http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/17/offerpal-media-raises-15-million-to-peddle-in-game-ads/?scp=1&sq=social%20media&st=cse
I found an intriguing article on the New York Times website about how a company called Offerpal Media is working to connect other company's with avatar-like games to get their advertisements out.
Game site owners realized that using normal banner advertisements wasn't working to pay for their site because their users weren't willing to click away from their game to view outside advertisements. This is where Offerpal Media came in. They take companies like Blockbuster and Gap and create quick surveys or sign-ups to get users to look at an advertisement, but then reward them by giving them in-game currency. This way consumers are responding to advertisements, as well as being continued users of the game.
I think that it is crazy to see how many new business and jobs are being created out of the social media world. They are occupations that people wouldn't normally think up, but are becoming lucrative ways to make money. Can you imagine if it was your job to check up on how many avatars had taken a survey so you know how much money needed to be paid from the advertiser to the game site owner. Its funny, but someone out there is doing it.
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I think this is a really effective way to target young consumers. If you look at Second Life, they have a virtual Pizza Hut and even a college campus for avatars to take classes. When I was working on my part of the Virtual Worlds Wiki Page, the website I researched was Gaia. They partnered with Scion for their cars as well as some designers for the clothing you can buy for your avatar. These brands/people get exposure to millions of users each day, it can't be anything but effective.
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