The development of virtual worlds is accelerating, and more people are using these platforms as part of their daily lives. Meanwhile, developers of virtual worlds need to monetize their services, and the advertising market has begun to take note of this development. This opens up exciting opportunities for businesses looking to use innovative marketing in virtual worlds.

Virtual Worlds as Marketing Platforms

Virtual worlds, like Second Life and Minecraft, offer businesses the opportunity to create a virtual presence and interact with users in a more engaging and interactive way than is possible on traditional platforms. A 2020 study by Stanford University showed that users who interact with brands in virtual worlds form a stronger connection to the brand and are more inclined to make purchases.

Businesses can use virtual worlds to launch and promote new products, build brand awareness, and engage users through interactive activities like games, competitions, and events. This can be particularly effective for businesses targeting audiences interested in technology and video games.

Challenges and Limitations

While marketing in virtual worlds can be an interesting and innovative way to reach a specific audience, there are challenges and limitations to consider. It requires thorough planning and implementation to be successful. Access to user data and targeted advertising may be limited, and it's important to consider whether this is the right approach for your business and target audience.

The Metaverse and New Opportunities

The Metaverse, formerly known as Facebook Horizon Workrooms, is a new virtual platform developed by Meta (formerly Facebook) to support collaboration and communication among people in a virtual world. The platform gives businesses an opportunity to market themselves and interact with customers and potential customers in a more engaging and interactive way.

The Metaverse is still in the development stage and has limited features and availability. The platform may also require significant resources and investment from businesses looking to fully utilize it. It's important to keep an eye on its development and evaluate whether the platform is suitable for your business and target audience as it becomes more accessible.

Other Platforms to Consider

Several other platforms may also be interesting for businesses looking to explore marketing opportunities in virtual worlds:

• Roblox: A gaming platform that allows users to create and share their own games and interactive experiences in a virtual world, which can also be used by businesses for marketing purposes.

• Sansar: A virtual world offering a variety of opportunities for businesses to create their own virtual presence and market their products or services.

• VRChat: A virtual world that allows users to communicate with each other and create their own virtual presence, which can be used by businesses for marketing purposes and hosting virtual events.

Conclusion

Marketing in virtual worlds can be an exciting and innovative approach to online marketing, but it's important to thoroughly investigate and evaluate whether it's suitable for your business and target audience. For businesses, it's exciting to follow the development in marketing within virtual worlds, especially regarding advertising on platforms created by large international companies. By leveraging the growing market opportunities in virtual worlds, businesses can create engaging and memorable brand experiences for customers and reach new audiences in an innovative and effective way.