A starters guide to running SL business-complete

I search the forums (here and slx) and good blogs on how to run a SL business. I post questions about some things (such as how to advertise etc).
However most of the information I get is scattered.
I never knew how to run a business in RL, maybe a little bit since my RL father owns his own business... but I never attended the classes he was required to attend.
I wonder if many business owners on second life never knew how to run a real life business before owning theirs on SL.

Anyway, back to my point.

I think it would be a really good idea to gather a couple of good researchers and create a complete (realistic) guide on how to run a business from the beginning. It would be a good idea to outline details such as:
-Deciding what to sell
-Deciding where to rent a shop
-Marketing and advertising (what's free and what costs)
-How to run a business with multiple partners
-What to do about theft and copyright issues
-providing good customer service
-how to know when to call it quits
-etc

Maybe get a couple of store owners, from new businesses to old businesses to talk about their experiences and share.

Okay, so I don't know if there is already a guide such as this... but I believe it would be a nice gesture to offer it for free (because if there is a guide like this for sale, I wouldn't be able to purchase it).

i'd love to se something like that, i'd print it out and stick it on the wall, some people on here have fantastic advise

I'd me more than happy to research and write it myself but I'm quite busy at the moment with many RL things.
However, if anyone would like to run with this idea, I would be more than happy to help. Not answer questions but research and talk to people and help a little with writing.

LL apparently just put out a guide to being an entrepreneur in SL. If you don't want to buy one, you can get the info from the ad (on the main SL page, you may have to refresh several times before the right one comes up) and ask your local library to get it. They also have a new one on making things. I haven't tried to look for either of these in a bookstore and can't say anything about the content, but they're out there.

You might be interested in The Entrepreneur's Guide to Second Life: Making Money in the Metaverse by Daniel Terdiman. It was recently published and has gotten some good reviews.

I've looked through it. In my opinion, it is intended for people with little or no previous experience in SL business. Terdiman covers the basics thoroughly. On the other hand, anyone with much SL business experience would probably not find many helpful tips.

Not sure if many successful Entrepeneurs would want to share some of their e.g successful marketing strategies, after all that's what keeps them on top of the pile!

I've been meaning to take this on as a project - the SL Business Wiki. Just overwhelmed in RL and SL is kind of on the back burner at the moment.

There's plenty of room for entrepreneurs in SL. The more that are successful the better business is for all.

The only drawback I can see is since most of us are only on SL part time, so we're usually pretty busy running our SL business. That doesn't leave much extra time for writing up something like that. That would be the case for me, I would have no social time left, which is pretty limited as it is and I don't even work in RL.

It's a great idea though.

i would love it if someone else would do all the tedious research and then compile a complete list of everything i need to make money in SL, without me having to do any work or research on my own.why then, i could just create an account and get right to making money, and not be bothered with the learning curve.

i eagerly anticipate all the free advice and inside secrets to be posted in a public forum.

In a way I feel like you just said the same thing I did only in a more direct way.

Really though, sharing ones experience and doing all the work are not the same thing.

I thought of this too after posting. However, one doesn't necessarily have to squeeze successful marketing strategies from top SL entrepeneurs, or other private business tricks such as the most effective advertising for them or the most sold product on their shelf. I'm talking basics.

Most people know that word of mouth is the best advertising. I've read this on many blogs and forum posts. But what about word of mouth through other group notifications (not your personal store) or club DJ's at events, other businesses you may be friends with and ect... No one states those in the posts I've read.

A lot of these questions I've stated above I've wanted to ask, however I don't want to crowd a forum with so many.


I'd like to add, too, that many real business owners had to take a class or wanted to take a class to learn how to run their business. Some may have learned while in business, however the point of a publication such as this would be to help people such as myself with all those "how do I" and "whatz it" questions.

I work with new biz owners all the time in my consultant role. I am happy to have one free conversation just to give you some info if you are interested. In addition I teach classes in just the things you are referring to. Please feel free to IM me if you are interested in a chat or attending a class....I can make sure you get notified the next time I have one scheduled.

To be honest i think a one size fits all book on how to start a business is something that would be hard to compile. I find that different people need different levels of information and some catch on quicker than others. I work with some folks on finding a place for their biz as in whether to rent or buy, some need help learning how to set a for sale box, others need help on establishing a brand identity and marketing. I have made some notecards with info, but there is so much detail that is needed to explain the various processes, i think i would need a 500 page book to cover it all. LOL

Just my two cents
jojo

Oh, you mean Business in a Box.

I'm not really a "new business owner". My questions I actually have I haven't posted here because they are about things that would come up while your currently running a business on SL, whether for 3 months or 2 years.
Thank you for the offer.

i am direct, no doubt. LOL

mine was intended as ironic...maybe even sarcastic... as in "why in the hell should i do all your footwork?"

pretty much everything i write should be taken as the opposite of what i just said... except for serious matters, that is. this is RA, and i try to be serious and helpful when i can, but make you think when i have nothing technical to offer.

i'm just an asshat that way.

What Bradley said...

When I first started my business, I thought about running classes, but I've never had the time. I think you'll find most business-people (not BIAB ) are too busy.

However, I've learned a lot from various threads in the Forums over the last year. There are a lot of experienced people who post here from time to time, so it's worth Searching. For example, there have been several threads on the new Search, and if you read them, you will learn how best to write your Ads for the new Search.

If you go to the Second Life Special Offers page on the SL web site and click the "Books" link on the left side panel - then look at the "Entrepreneurs Guide", you can download a free chapter which has a lot of useful information to start with.

You know, the problem I've found with asshats is getting them to stay on. do you use tape? or maybe some other form of stick-up to adhere them? It's fine if you're sitting down, but when you stand up, they just don't stay on.


sorry, 3Ring, I had to ask.... hahahah

On to business tips. I guess I"m just not cutthroat enough. My business philosophy is "put nice, original things for sale in places where people will buy them"....It seems quite easy to me. Granted, I don't bring in a lot that way....I guess I could do more and get into the multi-millionaire linden club, but why?

I'm just not type A enough, I guess

hah

Hmm, one really good idea about making money off of SL is to write a book on how to make money in SL.....

I'm scared to read a book on SL business... what if I found out I was doing it all wrong!? @_@

I wonder how such a book would have read in early 2006... "get into the escort gambling banking business, and buy land at $L 15/m for resale!!!!!1111"

It woulda been right for a coupla months at least...

LMAO You crack me up, you really do.

By the way, last night, I just finished setting up the newest version of a New SL Resident Kit I created a while ago. I've added a little bit more about making money and starting a business in SL, but it's not a complete guide by any stretch -- just some useful information thanks to the great people in the forums.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dimitrios/2/35/50 for any who are interested. Please report any problems or confusion. I will be making a wee post on this later today.

I author a Second Life blog and often post business tips for readers. You might find it of interest:

http://secondeffects.com

Some of the topics I've posted on are:

Top 10 Tips for Starting a SL biz: http://www.secondeffects.com/2007/11/top-ten-tips-for-starting-second-life.html

Hiring Staff: http://www.secondeffects.com/2008/01/staffed.html

Building & Store Ergonomics: http://www.secondeffects.com/2008/01/introduction-to-second-life-ergonomics.html
and
http://www.secondeffects.com/2008/01/sl-ergonomics-part-ii-building-tips.html

Tips for Clubs: http://www.secondeffects.com/2007/12/tips-for-successful-second-life-club.html

And many others. Often I will have visitors come by my shop to ask for business advice, and I'll give you some if I have time.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caso%20Milo/192/114/134/

http://secondeffects.com

Most people who wear them seem to impale them on the sharp points on the tops of their tiny heads. Seems to work.

I often been told I should sell my art textures but I am not sure I want to deal with the hassle. I have semi-aversion to money and success.
But from what I gathered from those who do shops you need following to do basic good
displays.
1) Clear graphic with permissions, cost of product.
2) Way to get others to see your product and want to buy it.
There must be some way to get noticed and pull to have the person spend money on your product cause in truth most products here no one absolutely needs, you're selling something that will make their stay here more pleasant, improve the look of their home, business, or appearance
3)Reputation, what you reap you sow. Treat people kindly and fairly. Sell a good product
that people enjoy using. Mix well with best and most talented parts of your prims and creativeness and just maybe you'll get more L and more customers.
Yet 1 and 2 I haven't done well.

I've already written the book -- if you send me 1000L I will provide you with a copy. And while you are at it.............send me your international identification and bank account numbers as my father, the Prime Minister of Nigeria, was killed by dissidents and I need to wire his fortune out of the country.

Prince Ubuntu