A recent blog item "What happened to Second Life?" poses the question of whether or not the current social networking (Facebook etc.) have stolen the scene from SL.

As many of you know, I have an account on dozens of social networks and have had a passion to better understand 'why' and 'when' they might actually become important. I'm an early adopter. For example, a recent visit to http://howlonghaveyoubeentweeting.com/ shows @davidsteelerose tweeting since 2 years, 8 months, 1 week, 2 days, 18 hours, 38 minutes, 59 seconds. I'll bet you didn't even know Twitter was that old!

My participation in Second Life goes back much further, but certainly more sporadic. I tend to visit for awhile, walk around in circles and then leave. Most recently, however, I began investigating the potentials of online learning and online conferences in Second Life. The concept of mixing Moodle, an open source online learning system, with SL was extremely appealing to me. The mix is called Sloodle (go figure).

It had been awhile since my last SL visit and the platform certainly had improved. With the help of my 14 year old son, Sam, I was actually able to travel past my familiar circle. Together we visited island after island and took tours of several college campus's (campi?) We found an instructor holding weekly classes on how to use Sloodle and we quickly setup courses using our Moodle server connected to the Sloodle sandbox online. Yea, it works!

Which brings me back to my assessment of the blog article. I agree with a statement made about half way down: "The key to anything online is to get a broader reach of people," says Jim Clark of market researchers Mintel. The learning curve required for Second Life prevents many general users from returning regularly."

The learning curve is what has kept SL from taking hold on a Facebook scale, BUT it will be the training of the masses that Facebook is now transforming that will eventually allow SL to reach the potential the original hype predicted. The people participating in FB will get more skilled at using their computers and SL will continue to improve and somewhere (someday) the two will meet.

I recently spoke to a client about their upcoming trade shows and was horrified to hear some of the things that they are using as “props” for their booth. The visual appeal of your booth is a HUGE deal at a show. A trade show booth is basically like a billboard…you have about 3 seconds to grab their attention. SO, it is essential for you to take a step back and put yourself in the attendee’s position. What would make YOU walk up to a booth? Put yourself at a show…any show. It could be a home show, a women’s show… a dog show… whatever it is. Think about what makes you walk into or up to a booth… usually, for me, it is either a product I know I am looking for or honestly, something pretty is over there that I want to see! Ok, it might sound a little too easy, but what if it is really easy?? Take a look at this Top Ten list of things to do to improve your traffic at a show...and let me know your thoughts or questions.
http://www.sideroad.com/Trade_Shows/trade_show_marketing_mistakes.html
 

So, I went to a networking event last week. It was a speed networking event (much like speed dating) at the Knoxville Chamber. Since this was specifically set up for a group that I meet with on a monthly basis, we basically knew everyone in the event. What was surprising for me was how much I didn’t know about the companies that were represented! I was quite embarrassed as to how much I didn’t know about these people/companies that I speak to on a very regular basis. I pride myself in being a pretty decent networker, but I have to take another look on how well I am networking with the people I surround myself.

I remember back a number of years ago when it was said “the Internet is the death of retail”. No one will want to go to a retail outlet anymore when they can buy it online. Of course we all know what happened…the great “dot com bust”. Before the great “bust” the prevailing thought was you can put anything online and it will sell like hotcakes…yeah right. What actually happened was the “old” way of selling products eventually adjusted to the “new” way of selling products. Yeah of course, Internet giants like Amazon and EBay have survived and even thrived…but only after a long and unprofitable haul. Here’s my point…the current prevailing “thought” that social media is king and let’s call it “old” media is dead…I’m not buying it!

Now before all you Web 2.0 social media “experts” line up to burn me at the stake…hear me out. I am a huge believer in the Web 2.0 movement and in particular social media and how it is a great marketing tool. As a true marketer, anytime I can have a conversation with my customer and determine exactly what they want/need I’m in. The Internet used to be a good secondary marketing research tool…now with social media it’s a very good primary marketing research tool. Now our clients can literally have a virtual focus group/customer panel without a huge amount of expense…does it get any better than that?

Ok meat and potatoes time…even my 22 year old daughter is getting tired of the commercialization of Facebook…one of the “big three” of social media. Her main complaint to me is “Dad, if they want to send me a commercial that is what TV is for”. So what’s up with that? Is she saying there is a time a place for everything? Facebook…good for personal stuff…TV/radio/newspaper good for commercial stuff.  And yeah I know the younger crowd is “first adopters” and will probably abandon Facebook just like they abandoned MySpace. But, here’s my point, do you really believe that “old media” is going to just accept their death and go away? Those that understand what is going on…and how to deal with it are going to survive and even thrive…TV in my mind has the inside track and radio if they understand the concept can come back from the dead. Newspaper? Well…they have content providers…and content is king…if they understand that it’s not ink on paper anymore they can adapt and thrive as well.

Final thought? Just like the dot com boom and bust…this will shake out as somewhere in the middle. Old media meet new media…like it or not.