SeattlePI on the beast that is MySpace:

“More and more businesses from around the world are setting up camp on MySpace, using their bit of digital real estate within the Web site like lighthouses bordering a dark sea that, with a little luck — and enough approved “friend” requests — guide customers to their doorstep.”

It’s a good article covering an increasingly important online marketing channel. Read it here.

Most entrepreneurs will tell you that launching a company comes at a stiff personal price. You need to dig deep and make sacrifices for your startup. Maxed out credit cards, tiny salaries (or none at all) and friends that give up calling.

This morning however I reached a new level of sacrifice. A conference call was fast approaching and I didn’t have time for a trip to the grocers. Instead, I went on a scavange through my cupboards and was delighted to discover a box of Raisin Bran.

Down to the last few bites, spoon in one hand and a mouse in the other, I noticed them………

Red Flour Beetles - a good half dozen swimming about.

I’m not sure how many I oblivously devoured, but I’d say I’ve crossed some sort of line here.

“The mice which helplessly find themselves between the cats’ teeth acquire no merit from their enforced sacrifice.”
Mahatma Gandhi

Do advertising and branding opportunities exist in the world virtual world of online games and communities? You bet they do! But where to start right? I know how you feel. Luckily the always excellent TrendWatching.com takes us inside the virtual world with their latest trend report titled YOUNIVERSE.

“Understandably, the focus within virtual communities has been predominantly about integrating offline goods, services and experiences into virtual worlds. As online worlds mature, ‘production’ solely for online use may become the norm, before potentially moving on to invade the ‘real world’. Which means selling opportunities more than anything else. Look at what aforementioned Nike, Habbo, Virtual Kingdom, and American Apparel have planned or have already rolled out, and what other brands like Puma, Nissan are doing in this field.”

This is something I’ve been thinking about for a long time but havn’t yet taken the time to participate in. That all has to change! While its still early, you can’t argue with the popularity of these worlds (50+ million Habbo Hotel users for example). Real people, many of them yours and my customers, are spending a lot of their valuable time there.

Getting started is going to be the hardest part. There’s a tonne of information to absorb and attempt to understand. Luckily TrendWatching’s report is an excellent primer that helps us dive into the ocean of information, and better yet, try out the virtual world for ourselves.

Be sure to put on your marketing hat for a couple hours this week and check out TrendWatching’s Youniverse Report