In addition we’ll bring along what we learned at the Second Life Community Convention that we're attending this weekend.

Please join us next Tuesday for our meeting – you don’t have to have joined the group in-world – it is open to anyone who is interested in just checking the group out.   If you are curious about SL as a platform, medium, interface or environment for communications and business come and discuss its potential and challenges. Learn with us. 

I’ll post as much of the transcript of the meeting here as possible, so if you can’t make our meeting, check back.

The auditorium on Info Island is located at: Info Island 141.81.33