One of the fastest growing online communities nowadays is the virtual world of Second Life http://www.secondlife.com . It is a 3D world where you can literally live a second life (hence the name), where you create an avatar, adopt a new name, develop your own personality, and even embark on an entrepreneurial journey!
Many big companies are already setting up shop and presence in Second Life. IBM has already acquired 24 Second Life “islands” while Toyota, Dell, Reuters, Starwood Hotels, American Apparel, General Motors and several others also have their presence in this virtual world.
But the biggest news coming from Second Life is the success story of Anche Chung (a German whose real name is Ailin Graef). Graef is the first Second Life entrepreneur who have made more than $1 million virtual real-estate dealings. Imagine that — more than a million for something virtual (it’s not even real land!)
In Second Life, the members (or avatars) can buy and sell items using Linden dollars (named after the founder). Linden dollars are easily traded for U.S. dollars at an official currency site. Plus, players retain the copyright for their in-game creations. So if you design clothes in Second Life, you have the copyright for all your creations.
Sounds crazy? Maybe. But people are drawn to this virtual world in droves. The site even has a list of possible businesses that you can start, which include:
- Party and wedding planner
- Pet manufacturer
- Tattooist
- Automotive manufacturer
- Fashion designer
- Custom avatar designer
- Jewelry maker
- Architect
- XML coder
- Freelance scripter
- Game developer
- Tour guide
- Real estate speculator
- Publicist
Check it out. Me, I can’t even make my avatar walk straight let alone get out of the orientation island. It will take me a while to be able to start any of the businesses, or even earn a Linden dollar. But it looks like fun
