Why aren’t Caribbean brands getting a “Second Life”?
March 12, 2008
by Susan LeeQuee
SC FLASHBACK- In the Caribbean, we have unique and successful brands, not to mention the seasonal sold out music events and parties, that keep visitors clamouring to come hang out with us. Now why don’t we take all this Caribbean brand currency that we have regionally and globally and take one giant step further. Caribbean brands should be looking to get a “Second Life” – get into the building their virtual brands or metabrand experiences in Second Life.
Some of the biggest brands across the globe have entered the Second Life space, according to Steve O’Hear’s post on ZDNET. There is Sony-Bmg, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Addidas, Reebok, Calvin Klein, MTV, Philips, Microsoft, Vodafone, Aveda, NBA that’s right, NBA, AOL, Laguna Beach and get this, Visit Mexico.
No, I’m not making this up. See for yourself, check out the Second Life Brand Map - The (virtually) world famous brand map, creation of Nic Mitham, K Zero Ltd. an accredited Second Life consultancy providing end-to-end consulting and implementation for companies and brands requiring a virtual world presence.
What is Second Life?
Second Life, is the future of virtual reality for the web. It’s a revolutionary 3-D world imagined and built entirely by its residents. Second Life, has a rapidly growing population of 9,487,217 residents from over 200 countries across the globe. The company Linden Lab that built is worth billions.
Second Life is a vast digital continent, with people, entertainment, experiences and even opportunity. Everything in Second Life is created by its residents, from the actual 3D representations of themselves to the strobe lights in the nightclubs to the car in your driveway. It’s virtual space dedicated to your creativity. You dream of something one minute and in Second Life you can bring it to life. The Second Life world holds limitless possibilities for creativity and self-expression.
Caribbean brands perfect for Second Life
Now you see, what the future can hold for Caribbean retail brands, from music, culture, travel and entertainment on Second Life. I can see it now - Branded signature events - think Appleton Rum or Carib Beer, Red Stripe Beer or Kingston beer sponsored parties, in Second Life. How about recreating a reggae dancehall or carnival experience. Reggae Superstar Shaggy became the first Caribbean artiste to get a ‘Second Life’ this week.There is just so much to do, so much to create. Get crackin’.
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While I agree that Second Life is an effective tool for marketing your service/brand, it is irrelevant if the real world infrastructure to cater to that market is not in place.[seeing as how you would be marketing to mostly extra-regional individuals] The reality is that the Caribbean population in second life is not the most significant and those companies would better spend their time creating campaigns for popular Caribbean social networks.
The main places that I could see this working are in the music and tourism industries, where the Caribbean people are not the main and or sole target population
You make very good points reyasun…are you into Second Life yourself?
Correction. Shaggy was scheduled for SecondLife October 2007, however did not show do to his tour in Europe. The Media Slade Agency SL however will probably be the first Agency to develop a major recording band from Jamaica. The band is www.morganheritagemusic.com & www.myspace.com/mnuzik Marlon Stewart Gaynor.
No…MMOs and virtual worlds are cool but they are also massive productivity killers