Lab+5+-+Discussion+on+Mainstreaming+of+Virtual+Worlds

=What is the difference between advertising methods used in the real world and the virtual world? =

Personally, I believe there are many differences between advertising methods used in the real world and virtual world. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. But overall, to achieve great advertising, businesses and organizations should use both the methods in the real world and virtual world. Some main differences between the two is that real world advertising costs a lot more then if say a business or organization were to advertise in the virtual world. Advertising in the real world requires businesses and organizations to understand the target audience of their product/ service is and carefully select appropriate destinations where they feel their advertising method will have the most success. Through real world advertising the business and organizations chose the best way to reach a larger audience. Types of real world advertising methods include magazines, advertisements on public transportation, flyers, posters, live demonstrations of products and services and the list goes on and on.

As for virtual world advertising methods, they are drastically different from what is seen in the real world. The approach on how to reach the target audience is different in the sense that the audiences are smaller and very specific. Popular methods in the virtual world that are used include narrowcasting and massification (Jones 2010). Advertising in the virtual world is much easier to accomplish then in the real world. The cost of advertising in the virtual world is a lot less and because of this businesses and organization are able to target niche markets. Furthermore this is because virtual world advertising is not a tool used by many businesses and organizations therefore, they can target niche markets with little to no competition, at the same time they can get direct feedback from the target audience. Although, a downfall of virtual world advertising is that not everyone in the world has the access to the internet, therefore, that cuts off many individuals that could have been reached in the real world.

In conclusion, I believe based on the differences between advertising methods in the real world and virtual world, I believe businesses and organizations are better off using the virtual world methods in order to advertise their product/service. This is because of various different information gathering systems that allow the businesses and organizations to the information needed in order to successfully run their advertising campaigns.

Works Cited Jones, Michael. "Economics and the Audience." CCT:300 Critical Analysis of Media Lecture 5. Sheridan College - Trafalgar Campus, Oakville. 7 Oct. 2010.