Difference between revisions of "Marketing Your Products In Second Life"

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While these are suggestions were originally written for a resident fashion business, they're good advice for ANY retailer in Second Life.
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While these are suggestions were originally written for a Resident fashion business, they're good general advice if you retail in Second Life. Help keep this page updated!


=In-world marketing=
== Inworld marketing ==
==Free==
* First of all you needs a main store. This can be something you rent, but you're likely going to want it for a while if you're successful.  This is the place you will send all your customers to through landmarks.
* Put landmarks in with your items when you sell them. Referrals are a big and FREE way to gain loyal customers.
* Make an update group.  Loyal customers will want to know when you put out something new, run an exclusive sale or is highlighted in a blog or fashion show.
* Make sure your parcel is listed in '''SL Search'''. To uprise your business in search, use '''"Picks Booster"''' program from [http://www.slbiz2life.com SL Business Directory, second life advertising network], they will also suggest you how to setup your business to appear higher in search.
* Keep an eye out for charity fashion showcases.  These attract a ton of buyers and can plant seeds in future customers minds even if you don't make profit during that event.  If people love your stuff, they'll take a landmark and come to your real store.


==Paid==
=== Free ===
* Make some great ads and put in Second Style - its super cheap.. like US$9 (less than the cost of 3 gallons of gas) for a full page.. less for smaller ads.. huge readership with bulging wallets.
* Rent small shops in big clubs with lots of traffic but be smart about visibility and location. Location is everything here.  People love to zoom out and window shop with their cameras while their avatar is dancing the night away.  A good example of this can be seen at the popular hotspot [http://slurl.com/secondlife/Amanohashidate/34/201/21 Suckers Club & Mall].
* Post a classified with a high enough $ amount to get you in the top five of your keywords (hat, accessory, whatever). With the right keywords, this can pay off in David Spade.
* Host a contest for designers to design an outfit to complement your wares. Then you can make legitimate events listings with fashion shows where people come vote. This might cost you some design prize money, but the traffic will be worth it because its an interesting fashion event on the list that isn't just a sale.
* To uprise your business in '''SL Search''', buy [http://www.slbiz2life.com/en/picks.html "Picks Booster"] packages from [http://www.slbiz2life.com SLBiz2Life, second life advertising network]
* Use in-world ad-boards, standalone or within a global network ([http://www.slbiz2life.com/en/adfusion.html AdFusion adboards], [http://www.mgk-advertisement.com MGK ADVERTISEMENT]).


=Web and online marketing=
* First of all, you need a main store or office. This can be something you rent, but you're likely going to want to own a reliable location if you're successful. This is the place you will send all your customers to through landmarks.
==Free==
* Include landmarks with your items when you sell them. Referrals and repeat sales are big and ''free'' ways to gain loyal customers.
As 100% of your customers use internet, it's required to put as much as possible information about your goods and services all over net.
* Make an update or support group. Loyal customers will want to know when you put out something new, run an exclusive sale, or make special offers. Make sure to [[Inviting residents to join your business group|invite your visitors and customers to your group]].
* Register your business in [http://www.slbiz2life.com SL Business Directory], a '''free''' listing of Second Life business. This project also provides a lot of advertising services which will be useful for all business owners. Upload images, provide the description of your business. This will boost your popularity in Google as well.
* Make sure your [[Viewerhelp:About_Land_-_Options|parcel is listed in Viewer search]].
* Check out all the local fashion blogs for who you should send items to to get reviewed. Most times you just drop a notecard with your info and some items on this person and they will find good things to say or politely pass if they can't. Tons of people with lindens burning holes in their pockets read these reviews and are looking for high quality things that they MUST buy.
* Refine your searchable parcel details (name, description) and contents to obtain a higher position in search in a clean way, compliant with the [http://secondlife.com/corporate/tos.php ToS].
* List your business by joining [[Brands|the free business listings]]. Some directories have inworld browsing capabilities.


==Paid==
=== Paid ===
* Advertise your shop location on YoSims.com. Motivate others to review your post so that you get a good ranking.
[[Image:SecondAdsWiki.png|right|Second Ads ad display board.]]
* Advertise your products or services in [http://www.role-magazine.com ROLE Magazine] and benefit from their commitment to actual, verifiable readership statistics.
* Place an advert in the [http://www.secondads.com/ SecondAds.com] pay-per-click advertising network. This will display your advert grid wide in a huge number of locations. Visit their inworld [http://slurl.com/secondlife/Business%20Park/132/38/21/ Headquarters Adcenter] to learn more.
* Advertise your products or services in [http://www.sluncover.com Uncover Magazine] which is published in English, German and French.
* Use traffic tools such as the [http://www.goldtokens.net Goldtokens.net] gaming network to bring traffic to your land. These are cheap and effective ways to bring people to visit your store or business.
* Advertise your products or services in Best of SL Magazine.
* Make some great ads and place them in magazines (see the list below) — it's usually cheap.
* Rent small shops/offices in big clubs with lots of traffic but be smart about visibility and location. Location is everything here. People love to zoom out and window-shop with their cameras while their avatar is dancing the night away.
* Post a classified in Viewer search ([[Linden_Lab_Official:Classifieds_FAQ|learn how]]) with a high enough L$ amount to get you in the top five of your keywords (hat, accessory, and so on). With the right keywords, this can [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/in_spades pay off in spades].
* Use inworld ad-boards to publish your ads, a standalone one, or within a global network (like [http://www.slbiz2life.com/en/adfusion.html AdFusion adboards] or [http://www.mgk-advertisement.com MGK Advertisement]).
* [http://www.isnvirtualworlds.com ISN Virtual Worlds] offers "Extensive inworld experience, distribution and marketing management of virtual goods".
* [http://rezzme.com RezzMe Advertising] offers "Gridwide billboard network. We also create promotional items, graphic, and web development. Visit any of our billboards to setup your ad very easily."


=Consulting=
== Marketplace Marketing ==
Contact experienced residents who will advise you and share an experience:
 
* [[User:Glaznah_Gassner]] - advertising, dealing with SL Search tips and hints
It's possible to promote your marketplace products using the following services:
* [[User:Linda_Peccable]] - fashion store owner, experienced in in-world marketing and advertising
 
* Add your product to [http://www.secondads.com/reviewblaster.php Reviewblaster] to automatically reward people for leaving reviews on your products. Having reviews on your products encourages people to buy your products. This is a unique service for Second Life Marketplace merchants.
 
== Web and online marketing ==
 
=== Free ===
 
As 100% of your customers use the Internet, spread quality information about your goods and services all over the Net.
 
* Register your business in [http://www.slbiz2life.com SL Business Directory], a ''free'' listing of Second Life business. Upload images and provide the description of your business. This project also provides a lot of advertising services which will be useful for all business owners. This will boost your popularity in Google as well.
* Check out all the blogs for who you should send items to to get reviewed, and follow their contact policy. The usual process is: you simply drop a notecard with your info and some items on a reviewer Resident. Tons of people with L$ burning holes in their pockets read these reviews and are looking for high-quality things that they feel compelled buy.
* Use [http://slpano.com SLPano URLs] to publish your links on the web. The SLPano URL acts like a [[SLurl]] link, but allows you to specify a business descriptions, upload screenshots, and so on.
 
=== Paid ===
*Advertise your art gallery, business, products, and services in [http://www.windlightmagazine.com Windlight Magazine].
* Advertise your shop location on [http://www.yosims.com/ YoSims]. Motivate others to review your post so that you get a good ranking.
* Advertise your products or services in [http://www.role-magazine.com ROLE Magazine] and benefit from "their commitment to actual, verifiable readership statistics".
* Advertise your products or services in [http://magazine.thebestofsl.com/ Best of SL Magazine].
* Advertise your products or services in [http://www.ohboimag.com/ Oh Boi Magazine, the premier LGBT Magazine].
* Advertise items for roleplayers in RRM [http://reigningrealmsmonthly.webs.com Reigning Realms Monthly].
* Advertise your business on [http://rezzme.com RezzMe Advertising].
* Advertise your business on [http://www.glance-international.com GLANCE Magazine].
* Advertise your products or services on [http://www.bridgeradiofx.com/ Bridge Radio FX Radio Station].
 
== Consulting ==
 
Experienced Residents who can advise you and share their knowledge:
 
* [[User:Glaznah_Gassner|Glaznah Gassner]] - Advertising, dealing with SL Search tips and hints.
* [[User:AmyNevilly Resident|AmyNevilly Resident]] - Chief designer and Marketer of renowned [http://www.secondads.com/ SecondAds.com] company. Known expert in viral marketing, marketplace promotion and inworld traffic generation tools.


[[Category:Marketing]]
[[Category:Marketing]]

Latest revision as of 13:14, 11 February 2016

While these are suggestions were originally written for a Resident fashion business, they're good general advice if you retail in Second Life. Help keep this page updated!

Inworld marketing

Free

  • First of all, you need a main store or office. This can be something you rent, but you're likely going to want to own a reliable location if you're successful. This is the place you will send all your customers to through landmarks.
  • Include landmarks with your items when you sell them. Referrals and repeat sales are big and free ways to gain loyal customers.
  • Make an update or support group. Loyal customers will want to know when you put out something new, run an exclusive sale, or make special offers. Make sure to invite your visitors and customers to your group.
  • Make sure your parcel is listed in Viewer search.
  • Refine your searchable parcel details (name, description) and contents to obtain a higher position in search in a clean way, compliant with the ToS.
  • List your business by joining the free business listings. Some directories have inworld browsing capabilities.

Second Ads ad display board.
  • Place an advert in the SecondAds.com pay-per-click advertising network. This will display your advert grid wide in a huge number of locations. Visit their inworld Headquarters Adcenter to learn more.
  • Use traffic tools such as the Goldtokens.net gaming network to bring traffic to your land. These are cheap and effective ways to bring people to visit your store or business.
  • Make some great ads and place them in magazines (see the list below) — it's usually cheap.
  • Rent small shops/offices in big clubs with lots of traffic but be smart about visibility and location. Location is everything here. People love to zoom out and window-shop with their cameras while their avatar is dancing the night away.
  • Post a classified in Viewer search (learn how) with a high enough L$ amount to get you in the top five of your keywords (hat, accessory, and so on). With the right keywords, this can pay off in spades.
  • Use inworld ad-boards to publish your ads, a standalone one, or within a global network (like AdFusion adboards or MGK Advertisement).
  • ISN Virtual Worlds offers "Extensive inworld experience, distribution and marketing management of virtual goods".
  • RezzMe Advertising offers "Gridwide billboard network. We also create promotional items, graphic, and web development. Visit any of our billboards to setup your ad very easily."

Marketplace Marketing

It's possible to promote your marketplace products using the following services:

  • Add your product to Reviewblaster to automatically reward people for leaving reviews on your products. Having reviews on your products encourages people to buy your products. This is a unique service for Second Life Marketplace merchants.

Web and online marketing

Free

As 100% of your customers use the Internet, spread quality information about your goods and services all over the Net.

  • Register your business in SL Business Directory, a free listing of Second Life business. Upload images and provide the description of your business. This project also provides a lot of advertising services which will be useful for all business owners. This will boost your popularity in Google as well.
  • Check out all the blogs for who you should send items to to get reviewed, and follow their contact policy. The usual process is: you simply drop a notecard with your info and some items on a reviewer Resident. Tons of people with L$ burning holes in their pockets read these reviews and are looking for high-quality things that they feel compelled buy.
  • Use SLPano URLs to publish your links on the web. The SLPano URL acts like a SLurl link, but allows you to specify a business descriptions, upload screenshots, and so on.

Consulting

Experienced Residents who can advise you and share their knowledge:

  • Glaznah Gassner - Advertising, dealing with SL Search tips and hints.
  • AmyNevilly Resident - Chief designer and Marketer of renowned SecondAds.com company. Known expert in viral marketing, marketplace promotion and inworld traffic generation tools.