Infopirate.org

Real Goods in a Virtual World
By: Jacob Ruytenbeek

In today’s world it’s difficult for any medium to large company to compete without conducting business internationally. Many times, even small businesses can take advantage of sourcing products from around the world to cut down on their bottom line. The ease of conducting e-business has also encouraged if not required businesses to sell their goods and services worldwide. If the world has gone global, what other markets are there to sell to? Second Life has created some creative opportunities to combine real life with the virtual life.

Second Life adds Dior to the list of retailers buying a presence within the virtual online game. Dior is the first French luxury house to employ such status in Second Life, and its display will show rare items from its real life collection. The jewelry items will not be for sale, and though Dior claims that its showcase in Second Life is not for

If you are a small business, you need to hire a web design company in order to create a website that gets you real results. If you have a personal website, you can afford to have a website that is less than perfect – your profits are not depending on it. If you run a small company, on the other hand, your web site is not just a fun online presence. It is a powerful marketing tool that can bring you more customers, can save you time, can bring in new orders, and can help you grow your business.

After thirty years, a real life Robert Langdon (Maurizio Seracini) claims he is close to discovering an old Leonardo painting behind a 500 year old wall in Florence, Italy...

Harrison said Second Life's economy resembles a pyramid scheme. Castronova said it resembles "Mayberry". Well, even Mayberry's businesses have an objective financial value. Is anyone willing to put forth an example of a typical Second Life "Mayberry" business, so we can test the claims of Castronova and the other Second Life faithful?