UPDATE: I literally just came across this post on tech crunch: Ex Microsoft Team Launches “They’re Beautiful”. Michael Arrington posts about “They’re Beautiful”, a service that lets you send virtual flowers to people via email. What a coincidence!
Virtual goods have been getting a lot of attention from big publishers such as The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. And why not. People are making quite a bit of money selling virtual goods online. I have never bought, sold or even investigated virtual goods beyond what I read in blogs and newspapers, but we all should be paying attention.
Virtual goods are primarily, if only, found in games such as Second Life and World of Warcraft, but they may have a place in social networks.
My Idea
What if, as a website (socially based) owner, I could offer a means for other users to “buy” virtual, or real gifts for my friends. Things like virtual presents like flowers, or a new, kick ass background image (just thinking off the top of my head).
Mashable reported on a new service called SocialFlowers that lets Facebook users send real flowers to their friends. Pretty cool. Markus Frind, of PlentyOfFish.com fame, actually predicted this nearly a year ago: My billion dollar idea that will redefine ecommerce.
I could see this happening for all sorts of goods. If I could add my Amazon wishlist to whatever social network I’m attached to, maybe there could be an easy way for my friends to buy me a gift for my birthday.
So the question is… Should you offer your users Goods or Virtual goods?
I find it hard to imagine that boyfriends around the world would even consider thinking twice about sending their girlfriend a dozen virtual roses, or more, to plaster all over their MySpace pages! I know when I used to send my girlfriend roses at her work she loved showing them off to others there.
I really believe both have a place within social networks. But the approach taken thus far has resembles a retailer like format. Services like AuctionAds take a bit of a different approach in that it is a much more clever way of getting people to interact with goods. I really think that we will see more of this spill over into social networks.
Some Linkage to Wet Your Appetite
The growing value of virtual goods
Sony Plans to Auction Virtual Game Property - Registration required.
Awaiting Real Sales From Virtual Shoppers
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