The next in our series of rabble+rouser Soapbox interviews features Graham McReynolds, executive vice president of marketing and development at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. We sat down with him to discuss the MS Society’s involvement in Second Life, a virtual interactive world, and how they tailored a whole island to promote user-participation and brand engagement.
In our first chapter, we introduce Graham McReynolds, the Executive Vice President of Marketing and Development for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and discuss the initiative to lead the MS Society onto Second Life.
Second Life is an online virtual world.
There are an estimated 15 million Second Life users.
Over 500,000 users have logged on to Second Life in the past seven days.
The number of hours spent in Second Life have doubled form 2007 to 2008.
Second Life enabled the MS Society to create a global forum for sharing and interacting.
MS Society creates global MS community
Second Life enabled the MS Society to create a global forum for sharing and interacting. They learned it was an enormous need for people who have been affected by MS to have a common meeting place. Listen to Graham describe the international MS community that developed in Second Life.
The MS Society found that in Second Life, as in life, connecting and discussing the myriad issues that people impacted by MS experience is a natural occurrence.
People want to connect
The MS Society found that in Second Life, as in life, connecting and discussing the myriad issues that people impacted by MS experience is a natural occurrence. The MS Society learned that raising money was a secondary component in Second Life. What the site became was an international way for committed people to connect.
The MS Walk is the MS Society’s largest single fund-raising event.
Where People Can Fly!
The MS Walk is the MS Society’s largest single fund-raising event. Listen to Graham describe what happened when the MS Society brought this concept into a world were people don’t just walk, they fly!
The MS Society has found that it can leverage volunteers from around the globe to update and manage the MS Society’s user experience.
Support the cause without leaving home
The MS Society has found that it can leverage volunteers from around the globe to update and manage the MS Society’s user experience. Here Graham explains the many ways people contribute to the site’s upkeep.
Second Life creates an impression for the National MS Society that it is a thought leader.
Positive Spin-off from Second Life Presence
Second Life creates an impression for the National MS Society that it is a thought leader. In this clip, Graham recounts the types of reactions he gets from customers and potential sponsors when he talks about their Second Life presence.
Graham discusses the potential of partnering with volunteers and other organizations, like his, that are early pioneers in Second Life.
Howdy Partner!
Graham discusses the potential of partnering with volunteers and other organizations, like his, that are early pioneers in Second Life.
Second Life offers those affected with MS the ability to interact in a world that frees them from the limitations of their disease.
Second Life is an inspiration!
Second Life offers those affected with MS the ability to interact in a world that frees them from the limitations of their disease. Graham discusses this and how Second Life enables sufferers to connect with others around the globe and share their experiences. It can be a very uplifting experience.