People who are working in the US today:
- Anyone who’s even remotely related to the selling of goods
- Garbage truck drivers (is that the politically correct term?
- Me
Though technically, I fall into the first category as well. Me and about 4 other people in this entire office. Normally there are closer to 50 of us. I suspect I’ll get a lot of work done today.
I saw the most amazing and brilliant thing yesterday on Twitter. Keep in mind that I’m currently fascinated with all things viral: how they become that way and how much staying power they have. It’s even what my NaNo novel (attempt two, which I’m rocking, btw), is based on. What I saw, right. #ShackFriday trending at #1 the entire evening. Absolutely freaking brilliant, and I applaud the advertisers who pulled that off for Radio Shack. If we could do things like that…
…of course we’re still trying to find where the bottom line meets trending and fans in social media, but I already know the answer to that. It’s in Facebook points. Any game that’s free, but ‘enhanced’ if you spend real world money on digital currency has the potential to become huge. Associate yourself with a piece of that profit, and you’re set. I know this to be true, it’s not just a belief (yes, I’m testifying about the profitibility of ‘free online games’). Because Nexon North America is making billions off a series of free MMO’s that people have never heard of unless they play them.
Fascinating phenomenon. I can’t explain why I’m so enthralled with it, but I am. Social media, online currency exchange, digital gaming funds…put those three things together successfully around a novel, and I bet you could top a best seller list in a heartbeat.
Of course, the kind of investment it would take to get something like that up and running correctly would be massive. The development hours, the testing, the consumer research…but it’s the next step in merchandising. Just picture it:
“Customize your avatar and help the Archangel Gabriel save the world from the devastation of sparkly vampires. Free to play. Better clothing and hairstyles for just $9.99. Pet zombies only $4.99.”
Next. Big. Thing.
I so need to patent that.