In the simulated world of Second Life, in which 9.6 million "residents" or registered users create the world around them, standing out is paramount.
"I have 500 different skins," says Arikinui Adria, a virtual fashion designer who is referring to various looks that can be worn by her "avatar," a character that she and anyone who registers for Second Life can create. "Just like real people change their lipstick to match their outfits, I change my hair style, my hair color and my skins to match mine."
Armed with a graphic-design tool and image-editing software, Adria creates fashions for herself and for sale in her virtual store, Nuclear Boutique, from which she earns between $1,500 and $3,500 each month. Granted, the real life 39-year-old Cocoa, Fla., resident who asked that her real name not be used, says, "I'm not making the millions Ralph Lauren is making." But the fact that a population of avatars admires her design skills is rewarding, she says.
In Second Life, "you can do anything you want, create anything you want and be whoever you want to be," says Daniel Terdiman, author of "The Entrepreneur's Guide to Second Life," which is due out in November. Since the fantasy word's inception in 2003 people have gotten married, taken classes, thrown parties, watched movies, gone shopping, built homes — and now, they're testing their entrepreneurial mettle. What makes Second Life so unusual compared to many other interactive 3D games (such as those played on Microsoft's Xbox) is that the virtual society uses a currency and thus an economy has begun to take shape.
Second Life poses a big opportunity for entrepreneurs, says Terdiman. "It is a virtual world in which personal expression is important," he says. Since there is no limit to what people can create, he estimates that "several hundred thousand consumers" will likely want to spend money on the latest designs for anything from vehicles that fly to enhanced body parts.
Entering the "metaverse" — a term used to describe immersive 3D virtual spaces such as Second Life — may not make much business sense for every would-be digital entrepreneur as it takes the same amount of hard work and stamina as owning a real-world business. But for those with an eye for design and technological acumen to boot, taking a second look at virtual worlds might, in fact, be worth the effort.
A Primer on Second Life
In 2006, according to demographers from Linden Lab, the San Francisco-based creator of Second Life, more than $93 million worth of transactions took place in Second Life. Additionally, in the last 12 months 2,082 entrepreneurs selling anything from cars and fashion accessories to parcels of their own private island made $20,000 or more. And just last month, 1,615 resident-business owners earned $1,000 to $2,000 and another 1,058 earned between $2,000 and $5,000.
Getting a Second Life is free. However, a computer, Second Life software, and a high-speed Internet connection are generally necessary for optimal use. A premium membership in which users can buy land and receive a weekly stipend is also available for $9.95 a month. The currency, known as "Linden" dollars, may be purchased using a credit card and earned during the game. Lindens can then be converted into real dollars via online currency exchanges.
Virtual worlds including Second Life and "World of Warcraft," an online role-playing game, are receiving massive inflows of money. According to a recent report about technology trends in small businesses from Intuit, it's estimated that more than $200 million real-world dollars are funneled through virtual worlds each month.
And entrepreneurs like Elizabeth Foshion, are capitalizing on the trend. Four years ago, Foshion, or "Surreal Farber" as she's known in Second Life, and her business partner entered the virtual community as content creators. "We started making stuff for ourselves and people liked it," she says. From there, the two invested in their own island, which today might cost $1,675, plus a $295 monthly maintenance fee.
More at:http://secondlife.com/
Via-Uncommon Business Blog
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Yuwie.com Is First Site Which Pays You For Networking
What Company is Offering:
Yuwie.com is an online social networking service that allows members to set up personal profiles for the purpose of linking to friends and sharing information, videos, blogs, and pictures. Yuwie also pays members for based on the amount of activity they have, and based on the activity of their referrals. To enrich members' experience, we request and display some personal information to other members and visitors, which allows our users to identify each other and expand their network of friends. Yuwie members can change their profile information at any time and can control if and how other members and the service communicates with them, and views their information.
How It Works:
Every action a member takes, and the actions resulting there from are compensated. This means everything from updating your profile, posting a video, picture or a new blog post, and getting profile views earns members money. Yuwie decides on the 15th of every month how much it will dole out to its members. Total amount earned can be tracked in the ‘earnings’ section of each member’s profile. While users aren’t exactly hitting the mother-load, the very prospect of earning cash merely for networking has already attracted a fair number of users. Apart from the financial bit, Yuwie’s got a vivid member search method: you can actually search for users not only by the standard age, gender, and location routine, there’s also a specific search for body type (ranging from ‘a little fluffy,’ to ‘scales are my enemy’), and income, religion, smoker/drinker, and education. Capitalism and all its vices in a nutshell.
More at:http://www.yuwie.com/
Yuwie.com is an online social networking service that allows members to set up personal profiles for the purpose of linking to friends and sharing information, videos, blogs, and pictures. Yuwie also pays members for based on the amount of activity they have, and based on the activity of their referrals. To enrich members' experience, we request and display some personal information to other members and visitors, which allows our users to identify each other and expand their network of friends. Yuwie members can change their profile information at any time and can control if and how other members and the service communicates with them, and views their information.
How It Works:
Every action a member takes, and the actions resulting there from are compensated. This means everything from updating your profile, posting a video, picture or a new blog post, and getting profile views earns members money. Yuwie decides on the 15th of every month how much it will dole out to its members. Total amount earned can be tracked in the ‘earnings’ section of each member’s profile. While users aren’t exactly hitting the mother-load, the very prospect of earning cash merely for networking has already attracted a fair number of users. Apart from the financial bit, Yuwie’s got a vivid member search method: you can actually search for users not only by the standard age, gender, and location routine, there’s also a specific search for body type (ranging from ‘a little fluffy,’ to ‘scales are my enemy’), and income, religion, smoker/drinker, and education. Capitalism and all its vices in a nutshell.
More at:http://www.yuwie.com/
Freemindshare is a web service will make it possible for you to share your FreeMind map.
What Company is About:
Freemindshare is a web service will make it possible for you to share your FreeMind map. The service is presently in beta and can consequently meet a few functioning problems.
This service is supplied free of charge and without any obligation. Please note that your files will not be confidential, their access is not securised. However, no list available, and a unique and alphanumeric identifier is required in order to accede to a file. Good luck anybody wants to scan the whole list.
How It Works:
A mind map is a diagram that helps you organize and study a number of things, such as; concepts, thoughts, ideas, theories, business plans, comparisons, goals, and much more. Mind maps help you in decision making processes and problem solving, their form can change from sprawling from a center idea or left to right. Free Minds is a software application that helps you make mind maps. Free Minds is written in Java Script and it allows you to make mind maps. Now there is a service called FreeMindShare which is a place where you can upload your Free Mind map. If you want to share your Free Mind map with others this is a perfect site for you to visit. You simply go to Freemindshare.com and hit the “share” button you can upload your Free Mind map and share it with the world.
More at:http://freemindshare.com/
Freemindshare is a web service will make it possible for you to share your FreeMind map. The service is presently in beta and can consequently meet a few functioning problems.
This service is supplied free of charge and without any obligation. Please note that your files will not be confidential, their access is not securised. However, no list available, and a unique and alphanumeric identifier is required in order to accede to a file. Good luck anybody wants to scan the whole list.
How It Works:
A mind map is a diagram that helps you organize and study a number of things, such as; concepts, thoughts, ideas, theories, business plans, comparisons, goals, and much more. Mind maps help you in decision making processes and problem solving, their form can change from sprawling from a center idea or left to right. Free Minds is a software application that helps you make mind maps. Free Minds is written in Java Script and it allows you to make mind maps. Now there is a service called FreeMindShare which is a place where you can upload your Free Mind map. If you want to share your Free Mind map with others this is a perfect site for you to visit. You simply go to Freemindshare.com and hit the “share” button you can upload your Free Mind map and share it with the world.
More at:http://freemindshare.com/
TrafficWave.net develops and manages AutoResponder technology for small and medium sized businesses in over 60 different countries
What Company Is About:
TrafficWave.net LLC is a Limited Liability Company located in Spring, Texas. Founded in the year 2000 by Brian Rooney and Stephen Hambright, TrafficWave.net develops and manages AutoResponder technology for small and medium sized businesses in over 60 different countries. Clients access our web-based AutoResponder system 24/7 to manage and send newsletters, sales letters, special offers, and other important communication to their subscribers.
How It Works:
TrafficWave.net provides AutoResponder technologies.AutoResponders allow small and home based businesses to generate, manage, and profit from their own in-house lists. Using AutoResponders by TrafficWave.net, clients can get their message out quickly and cost-effectively. Clients can create sends messages in plain text or full html. AdTracking capabilities allow clients to track the responses to each individual letter, follow-up, announcement or article. In addition, Clients can use AdTracker to track virtually any online ad. You can sart with a 30 Day Free Trial.
More at:http://www.trafficwave.net/
OnToplist.com ranking: Visionwiz
TrafficWave.net LLC is a Limited Liability Company located in Spring, Texas. Founded in the year 2000 by Brian Rooney and Stephen Hambright, TrafficWave.net develops and manages AutoResponder technology for small and medium sized businesses in over 60 different countries. Clients access our web-based AutoResponder system 24/7 to manage and send newsletters, sales letters, special offers, and other important communication to their subscribers.
How It Works:
TrafficWave.net provides AutoResponder technologies.AutoResponders allow small and home based businesses to generate, manage, and profit from their own in-house lists. Using AutoResponders by TrafficWave.net, clients can get their message out quickly and cost-effectively. Clients can create sends messages in plain text or full html. AdTracking capabilities allow clients to track the responses to each individual letter, follow-up, announcement or article. In addition, Clients can use AdTracker to track virtually any online ad. You can sart with a 30 Day Free Trial.
More at:http://www.trafficwave.net/
OnToplist.com ranking: Visionwiz
Industry Printing is for delivering a professional product at a cost effect price
What Company is Offering;
Industry Printing is for delivering a professional product at a cost effect price. They offer a wide variety of products and services including 13oz, 15oz, mesh banners, posters, contour cut stickers, car magnetics, floor graphics, wall graphics, photo enlargements, art reproductions, window decals and more. All this you can do it in three very easy steps.We give 110% care and attention to every customer & job. We promise to make your experience with Industry Printing enjoyable and remember able. We take great pride in our work and treat our customers like family
How It works:
First of all you have to choose your product, then your options and finally upload your artwork. Prices are very accessible and the quality is very good, they print in a considerably high resolution.
More at:http://www.industryprinting.net/
Industry Printing is for delivering a professional product at a cost effect price. They offer a wide variety of products and services including 13oz, 15oz, mesh banners, posters, contour cut stickers, car magnetics, floor graphics, wall graphics, photo enlargements, art reproductions, window decals and more. All this you can do it in three very easy steps.We give 110% care and attention to every customer & job. We promise to make your experience with Industry Printing enjoyable and remember able. We take great pride in our work and treat our customers like family
How It works:
First of all you have to choose your product, then your options and finally upload your artwork. Prices are very accessible and the quality is very good, they print in a considerably high resolution.
More at:http://www.industryprinting.net/
AskPoodle is a new local search tool for the service you need, and businesses and vendors are then contacted on your behalf
What Company is About:
AskPoodle is a new local search tool that lets you submit a request for the service you need, and businesses and vendors are then contacted on your behalf. The business that responds to your query fastest will obviously be the one more likely to get you as a customer.
How It works:
This whole process, which looks eerily like FastCall411, is supposed to be a hands-off approach to finding local businesses. If you’re looking for immediate answers, however, there are often search results that AskPoodle can provide. These are rather limited and don’t offer much in the way of information other than an URL and the address. To this end, you may be better off going to Google.
Aside from these consumer requests on AskPoodle, there are also social postings that allow you to post a query on the message board, and see what other users can help you out with. This operates much like Yahoo Answers, and can be used for those questions that don’t require an immediate response. In all, the site is rather cumbersome to use, and may not provide much in the way of value unless businesses are alerted to its purpose and design, and also incentivized for their participation. In other local search news, Grayboxx has just launched in another 100 cities.
More at:http://www.askpoodle.com/
AskPoodle is a new local search tool that lets you submit a request for the service you need, and businesses and vendors are then contacted on your behalf. The business that responds to your query fastest will obviously be the one more likely to get you as a customer.
How It works:
This whole process, which looks eerily like FastCall411, is supposed to be a hands-off approach to finding local businesses. If you’re looking for immediate answers, however, there are often search results that AskPoodle can provide. These are rather limited and don’t offer much in the way of information other than an URL and the address. To this end, you may be better off going to Google.
Aside from these consumer requests on AskPoodle, there are also social postings that allow you to post a query on the message board, and see what other users can help you out with. This operates much like Yahoo Answers, and can be used for those questions that don’t require an immediate response. In all, the site is rather cumbersome to use, and may not provide much in the way of value unless businesses are alerted to its purpose and design, and also incentivized for their participation. In other local search news, Grayboxx has just launched in another 100 cities.
More at:http://www.askpoodle.com/
iFoods.tv, the network for user-generated cooking shows
What Company is About:
iFoods.tv, the network for user-generated cooking shows, has officially launched today.
How it Works:
The site features shows from its own editors, as well as those submitted by users, which is a set up similar to VideoJug. Everything here focuses around cooking shows, so it is a rather niche website. With the official launch, iFoods also has a new feature for a monthly competition called Brownie Points. This is to encourage site activity, as active users get top prizes.
How It Could Be Improved:
The concept of iFoods is a good one, even though it’s not new. However, a few additions to its niche site would be helpful, such as transcripts for recipes, along with printing options for the transcripts as well. Incorporating better search and filtering options would be useful, and perhaps segmenting recipes by level of expertise will aid a user’s search and interest in the site. See here for more online food resources.
More at:http://ifoods.tv/site/
iFoods.tv, the network for user-generated cooking shows, has officially launched today.
How it Works:
The site features shows from its own editors, as well as those submitted by users, which is a set up similar to VideoJug. Everything here focuses around cooking shows, so it is a rather niche website. With the official launch, iFoods also has a new feature for a monthly competition called Brownie Points. This is to encourage site activity, as active users get top prizes.
How It Could Be Improved:
The concept of iFoods is a good one, even though it’s not new. However, a few additions to its niche site would be helpful, such as transcripts for recipes, along with printing options for the transcripts as well. Incorporating better search and filtering options would be useful, and perhaps segmenting recipes by level of expertise will aid a user’s search and interest in the site. See here for more online food resources.
More at:http://ifoods.tv/site/
"Bank of America Launched A Site" for small business owners to be part of the Small Business Online Community
Bank Of America :
Bank of America has launched a social network. Sort of. It’s a site for small business owners to be part of the Small Business Online Community, where they can share stories with each other, find experts in various topics, and network with each other.
How It Works:
This online community is set up somewhat like LinkedIn, where business info such as location, website, annual revenue and other information is shared on the profiles. The purpose of this site is to allow Bank of America be that singular resource for small businesses. You don’t need to be a Bank of America user in order to join the site, so what you’ll get once you log on to this community is a network of business people that are sharing their stories with each other, as well as access to articles from industry experts.
This format of “mentorship” is pretty straight forward, and those that provide the most amount of quality content will be promoted throughout the site. And guess what else will be promoted here? Bank of America products. This form of online networking has been used time and time again for drug companies looking to create hubs of potential and existing patients, do a little market research, and get new ways to push products to consumers. Coca Cola and Reebok have also launched social networks under a similar guise.
More at:http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com/
Bank of America has launched a social network. Sort of. It’s a site for small business owners to be part of the Small Business Online Community, where they can share stories with each other, find experts in various topics, and network with each other.
How It Works:
This online community is set up somewhat like LinkedIn, where business info such as location, website, annual revenue and other information is shared on the profiles. The purpose of this site is to allow Bank of America be that singular resource for small businesses. You don’t need to be a Bank of America user in order to join the site, so what you’ll get once you log on to this community is a network of business people that are sharing their stories with each other, as well as access to articles from industry experts.
This format of “mentorship” is pretty straight forward, and those that provide the most amount of quality content will be promoted throughout the site. And guess what else will be promoted here? Bank of America products. This form of online networking has been used time and time again for drug companies looking to create hubs of potential and existing patients, do a little market research, and get new ways to push products to consumers. Coca Cola and Reebok have also launched social networks under a similar guise.
More at:http://smallbusinessonlinecommunity.bankofamerica.com/
eSureIT online backup service has raised $5 million in venture capital
What Company is about:
eSureIT online backup service Business Plans help insure that your critical information is secure and always available.
How It works:
After you sign up for an eSureIT online backup service account, you will download and install the data backup software onto your computer or your server. After installation of the eSureIT software, you will choose a unique encryption key for security that will be used to encrypt all of your files. You will then set up your backup sets, which are the list of files that you want to backup and the times that you want to do backups. Setting up backup sets is easy, and you have complete control over your backups.
Online data backups start automatically
From then on, as long as your computer is online and functioning, data backups will start automatically according to the schedule that you have set. While backups are typically scheduled during the night when there are few people using your computers, backups have little or no impact on your computer's performance and your ability to access the Internet. With eSureIT, you also have the option of manually starting an online data backup at any time.
How Much They Got from VCs:
They raised $5 million in venture capital. The funding comes from OpenView Venture Partners.
More at:http://www.intronis.com/
eSureIT online backup service Business Plans help insure that your critical information is secure and always available.
How It works:
After you sign up for an eSureIT online backup service account, you will download and install the data backup software onto your computer or your server. After installation of the eSureIT software, you will choose a unique encryption key for security that will be used to encrypt all of your files. You will then set up your backup sets, which are the list of files that you want to backup and the times that you want to do backups. Setting up backup sets is easy, and you have complete control over your backups.
Online data backups start automatically
From then on, as long as your computer is online and functioning, data backups will start automatically according to the schedule that you have set. While backups are typically scheduled during the night when there are few people using your computers, backups have little or no impact on your computer's performance and your ability to access the Internet. With eSureIT, you also have the option of manually starting an online data backup at any time.
How Much They Got from VCs:
They raised $5 million in venture capital. The funding comes from OpenView Venture Partners.
More at:http://www.intronis.com/
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