The Question LL Asks

Could you explain your reasoning?

I think it is self-explanatory. The words "non-profit business" are in direct conflict with your assertion.

...There are billions of dollars of potential profit being ignored by LL.
And those dollars lie in the discretionary/entertainment budgets of millions of people who would ADORE SL...if only they knew it existed.

I basically agree; I just think LL is putting too much energy into the 'hey, some Residents have done well selling 512s and/or small prefabs---let's move in on that' and too little energy and emphasis on supporting new registrants with actual information/support that they want and need to get through those first overwhelming hours.

The idea of land and a house isn't bad...it's just that it's not the first or primary need of most new people. And my contention is that LL is ignoring this rather obvious fact in their enthusiasm for taking over an existing business niche.

2. Market SL. Do you realize LL has not spent a dime on advertising? WoW had a huge TV ad campaign. IMVU sells in game currency cards at the grocery store. SL? They get in the news when someone duct tapes their former SL partner to a tree.

I certainly don't fault Linden Lab for trying to turn a profit. I also think that if they have no good original ideas of their own (which they haven't had for years), it's time to start borrowing others' ideas.

The sad thing is that so many residents came and devoted their time and energy into creating these SL industries, a few for profit, but most simply for the satisfaction of "Your World, Your Imagination." After devoting that time and energy on the promise of "Your World, Your Imagination," Linden Lab is now claming that world. The new motto is, "Your Imagination, Our Profit." I think a lot of residents would never have tried to participate in creating these SL industries if they expected Linden Lab to eventually penalize them for success by muscling it away from them.

The fact that has revealed itself is that Second Life really isn't worth a lot of time or energy, because Linden Lab can't be trusted- Linden Lab will destroy your work in a heartbeat if there is money to be made.

I don't like what LL does sometimes........but I do trust them. I know what they might or could do. I expect them to do as they have done in the past. When and if I arrive at a point that I do not trust them I'm out of here.

Is it your claim that in making the statement "And every business (as opposed to hobby) has to make a profit" in the context of this thread, I was attempting to prove that non-profit businesses are hobbies? Is that your interpretation of the point the thread is intended to make?

Hell, I'd like a dime every time Brenda says, "More Predictable Experience."

Linden Lab must be so cash-strapped that it doesn't have a marketing budget. I see advertising for IMVU everywhere on the internet.

I'll add that in the last sentence, too.

I can only submit my perception of the tools.

But wasn't the Zindra move, to prepare to move in a different type population? more or less? Doesn't moving in new population help business owners? as well as people who use it socially? more people to talk to?

They were pressured to deal with the bot/camping situation. Sort of cleaned that up. It certainly took some pressure off my business, as far as constant traffic woes.

They were pressured to do something about Xstreet. They've worked on one aspect of it. My perception is that it is going to be a huge benefit to any size business owner.

They're doing some mass marketing for business promotions and Xstreet - about time - I don't care if it is for their cronies or not. It reminds people to shop and explore....and that trickles down.

There's that Nebraska thing. Surely one or two of the people who become familiar with SL by using that....will decide they want to be a Harley-Riding Vampire Ferret, and might wander into a club or two, and need some new leather.

They just introduced the plans for the homes to be offered. I'm not sure if it's directed to the right group...but it's something.

They've got a pretty good promotion going on for Winterfest. Anyone who had their ass in gear, could have tried out for that. (I didn't)

They were popping into the blogoforumthingyrama, and chatting with people. Until the people became abusive, and scared them off.

Shall I go on? Or do you want to debate those first?

I have that feeling that LL is trying to beef up the bottom-line short term (via XStreet fees etc.) to position the company for sale. I have no info to base this on but it just smells like that.

But the good news is that there are still people passionate about SL. If they weren't, they'd just shut up and shut off.

I wonder if there would be less turbulence if LL would actually level with us. For instance, instead of declaring that the XStreet changes were Requested By Residents, LL might say "we need more income and since charging such fees is standard practice on other shopping sites, we feel it's not out of line for us to charge them too, though we understand you'd prefer we didn't."

We wouldn't like it, but we wouldn't feel patronized (as many of us do, now).

There have been many alternative (and good) ways proposed by merchants (including me) to improve the "shopping experience" and deal with clutter. I can understand some sort of fee structure but it needs to be coupled with structural changes to XStreet SL.

That they choose to ram it down our throats but pretend it was based on feedback is indeed patronizing and I know caused much of the initial "protest" reaction. I took about 60 of my items down. But you can see, I'm not opposed to fees:

Snickers' Blog

The prime problem LL have is that they _can't_ "create the experience of SL" because social aspects are so important to it. LL can't control how people behave socially, but what a resident experiences socially is likely to be a vitually important part of their experience. So LL are left in a very difficult position, unable to control the value delivered by their own product.

When you see that they're in that position.. their strategies make a lot more sense. Like, the focus on outside corporations is because they provide much more reliable income streams. Sony or Coke aren't going to abandon their islands because they had a bad falling-out with their in-world boyfriend.

....


This in my opinion is a last ditch attempt and is doomed to failure.It seems they are trying to stick their finger in the proverbial dyke.It won,t work.

LL get more sign ups and stop stealing off your existing customer base.

I thought about sending LL an actual road map, but I'm pretty sure it'd just be a piece of paper with lots of confusing squiggles on it.

There have been many alternative (and good) ways proposed by merchants (including me) to improve the "shopping experience" and deal with clutter. I can understand some sort of fee structure but it needs to be coupled with structural changes to XStreet SL.

That they choose to ram it down our throats but pretend it was based on feedback is indeed patronizing and I know caused much of the initial "protest" reaction. I took about 60 of my items down. But you can see, I'm not opposed to fees:

Snickers' Blog

I don't know what is so hard to understand that what appears to be confusion, lack of insight, lack of understanding the users needs or wants is in reality changing due to necessity.........or simply finding a better way. I don't know how many regular users of SL there are but it appears in be near the 100 K mark. Every change LL makes effects each one of those. And, my experience, the vast majority (I'll go out on a limb here and say 80 to 90%) accept the changes and over time see improvements to their personal experience in SL. That's who LL caters too......that is their bottom line. As important as creators are, they are merely part of the equation........and not the central part either. If LL only paid attention to the 10 or 20% that find LL's changes objectionable or questionable then this would be one lonely place..........the major population will not be here. A world full of creators with no audience to apprecieate their creations.

I think anyone who has been in SL for more than a few months can see LL is wanting businesses (corporations) to migrate here.......it's been their stated goal from at least as long as I've been in SL. That vision or business plan has not changed one bit. As with any for profit business a customer base is necessary. Sometimes those customers seem unappreciated true........but LL is not attempting to run the customers off in order to make room for corporations. That's insane..........and dispite my occassional wonderings, they are not insane. LL has created a platform that is many different things to many different people. They did that on purpose thinking it would attract real life businesses to SL (which I believe is not going to happen....at least not how LL wants it). That's their goal, their business plan. We have little to nothing to say to change their minds. If LL ever changes their mind and starts catering to the businesses within SL (and drops their corporate investment idea) then there will be others just as unhappy with that decision too.

SL is a changing invironment. We tend to get caught up in our narrowly defined definition of what SL is or what it should be............we don't have any access to LL's plan. Nor are we likely to ever get a glimps of it.

Call me a LL fan boi (gal) if you like. I think I'm just more realistic than some here.

Peggy,

You're right...LL wants the platform to be WIDELY used. They call it "use cases". They want corporations to use it for business. They want universities to use it for classes. They want individuals to use it for fun.

The problem is that SL is not well suited to many of their desired "use cases". It's a poor platform for real world advertising and shopping. It's not secure enough for sensitive business data. It's not scalable enough for hundreds or thousands of people at a time to attend a class or an event.

SL is an entertainment platform. Until LL can see that, and concentrate on it, they will keep making decisions that harm its entertainment potential in favor of mythical "future users".

LL has had a longer run in the innovation department than most, and I think that, perhaps some of the original people still cared about the ideals it represented, but they are slowly being replaced by the profiteer drones. In the end, they will end up poisoning the well to the point where it cannot sustain them anymore, and will eventually wither and die. Another well-developed and run VW will hasten that end, too.